STARKVILLE- Seven Mississippi State greats will be inducted into the MSU M-Club Sports Hall of Fame the weekend of the Bulldogs’ Oct. 26 home football game against Arkansas.
Former football players Danny Knight, Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack and the late Keffer McGee, along with women’s basketball standout Jennifer Fambrough, baseball star Bobby Reed, softball legend Iyhia McMichael and former men’s and women’s tennis Andy Jackson will all be from the class of 2024 honored.
The inductions will take place as part of the 2024 MSU M-Club Sports Hall of Fame Gala on the evening of Friday, October 25. More information about the Gala will be released later.
Here are more details on those that will be celebrated this fall:
MSU M-CLUB SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2024
Jennifer Fambrough Jordan (women’s basketball – 1999-2003)
Jordan became a staple in the MSU record books with his magnificent career in the Maroon and White. She accumulated numerous honors while at Starkville, including All-America Freshman Team recognition in 1999, as well as three different All-Southeastern Conference selections.
Jordan led State to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1999 and would help the Bulldogs play in the postseason all four years of his career. At the time of Jordan’s graduation, she was State’s second all-time leading scorer and still remains in the top 10.
Jordan also remains firmly entrenched among the school’s best in career scoring average, goals scored, free throws made, free throw percentage, rebounds and more. She is also among the best in single-game scoring and single-season field goal percentage. She still holds the school record for most free throws in a single game, with 18.
Jordan finished his career with 1,677 points, 731 rebounds, 204 assists and 150 steals. She was selected as an SEC Great in 2008.
Andy Jackson (Men’s and Women’s Tennis: Women’s Tennis – 1985-1989, Men’s Tennis – 1989-2001)
One of the most successful coaches in any sport in school history, Jackson distinguished himself by leading the men’s and women’s tennis programs at MSU. He remains first all-time at State in career men’s wins (220) and also has the highest winning percentage of any women’s coach (59.6 percent).
On the men’s side, Jackson guided the Bulldogs to 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1991 to 2001, reaching the round of 16 on 10 different occasions, the quarterfinals five times and the semifinals twice. Under Jackson, the Bulldogs won the SEC Championship in 1993 and the SEC Tournament crown in 1996. Jackson was named SEC Coach of the Year in 1991.
Combined, Jackson led the men’s and women’s programs with 14 top-25 finishes. He has mentored 15 MSU All-Americans, two NCAA champion duals teams and six No. 1-ranked individuals.
Danny Knight (Football – 1980-1983)
Knight put together one of the best careers of any receiver to wear the Maroon and White. The talented pass catcher still ranks in the top 10 in MSU history in career receiving yards and is in the top five in single-game, single-season yards.
In his career, Knight caught 81 passes for 1,773 yards. His 21.89 yards per catch are the most ever at State for players who have caught 40 or more passes.
Selected by the 1982 All-SEC team, Knight was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft. He would go on to play in the USFL for the New Jersey Generals.
Keffer McGee (football – 1993-1997)
McGee established himself as a fan favorite and one of the best running backs in the country in the mid-1990s for the Bulldogs.
In 1995, McGee ran for 1,072 yards and 13 touchdowns. At the time, McGee was just the third Bulldog to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a single season.
McGee was on track for an even better season in 1996 before a knee injury prematurely ended his campaign. McGee led the SEC and was third in the nation with 481 rushing yards before he was injured against South Carolina.
McGee tragically passed away just before fall camp in 1997. His Bulldog career ended with 1,647 rushing yards, 442 receiving yards and 19 total touchdowns. He was also a model student-athlete as he earned a degree in general management and was a three-time SEC Honor Roll selection.
Iyhia McMichael (softball – 2001-2004)
McMichael is one of the most talented athletes in MSU history. She was a three-time All-American and two-time SEC Player of the Year while at State. She also earned Academic All-American honors as a senior.
McMichael ranks in the top 10 of MSU’s single season in every major hitting category, and his career numbers also rank in the top five in most categories. She was also incredibly talented on the field, still holding the MSU single-season and career records for outfield assists.
She ended her Bulldog career as the No. 1 overall pick in the inaugural National Pro Fastpitch Draft.
Bobby Reed (baseball – 1988-1990)
A right-handed pitcher and recent inductee into the Ron Polk Ring of Honor, Reed showcased his talents at State during the 1988-90 seasons. Reed led the team in four different categories during his time, including wins, earned run average, strikeouts and innings pitched. Reed also led the NCAA in ERA (1.09) during the 1988 season.
Until the 2008 season, Reed held the MSU record for consecutive scoreless innings (25.1) and games started (22). Labeling all three seasons, he earned numerous honors, including Freshman All-American (1988), ABCA All-Region Second Team (1990), All-SEC Second Team (1988,90), 1988 SEC Academic Honor Roll, SEC All- Tournament Team (1990) and NCAA All-Tournament Regional Team (1989-90).
Reed was drafted in the 1990 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers with the 89th pick in the third round. Reed played three seasons in the minors and reached Double-A.
Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack (Football – 1997-2000)
Womack stands out as one of the greatest offensive linemen in school history, starting 31 games at tackle. He was a First-Team All-American in 2000, also earning All-SEC honors that season.
Womack was a member of three Mississippi State bowl teams, as well as the school’s only SEC Western Division championship team in 1998. A fourth-round NFL draft pick in 2001, Womack played in the NFL for 11 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks ( 2001-08), Cleveland Browns (2009-10) and Arizona Cardinals (2011). Womack started 71 NFL games before retiring at the end of the 2011 season.
Womack was selected as an SEC Legend in 2017.
In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, the M-Club will also recognize former Bulldog football player Howard Lewis with the Dowsing-Bell Valor Award and present the Leo Seal Award to former football player Jan Gwin.
The Dowsing-Bell Valor Award is given annually and is named after the state’s first black student-athlete, Frank Dowsing Jr. It is given to a former letterwinner whose determination and perseverance in overcoming obstacles is a testament to his character. This year’s honoree, Lewis, wrote letters to MSU from 1973 to 1975 and exemplified great courage in overcoming obstacles and remaining active in MSU and M-Club activities.
Gwin becomes only the fourth recipient of the Leo Seal Award, which on the occasions it is given, goes to a former letterwinner for outstanding service to the state of Mississippi, as well as to someone who has also been successful in business and community. Gwin is a two-time past president of the M-Club and has been active in M-Club activities since graduating from the State. Gwin also served MSU as a member of the boards of the Bulldog Club and the MSU Foundation, as well as the advisory board of the School of Business, where he served as president.
