Photo by Jenna Murphy/The Siskiyou
The SOU Hall of Fame honors Raider athletes who have made a difference both on and off the playing field.

The best of the best in the SOU athletic history are about to get their much deserved praise.

The Hall of Fame committee looks to induct athletes, coaches, or even entire teams that have set record-breaking numbers or otherwise achieved greatness.

The two-page nomination form is available online and can either be printed or filled out electronically. Head tennis coach Gail Patton is accepting the applications through e-mail at pattong@sou.edu, in her office drop box in McNeal Pavilion room 153 or by phone, 552-6563. Anyone, including athletes, coaches, even spouses, is eligible to submit nominations.

Dennis Francois, the director of athletics, is credited with reviving the nine-person Hall of Fame committee last year. The group is comprised of former athletes, coaches, health and physical education teachers and administrators, all appointed by Francois.

The committee receives and sifts through the completed applications to choose the worthiest candidates. Last year they inducted seven athletes, one coach, one athletic director and two teams: the 1947 men’s basketball team and the 1982-1983 wrestling team.

Patton said that it was unusual to induct so many people at once, but because it was the first time in many years there was a committee, it was necessary.

"We are working hard to get the word out this year," Patton said, "but we definitely don’t expect to have as many applicants this year as last year."

Some of the committee’s criteria for deciding who will be inducted include the nominees’ academic, athletic and postgraduation accomplishments. Some achievements the committee will specifically look for are outstanding NAIA student athletes, those who graduated with honors or who won national titles.

The 2007 inductees were announced at halftime during the homecoming football game, and Patton expects this year’s ceremony to go much the same way. Patton will be accepting nominations into the summer.

The new inductees will attend a formal breakfast with alumni and SOU’s president, and a social will be held in their honor immediately before the game. A plaque with each inductee’s name, picture and accomplishments will be hung in McNeal Pavilion, and each inductee will also receive a plaque to take home.

As of April 23, no 2008 nominees had been proposed