App State to induct

five into Hall
By Steve Behr

The year 2000 was one of the most successful in Appalachian State athletics history.

It was the year that saw the men’s basketball team win the Southern Conference Tournament and reach the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2000. Appalachian State’s football team reached the Division I-AA playoffs in 2000, getting to the semifinals before falling 19-16 in overtime in a classic road battle to Montana.

Three athletes from that era were selected to join the Appalachian State Athletics Hall of Fame. Tyson Patterson played basketball from 1996-2000.

A pair of football players — safety Corey Hall (1997-2000) and defensive end Josh Jeffries (1999-2002) — was selected from that era.

Another football player, punter Mark Royals (1983-85), and women’s track and field standout Lynette Gardin-Johnson (1988-92) were also selected for the ASU Hall.

Additionally, longtime supporter F. P. “Bodie” Bodenheimer, Jr. is the recipient of ASU athletics’ 2009 Special Service Award.

All will be recognized on Sept. 26, first at a breakfast at the Broyhill Inn and then at halftime of Appalachian State’s football game with Samford at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

It was at Kidd Brewer that Hall, Jeffries and Royals made their mark at Appalachian State. Hall was a two-time, first-team All-American, first at safety and then at cornerback. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round, after being a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award in 2000.

It was his two interceptions, one coming in the final seconds, that helped the Mountaineers beat then No. 1-Georgia Southern 17-16 in 1999.

Jeffries, a member of Appalachian State’s 75th Anniversary Team that was selected in 2003, was a two-time, first-team All-American defensive end. In 2002, he was the Southern Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and still holds the team record for quarterback sacks (36.5) and quarterback hurries (114).

But Jeffries may be best known for his contribution to the Miracle on the Mountain, when he intercepted Furman quarterback Billy Napier on a two-point conversion play, then latteraled the ball to Derrick Black, who scored on a defensive two-point conversion.

The play, which took place with seven seconds left in the game, gave Appalachian State a legendary 16-15 victory. Jeffries also played for the Loa Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League from 2004-08, until the league suspended operations.

Royals was a three-year starting punter for the Mountaineers and still holds the record for most punts in a game — 13 against The Citadel in 1985. Royals had at least 70 punts, 3,000 yards and a 41-yard plus average in each of his three seasons before signing a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Royals enjoyed a 16-year career in the NFL with eight teams. He led the NFL in punting with a 45.9 yards per kick average in 1997 with the New Orleans Saints.

Patterson was the point guard that led the Mountaineers to their second NCAA tournament berth in 1999-2000. He was known for not taking off his uniform following the finals of the 1999 SoCon tournament after the Mountaineers suffered a difficult loss to College of Charleston.

Patterson holds eight school records, including career assists (638), single-season assists (218 in 1999-2000), single-season steals (87) and single-game assists (14 vs. Lees-McRae in 1999). His 12-for-12 shooting against Western Carolina is also a team record for shooting percentage, and his 68 points in the 2000 SoCon Tournament is also a team mark.

Gardin-Johnson was an eight-time All-Southern Conference honoree, earning indoor and outdoor honors in each of her four years at ASU. She holds six school records, including the indoor 300-meter dash (40.29 seconds), the indoor 400-meter dash (56.34), the indoor mile relay (3:57.47), indoor sprint relay (4:14.9), the outdoor 400-meter relay (44.73) and outdoor 800-meter relay (1:36.69).

Gardin-Johnson was also named All-American for her part of being on the 400-meter relay team in 1989. She won 10 Southern Conference championships individually and helped ASU win eight SoCon indoor and outdoor championships.