Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. Eventually, we are going to get to that of the Division I schools, and conferences.  As such, it is news that San Jose State has announced their Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020.

This group comprises of five former athletes, one coach, and a complete team.  Due to COVID-19, there will be no ceremony in 2020.  It is tentatively scheduled for January of 2021.

The new members are:

Dr. Harry Edwards, Track & Field (1961-62) & Men’s Basketball 1962-64:  A two-sport star, Edwards held the school record for the discus for six years, and he was the team captain for the Spartans in 1964 in Basketball.  He would later found the Olympic Project for Human Rights in 1967, and he would later teach classes at California in “The Family and Race Relations” and “Sociology of Sport”.  He was named a consultant by the San Francisco 49ers in 1985, a position he still holds today.

Laura Fritz, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Sprint Freestyle 1973-75:  Fritz was a team captain in 1975, and an honorable mention All-American in the 50m Freestyle.  She competed in both the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Dwight Lowery, Football 2006-07:  Lowery played at Defensive Back, and he set a school record with nine Interceptions. That year, he helped the Spartans win the New Mexico Bowl.  In 2007, he had another four Interceptions, and he set another school record with 14.4 Punt Return Yards.  He would later play in the NFL for five different teams.  

Huh Mumby, Wrestling Coach 1953-71:  Mumby took three teams to the NCAA Wrestling Championship (1955, 1958 & 1961), and coached wrestlers who represented the United States in both the 1960 ad 1964 Olympics. 

Jack Poch, Men’s Soccer 1983, Assistant Soccer Coach 1995-00, Administrator 1999-00 & 2009-17:  Poch’s selection is based on his role as an administrator, where he has elevated the soccer program since he took on the role.  He would later take over as the San Jose Sports Authority’s Executive Director, and has done a fantastic job in that capacity.

Thomasina Wallace, Women’s Gymnastics 2009-12:  Wallace was a two-time WAC Champion and the 2012 West Region Gymnast of the Year.  She also holds seven First Team All-WAC honors.

2000 Baseball Team:  This was the first Spartans baseball team to lay in the College World Series.  Finishing with a record of 41-24, they finished in the top-twenty in all National Polls, which was also a first.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the eight new members of the San Jose State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.  Once that is done, we intend to look at how each team honor their past players, coaches and executives. Eventually, we are going to get to that of the Division I schools, and conferences.  As such, it is news the University of Nevada has announced their Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020.

This group comprises of seven new members, three from football, three from basketball and one trainer.  Due to COVID-19, there will be no 2020 ceremony, which will occur at a later date.

The six new members are:

Luke Babbitt, Men’s Basketball 2008-10:  Babbitt was a two-time First Team All-WAC Selection and was the WAC Player of the Year in 2010. In that award-winning season, Babbitt averaged 21.9 Points per Game, which placed him ninth in the NCAA. Babbitt scored 1,316 Points for the Wolf Pack and he would play eight years in the NBA, with stints in Portland, New Orleans, Miami and Atlanta.

Dellena Criner, Women’s Basketball 2005-09:  Criner was the two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year (2008 & 2009) and was a three-time All-WAC Player (2007-09).  Criner was the first player in Wolf Pack history to crack at least 1,500 Points, 350 Assists and 250 Steals, and she is first all-time in school history in Steals (271), fourth in Points (1,629) and fifth in Steals (271).

Armon Johnson, Men’s Basketball 2007-10:  Johnson was the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2008, and he followed that with a First Team All-WAC player in 2009, a Second Team WAC Player in 2010.   He led his team in Assists in all three years, and had 445 overall in that department, which is good enough for fifth overall in school history.  

Colin Kaepernick, Football 2006-10:  Kaepernick threw for over 10,000 Yards and rushed for 4,000, making him the first player to do so in the NCAA.  The Quarterback was the 2007 WAC Freshman of the Year, and was a two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year (2008 & 2010).  In his final year at Nevada, Kaepernick took the Wolf Pack to WAC Conference Championship.  Kaepernick later played for the San Francisco 49ers and took them to a Super Bowl appearance. He later became a polarizing figure transcending sports over his silent protest by kneeling during the National Anthem 

Dontay Moch, Football 2006-10:  Playing at Linebacker, Moch was the WAC Defensive Player of the Year and was twice a First Team All-WAC member.  He set the WAC record for Tackles for Loss with 63.  Moch would later play for the Cincinnati, Arizona and Tennessee, and later in the CFL and the Arena League.

Vai Taua, Football 2006-10:  Taua was a three-time First Team All-WAC player and the Running Back would have 4,588 Rushing Yards with 53 Touchdowns for Nevada.  Taua would play briefly for Buffalo and Seattle.

Tony Marek, Atheltic Trainer 1985-98:  Marek was Nevada’s head Athletic Trainer from 1985 to 1998.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the eight new members of the University of Nevada Athletic Hall of Fame.

How the Patriots can win without Tom Brady in 2021 Super Bowl

The Patriots have enjoyed Tom Brady for 19 seasons and 5 Super Bowl championships. They’ve won their league 11 times in a row and have gained a reputation as being nearly invincible.

But, 2019 was a change of pace, for the first time the Patriots do longer seemed invincible and they barely came close to the Super Bowl title. 

Tom Brady made the move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneersand will surely hope to make the Super Bowl this season. 

But, where does that leave the Patriots, should you be checking out free pokiesand put your money on Tampa Bay, or on the Patriots again?

Here’s why it could be worth bucking the trend and putting your money on the Patriots again.

Everything To Prove

For the first time in a long time, the Patriots are not the favorites for a division win. The 2021 season sees them as co-favorites. The Buffalo Bills are in with equally as good a shot. 

That simply means the Patriots have everything to prove, that’s a great incentive for upping the game and confirming that they’re a great team, even without Brady.

As an added bonus the final three games of the season will be against the main foes in their division, that’s going to give them a great opportunity to either seal the deal or create a last-minute surprise. With the right attitude, this should be more than possible.

The New Brady

Brady is an icon and a legend. But, he’s also in his forties and nearing the end of his playing days. The Patriots knew they only had him for a limited number of years and his leaving could turn out to be perfect timing. 

Cam Newton is currently on a one-year signing with the Patriots. He hasn’t played since 2018 due to a shoulder injury but, keeping COVID-19 aside, he has the potential to lift the Patriot’s game.

He’s known as one of the best running quarterbacks in the game. It will change the way the Patriots play, they’ll need to adopt a ground-and-pound approach. But, that change in style and tactics could be just what the team needs. In short, it will place opponents, still accustomed to Brady’s style, on the wrong foot. The Patriots will have an advantage.

Of course, if Newton doesn’t live up to expectations it’s likely Jarrett Stidham will step up, he has the potential to be the new Tom Brady.

The Team

One element that is easily overlooked is the rest of the team. Brady is amazing but he can’t win any Super Bowl without a solid team. The Patriots offensive and defensive elements work well together. That isn’t going to change with Brady’s departure.

Of course, it’s taken a shaky off-season for them to find their new groove. However, it is extremely likely that we’re going to see a lot more action centered in the defensive line, propelling their game forward. It’s generally considered as the base of the team and will be essential to driving the Patriots to yet another Super Bowl.

California Football lost a great one today, as former San Diego Charger and San Francisco 49er, Fred Dean, passed away due to complications from COVID-19.  He was 68 years old.

A standout at Louisiana Tech, Dean was a Second Round pick by the Chargers in 1975.  Dean, who played Linebacker at college, was moved to Defensive End by San Diego, where he was an immediate starter.  He went to his first Pro Bowl in 1979, the year after he had 15.5 “unofficial” Sacks.  An elite pass-rusher, Dean was a Pro Bowler again in 1980, this time earning a First Team All-Pro Selection.

In 1981, Dean was openly frustrated with his contact and he was traded early in the season to San Francisco.  It proved to be the final piece in the 49ers puzzle, as he helped take San Francisco to their first Super Bowl win.  He was again a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro that year.

Dean had an “official” 17.5 Sack season in 1983, a year that took him to another Pro Bowl.  He played two more years, retiring in 1985 after winning another Super Bowl.

Dean is a member of the College Football, Louisiana Tech Athletic San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, family and fans of Fred Dean.