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 will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that Eastern Kentucky has announced the newest members of their Athletic Hall of Fame.

The Class consists of seven individual athletes and one team.

The new members will be:

Ole Hesselbjerg (Track/Cross Country 2011-15):  From Denmark, Hesselbjerg won two Bronze Medals in the NCAA Outdoor Championships and was a three-time First Team All-American.  He competed twice in the Olympics for his country.

Danny Hope (Football 1976-91, 2003-07, 2019, 2020-):  Hope played for the Colonels as a Guard on their first National Championship Team and later would be their Head Coach, where he won an OVC Coach of the Year.  He currently works for EKU in their development program.

Jacob Korir (Track/Cross Country, 2004-08):  From Kenya, Korir was a five-time All-American (three in Cross Country and two in Track.  He was second in the 5,000 M in the 2008 Outdoor Championship.

Sofie Levin (Women’s Golf, 2013-17):  From Sweden, Levin was a four-time All-OVC Selection and took the Colonels to two OVC Titles.

Nick Mayo (Men’s Basketball, 2015-19):  Mayo is the all-time scoring leader in school history with 2,316 Points and is a four-time All-OVC player.

Greg Stotelmyer (Broadcaster, 1979-present):  Stotelmyer has been the prime play-by-play broadcaster for EKU athletics since 1979 and has covered over 2,200 athletic contests for the school.

Corey Walden (Men’s Basketball 2012-15): Walden was a two-time OVC Defensive Player of the Year and was the 2014 OVC Tournament MVP.

1973 Women’s Volleyball Team:  The team went 26-4 and was undefeated in in-state competition.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the impending EKU Hall of Fame members.

The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, resulting in a long push to revise what we already have, specifically now with our Football Hockey and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the next ten of the 2024 Basketball List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 111 to 120:

111. Kevin Porter
112. Jeff Malone
113. Derek Fisher
114. Jack Coleman
115. Darrell Griffith
116. Danny Manning
117. Dan Roundfield
118. Truck Robinson
119. Antoine Walker
120. Michael Redd

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

Mike Gminski's chances of being in the Hall of Fame are primarily due to his college accomplishments. Gminski did have a nice NBA career, where he exceeded 10,000 Points and 6,000 Rebounds, but as we often state, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame looks at all levels of the sport.

Collegiately, Gminski had one of the best careers in Duke Blue Devil history, and how impactful is that!  Gminski was a three-time All-ACC Selection where the Center set multiple school records in Points and rebounds.  The former ACC Player of the Year will go down in history as one of the best players in conference history.

As the Las Vegas Raiders gear up for the 2024 season, all eyes are on the quarterback situation. With Raider Nation eagerly awaiting training camp and the preseason, the battle for the starting QB spot is heating up. The Raiders, fresh off a strong finish to 2023, are looking to build on their momentum with new head coach Antonio Pierce at the helm.

The defense stood tall last season, but the big question remains: who's leading the offense?

With Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell vying for the top spot, the competition in Costa Mesa, Calif., is set to be fierce. Whoever emerges as the Week 1 starter will have a solid offensive line and a roster of playmakers, including Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Zamir White, and rookie Brock Bowers.

Let's dive into what each quarterback brings to the table and who has the edge in this critical matchup.

Gardner Minshew

Gardner Minshew is entering his sixth NFL season and brings a wealth of experience to the Raiders. Known for his charismatic personality and competitive spirit, Minshew has carved out a reputation as a reliable and efficient quarterback despite his journeyman status.

His career QB-INT ratio stands impressively at better than 2-to-1, demonstrating his ability to protect the ball. Minshew has twice thrown for over 3,000 yards in seasons where he started at least nine games, showcasing his capability to lead an offense.

Last year with the Indianapolis Colts, Minshew stepped up in relief for starter Anthony Richardson, completing 62.2% of his passes and securing wins in seven of his 13 starts. Although his highest Pro Football Focus grade of 70.5 came during his rookie year in 2019, his consistent performance earned him a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders.

Minshew is currently the favorite to start Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Aidan O'Connell

Aidan O'Connell has quickly become a name to watch in the Raiders' quarterback battle. In his sophomore season, he's making the move from jersey No. 4 to No. 12, and the number change might just signify a new chapter in his career.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, O'Connell surprised many by starting ten games as a rookie. His 65.9 Pro Football Focus grade in 2023 not only outshined Gardner Minshew's 62.0 but also showcased his potential to lead an offense.

Standing tall at 6-foot-3, O'Connell offers a slight height advantage over Minshew, which could play a role in his vision and effectiveness on the field.

O'Connell’s 213 completions last season, with a completion rate of 62.1%, led the team, demonstrating his efficiency and reliability. Despite the offseason buzz around the Raiders not drafting a quarterback, the addition of All-American tight end Brock Bowers and two offensive linemen indicates they are building a supportive environment for their young QB.

With +172 NFL week 1 odds to be the starting quarterback against the Los Angeles Chargers, O'Connell is emerging as a viable contender for the role. His youth and previous performance indicate he might be the key to the Raiders' long-term strategy.