April 6, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - This Friday, four individuals will be inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the J. Rolfe Davis Recruiting Room at Bright House Networks Stadium. The event is part of UCF's Hall of Fame Weekend, which includes the spring football game Saturday.
The best way to enjoy the weekend is by purchasing the Hall of Fame Pass for only $60. The pass includes a ticket to the hall of fame ceremony and dinner, the Bubbalou's Pregame Pig-Out and UCF Football Legends Barbecue Saturday, the spring game, priority placement for the postgame autograph session, a weekend pass to the baseball series versus Tulane and a weekend pass to the softball series against Marshall.
To purchase a Hall of Fame Pass, contact Misty Knight in the Golden Knights Club office at (407) 882-1289.
Former UCF men's basketball star Bennie Shaw will be inducted into the hall of fame Friday along with Sylvester Bembery (football), Chariya Davis (women's basketball) and Bob Spitulski (football).
Shaw played for the Knights and head coach Torchy Clark from 1974-76. He scored 1,238 points in only two campaigns in Orlando. His career scoring average of 25.4 points ranks second in program history. In 1976, Shaw the shooting guard became the first UCF player to be selected in the National Basketball Association Draft when Milwaukee picked him in the ninth round.
Currently a middle school assistant principal and coach in Indian River County, Shaw describes his experience wearing Black and Gold and bonding with his teammates as a memorable one.
"The relationships I made are still fresh in my mind. It has been 30 years and I think and talk about them every day," he said.
Shaw credits much of his success in life to Clark, who is also a member of the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame. Shaw believes that Clark was ahead of his time.
"Coaches are now just doing what we were doing back then. All of the things that I have accomplished as a coach go to coach Clark because I still use his system today."
Shaw recently spoke with the UCF athletics communications staff about his upcoming honor.
How does it feel to be inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame?
It means everything. It's a great honor for people to recognize something that you did so long ago.
Looking back, what are some of your best memories from your time at UCF?
Some of my best memories are the relationships that I was able to establish. It has been 30 years and those guys are still fresh in my mind. I think and talk about them every day. That was the greatest time of my life, (I) achieved some great honors and had some fantastic things happen to me. For me, it all started there at UCF.
As the first UCF player to be drafted by an NBA franchise, describe the feeling of carrying that legacy.
At the time, I really wasn't thinking about being drafted. During my senior year, I was really having fun and coach Clark said to me, `You might be drafted to play in the NBA.' Wayne Embry, who was general manager at the time of the Milwaukee Bucks, came to a game, saw me play. I had a beautiful game. Then he wanted to see if I could do that in consecutive nights. So he came back and saw me play, and I had another great game. That's when they told me, yes you are going to be drafted and it was then that I actually started believing, `Wow, I might actually be good enough to play at that level.' It really was an honor.
What was it like to play for coach Clark?
For me, it was fun. He worked us so hard in practice. Games themselves were just like practice because they were easier. He had us doing things that coaches are now just doing. You hear the term that people say they are ahead of their time. Clark was ahead of his time because the stuff we did back then, I continue to instill those things as a coach now.
During your senior year, UCF beat Clearwater Christian, 163-90. What do you remember about the team's incredible offensive performance that night?
If you ever get into a zone like that, playing basketball, that is one of the greatest feelings ever, and when you have the whole team on the same page. That's what it was that night. It didn't matter who was in the game, we were hot that night.
Did you have a chance to see Jermaine Taylor play this year? If so, what are your impressions of him and the comparisons between him and yourself?
He can jump higher and his range is probably better than mine. He is taller and stronger. I coached against Jermaine when he was in high school, my tallest player was 6-2 and he was a 6-4 guard. You can see that we could not compete. He ended up winning the game, but we were the only team that was able to hold him under double-digits. I think he really has the tools to play at the next level, he is awesome. I have seen him play three or four times last year and probably about four or five times this year.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.