Three With UA Connections Among Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame Class Of 2023

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Three former University of Alabama athletes have been named among the 2023 class of inductees to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

This year marks the 55th class inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, with eight new inductees announced this week. The honorees will be officially inducted during a ceremony at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel on May 13, 2023.

Here's a look at the Class of 2023

• Karen Mayson Bahsen
• Karlos Dansby
• Roman Harper
• Larry Kenon
• Theo Ratliff
• Jackie Sherrill
• Gerald Wallace
• Roddy White

Biographical information submitted for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inductees with UA connections:

Roman Harper

"Born December 11, 1982 in Prattville, AL. Harper played football at the University of Alabama where he started at safety for three seasons. During his time at Alabama, Harper accumulated 302 tackles along with five interceptions and five forced fumbles. He was named First-Team All-SEC his senior year. Harper was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In Super Bowl XLIV, Harper led the Saints with eight tackles, and the team won their first Super Bowl in franchise history. He played eight years with the Saints before signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2014. After two seasons with the Panthers, Harper played his final year with the Saints in 2016. He finished his 11-year NFL career with 819 tackles, 18 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, and 11 interceptions. In 2020, Harper was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame."

Jackie Sherrill

"Born November 28, 1943 in Duncan, OK. Sherrill played football at the University of Alabama and was a member of two consecutive National Championship teams. After his playing career, Sherrill was a graduate assistant at Alabama and Arkansas. He was an assistant coach at Iowa State and Pittsburgh before receiving his first head coach position at Washington State in 1976. After one season at WSU, he returned to Pittsburgh, serving as head coach from 1977-1981. He was named the Walter Camp Coach of Year in 1981. In 1982, Sherrill became the head coach of Texas A&M and, from 1985-87, led them to three consecutive Southwest Conference Championships earning SWC Coach of the Year honors in all three seasons. He was the head coach at Mississippi State for 13 years and won the SEC Western Division in 1998. He is one of only two Division I-A head football coaches to ever lead three different schools to ten wins or more in a season. His overall record was 180-120-4."

Gerald Wallace

"Born July 23, 1982 in Sylacauga, AL. During his senior year at Childersburg High School, Wallace was named the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and First-Team Parade All-American. He played collegiately at the University of Alabama for one season and then declared for the NBA Draft. Wallace was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 25th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft. He was later selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft. In 2006, Wallace led the NBA in steals. He was an NBA All-Star in 2010 and was named NBA All-Defensive First-Team. Wallace is one of three players in NBA history to average at least two steals and two blocks per game over the course of an entire season. He was selected to the 2010–2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team to represent the United States in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Wallace also played with the Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics. He finished with 9,993 points, 4,838 rebounds, and 1,725 assists over his 15-year NBA career."

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