The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
09.17.2014 | Baseball, Football, Texas Athletics, Men's Basketball
Nine distinguished and decorated former University of Texas student-athletes and staff are set to be inducted into the Men's Athletics Hall of Honor this fall.
AUSTIN, Texas -- Nine distinguished and decorated former University of Texas student-athletes and staff are set to be inducted into the Men's Athletics Hall of Honor this fall.
The 58th Men's Hall of Honor class includes Doak Walker Award winner Cedric Benson (Football, 2001-04); two-time first team All-American and 2000 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Casey Hampton (Football, 1996, 1998-2000); two-time All-American Cory Redding (Football, 1999-2002); and MVP of the 2002 College World Series Huston Street (2002-04).
Founded in 1957, the Longhorn Hall of Honor is one of the most cherished athletics traditions at The University of Texas. Its governing body -- the Longhorn Hall of Honor Council -- is made up exclusively of men who have lettered at UT. Each year, a selection committee nominates 16 candidates whose names are distributed to the Hall of Honor Council. To be eligible for nomination, a letterman must have completed his eligibility 10 years prior to the year of election. The four honorees receiving a majority of votes are inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor.
Special selections Rick Barnes (Basketball, 1998-present) and Ken Dabbs (Football Coach and Administrator, 1973-95); along with vintage selections Mike Beard (Baseball, 1969-71), Happy Feller (Football, 1968-70) and Delano Womack (Football, 1953-55) round out the class.
The induction banquet for the 2014 class is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7. A social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner ceremony to start at 7 p.m. in the Four Seasons Hotel Grand Ballroom. For ticket inquiries, please email MHOH@athletics.utexas.edu for availability.
The new members of the Hall will receive a special salute during the football game vs. West Virginia on Nov. 8.
Benson helped lead Texas to an 11-1 record, No. 4 national ranking and a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl as a senior, when he rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 TDs on his way to winning the Doak Walker Award as the nation's premier running back. That year he was also a first team All-American and was voted the ABC National Player of the Year. Benson, who ran for 5,540 yards in his career, ranks second only to Ricky Williams on the UT all-time rushing list and is seventh in NCAA history. He is the only player in school history to post four straight seasons of 1,000 rushing yards and one of just eight players in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. A two-time first team All-Big 12 selection, his 64 career rushing TDs rank tied for fourth in NCAA history while his 67 total TDs are sixth. Benson was the No. 3 pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft and played eight seasons, rushing for 6,017 yards and 32 TDs.
Hampton is among the most decorated Longhorn NFL players ever and was one of the natoin's most dominant defensive linemen in his final two seasons at Texas. A two-time first team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, Hampton anchored one of the nation's top defenses in 1999 and 2000. The Horns ranked sixth nationally in total defense (286.6 ypg) in 1999 and seventh (278.3 ypg) in 2000. A starter in 47 of 54 games, as a Longhorn, including the final 38 of his career, he became the first defensive lineman in school history to lead the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons after posting 101 as a junior and 78 as a senior. The 19th overall selection of the 2001 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, he made five Pro Bowls tying for the most ever by a Longhorn and helped lead the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles.
Redding, a two-time All-American, was a disruptive defensive end who started for three years and ranks fourth on the UT all-time tackles-for-loss list with 57. As a senior in 2002, he helped lead the Longhorns to the Cotton Bowl where they defeated LSU 35-20 and he was named the game's Defensive MVP. In earning first team All-America honors, he posted 76 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 24 TFL (No. 3 on the UT single-season list) that season as Texas finished 11-2 and ranked No. 6 in the nation. Selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft, Redding is now with the Indianapolis Colts in his 12th NFL season. Active in charitable activities through his Cory Redding Foundation, he was voted the Indianapolis Colts "Man of the Year" in 2012.
Street was an All-American all three years of his college career and led Texas to the 2002 College World Series title, where he was named MVP as a freshman. The Longhorns made it to Omaha in each of Street's three seasons in a Longhorn uniform, finishing third in 2003 and runner-up in 2004. The premier closer in Texas baseball history, Street's 41 career saves are a school record. He was a three-time All-Big 12 reliever and a member of the USA Baseball National Team in 2002 and 2003, and left Texas with a 1.31 ERA, the second best in school history behind only Burt Hooton's 1.14 mark. Professionally, Street was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2005 when he had 23 saves and a 1.72 ERA for the Oakland Athletics. Street has been selected to the National League All Star team twice, in 2012 and 2014, and currently pitches for the Los Angeles Angels.
Barnes has led the basketball program to national prominence, guiding the Longhorns to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances in his 16 years at the helm. He became the all-time winningest coach in Texas history during the 2006-07 season and has registered a 382-166 (.697) mark, an average of nearly 24 victories per year. Barnes has led Texas to five 'Sweet 16' appearances in the last 13 years, including a trip to the 2003 Final Four, and three Big 12 conference titles.
Dabbs served as an assistant football coach and administrator in different parts of three decades, helping to recruit some of the greatest players to come to UT. He came to Texas in 1973 as freshman backfield coach and was elevated to recruiting coordinator in 1975, having already brought Earl Campbell and Brad Shearer to campus. In 1983 he moved into the role of special assistant to the athletic director, directing all recruitment for the athletics department.
Beard helped lead Texas to three straight Southwest Conference titles from 1969-71. As a sophomore in 1970, he pitched alongside Burt Hooton and got Texas to the College World Series where the Longhorns finished third. A left-hander, Beard went 7-0 with a 3.16 ERA that season, tossing four complete games and striking out 76. He followed that with a 6-3 mark in 1971 and was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, with whom he made his Major League debut in 1974.
Feller came to UT as a walk-on and left as one of the most prolific place-kickers in school history. In three years at Texas (1968-70), he helped the Longhorns to a 30-2-1 record and National Championships in 1969 and '70. Feller, well known for his clutch kicking in big games, made three field goals including a then-school record 53-yarder in a 26-20 victory over Oklahoma in 1968. Over the course of his career, Feller set new school and Southwest Conference records for PATs and touchbacks on kickoffs, including a school record 55 extra-points made in 1955.
Womack was a three-year letterwinner at fullback and halfback, and is considered one of the best open-field runners of his era. In 1954 and 1955 he was the second leading rusher and pass receiver for the Texas offense, and in 1953 he led the team in scoring. On Thanksgiving Day in 1953, Womack led the Longhorns to a 21-12 victory over rival Texas A&M in College Station by rushing for a team-high 103 yards on just 10 carries. Off of the field, Womack won the Southwestern Conference Sportsmanship award in 1956.
CEDRIC BENSON
(Football, 2001-04)
The 2004 Doak Walker Award winner (nation's top RB), Benson rushed for 1,834 yards and 19 TDs in helping Texas post an 11-1 record, No. 4 national ranking and a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl as a senior. He also was a first-team All-American and was voted the ABC National Player of the Year. With 5,540 rushing yards, Benson ranks second only to Ricky Williams on the UT all-time rushing list and stands seventh in NCAA history. The two-time first-team All-Big 12 pick is the only player in Longhorn history to rush for 1,000 yards in four straight seasons and just one of eight players in NCAA history to accomplish that feat. His 64 career rushing TDs rank tied for fourth in NCAA history and his 67 total TDs stand sixth. His 1,112 carries are the most-ever at UT and his 25 career 100-yard rushing games are second-most in school history. Benson rushed for 1,360 yards (No. 7 on UT all-time season list) and a career-high 21 TDs (No. 3 on UT all-time season list) as a junior, and 1,293 yards (No. 9 on UT all-time season list) as a sophomore. The Horns posted a 10-3 record and No. 11 final ranking his junior year, and 11-2 mark and No. 6 ranking as a sophomore. Benson made an immediate impact at Texas, earning Freshman All-America and Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors after rushing for UT freshman records of 1,053 yards and 12 TDs in 2001. He was twice voted UT's offensive MVP. The No. 3 pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft, Benson played eight NFL seasons and rushed for 6,017 yards and 32 TDs while catching 120 passes for 833 yards and one TD. A starter in 71 of 96 career games, he posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009 (1,251), 2010 (1,111) and 2011 (1,067). He rushed for 647 yards in helping the Bears to the 2006 NFC Championship and a berth in Super Bowl XLI. Benson is currently training in Austin in hopes of a return to the NFL.
CASEY HAMPTON
(Football, 1996, 1998-2000)
One of the nation's most dominant defensive linemen in his final two seasons at Texas, and among the most decorated Longhorn NFL players ever, Hampton's college and NFL career spanned 17 years. A two-time first-team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, Hampton was the anchor of one of the nation's top defenses in 1999 and 2000. The Horns ranked sixth nationally in total defense (286.6 ypg) in 1999 and seventh (278.3 ypg) in 2000. A starter in 47 of 54 games as a Longhorn, including the final 38 of his career, Hampton became the first defensive lineman in school history to lead the team in tackles in back-to-back seasons, posting 101 tackles as a junior and 78 as a senior. The big, powerful defensive tackle ranks fifth on the UT all-time list in tackles for loss with 54, 39 of which he registered in his last two years. He finished his Texas career with 329 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 56 QB pressures, nine caused fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Hampton was selected with the 19th pick of the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2001 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the NFL's premier linemen. In 12 seasons, Hampton made five Pro Bowls, tying Earl Campbell, Bobby Layne, Bud McFadin and Tommy Nobis for the most by a Longhorn. A starter in 164 of 173 career NFL games, he helped lead the Steelers to three Super Bowls, winning twice. His durability and success was even more impressive when you consider Hampton retired in 2012 after his third ACL reconstruction surgery. Those surgeries dated back to his first ACL tear, which prematurely ended his sophomore season at Texas.
CORY REDDING
(Football, 1999-2002)
A two-time All-American, two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and three-year starter at defensive end who played in 52 career games at Texas, Redding recorded 211 tackles, 22 sacks, 57 tackles for loss and 77 QB pressures as a Longhorn. His 57 career TFL rank fourth on the UT all-time list. He capped his career in style, leading the Horns to a 35-20 victory over LSU, earning Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP honors in 2002. Redding posted 76 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 24 TFL (No. 3 on the UT all-time season list) and 37 QB pressures en route to first-team All-America honors as a senior. Texas finished 11-2 and ranked No. 6 nationally that year. He also was a finalist for the Lombardi and Hendricks Awards that year. Redding was a key part of a Longhorns defense that led the nation in total defense (236.2 ypg) as a junior, earning second-team All-America honors, when Texas was 11-2 and ranked No. 5 nationally. He was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 1999. Selected in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, Redding is now with the Indianapolis Colts and entering his 12th NFL season. In 11 previous seasons, he played in 160 games with 131 starts, posted 378 tackles, 32 sacks and 11 fumble recoveries. Very active in charitable activities through his Cory Redding Foundation, Redding was voted the Indianapolis Colts' "Man of the Year" in 2012. He donated $100,000 in 2012 to establish the Cory and Priscilla Redding Family Scholarship at UT's College of Education.
HUSTON STREET
(Baseball, 2002-04)
Street was a three-time All-American and the MVP of the 2002 College World Series, as he helped lead the Longhorns to three trips to Omaha while recording a record 41 career saves as the premier closer in Texas Baseball history. Street set a CWS record with four saves in the Longhorns' sweep of the tournament as a freshman. He then helped Texas to third-place and national runner-up finishes in Omaha in 2003 and 2004. He was a three-time All-Big 12 reliever and was a member of the USA Baseball National team in 2002 and 2003, earning summer All-America honors both years. Street left Texas with the second-best ERA in school history (1.31, second only to Burt Hooton's 1.14). Embarking on a highly successful career in professional baseball as the 40th pick in the 2004 draft, he earned American League Rookie of the Year honors as the closer for the Oakland Athletics just one season later in 2005 with 23 saves and a 1.72 ERA. He followed that by registering a career-high 37 saves in 2006. He broke the 30-saves mark again with 35 in his first season with the Colorado Rockies in 2009. Street was named to the National League All-Star game squad as a member of the San Diego Padres in 2012, posting a 1.85 ERA for the year. This season, Street was again named to the National League All-Star team with the Padres before being traded to the Los Angeles Angels. As of mid-September, he was among the league leaders in saves with 38 and owned a 1.31 ERA. In his 10-year Major League career, Street has recorded 272 saves.
RICK BARNES
(Basketball, 1998-present)
Barnes has led The University of Texas basketball program to a level of national prominence never before seen at the Forty Acres. In his first 16 years at the helm of the Longhorns, Barnes has guided Texas to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances entering the 2014-15 campaign. He became the all-time winningest coach in Texas history during the 2006-07 season and the Horns have registered a 382-166 (.697) mark in his 16 seasons, an average of nearly 24 victories per year. UT also set a school record by recording 13 straight 20-win seasons from 1999-2000 through 2011-12. Texas has made five "Sweet 16" showings during the last 13 years, including a trip to the 2003 Final Four, marking the third time in school history and first since 1947 (a span of 56 years) that UT had advanced to the Final Four. Texas advanced to the "Elite Eight" in 2006 and 2008 and the "Sweet 16" in 2002 and 2004. Texas has claimed three Big 12 Conference titles in Barnes' 16 seasons (1999, 2006 and 2008).
KEN DABBS
(Football Coach and Administrator, 1973-95)
Dabbs served as an assistant football coach and administrator in different parts of three decades, helping to recruit some of the greatest players to come to UT. After coaching high school football for over 20 years in Texas, he came to UT in 1973 as freshman backfield coach and was elevated to recruiting coordinator in 1975, having already brought Earl Campbell and Brad Shearer to campus. In 1983, he moved into the role of Special Assistant to the Athletic Director, directing all recruitment for the athletics department, and retired from UT in 1995.
MIKE BEARD
(Baseball, 1969-71)
Beard helped lead Texas to Southwest Conference titles all three of his seasons in a Longhorns uniform, as well as District 6 titles in 1969 and 1970. In his sophomore season (1970), Beard -- pitching alongside Burt Hooton -- helped Texas advance to the College World Series and finish third nationally. That year, he went 7-0 with a 3.16 ERA, tossing four complete games and striking out 76 in 62 2/3 innings. A year later as a junior, he went 6-3 with a 3.88 ERA, finishing second on the team in wins, innings pitched and strikeouts. In his three seasons, opponents batted just .213 against him. Beard was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 1971 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut at just 24 years old on Sept. 7, 1974.
HAPPY FELLER
(Football, 1968-70)
Feller came to The University of Texas as a walk-on, and left as the most prolific place-kicker UT had seen up to that point. In his three years at Texas (1968-70), he helped the Longhorns to a 30-2-1 record and two National Championships (1969 & 1970). Feller was a key cog in Texas' success with his clutch kicking in big games. In the 1968 Oklahoma game, he kicked three field goals, including a then-school record 53-yarder in a 26-20 victory. Over the course of his career, Feller set new school and Southwest Conference records for PATs and touchbacks on kickoffs, including a school record 55 extra-points made in 1955.
DELANO WOMACK
(Football, 1953-55)
An all-state football player in 1951 who helped Austin High School to back-to-back state title games in 1949-50, Womack chose to attend The University of Texas where he became a three-year letterman at fullback and halfback (1953-55). He is considered one of the best open-field runners of his era. In 1954 and 1955, he was the second-leading rusher and pass receiver for the Texas offense, while in 1953 he led the team in scoring. On Thanksgiving Day in 1953, Womack led the Longhorns to a 21-12 victory over rival Texas A&M in College Station by rushing for a team-high 103 yards on just 10 carries. Following his career at UT, he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 19th round of the 1956 NFL Draft. Off the field, Womack won the Southwestern Conference Sportsmanship Award in 1956, and was termed a "true sportsman" by head football coach Ed Price. Womack was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, the Naval ROTC and is a very active supporter of all Longhorns sport programs.
