MONTICELLO -- Two former University of Arkansas at Monticello athletic teams have been chosen for induction into the UAM Sports Hall of Fame.
Both teams will be honored in a ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Green Room of the UAM University Center. The inductees will also be recognized during pregame ceremonies at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium on Oct. 12 before the 2 p.m. kickoff when UA-Monticello hosts Southeastern Oklahoma State University for homecoming.
Both events will be livestreamed on the official UAM Sports YouTube page.
This year's Hall of Fame induction class is headlined by the 1977-78 women's basketball team and the 1988 football team.
"We are really excited about honoring two very special teams," said UAM Athletic Director Hud Jackson. "We look forward to having them back on campus and being part of our homecoming festivities!"
Led by head coach and 2001 Hall of Fame inductee, Mary Jane Gilbert, the Blossoms held a 19-7 record on the season, with a 14-4 record in conference play. The Blossoms played in the Arkansas Women's Intercollegiate Sports Association (AWISA) and advanced to the round of 16 in the AIAW National Tournament against William Penn University.
UAM's 1977-78 team consisted of Kim Clary, Camille Clay, Dena Dennis, Kathy Griffin, Stephanie Jackson, Karla Kerr, Anita McChristian, Betty Ree McDonald, Barbara Seymor, Kathy Tacito, Gwen Walker, and Salina Williams.
Led by head coach and 2002 Hall of Fame inductee, Tommy Barnes, the 1988 football team set the UAM record for most wins in a single season, finishing 10-2 and earning the program's first NAIA playoff appearance. UAM took down Kansas' Washburn University 20-13 in the first round and fell short to Pittsburg (Kan.) State in the second round. The team's 4,047 yards of offense became a school record until the 1993 season.
The Weevils were led by senior quarterback Sean Rochelle as the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Rochelle, who was also named an Academic All-American led the Weevils with 2,024 yards of total offense and a single-season record of 16 rushing touchdowns to close his career with 4,615 total yards and the UAM season scoring record (98 points), which stood until 2017.
Defenders Jerry Johnson, who matched the then-program single-season record for interceptions (8) and Morehead Jordan, who led the team with 130 tackles, received Second Team All-America honors. Mac Newcomb and offensive linemen Brad Breland and Mark Eubanks received All-America honorable mention. Breland, who was also the Weevils' kicker, set the UAM record for most consecutive field goals made (9), which stands today.
During the season, Breland made a 51-yard field goal against Arkansas Tech -- the longest in program history at the time, which has only been passed twice.