LA Tech To Induct Hall of Fame Class Saturday
By: Brandon Dunn
Updated: September 27, 2011
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech University will induct the 13th class in its Athletics Hall of Fame history Saturday when the eight newest members are enshrined in a ceremony at 1 p.m. in the Waggonner Room of the Thomas Assembly Center.
The event is free and open to the public as all LA Tech fans are encouraged to attend. This year's class will include Matt Dunigan (football), Venus Lacy (women's basketball), David Lee (football), Mike McConathy (men's basketball), Paul Millsap (men's basketball), Dave Nitz (broadcaster), T.J. Soto (baseball) and Matt Stover (football).
"Louisiana Tech is honored to induct such a distinguished group of individuals whose achievements have left a lasting legacy," said Tech Athletics Director Bruce Van De Velde. We are excited to have these individuals back on campus, and we hope all Tech alumni and fans will turn out to help us recognize them on this special weekend."
The event is part of a full day of activities on the Louisiana Tech campus as the Lady Techster volleyball team hosts Idaho at 2 p.m. followed by the Bulldog football team's WAC opener against Hawaii set for 6 p.m. at Joe Aillet Stadium.
The eight inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the football game.
Matt Dunigan (1979-82) ... Named All-American (1982) ... Named All-Southland Conference (1981, 1982) ... Named State Offensive Player of the Year and Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 1982 ... Selected to the LA Tech All-Century Team ... Was the all-time leader in passing yards, total offense, and passing touchdowns upon graduation ... Led LA Tech to the 1982 Southland Conference title and Division I-AA playoffs ... Played 14 years in the Canadian Football League ... 3-time CFL All-Star ... 5-time Division All-Star ... Inducted into CFL Hall of Fame (2006) ... 5-time Grey Cup participant ... 2-time Grey Cup champion
Venus Lacy (1987-90) ... Named Kodak All-American (1990) ... USBWA and Champion National Player of the Year (1990) ... 2-time American South Player of the Year (1989, 1990) ... 3-time All-American South (1988, 1989, 1990) ... 2-time Final Four All-Tournament Team (1989, 1990) ... Led LA Tech to 1988 National Championship title ... Led Tech to a mark of 96-7 and three straight Final Four appearances during her three years ... No. 4 all-time in scoring in Tech history (2,004 points) ... Was a member of Team USA that won the 1996 Olympic gold medal ... Played professionally in the ABL and WNBA and overseas ...
David Lee (1961-64) ... Lettered in both football and baseball at Louisiana Tech ... Widely considered the best punter in Bulldog football history ... Selected to the Louisiana Tech All-Century Team ... Played 13 years in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts ... Was the NFL punting champion his rookie year ... Was also the NFL punting champion in 1969 when selected to the All-Pro Team ... Was a member of two Super Bowl teams, including the 1971 Baltimore Colts team that defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V ... Selected to the Baltimore Colts Silver Anniversary Team in 1977 ...
Mike McConathy (1973-77) ... Named Associated Press honorable mention All-American (1976) ... Named the Southland Conference Player of the Year (1976) ... 2-time All-Southland Conference ( 1976, 1977) ... Helped lead Louisiana Tech to the 1975-76 Southland Conference title ... One of only two Louisiana Tech Bulldogs to ever score more than 2,000 points ... Still owns the program's single game scoring mark with 47 points against Lamar in 1976-77 ... Selected in the fourth round of the 1977 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls ... Coached 16 years at Bossier Parish Community College and the past 12 years at Northwestern State (184 wins) ...
Paul Millsap (2003-06) ... 3-time NCAA Rebounding Champion (only person in Division I history to accomplish this) ... Became only the second freshman in NCAA Division I history to lead the country in rebounding ... 3-time All-WAC (2004, 2005, 2006) ... Named WAC and State Freshman of the Year (2004) ... 3-time first team all-Louisiana (by the LSWA) ... 2-time WAC All-Defensive team ... Registered 68 career double doubles in 92 college games ... Averaged 18.6 points and 12.7 rebounds in his Tech career ... Selected in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz ... Scored a career-high 46 points last year against LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat ...
Dave Nitz (1974-present) ... Has spent more than 50 years in the broadcasting profession ... Began broadcasting Louisiana Tech games in 1974 ... Also worked 15 years as the assistant sports information director at Louisiana Tech ... Has provided the play-by-play for more than 2,100 Tech Athletics events, including more than a dozen conference championship games and postseason appearances by football, men's basketball, women's basketball and baseball ... Named the Louisiana Sportscaster of the Year in 2009 by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association ... Broadcasts games for dozens of the current LA Tech Hall of Fame members, including six of this year's inductees ...
T.J. Soto (1997-2000) ... Named to the Louisville Slugger/TPX Freshman All-American Team (1997) ... Named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year (1997) ... 4-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection ... 2000 NCAA Home Run Derby Champion (inaugural) ... 2-time all-state by the LSWA ... 2-time All-South Region ... Still the all-time leader in Tech history in home runs (72), RBI (220), hits (269), runs scored (202), doubles (58) and total bases (555) ... Became only the sixth NCAA Division I player to ever hit two grand slams in the same inning when he accomplished the feat in 2000 against Western Kentucky ... Played five years in Houston Astros organization and one year for independent team in Winnipeg ...
Matt Stover (1986-89) ... 3-time all-state by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association ... Named to the All-South Independent team in 1989 ... Kicked the longest field goal in Tech history with a 57-yarder against Texas A&M ... Kicked seven field goals of 50-plus yards, the most in Bulldog history ... Selected in 12th round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the New York Giants ... Played 20 years in the NFL for the Giants, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts ... Was a member of the Baltimore Colts Super Bowl XXXV championship team ... Ranks 4th all-time in NFL history in scoring (2,004 points) ... His 20-year professional career is the longest of any Tech professional athlete ...
