UC Athletics Hall of Fame adds three

Mary Wineberg, Brad Jackson and Andrew Kean were inducted into the UC Athletics Hall of Fame Friday, Feb. 19, at the Legion of Excellence ceremony held in Tangeman University Center.

Jackson, a former linebacker, played four seasons with the Bearcats from 1994-97 and holds the record for the third-most tackles in school history with 216.

Jackson helped UC end a 47-year bowl drought in 1997 when Cincinnati defeated Utah State 35-19 in the Humanitarian Bowl.

“It put this University back on the map football-wise,” Jackson said. “From being in Conference USA to winning more bowl games enabled [the UC football program] to get to a major conference in the Big East, and you have seen the success.”

Jackson expressed gratitude toward the Bearcat coaches who influenced him as a player and as a person.

“The University of Cincinnati gave me everything,” Jackson said. “Without basketball, without football, without coach Huggins, coach [Rick] Minter and Mick Cronin, I never would have became the man I that I became and never had the opportunity to go to the professional ranks.”

Jackson compared his career with the Bearcats to the Super Bowl run he made with the Baltimore Ravens in 2001.

“The Bearcat way: A lot of passion, persistence, guys working hard together achieving one common goal,” Jackson said.

Kean was the captain of the first UC men’s soccer team to appear at the NCAA tournament and was the first All-American in school history.

“The best off-the-field memory was qualifying for the championships for the first time and to watch it live on television in the Bearcats Lounge,” Kean said.

What Kean misses most is the everyday interactions he had with everyone at UC.

“The coaches, academics, athletes, the real family atmosphere at UC, all the sports teams being respected,” Kean said. “I loved every minute of it.”

Kean played professionally in Scotland, but was more impressed by the standard of college soccer in the U.S.

“The coaching and professionalism I had in Scotland was nothing in comparison to what I had here at UC,” Kean said. “A massive step up in the quality at UC; it surprised me and it was fantastic.”

Wineberg is part of an elite group, having earned a gold medal on the world’s biggest stage; in the 4x400 meter relay at the 2008 Olympics and holds the school record for the outdoor 400-meter dash.

Current student athletes were also recognized for academics with an induction into the Legion of Excellence.

There were 17 athletes honored including: Chris Peters, baseball; Larry Davis, men’s basketball; and Stephanie Stevens, women’s basketball.

“It’s a great honor to be one of the selected few and it’s a good thing to put on the resume,” Stevens said.

The women’s basketball team is devoted to being successful not only on the court but also off court.

“You have to work through practices and get things done and don’t procrastinate,” Stevens said. “It’s important for women’s basketball and whenever we are on the road, we have study tables.”

2009-10 Legion of Excellence Inductees

Baseball- Chris Peters
Men's basketball- Larry Davis
Women's basketball- Stephanie Stevens
Men's cross country- Kyle Dragan
Women's cross country- Tamara Masters
Football- Alex Delisi
Men's golf- Alberto Fernandez
Women's golf- Kate Moore
Lacrosse- Lauren Kelly
Men's soccer- Chris Thompson
Women's soccer- Vanessa Hardin
Men's swimming- Britton Van Dissel
Women's swimming- Elinore de Jong
Tennis- Ksenia Slynko
Men's track- Kyle Dragan
Women's track- Tamara Masters
Volleyball- Jamie Torok

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