The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan athletic luminaries from the worlds of softball, football and cross country/track are headed for the U-M Hall of Honor induction ceremonies in Febru- ary. The trio consists of softball great Traci Conrad, football standout John "Jumbo" Elliott and cross country/track star Kevin Sullivan. The threesome, which will be honored at a banquet in February, achieved not only at a high level during their years at Michigan, but long thereafter. Conrad started strong at Michigan, and only grew better. The Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 1996 eventually became the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1998 and '99. She earned conference batting titles in each of those final two seasons, setting a league record in career hits with 345. The three-time All-American became a 1999 Honda Award finalist, while rewrit- ing the Michigan record book. When she left Alumni Field, she topped the Wolver- ines in all-time hits, runs (223) and batting average (.389), among other categories. When it came to the books, Conrad earned three Academic All-Big Ten cita- tions, and became the only U-M softball player to garner multiple All-America honors both on and off the field. A two-time All-American, Elliott was one of the best offensive linemen ever to play for Michigan. He set a record for a Michigan lineman during the 1980s by starting 44 games. The finalist for the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award as a senior, Elliott earned a bach- elor's degree in education in 1987. A second-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 1988, Elliott performed 14 seasons in the NFL, all in New York. He played eight seasons with the Giants and six more with the New York Jets. He made it to the Pro Bowl in 1993 and started on the Giants squad that became Super Bowl champions in 1990. Elliott garnered attention as one of the greatest Giants ever when he was selected to the 75th anniversary all-time team for the orga- nization. Sullivan, now an assistant coach for the Wolverines, earned an unmatched 16 Big Ten championships and 14 NCAA All-America citations. He captured four NCAA championships, climbing to the top of the mountain in the mile in 1995 and 1998, the distance medley relay in 1995, and the 1,500-meter run at the 1995 outdoor championships. The nine-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year secured the honor four seasons as a cross country runner, three times in in- door track and twice in outdoor track. He earned four NCAA All-America honors in cross country. The seven-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earned the 1998 Big Ten Confer- ence Medal of Honor. He went on to be- come a three-time Olympian for Canada, finishing fifth in the 1,500-meter run in 2000. Michigan established its Hall of Honor in 1978, to spotlight those who have ad- vanced the reputation of athletics at the University through their contributions as athletes, coaches and administrators. Three Wolverines To Be Inducted Into Michigan's Hall Of Honor