Post Classifieds
Athletics Hall of Fame serves as validation for athletes
By Tom Gallagher
On October 24, 2012
This Saturday, five former Buffalo State athletes will have their names forever engraved in school history
when they're inducted into the Buffalo State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Former soccer players Mike Rudney and Gianni Bussani, track and field hurdler Richard Harris, a softball
player, Laurie Hutten, and a softball coach, the late Sandra Hollander, will all be inducted.
While all five possessed superior skills and will as such be inducted, assistant athletic director Tom Koller
noted that they, like all athletes at the Division III level, participate in their sport for one reason.
"At Division III, you really play for the love of the sport," Koller said.
It's uncommon to see student-athletes at the Division III level pursue a playing career in their sport after
college. Former professional basketball player Randy Smith, a Buffalo State alumnus, is an anomaly
amongst the thousands of former Buffalo State student-athletes.
"Most of these former student-athletes go on to be professionals in terms of a career, not on the playing
field," Koller added.
Take, for instance, current Buffalo State lacrosse player Carrie O'Donel. The senior defender will be
attending the Hall of Fame ceremony this weekend.
This is the final year that she can participate in collegiate athletics. She's a nuclear physics major and
intends to relocate upon receiving her degree.
"I'm probably going to the D.C. or Virginia area where there are more opportunities for engineers and
physicists," she said.
O'Donel recognized that her lacrosse-playing days are likely numbered.
"This will be it for me," she said in reference to the upcoming spring season.
No professional leagues. No big-money sports contracts. No lucrative endorsement deals.
Instead, the student-athletes use the degrees they obtained in college to pursue a professional career.
They start families. They begin their lives without sports - a daunting task considering that for many
years they participated in their sport for the sheer joy of doing so.
O'Donel noted that having the opportunity to watch as former players are recognized for the work they
put in while at Buffalo State is a gratifying feeling. She also attended the ceremony as a freshman.
"Coming in as a freshman and seeing these people that have done so much, not only while they were
here at Buffalo State as student-athletes but also with their careers and their families is a tremendous
feeling," O'Donel said.
Because these student-athletes played for the love of their respective sport, and in essence put
themselves in debt to play, the Hall of Fame ceremony serves as validation for their collegiate athletic
career.
"To be able to come back to your college or university as a Hall of Famer really does put the stamp
of approval, per se, on your athletic career," Koller said. "We consider the ceremony to be our most
prestigious event of the year. I think we run it hoping that the inductees feel the same."
O'Donel noted that younger student-athletes attending the ceremony would benefit from watching
each inductee receive the honor.
"It's a tremendous feeling knowing that this is what you have to look forward to. You see these people
and realize that you have such an opportunity," O'Donel said.
As talented as they were in their respective sport, it's clear that Hollander, Hutten, Bussani, Rudney,
Harris and many other Hall of Famers loved the sport that they participated in.
That passion will be validated this Saturday.
Tickets can be purchased for $20 by calling (716) 878-6514. The formal ceremony commences at 5:30
p.m. in the Sports Arena.
Tom Gallagher can be reached by email at gallagher.record@live.com.
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