Temple University Athletics
Hall of Fame Day for All-time Temple Greats
10.15.11 | General
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The uniforms have changed since their tenure. For many, the numbers once proudly displayed on the backs of their jerseys as a numerical representative of themselves are now worn by another athlete -- one they likely have never met. The name on the front, however, remains unchanged.
On this blustery fall afternoon, a handful of former Temple athletic greats stood before a flag adorned with the infamous graphically-represented Temple “T” and graciously accepted their induction into Temple's Athletic Hall of Fame.
The hour-long Hall of Fame induction ceremony, hosted by Temple Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw, is an annual event that began in 1969 as a way to recognize the tremendous efforts of many Temple athletes during their tour of duty as an Owl.
“Temple is my family and it's truly an honor to be here today,” said recipient Alma Kovaci.
Kovaci, a volleyball star hailing from Tirana, Albania, who was twice-named the Atlantic-10's Most Valuable Player throughout her four-year tenure on the team, joined a diverse class of fellow athletes, something she mentioned throughout her acceptance speech.
“What's amazing about Temple is the diversity,” she said. “I didn't feel like a strange student athlete here because we had a lot of athletes from overseas.”
In total, five individuals were recognized by the university for their past athletic achievements in many different sports.
Including Kovaci, the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2011 is comprised of Toni Byard-Jenkins, an All-American field hockey standout who was named the 1989 Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year; Pete Dempsey, a first-team East Coast Conference shortstop for the 1977 and 1978 seasons; Jack Hubbert, a four-year letterwinner in golf that led Temple to four consecutive undefeated seasons and Carl Imhauser, the Eastern Incollegiate Gymnastics League champion in 1996 who was named an Academic All-American all four seasons in the program.
Imhauser attributed much of his success as an elite gymnast to the wealth of opportunities that attending Temple afforded him.
“It's amazing what wide diversity of sports the athletic department supports,” Imhauser said. “I appreciate that support. It's rare to find.”
Support both on and off the field was what drew inductee Toni Byard-Jenkins to Temple originally. A letterwinner in both field hockey and softball, Byard-Jenkins was one of the top field hockey recruits in the nation during her senior year in high school. At that time, she had a very important choice to make about her future.
“I chose TU,” she said.
“Temple not only helped me academically, but it also helped me jumpstart my professional career.”
Temple University also extended recognition to two former women's lacrosse teams.
Under the tutelage of Hall of Fame coach Tina Sloan Green (HOF '94), the 1982 and 1984 women's teams claimed the AIAW and NCAA national titles, respectively. The 1984 women's lacrosse team became the first sports team in Temple history to claim a national title.
Today's ceremony was the first time since that fateful season that many of the members had gathered together in the same location. In an emotional speech, two members of the team recalled the moment they were crowned national champions.
“That day we were bleeding Cherry and White,” they said. “It was all about being a proud lady Owl.”
The Owls hard at work on the field had a reason to be proud as well.
Temple was leading the Buffalo Bulls, 24-0, at halftime when the inductees filed onto the field to be formally recognized in front of a hometown crowd of 25,820. The familiar “T for Temple U” chant circulated the stadium as each name was announced -- perhaps as proof that for as much as certain things change over the passing of time, many stay the same.
For former Owls shortstop Pete Dempsey, the experience summoned many familiar memories.
“There was always a lot of pride in putting a Temple uniform on.”
Kami Mattioli,Owlsports.com columnist
