Isaac Bruce
The first weekend of June brings the 2015 Induction Weekend for the newest class of inductees into Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. The weekend kicks off with a private Reunion of Champions reception for past inductees and the current class on Friday night. On Saturday, June 6, at 11:30 am the Champion Within Luncheon takes place at the beautiful Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. Saturday night, June 6, the Omni Hotel Nashville hosts the Annual Induction Ceremony and Awards Banquet. Special recognition will be given to the Gator bowl Champion 1955 Vanderbilt University football team.
Isaac Bruce came to the Memphis football team as a wide receiver in 1992. The talented Bruce made an immediate impact on the Tiger football squad, earning a starting position before the opening game of 1992. Bruce finished the 1993 season with a school-record 74 catches for 1,054 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 74 catches and 1,054 yards remain Memphis football records and his 10 touchdown receptions ranks fourth all-time.
Bruce was drafted in the second round by the St. Louis Rams in 1994. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, retiring in 2010 as the NFL’s second all-time leading receiver with 1,024 receptions for 15,208 yards and 91 touchdowns.
Here is an alphabetical list of the other Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2015 Inductees:
William Mack Brown — Tennessee native, legendary football coach, Brown led Texas Longhorns to Big 12 Championship and BCS National Championship after 2005 season.
John Cropp – Cropp compiled a 48-15-3 record, two Class AAA state titles (1971-72) and 1972 mythical national championship at Tennessee High School, Bristol.
Bob Cummings won more than 100 football games in 15 years in Tennessee high schools.
William (Billy) Dunavant Jr., former owner of the United States Football League’s Memphis Showboats, developed the Racquet Club of Memphis.
Jimmy England was a two-time All-SEC guard for the University of Tennessee.
Galen W. Johnson led Porter High School in Blount County to three state championships.
Henry and Alice Hooker transformed Nashville’s Iroquois Steeplechase into the premier sporting event it is today.
John Pierce, Jr. is college basketball’s all-time leading scorer, with 4,230 points at Lipscomb University.
Jamie Rotella is an All-American linebacker from the University of Tennessee.
Jake Rudolph won 295 football games, including a state championship in 1985, two second-place finishes and a total of 16 trips to the playoffs in 39 years coaching at Memphis University School.
The 2015 honorees include Cumberland University NAIA National Championship Baseball Team, University of Tennessee Tennis Doubles Team (Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese), UT Martin national rodeo championship Men’s Rodeo squad, Vanderbilt University national championship Baseball Team, Walters State Community College NJCAA Division II national championship Golf Team, Female Amateur Athlete of the Year Dacotah Faught, Male Amateur Athlete of the Year David Helton, and Male Professional Athlete of the Year Nick Marable.
