THIBODAUX, La. – Athletic director Rob Bernardi has announced the newest class of the Nicholls State University Athletics Hall of Fame that will be honored on Sept. 21 ahead of that night's football game against Langston University, as Greg Greely, Bobby Morrow, Morris Osburn, Rashunda Taylor, Rogers Washington and the 1972 Nicholls tennis team have made the cut.

"I'd like to thank the committee and everyone that sent in nominations as this was another tough year of deciding on who would be inducted into the athletics hall of fame," Bernardi said. "I think this year's group helps us recognize our very beginnings as a department, as well as some of the standout people who have come through the University."

Highlighting the class is former football defensive back and current student assistant coach Greely, who has returned to Nicholls almost 30 years after he finished his playing days to finish his course requirements to attain his bachelor's degree. On the football field in 1984 Greely was a second team All-Gulf Star selection at defensive back and still holds the record for most interceptions in a career with 21. The Bogalusa, La., native was drafted into the USFL in the second round by the San Antonio Gunslingers.

Morrow was a part of the second classified varsity sport at Nicholls, where as a member of the baseball team was a part of the very first Colonel teams that were not affiliated with a conference when they competed. Morrow holds the distinction of throwing the first no-hitter in team history in 1961, where he amassed a 9-3 record with a 1.37 earned run average and 113 strikeouts. That record stood for nearly 30 years until it was broken by Scott Sanders in 1990.

Another legacy pick comes in the form of Nicholls' first basketball coach and athletics director in Osburn. He was the first to lead the program which began in 1957, but began intercollegiate play in 1958, moving on to head up the department after just two seasons. Osburn's work was tireless as he had a year to develop the program, budget, recruit, schedule and provide housing for players that were not from the state.

Named one of the players of the decade by the Southland Conference for the 1990's, Taylor still holds numerous records to this day that have yet to be touched almost 20 years from the last time she laced up her cleats. As a member of the 1995 and 1996 conference championship teams, Taylor holds the league record for batting average in a season (.402) and led the conference in hits in each of her two seasons. She followed up her SLC Newcomer of the Year junior season by being named a Louisville Slugger/NSCA second team All-American by earning the league's player and hitter of the year.

Washington played during the prime years of the Colonel basketball program, when it was transitioning from a Division II power into the top flight of college basketball in the 1980's. He did his part by earning honorable mention all-american honors as well as NABC Division II second team All-South Central Region, NCAA Division II South Central Region All-Tournament team and Most Outstanding player and first team All-Gulf South Conference. Washington still holds the Nicholls record for rebounding average at 12.3 per game, rebounds in a single season with 366 and for the most in a game with 26 back in 1979.

The last inductee is actually a group that many fans may not know about unless you were attending the university during their amazing run. The 1979 men's tennis team earned a 17-1 overall record and at one point had a 43-match winning streak that spanned three years. That group won four consecutive conference championships, included four all-americans and all-conference selections and finished third overall at the national championships. Players such as Christopher Robinson, Raul Mendez, Torbjorn Fasth and Jan Freeman finished with no greater than five losses during their tenure, defeating teams such as Florida State, Kansas, Rice and Louisiana Tech, among others.

The Nicholls Athletics Hall of Fame ceremony will take place in the Plantation Suite of the Nicholls Student Union, as the 2013 class will be recognized during the football game between the Colonels and Lions.