M Club Hall of Fame

On Friday night February 6, 2013 The University of Memphis M Club inducts four members into its Hall of Fame. Andy Cook, DeAngelo Williams, Andy Metcalf, and David Topham were inducted. The formal induction ceremony for the class of 2014 will be held at the Holiday Inn/University of Memphis on Friday at 7 PM and the prestigious group will be re-introduced at halftime of the Memphis vs. Temple basketball game, Saturday, February 7, at 12 PM.

Andy Cook was a graduate of Christian Brothers High School. He signed with Bobby Kilpatrick’s Tiger baseball squad in 1986 and became one of the more successful pitchers in school history. Andy Cook finished his collegiate career with a 21-15 record, 160 strikeouts and a three year ERA of 4.36. Cook was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees anfer his 1988 season. From there he made his way through the minor leagues to the Yankees. Upon the completion of his professional baseball career, Andy came back to Memphis and began a career in the banking industry.

DeAngelo Williams played football for the University of Memphis Tigers from 2002 to 2005. He rushed for 6,026 career yards and 55 touchdowns on 969 attempts. In addition, he caught five touchdown passes and registered 723 receiving yards on 70 receptions. Williams was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team in 2002 and went on to be named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the year for three consecutive years. A Heisman Trophy candidate in 2005, Williams ended his career as the nation’s leading rusher with an average of 178.55 yards per game. During his storied career, Williams set the NCAA record for the most 100-yard rushing performances in a career with 34 and still ranks fourth in NCAA history with 6,026 rushing yards. He was also the NCAA record holder for career all-purpose yards with 7,573. Named to 16 All-America teams, Williams was named to the Walter Camp and American Football Coaches Association All-America teams and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. He claimed MVP honors in the 2005 Motor City Bowl and the 2006 Senior Bowl. Drafted in the first round by the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, Williams is currently the team’s all-time leading rusher with 6,846 yards and 46 touchdowns.

“I really appreciate the opportunity of first being here, and the opportunity Memphis gave me to help that program be successful,” said Williams. “And I owe everything to Memphis, for them to induct me into the Hall of Fame, I feel like I need to induct them into the Hall of Fame, meaning the University of Memphis and everything that came with it.”

Andy Metcalf (2002-05) came to the University of Memphis in the fall of 2002 from Jackson, Tenn., where he attended the University School of Jackson and excelled in soccer. Metcalf helped his Tiger teams to an overall record of 42-27-6 during his four seasons of competition, including a school-record 16 wins in 2004 and a Conference USA Championship. His career 90 points scored and his 39 goals scored both rank third all-time in Memphis soccer history. Metcalf was named to the NSCAA All-Midwest Team in 2003 and received All-Conference USA honors in 2003, 2004 and 2005. In addition, he was named the Conference USA Player of the Week three times and in 2004 was named to the Soccer America National Team of the Week for his play on the pitch. An outstanding student that excelled in the classroom, Metcalf was selected to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America team in 2003, the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team in 2003, 2004 and 2005, as well as voted to the NSCAA Scholar All-South team in 2004. He was named the winner of the Soccer Team’s Tommy Smith Award in 2003. Metcalf was selected 19th overall by D.C. United in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft.

David Topham (1982-86), the 1982 British Junior 3000 meters champion, was one of the finest long distance runners in Tiger track history. A native of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, Topham arrived in Memphis in the fall of 1982 and immediately began to make his mark in collegiate tracks circles and in the Metro Conference. In 1983, he placed fourth among 45 runners in the Metro Conference Cross Country championships. The following year, Topham claimed the Metro Conference championship in the 10,000 meters, running a personal best time of 29:35.48. That same season, he posted a personal best of 24:08.0 in a five-mile race at the University of Arkansas Invitational. Topham won four individual Metro Conference Championships during his career, including two 5000 meter championships, the 10,000 meter title and the 1985 Metro Conference Cross Country Individual Championship. In addition to his distance marks, Topham ran a 1:57.3 in the 800 meters and a 3:52.8 1500 meters for the Tigers. The Cordova, Tennessee, resident has continued running career after graduation. He has been a member of the Pilgrimage Track Club since 2012. In addition to his profession as a realtor, Topham has worked with the Cordova High School track team for the past six years.

Information Source Gotigersgo.com