IU greats enshrined into IU Athletics Hall of Fame

There was no shortage of talent Friday on the IU campus.

A packed house of Hoosier greats gathered in the Henke Hall of Champions to usher in the IU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2011.

The contemporary inductees included Clarence Doninger (athletic director, 1991-2001), Trent Green (football, 1990-92), Kristen Kane (diving, 1991-94), Don Ritter (basketball and baseball, 1947-49), James Sniadecki (football, 1966-68) and Ray Tolbert (basketball, 1978-81).

“Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I’d be standing here today,” Doninger said.

All but Kane, along with their loved ones, were on hand to acknowledge their accomplishments. Every present contemporary inductee delivered a speech, each reliving different moments that shaped their careers at IU.

Tolbert said a moment he’ll never forget came before he was even an IU student.
Tolbert was in the locker room after a high school game. A heavily recruited prospect at the time, Tolbert was met by then-Purdue Men’s Basketball Coach Fred Schaus. Tolbert said Schaus complimented him and told him how great a player he was.

Enter Bob Knight, stage left.

The former IU Men’s Basketball coach walked up to Tolbert after Schaus left. He was quick to make his point.

“(Knight’s) words exactly: ‘Tolbert, you’re going to IU, and we’re going to win a championship. See you later,’” Tolbert said.

Tolbert went on to lead IU to a national championship in 1981.

Another 1980s IU inductee was Green, who led IU Football to three bowl games with former IU Coach Bill Mallory. But, as Green shared in his acceptance speech, he wasn’t always the favored general in Mallory’s offense.

In Green’s redshirt sophomore year, he started the first seven games. But, to his surprise, Green was benched for the rest of the season. Green said the demotion made him question whether he wanted to stay at IU.

But Green met his future wife, Julie, and said he found a new sense of motivation to star at IU. Three bowl games and 15 years in the NFL later, Green stood at the podium, giving his inductee speech.

The night allowed other inductees, such as the dual-threat Ritter, to rewind to childhoods in Indiana.

“As a young boy, growing up in the small town of Aurora, Ind., I never dreamed that I could ever go to Indiana University and play basketball and baseball,” Ritter said.

Ritter did exactly that, leading former IU Men’s Basketball Coach Brach McCracken’s 1948 squad in scoring. Ritter also was a first-team All-American baseball player during his senior year, leading IU to its last Big Ten regular season title in 1949.

Whether they dreamed of being Hoosiers since childhood or were cornered by a Hall of Fame coach in a locker room, all of the Class of 2011 left a lasting legacy at IU. And for that, they will be forever enshrined amongst the IU greats.

“To be a part of this is something that’s very humbling,” Tolbert said. “And, as you know, I was a very emotional guy when I played basketball, and I’m very emotional right now because this is such a prestigious thing that’s been presented to me, and I’m so grateful.”