Sept. 18, 2007

THIBODAUX, La. - Former Colonel basketball coach Rickey Broussard heads the class of the 2007 Hall of Fame inductees for Nicholls State as the Colonels welcome five into the coveted corridor. In addition to Broussard, two former football players, a men's basketball player and a former athletics trainer are set for induction into the Colonels' Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ceremonies are planned in conjunction with the Colonels home football game on Saturday, September 22, 2007 against Azusa Pacific kicking off at 12 pm.

The newest class will be present at a brunch induction ceremony held at 10:30 a.m. in the newly renovated Galliano Hall cafeteria. Tickets to the brunch are $10 and are available by contacting 448-4794.

Below are short biographies on each of the inductees:

Rickey Broussard Men's Basketball 1992-2001

Broussard led the Colonels to two NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament appearances and captured two Southland Conference Championships during his tenure. The Colonels won just three games in Broussard's first season before making one of the bigger turnarounds in NCAA basketball for the 1991-92 season. The Colonels finished 15-13 overall and 12-6 in conference play. Broussard's teams continued to improve. By 1995 the team finished the season with an impressive 24-6 record, including a 17-1 conference record. The Colonels were Southland Conference Champions and earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. It was the Colonels' first ever appearance in the Division I championship. Broussard's 1998 team was equally impressive finishing 19-10 overall and 15-1 in conference play, which included 14 straight conference wins. The 1998 team returned to the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament for the second time. Broussard was a three-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year selection and a two-time Louisiana Collegiate Coach of the Year choice. Going into his final season at Nicholls, Broussard was second in victories among Southland Conference coaches and one of just two SLC coaches with 100 or more conference wins. Broussard is second to former coach Don Landry in terms of coaching longevity, having served 12 years as head coach.

Keith Menard Football 1981-84

The Rayne La, native finished his career with an impressive list of accomplishments. Menard was an Honorable Mention selection to the 1984 Associated Press All-American Team. In addition, Menard was selected to the Second Team All Louisiana squad as a quarterback, and was named team captain of the 1984 Colonel squad. The 1984 team finished 6-5 over all and 4-1 in conference play, earning Gulf Star Conference co-championship honors. Menard ranks second in career touchdown passes with 33 and ranks 5th in completion percentage with an impressive 58 percent completion rate. Keith Menard finished the 1984 season being named First- Team All Gulf Star Conference quarterback. He completed his career with a 59 percent passing completion average and 4,240 career passing yards.

Dewayne Harrison Football 1982-85

Dewayne Harrison was named Associated Press First-Team All-American in 1984. Only four other Colonel football players have achieved that honor. As a tight end, Harrison led the Colonels in receptions in 1984 with 51, and a 12 yards per catch average. Harrison and his fellow teammates became the first Nicholls football team to have back- to- back winning seasons in 1984 and 1985. Harrison was a unanimous selection to the 1984 First-Team All-Gulf Star Conference squad as the Colonels finished as co-champions of the Gulf-Star Conference that same year. Harrison finished the 1984 season with 8 receptions for 114 against Southeastern Louisiana. That single game performance earned him the single season record for most receptions with 51.

Frank Etheridge Men's Basketball 1959-61

The Auburndale, Fl native was recruited from the University of Florida by former Nicholls baseball coach, Jim Hall. Etheridge made an immediate impact on the Colonels' basketball team, scoring 363 points in his junior year and leading the team with a 17 points per game average. Etheridge improved upon his previous year's performance with an impressive 441- point season total with 20 points per game average in 1961. He was named team captain that same year and selected as the team's MVP. In just two seasons with the Colonels, Etheridge scored 798 and became a member of the 500 Point Club. Etheridge was the team leader in free throw percentage, hitting 76 percent from the free throw line in 1960 and 74 percent in 1961. Etheridge was a dual sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball. In 1961 he led the baseball team in hits with 29.

Mayfield Armstrong Athletic Trainer 1980-91

Mayfield Armstrong joined the Colonels staff as head trainer in July 1980, having served at Tulane the previous seven years. The Florida State graduate quickly became a favorite among Colonel athletes and coaches, earning himself the nickname Mr. "A." Naturally, his training staff and equipment staff soon became known as the "A-team." Armstrong and his A-team provided medical care and rehabilitation services to Colonel athletics for 11 years. Mayfield Armstrong becomes the first athletics trainer to be selected to the Hall of Fame.

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