Daily Advertiser, Oct. 6, 2011

The 2011 UL Athletic Hall of Fame induction class, as announced by the Ragin’ Cajuns Letterman Club, includes tennis star Bill Bryan, softball ace pitcher Cheryl Longeway Hogan, basketball star Byron Starks and former NFL safety Orlando Thomas.

The Hall of Fame reception and meet-and-greet will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 at the UL Art Gallery in the Student Union. The inductees will be officially inducted during halftime of the 4 p.m. homecoming football game against North Texas on Saturday, Oct. 15.

The purpose of the UL Lafayette Hall of Fame is to give recognition to those athletes who have made a significant contribution to the good name of the University by demonstrating exceptional ability and sportsmanship on the playing fields, commendable scholarship in the classroom, high quality leadership on the campus, and who after leaving the University have established a personal reputation for character and citizenship in the community which they reside.

"Our goal is to remind each new generation of athletes of the tradition they must uphold and the ideals that they should strive for while they are wearing the UL Lafayette uniforms," said Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club President Tom Carroll (UL Baseball ’71-’74).

The Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club Alumni Chapter is comprised of men and women who lettered in athletics while they were students at SLI/USL/UL Lafayette. The Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club is a constituent chapter of the UL Lafayette Alumni Association and it retains close ties to the Athletic Department.

Bill Bryan

Bryan was a 4-year letterman in tennis for UL from 1977-1980. Bryan was a 5-time singles/doubles All-Southland Conference selection; ranks second in total career wins; second in doubles career wins; third in singles career wins; and never lost a dual match in all four years as a Ragin’ Cajun.

Bryan’s post-UL career continued as a mentor and coach where he was named USPTA Pro of the Year twice; coached the Jr. Davis Cup for Louisiana twice; coached Brother Martin High for eight years; and served as Louisiana Tennis Association (LTA) Chairman for more years than you can count. In 1997, Bryan and his family were named the Southern Tennis Family of the Year. Bryan received his degree in 1980.

Cheryl Longeway

Longeway Hogan was a two-time softball letterman as a pitcher at UL from 1995-1996 after transferring from Cal State Fullerton.

Longeway Hogan was a two-time 1st Team NFCA All-American; two-time All-Louisiana selection; two-time All-South Region selection; and the 1996 Louisiana Player of the Year.

She was also named to the 1995 College World Series all-tournament team and threw a no hitter against Michigan in the Series. She ended her career at UL with 32 shutouts and 486 strikeouts. She received a degree in General Studies in 1996.

Byron Starks

Starks was a four-time letterman in basketball for UL from 1992-1995.

Byron was a two-time Sun Belt 1st Team All-Conference selection, helping the Cajuns achieve two NCAA Touranment berths.

He’s ranked sixth in 3-point percentage for a season; 10th in career steals and 10th in career scoring with 1, 592 points.

Following his stellar career at UL, Starks played one year of professional ball in the Netherlands and then returned to the USA to begin what has become a coaching legacy — including being named District Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2011. In 2003, Starks was inducted into the LHSAA Hall of Fame.

In 2010, the Grambling native started Champions International — a youth mentoring program. He received a degree in General Studies with a concentration in Health and P.E. in 1996.

Orlando Thomas

Thomas was a 4-year letterman in football as defensive back from 1991-1994,

Thomas was named a second-team All-American in 1993 when he led the nation in interceptions. Orlando was named to the first-team All-Big West team in 1993 and 1994 and received All-Big West Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1993 and 1994.

Thomas finished his career at UL ranked second in tackles with 347 and third in interceptions with 18. He continued his football career with the Minnesota Vikings where he played for seven seasons and recorded 476 tackles, 22 interceptions and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Thomas returned to school after his successful NFL career and earned his degree in 2006.