BU Hall of Famer Anthony Parker to be inducted into MVC HOF

[Da Coach]

Anthony Parker Selected For MVC Hall Of Fame

http://www.bradleybraves.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=3400&ATCLID=210255787

Congratulations to AP!
He is #10 on the All-Time Bradley scoring list

1. 3008 Hersey Hawkins 1984-88
2. 2341 Mitchell Anderson 1978-82
3. 2064 Roger Phegley 1974-78
4. 1975 Chet Walker 1959-62
5. 1822 Paul Unruh 1946-50
6. 1763 Joe Allen 1965068
7. 1721 Walt Lemon 2010-2014
8. 1714 Voise Winters 1981-85
9. 1689 Phillip Gilbert 2000-04
10. 1683 Anthony Parker 1993-97
11. 1621 Andrew Warren 2006-11

[tornado]

Of the 11 on the list...

3 were recruited by Coach Versace
2 each were recruited by Orsborn, Molinari, & Les...
and 1 by AJ Robertson but played half his career for Forddy Anderson
Joe Stowell gets credit for the other one although Joe never recruited Roger Phegley - he just lucked into Roger insisting on walking on!

[Da Coach]

One interesting observation regarding the 6 new members to be inducted as the 2016 class of the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.

http://www.mvc-sports.com/news/archives/2015-16/8212/six-inductees-selected-for-2016-athletics-hall-of-fame/#.VcVh-flViko

The captain of the 1963 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Jerry Harkness of Loyola, the 1974 College Division National Coach of the Year Bill Thomas of Missouri State, former Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball Player of the Year and NBA First Round Draft pick Anthony Parker of Bradley, the starting first baseman for the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers Dave Bergman of Illinois State, legendary women’s soccer coach Mick Lyon of Evansville and one of the league’s most decorated women’s track athletes Sue Daggett Miller of Illinois State comprise the 19th MVC Hall of Fame class.

Commissioner Doug Elgin's statement-
“The Missouri Valley Conference has always been recognized for the great success of its athletics programs, with a rich history that dates back more than a century,” said Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Our MVC Hall of Fame has provided us with an opportunity to honor the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors who have played important roles in the Conference and in intercollegiate athletics.”

“The individuals we will be honoring in the Class of 2016 are representative of the men and women who have preceded them in our Hall of Fame. They’ve brought significant honor to themselves, their institutions and to the Conference. We are truly humbled to have this opportunity to salute them for their achievements.”

I am not sure exactly what the specific criteria for eligibility are, but 3 of the 6 inductees never played one minute in the Missouri Valley Conference. It just seems curious to me that they qualify as MVC HOF athletes, when they played or coached their entire careers in different conferences, and in at least one case, a lower collegiate level.

Dave Bergman- he was an All American baseball player at Illinois State. He played for ISU in 1972-1974, ashortly after ISU moved to Division I. He left school in 1974 and was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1974 MLB draft. He went on to a good career in Major League Baseball. However, since ISU did not join the MVC until the 1980-81 season, that means Bergman never played a single day in the MVC, yet he will be inducted into the MVC HOF.

Bill Thomas- was a player at Southwest Missouri State from 1950-1953, and a coach there from 1956-1980 (the name was changed to Missouri State in 2005). They did not join the MVC until the 1990-1991 season, so he never played or coached in the MVC. In fact, SWMS did not even become an NCAA Division I program until 1982-1983, after Thomas left.

Jerry Harkness- He was the captain of Loyola's 1963 national championship basketball team, and a great player. However, Loyola did not become a member of the MVC until the 2013-2014 season, so he never played in the MVC, missing Loyola's entry into the MVC by more than 50 years.

Mick Lyon- was the women's soccer coach at Evansville from 1993-2001. Evansville joined the MVC in the 1994-95 season, so he coached most of his seasons in the MVC.

Anthony Parker- Played for Bradley from 1993-1997, playing his entire career in the MVC, winning the MVC regular season championship in 1996, and being named the MVC Player of the Year in 1996.

Sue Daggett Miller- she was a track star at ISU in the mid 1990's, so she did compete in the MVC.