Jan. 12, 2006

NASHVILLE, TENN. - The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame announced today the names of ten honorees to be recognized at its annual awards banquet and induction ceremony to be held Friday, February 24th at the Renaissance Hotel.

University of Memphis All-American running back DeAngelo Williams is being honored for the second consecutive year as "Male Amateur Athlete of the Year." Williams was named to three All-American teams, ended his career with 6,026 rushing yards, placing him fourth on the all-time list and holds the NCAA record with 7,573 all-purpose yards. He also set an NCAA record with 34 career games of 100 or more yards rushing, surpassing Archie Griffin and Tony Dorsett, who both tallied 33 games.

Joining Williams as "Male Athlete of the Year" are University of Tennessee All-American pitcher Luke Hochevar and Vanderbilt University star All-SEC quarterback Jay Cutler. Hochevar led the Vols to the 2005 College World Series and was presented the Roger Clemens Award as the nation's best collegiate pitcher during his junior season in 2005. Cutler was named first team All-SEC quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores setting numerous school records.

Lady Vol track standout Tianna Madison will be honored as "Female Amateur Athlete of the Year." The 2005 NCAA Outdoor long jump champion and All-American, won a world championship in the long jump at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland becoming only the second American woman in history to win a world title in the long jump.

Being recognized as "Female Professional Athlete of the Year," is Kara Lawson a former Lady Vol All-American guard and current member of the 2005 WNBA Champion Sacramento Monarchs. Bill Dance, considered the most popular fisherman in the world, will be recognized as "Professional Athlete of the Year." Dance has won 23 National Bass Titles and three times was named Angler of the Year.

Three collegiate Tennessee teams will be recognized as "Amateur Teams of the Year" and they all have one thing in common...each won a national championship. They are: the Lady Vol Indoor Track team who captured the schools first NCAA Indoor track and field championship; the Union University Lady Bulldogs basketball team who won the NAIA National Championship and Crichton College, Memphis, winners of the National Christian College Athletic Association Baseball Championship.

A highlight of the evening will be the recognition of James A. (Jim) Haslam II, Chairman, Pilot Corporation, as Tennessean of the Year. Haslam, a starting center for the 1951 University of Tennessee National Football Championship team and a long time supporter of the University, was a 1986 inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.

The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Friday, February 24th at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville. Tickets for the awards banquet and induction ceremony are available from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame for $100.00. For more information concerning the event call the TSHF office at (615) 242-4750.

Other Tiger Football News...

The Motor City Bowl champions will be honored at halftime of this weekend's men's basketball game with SMU at the FedExForum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Senior linebacker Tim Goodwell will play in the 2006 All-American Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game, which showcases approximately 105 seniors from across the country in an East vs. West format, will be played at Sam Boyd Stadium on January 14, 2006. Kick-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net.