Troy University Athletics
Two Former Trojan Coaches Selected to ASHOF
11/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
TROY, Ala. - A pair of former Troy University football coaches were among the eight greats named to the 2005 Class of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
The duo, former Trojans head coach Billy Atkins (1966-71) and former assistant coach Tracy Rocker (1997-2001), join with Mobile native Robert Brazile, former Alabama star Jeremiah Castille, former Jacksonville State baseball player and coach Rudy Abbott, former Auburn basketball star Chuck Person, late "Voice of the Auburn Tigers" Jim Fyffe and late Birmingham Post-Herald Sports Editor Bob Phillips.
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 1969, will enshrine its 37th class on June 12, 2005, at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel. The new members will bring the total rolls of the Hall to 249 members.
Following is biographical information on the two former Trojans who will be inducted next summer.
BILLY ATKINS/FOOTBALL - Born November 19, 1934 in Millport, AL.
Played collegiately for Auburn University. Was the Most Valuable Player on Auburn's 1957 National Championship Team. During the ?˜57 season he scored 83 points (11 touchdowns), which led the SEC in scoring and ranked him third in the country. At that time he became Auburn's All-Time leading scorer. He was the star of the 1958 Senior Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers drafted Atkins in '58 and he also played for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC. He led the Bills and the league with the most interceptions (10) and also had the best punting average at 45.3 yards a punt. On January 8, 1966, named Head Football Coach at Troy State. In '68 he coached Troy State to a National Championship and for his efforts was named NAIA Coach of the Year. He posted a 44-16-2 overall record in six seasons at Troy and captured three Alabama Collegiate Conference titles before moving to the Gulf South Conference for his final two years. He coached professionally for the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49'ers and the St. Louis Cardinals. He died November 5, 1991.
TRACY ROCKER/FOOTBALL - Born April 9, 1966 in Atlanta, GA.
Played collegiately at Auburn University and made history in 1988 when he became the first player from the SEC to win both the Outland Trophy (nation's outstanding interior lineman) and the Lombardi award (college football's outstanding lineman). He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame (2004). Received the Birmingham Touchdown Club SEC MVP award ('88). Received the Atlanta Touchdown Club SEC Lineman of Year award ('88). He was named Player-of-Year in the SEC by the Nashville Banner and was All-SEC three consecutive years ('86-'88). His 354 total career tackles is the most of any down lineman in Auburn history. He was named to Auburn's Team of Century and to Auburn's Team of Decade (80's). Was a member of Auburn teams which won a pair of SEC titles ('87 & '88). In the '89 NFL Draft went in the third round, 66th pick overall to the Washington Redskins and played two years for the Redskins (?˜89-'90). Following his NFL career, Rocker started his coaching career. He served on the staff of head coach Larry Blakeney from 1997-2001 before joining the coaching staff at the University of Arkansas.
Congratulations to all of the members of the 2005 Class of the Alabama Sport Hall of Fame, as well as to their families, from Troy University and the Trojan family.
