April 13, 2010
By Philippe Saboulaut
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - On Friday, five 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 weekend is by purchasing the Hall of Fame Pass for only $60. The pass includes a ticket to the Hall of Fame Induction Dinner on Friday night, the UCF Spring Football Game and a barbecue plate at the UCF Pigskin Barbecue & Fan Day on Saturday and a weekend pass to the UCF baseball vs. Rice series.
To purchase a Hall of Fame Pass through the Golden Knights Club, please call (407) 823-2086 or e-mail GoldenKnightsClub@athletics.ucf.edu.
Former UCF football standout Michael O'Shaughnessy will be inducted into the hall of fame Friday along with Elgin Davis (football), Kim Wyant (women's soccer), Wayne Densch (philanthropy) and Lex Wood (tennis founder).
O'Shaughnessy played defensive end for the university's 1979 inaugural football team. He owns the UCF record for most sacks in a game (five versus Emory & Henry in 1979) and totaled 22 sacks during his two-year collegiate career.
He was also a member of the baseball team in 1979, which was the school's first championship baseball squad as part of the Sunshine State Conference. O'Shaughnessy was designated Alumnus of the Decade for the 1980s at the school's 40th anniversary celebration. A successful entrepreneur in real estate, he co-founded with his wife the Millennium Woman Foundation, a non-profit organization which has funded over 250 educational scholarships to single-parent women nationwide.
UCFAthletics.com recently had a chance to catch up with O'Shaughnessy and talked with him about entering the hall of fame.
Is it amazing to think of how far UCF sports have come since you've played?
"It's not that amazing because when I played, we all knew where this was going and we all knew this was going to be a big program. Where we stand today, we are second to none."
What do you remember most fondly about your time at UCF?
"Any athlete that cherishes their experience will always reflect on their friendships. Those experiences with those guys are life-lasting."
Tell me about some of the things that you've accomplished after graduating from UCF.
"You could wrap all these things up: the books I've written, the charity that I've started, all these unique things, and I'm going to tell you that my greatest experience was being a UCF football player. If I had to address the football team I would tell them that this moment, no matter what they do, this will be their greatest experience. Cherish the moment, and work hard."
What is your legacy in the story of UCF sports?
"That's pretty easy for me to say. It's not the sacks, it's not the intensity. It's the passion, the passion that I have for UCF football and UCF athletics. I have a great unconditional love for UCF."
What does being inducted into the Hall of Fame mean to you?
"The Hall of Fame is a validation of sorts. If the UCF experience was the greatest thing that I've experienced of all the things that I've done, then you know that the UCF Hall of Fame induction is the greatest thing that I could accomplish outside of being married to my wife Leslie and having my kids Lucky and Shane."
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to 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 UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.