February 21, 2002

BYU-Idaho to pay tribute
to century of Ricks sports

REXBURG, Idaho -- Brigham Young University-Idaho will pay tribute to a century of athletics at Ricks College during a celebration Friday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Hart Gymnasium in Rexburg.

Free tickets are now available to the general public and students to attend the athletic tribute. Call 496-2230 for ticket information.

Former athletes and coaches who will be attending are asked to contact Suzanne Williams at 496-2103 or email her at williamss@byui.edu.

With the transition of Ricks College to BYU-Idaho, intercollegiate athletics is being phased out this year and is being replaced with an expanded student activities program.

The tribute, which is called "Celebrating a Century," will feature past and present coaches, administrators and athletes.

The show will be enhanced with videos and feature performances by the Spirit Team and Thor; Swing Set, a faculty jazz ensemble; From the Heart, a student vocal performance club; and a men’s octet of BYU-Idaho students.

Athletic Director Garth Hall, who also serves as Advancement vice president, says, "Our purpose is to give appreciation for those who have contributed so much to Ricks College athletics. We particularly want to properly recognize and thank the coaches."

He adds, "The tribute is also a time for the public to have a chance to participate in a celebration of Ricks College athletics and what it’s meant to this institution and this community. It will be a chance to reflect back upon our 100 years of a tradition of excellence and accomplishment."

Hall says Ricks College has had one of the most successful junior college athletic programs in the nation. "Our athletes have excelled not only on the field and court, but always have been at the very top of academic achievement," he says.

Emceeing the program will be Mack Shirley, a retired vice president who also played football while a student at Ricks in the early 1950s.

Shirley says, "We’ve always had a great program and good athletes who were not only skilled in the sport but excellent role models with high standards."

He adds, "Ricks has been an example of what’s good in athletics."

As a long-time Student Life vice president, Shirley says, "Not only did it involve athletes but it also involved thousands of other students as observers and participants. It tied the community to the school and over the years we’ve had strong community support which is essential to good town-and-gown relationships."