The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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JUNE/JULY 2023 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 9 BY ANTHONY BROOME S even prominent figures from U-M Athletics history are nominated for the 2023 Michigan Sports Hall of Fame class on this year's ballot, with the group set to be revealed in mid-June. Football stars Larry Foote, Jim Harbaugh, Drew Henson, Jake Long, Mark Messner and Lamar Woodley and softball legend Si- erra Romero have been nominated for the 2023 class. Voting was open to fans, the Hall of Fame's Election Task Force and a state- wide election committee that came together to gather ballots through May 12. "The Hall of Fame was orga- nized in 1954 by Lt. Governor Philip A. Hart, Michigan State University Athletic Director Biggie Munn, Donald Weeks, President of the Greater Michigan Foundation, W. Nich- olas Kerbawy, General Manager of the Detroit Lions and George Alderton of the Lansing State Journal who conceived of the project," the MSHOF website states. "It is believed to be the oldest State Sports Hall of Fame in the United States, having elected its inaugural Class in 1955. "The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Induction Classes are made up of memo- rable contributors from multiple sports that have achieved prominence and rep- resented their teams, schools and the State of Michigan." U-M has 53 all-time inductees in the MSHOF. Last year's class included men's basketball's Chris Webber and former head coach John Beilein and softball's Jennie Ritter. Professional Finalists: Larry Foote (1998-01): The Detroit native attended Detroit Pershing High School and won All-Big Ten honors as a linebacker twice in 2000-01. He also grabbed first-team All-America and Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 2001. Foote went on to the NFL where he won a pair of Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and also spent time with the De- troit Lions and Arizona Cardinals. Amateur Finalists: Jim Harbaugh (1982-86): Michi- gan's current head coach won the Chi- cago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1986. Harbaugh quarterbacked the Wolverines to a pair of top-10 fin- ishes and two wins over Ohio State. Drew Henson (1998-00): The Brighton native was a storied multi- sport athlete, playing both football and baseball. Henson was a high school All- American at quarterback and punter and also was named USA Today's High School Baseball Player of the Year. He took his talents to Michigan and led it to a Big Ten title and Citrus Bowl win in 2000. Jake Long (2004-08): The No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft and Lapeer native was a two-time first-team All-Amer- ican and won a pair of Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year awards. He was also an all-state player in both football and basket- ball in high school. Mark Messner (1984-88): Riverview's star was an All-Amer- ican at Detroit Catholic Central High and holds Michigan's re- cords for tackles for loss (70) and sacks (36). Messner grabbed co- MVP honors at the 1986 Fiesta Bowl, was named a consensus All-Amer- ican in 1988 and is one of three players to receive All-Big Ten honors four years in a row. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Sierra Romero (2013-16): The Michigan softball star led the program to four Big Ten titles and a runner-up finish in the 2015 Women's College World Se- ries. She is the first U-M softball player to earn All-America honors four times. Romero holds the NCAA career records in runs and grand slams, in addition to being the Big Ten's all-time leader in batting average, home runs and RBI. Lamar Woodley (2003-06): Hail- ing from Saginaw, Woodley was the de- fensive MVP of the 2005 Rose Bowl and was a unanimous All-American during his senior year. He won the Lombardi and Ted Hendricks Awards. He also was named the 2006 Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year. ❏ ❱ Inside Michigan ATHLETICS Seven U-M Alums On Ballot For Michigan Sports Hall Of Fame Defensive lineman Mark Messner was named a consensus All- American in 1988 and is one of just three players to receive All- Big Ten honors four years in a row. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN