The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/406183
24 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Dennis Byrd, football: A great, great defensive lineman who was part of the famous "White Shoes" defense, he was the ACC's first three-time first- team All-ACC selection, a two-time All-American and a first-round pick of the NFL's Boston Patriots in 1968. His career ended early because of a knee injury, and he spent the rest of his life as a high school teacher and football coach in North Carolina. Dick Dickey, men's basketball: Dickey was one of Everett Case's origi- nal "Hoosier Hotshot" recruits and the guy who introduced the running one- handed jump shot to Southern basket- ball. He was a high school legend in Indiana and a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. A member of four conference champion teams, he is the only player in NC State history to earn four first-team all-conference honors, one of only three three-time All- Americans and the first Wolfpack player ever taken in the NBA Draft. Sam Esposito, baseball coach: In just his second year, Esposito took NC State to its first College World Series. He led his team to the first three ACC Championship titles. In 21 years, he won more than 500 games and is second only to current coach Elliott Avent in career victories. He coached three ACC Play- ers of the Year, seven All-Americans, 28 draft picks and 12 major leaguers. Long after he finished his career as a coach, Esposito continued to come to work as a compliance director in athletics. Charmaine Hooper, women's soc- cer: She was born in Guyana, grew up in Zambia and became a citizen of Can- ada when her dad moved his family there as a diplo- mat. She learned t h a t g i r l s c o u l d play competitive soccer and became not only one of the great women's soc- cer players at NC State, but also for the Canadian Na- tional Team. She led the Wolfpack to an ACC title and the NCAA Championship game in 1988. She's now an assistant soccer coach at Baylor. Jack McDowall, football, men's basketball, track and field and base- ball: He was voted the top athlete in the first half century of the school after earning 11 varsity letters in his four sports. He was twice named NC State Athlete of the Year. He set the state re- cord in the high jump and still owns the record for the longest punt return in school history — 95 yards. Chasity Melvin, women's basket- ball: She led NC State women's bas- ketball to its only NCAA Final Four appearance in 1998 and was named a first-team All-American. She is one of four players in program history to score more than 2,000 points and grab more than 1,000 rebounds. She set the record for the most points ever scored in an NCAA semifinal game with 37. After NC State, she played 12 years in the WNBA and became an All-Star player. Wendell Murphy, donor: Murphy is not an athlete, but he has been one of the university's most ardent support- ers in academics and athletics. He is a Watauga Medal winner and a member of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, and has served multiple times on the NC State Board of Trustees. He was a friend to higher education as a member of the state house and state senate who cleared hurdles to get NC State basketball a new home in 1999. Thanks to his major gift, the Wendell Murphy Football Opera- tions Center is one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the country. Danny Peebles, football and track and field: A nine-time All-American in track and field who was twice named the ACC's Most Outstanding Performer, Peebles is one of the most accomplished two-sport athletes in school history. He not only used his abilities in track and field to fulfill his dream to become an NFL wide receiver, he also earned two degrees at NC State, in accounting and business finance. Among all of his great honors includes the fact that he was the College of Humanities and Social Sci- ences Student of the Year in 1988. Lou Pucillo, men's basketball: Pucillo was not even recruited out of high school to play college basketball, but a year of prep school seasoning caught the eye of Everett Case, who recruited Pucillo despite his lack of size and his tendency to be a bit of a hot dog with his dribbling. Pucillo led Case to his final conference title in 1959 and was named the ACC Player of the Year, the ACC Athlete of the Year and a con- sensus first-team All-American. He's lived in Raleigh and been a huge sup- porter of all NC State teams ever since he graduated in 1960. Steve Rerych, men's swimming and diving: A three-time All-American and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Re- rych became the only person in ACC history to win three championships in three different events. After he hung up his swimming goggles, he earned a medical degree from Columbia Uni- versity and has been a general surgeon since 1974. 2014 NC State Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees Defensive lineman Dennis Byrd was the first player to be a three-time All-ACC selection in league history, and he was a two-time All-American. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS HOOPER