July 30, 2002
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Men's Cross Country Team was announced today by Commissioner John Swofford. The 54-member team was voted on by the nine league institutions as decided by the league's 50th Anniversary Committee. NC State led all league schools with 13 members on the Golden Anniversary team while North Carolina was second with 12 honorees. Clemson had 10 players selected, followed by Wake Forest (7), Duke (6), Maryland (3), Virginia (2), and Georgia Tech with one.
An impressive 12 of the 13 Wolfpack honorees received the All-America notice during their tenure at NC State. Steve Francis was the Wolfpack's first cross country All-American in 1980.
NC State cross country has dominated the ACC since its introduction as a league sport, setting a precedent for teams to come. NC State was crowned as the league's first champion in 1953, and has successfully defended the title on nine separate occasions.
The men's program has produced 84 All-ACC runners over the course of the 50-year existence of the ACC. In the last 22 years, NC State has won the team championship eight times and produced the individual champion seven times, with last year's team continuing the tradition.
Head Coach Rollie Geiger is in his 21st year at the helm of the dynasty.
The ACC's 50th Anniversary Men's Cross Country team, in alphabetical order, is as follows:
Abdul Alzindani NC State 1996-1999
Roger Beardmore Duke 1969-1971
Jim Beatty North Carolina 1954-1956
Wayne Bishop North Carolina 1958
Terry Brennan Duke 1998-2000
Stuart Burham Wake Forest 1990-1993
Larry Clark Clemson 1986-1990
John Cline North Carolina 1994-1997
Mark Coogan Maryland 1986-1987
Jim Cooper North Carolina 1979-1980
Mike Cotton Virginia 1978-1981
Chris Dugan NC State 1997-2001
Scott Eden Duke 1972-1974
Jim Farmer North Carolina 1984-1987
Cormac Finnerty Clemson 1989-1992
Martin Flynn Clemson 1983-1986
Steve Francis NC State 1977-1980
Kevin Graham Georgia Tech 1991-1994
Scott Haak Clemson 1977-1979
Jim Haughey Clemson 1979-1982
Bob Henes NC State 1986-1990
Larry Henry North Carolina 1958-1961
Gary Hofstetter North Carolina 1977-1980
Kevin Hogan Clemson 1991-1994
Dave Honea NC State 1987-1991
Jon Hume Wake Forest 1986-1989
Patrick Joyce NC State 1994-1998
Sean Kelly Duke 1999-2001
Ralph King North Carolina 1975-1978
Hans Koeleman Clemson 1980-1983
Dov Kremer Clemson 1987-1990
Art Maillet North Carolina 1963-1964
Jim Moorhead Clemson 1959-1961
George Nicholas North Carolina 1983-1986
Julius Ogaro Clemson 1980-1982
Robbie Perkins Duke 1974-1976
Pat Piper NC State 1984-1987
Chan Pons NC State 1995-1999
Corby Pons NC State 1995-1999
Ron Rick Wake Forest 1982-1985
Tony Riley NC State 1992-1995
Dan Rincon Maryland 1971-1975
Brendan Rodgers NC State 1995-1999
Jon Russell Wake Forest 1993-1996
Ben Schoonover Wake Forest 1987-1990
Charlie Schrader Maryland 1968-1970
Nathan Sisco Wake Forest 1999-2001
Anderson Smith NC State 2000-2001
Nolan Swanson Wake Forest 1994-1997
Bobby Thiele Virginia 1997-2000
Tony Waldrop North Carolina 1971-1974
Bob Wheeler Duke 1969-1971
Jim Wilkins NC State 1970-1973
Andre Williams North Carolina 1994-1997
Abdul Alzindani, NC State (1996-1999)
All-American in 1999 ... Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1997 ... All-ACC in 1997, 98 and 99 ... Two-time member of the Dean's List ... Three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Chris Dugan, NC State (1997-2001)
All-American in 1998 and 99 ... All-ACC in 1998, 99 and 2001 ... Two-time member of the Dean's List ... Three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Steve Francis, NC State (1977-1980),
All-American in 1980 ... All-ACC in 1979 and 80 ... Men's team MVP in 1980.
Bob Henes, NC State (1986-1990)
All-American, All-ACC, and ACC Individual Champion in 1987, 89 and 90 ... Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1986 ... Men's team MVP in 1989 and 90 ... Two-time member of the ACC Honor Roll ... Husband of current assistant head coach Laurie Henes (Gomez).
Dave Honea, NC State (1987-1991)
All-American and All-ACC in 1991 ... Men's team MVP in 1988 and 91 ... ACC Honor Roll all four seasons ... Won the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the ACC's Jim Weaver Scholarship ... Won the Walter Byers Award as the nation's premier student-athlete ... Finished as a runner-up on the Jeopardy College Tournament and won $125,000 on ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" in 2000.
Patrick Joyce, NC State (1994-98)
All-American, All-ACC and ACC Individual Champion in 1995 ... Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1993 ... Men's team MVP in 1995 ... Three-time member of the Dean's List ... Member of the ACC Honor Roll all four seasons.
Pat Piper, NC State (1984-1987)
All-American in 1987 ... All-ACC in 1984 and 85 ... Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1984 ... Men's team MVP in 1984 and 1987 ... Member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Chan Pons, NC State (1995-1999)
All-American in 1996, 97 and 99 ... All-ACC in 1995, 96, 97 and 99 ... ACC Individual Champion in 1999 ... Winner of the H.C. Kennett Award (NC State's Outstanding Athlete) ... Winner of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship ... Men's team MVP in 1996, 97 and 99 ... Four-time member of the Dean's List ... Member of the ACC Honor Roll in all four seasons.
Corby Pons, NC State (1995-1999)
All-American in 1999 ... All-ACC in 1995, 96, 97 and 99 ... Member of the Dean's List ... Two-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Tony Riley, NC State (1992-1995)
All-American in 1992 ... All-ACC in 1992 and 93 ... ACC Individual Champion in 1993 ... Men's team MVP in 1992 and 1993.
Brendan Rodgers, NC State (1995-1999)
All-American in 1998 and 99 ... All-ACC in 1996, 97 and 98 ... ACC Individual Champion in 1998 ... Men's team MVP in 1998 ... Member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Anderson Smith, NC State (2000-2001)
All-American and All-ACC in 2000 ... All-ACC in 2001 ... ACC Freshman of the Year in 2000 ... Men's team MVP in 2000 ... Member of the ACC Honor Roll in 2001.
Jim Wilkins, NC State (1970-1973)
All-ACC in 1970, 71, 72 and 73.
