NAU Athletics Inducts the 2014 Hall of Fame Class
/ November 13, 2014
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona Athletics Department held its annual Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, November 7. This year's inductees included All-American football player Dan Finn, national champion and Olympian Lopez Lomong, Big Sky Soccer Player of the Year and three-time all-conference honoree Cee Cee Odorfer and the Big Sky Tournament Champion 1999-2000 men's basketball team.
Prior to this year, the NAU cross country and track & field programs' last inductee was Johanna Nilsson in 2011.
"It means a lot," said Lomong. "NAU taught me leadership and teamwork. When I wear the uniform, I not only represent me I represent NAU and that's what matters to me. I'm just so happy to be able to be called a Lumberjack and to support the many Lumberjacks to come."
"Any time you get inducted into the Hall of Fame it's special," said former men's basketball player Ross Land. "For us as a group, it's so unique as a team; it's a reunion for us. It's a chance for us to reminisce and to tell stories. I told a lot of people that it's special to us because of the familiar faces that we see. The boosters and administration, those are the people that made it special for us everyday. Those are the people behind the scenes. It's so special to see everyone here supporting us. It doesn't matter why you're in the Hall of Fame. It's a great honor and it's very humbling."
"It means a lot," said Finn. "It was one of the best experiences of my life. I met so many great friends and great people here. It shaped and formed me for the rest of my life. I love this place and town. It's really cool coming back. It's fun to be here and it's brought back a lot of memories."
"It's definitely remarkable," Odorfer said. "It's truly a great honor to even be recognized with this group. For the committee to think of me in this process is amazing. Overall, I don't really see this as an honor for myself, but more for everyone that's had an impact on my life, from my coaches to my parents to my teammates, so really this is for all of them. Without them I definitely could not have achieved all of the success I did on and off the field. Without my teammates this definitely couldn't have been imaginable. I'm truly grateful for them."
The inductees were celebrated with by family, friends, former teammates and coaches, as they joined the ranks of NAU's greatest student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors.