Indiana University Athletics
2008 Hall of Fame Class Announced
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Varsity Club
Sept. 19, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Former Indiana University athletics standouts Karna (Abram) Chier (basketball, 1984-87), Roger Chandler (wrestling, 1994-97), Tim Clifford (football, 1978-80), Don Croftcheck (football, 1962-64), Alan Henderson (basketball, 1992-95) and Don Luft (football, 1949-51; basketball, 1951; baseball, 1951-52) along with longtime sportswriter Bob Hammel represent the 2008 IU Athletics Hall of Fame inductees, IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan announced today.
The class will be officially inducted at the annual Hall of Fame dinner on Sept. 26, and will be recognized at halftime of the Sept. 27 Indiana-Michigan State football game at Memorial Stadium. This year's class brings the current roster of IU Hall of Fame inductees to 158.
"At Indiana University, we take great pride in our commitment to excellence both on and off the field," said Greenspan. "Those recognized, whether through their athletic play or service to the athletics department, have continued that long-standing tradition of success and it is important for us to continue to salute these efforts."
Karna (Abram) Chier
Won basketball letters in 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. First team All-Big Ten in 1985, 1986, and 1987; Academic All-Big Ten in 1987; IU Female Athlete-of-the-Year in 1987. Averaged 22.9, 16.8 and 23.2 over her last three seasons and is the second-leading scorer in IU history. Her 23.2 and 22.9 single season average are easily one-two in IU history and she holds the top three single-game point totals with 40 (Michigan State), 39 (Michigan), and 39 (Illinois). Led the Big Ten in scoring in 1987, the only IU player ever to do so. Played in 1983 U.S. Olympic Festival.
Roger Chandler
Won wrestling letters in 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. IU Male Athlete-of-the-Year in 1997; Big Ten Champion at 142 in 1997; NCAA Champion in 1997. Set IU career records for both wins (134) and pins (40). Won three Balfour Awards. Finished 3rd or better in the Big Ten Championships three times and was a three-time NCAA All-American (8th, 3rd, 2nd).
Tim Clifford
Won football letters in 1978, 1979, and 1980 and was co-captain in both 1979 and 1980. Most Valuable Player at Indiana in both 1979 and 1980. Was Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1979. Won Balfour Awards in both 1980 and 1981. Played in the East-West All-Star Game, where he received the Most Value Player Award. Also played in the Japan Bowl All-Star Game and the Holiday Bowl. Ranks 3rd in IU career passing yards after holding the record at one time. Ranks 4th on season list with 2,078 yards in 1979 and ranks 5th on career total offense list. Held NCAA record for highest quarterback rating for a game. Also lettered in baseball in 1978, 1979, and 1980.
Don Croftcheck
Won football letters in 1962-64. Played both ways as left linebacker and left guard and was a first team All-Big Ten pick in 1964. First team All-American by Sporting News in 1964. Played in Blue-Gray and Senior Bowl games in 1964 and in the 1965 College All-Star Game. Played three years in the NFL with the Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears.
Bob Hammel
Journalism career spanned 50 years, including 30 as sports editor and 40 as a columnist at the Bloomington Herald-Times. Covered more than 1,000 IU football and basketball games. Covered 3 NCAA basketball championships and the school's first 8 bowl games. Represented the nation's smallest regularly credentialed newspaper in covering 5 Olympic Games and 23 NCAA Basketball Final Fours. Covered IU athletes in Olympic basketball, track and swimming trials, and NCAA track, swimming and soccer championship events. Also covered 29 Indiana high school basketball championship games. The only person to have been President of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, the Football Writers Association, and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Cited in the International Basketball Hall of Fame (as a recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award), the College Football Hall of Fame (as a recipient of the Football Writers' Bert McGrane Award), and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (as a Silver Medal recipient). Was named Indiana Sportswriter of the Year 17 times and has been inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, the U.S. Basketball Writers Hall of Fame, and the Indiana Sportswriters and Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Authored or co-authored 11 books, including Glory of Old IU, a 100-year history of Indiana University Athletics, published in 1999. Most recent book is The Bill Cook Story, which was released in September 2008.
Alan Henderson
Won basketball letter in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995. Co-Indiana Most Valuable Player in 1994 and Most Valuable Player in 1995. All-Big Ten in 1995 and All-American in 1995. Member of Indiana's All-Century Basketball Team as voted by fans. Led IU in rebounding four straight years and in scoring in 1995. Holds IU career record for rebounds and ranks 6th in career scoring. First round NBA draft choice of Atlanta Hawks and played in the NBA for twelve years.
Don Luft
Won football letters in 1949, 1950, and 1951. Won a basketball letter in 1951. Won baseball letters in 1951 and 1952. Last person in IU history to letter in three sports in one year. As an end in football, he caught a touchdown pass that led to 32-10 upset win over Ohio State in 1951. Honored by the Big Ten Coaches as the Most Valuable Football Lineman in 1951. Played professional football for three years in the NFL and Canadian Football League. Returned to Indiana as freshman coach and then assistant coach in basketball. While he coached, IU was Big Ten Co-Champions in the 1966-67 season. Was director of the IU Varsity Club and past president of the "I" Men's Association. Won Clevenger Award in 1984. Served as color commentator for IU on TV from 1976-1979.
