July 26, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Six outstanding individuals will be inducted into the University of Louisville Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Brown and Williamson Club in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

The list includes Bruce Armstrong, a dominating offensive linemen at U of L who went on to earn six NFL Pro Bowl honors; Bettina Bard, an Academic All-American distance runner who won nine conference titles in her career with the Cardinals; Ray Buchanan, the defensive MVP of Louisville's landmark 1991 Fiesta Bowl victory who advanced to Pro Bowl status in the NFL; Jennifer Coe, U of L's career leader in women's soccer goals, points and shots; Lancaster Gordon, an All-America guard who is among the Cardinals' all-time leaders in scoring and steals; and Scott Reburn, a right-handed pitcher who holds the U of L career record for earned run average.

The event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. and the induction ceremony to follow. Tickets are $40 per person and may be obtained by calling U of L Athletics at (502) 852-2473.

The inductees will also be recognized at the Cardinals' Oct. 14 home football game against Cincinnati. The weekend will also serve as the Cardinals' Olympic Sports Alumni Weekend, with former lettermen invited back to the U of L campus. Previously organized by the U of L Alumni Association, this is the fourth year that the Athletic Hall of Fame has come under the auspices of the Cardinals' athletic department with revamped criteria for inclusion.

"It's always special for us to invite back and honor an exceptional group of individuals who have each contributed so much to the tradition of Cardinal Athletics," said U of L Director of Athletics Tom Jurich. "It provides us an opportunity to pay tribute to these six outstanding people who have represented our university with great distinction."

Bruce Armstrong (1983-86) caught 33 passes as a tight end for two seasons at U of L before new Coach Howard Schnellenberger moved him reluctantly to offensive tackle where he would soon flourish. A native of Miami, Fla., he did not allow a sack in his final 18 collegiate games and anchored the Cardinal offensive line for two years. The political science major was drafted with the 23rd pick of the NFL first round by the New England Patriots in 1987 to begin an association that would continue for 14 seasons. A six-time NFL Pro Bowl honoree (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997), Armstrong set a franchise record by starting 212 games for the Patriots, including the last 118 consecutive of his career. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2001.

Bettina Bard (1993-97) is one of the most successful athletes to ever compete for the Cardinal track and field and cross country programs. A native of Lilienthal, Germany, Bard was the 1996 Conference USA Cross Country Athlete of the Year, the 1997 C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year, won nine conference titles on the track and also earned Academic All-America honors. Bard won conference titles as a freshman in the mile run and while running the third leg for the Cards' first-place distance medley relay. She won the 800-meter and 1,500-meter outdoor titles in 1995 as a sophomore and followed with first-place honors in both the 800-meter run and mile run as a junior. She capped her collegiate career by winning the 1996 C-USA women's cross country title as well as the 800-meter and 1,500-meter titles at the 1997 C-USA Outdoor Championships. Bard currently holds four individual school records at U of L.

Ray Buchanan (1989-92) arrived at U of L as a wide receiver and running back from Chicago, Ill. before reluctantly moving to defensive back. He quickly emerged as a star in the U of L defensive backfield as a sophomore in 1990 when he helped the Cardinals to a 10-1-1 season and a 34-7 victory over Alabama in the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl. Buchanan was the defensive MVP of that bowl game with five tackles, a fumble recovery and a recovery of a blocked punt in the end zone. He earned All-America honors from Playboy and Football News at U of L before being drafted in the third round by the Indianapolis Colts (63rd pick) in 1993. He played 14 years in the NFL with the Colts (1993-96), Atlanta Falcons (1997-2003) and Oakland Raiders (2004) while amassing 804 tackles and 47 interceptions in his career. He was a starter at cornerback for the Falcons during their Super Bowl XXXIII season in 1999, producing 63 tackles and four interceptions that year.

A member of the first four teams that competed at the Division I level in women's soccer at the University of Louisville, Jennifer Coe (1985-88) is the all-time leader at U of L in goals (40), points (87) and shots (223). Her 24 goals and 50 points she scored her freshman year in 1985 still stand as single season school records. The four-year starting forward from Benton, Ky. also ranks among the top five in shots in two different seasons, including the second-highest total with 106 shots in 1985 and fourth with 75 shots in 1986. She is currently a Louisville Metro police officer.

An All-America selection by The Sporting News as a senior, Lancaster Gordon (1980-84) is among the top U of L career scorers (1,614, 14th at U of L) and his 192 career steals rank fourth all-time. A native of Jackson, Miss, the 6-3 guard helped U of L to a combined 102-34 record and two NCAA Final Four appearances in four seasons. A two-time All Metro Conference selection, Gordon was selected as the 1983 NCAA Mideast Region Most Outstanding Player, scoring 24 points in the regional championship game against Kentucky in the original "Dream Game." He was a first-round NBA draft pick (eighth overall) who played four years in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers. He currently works with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in Louisville.

A right-handed pitcher, Scott Reburn (1983-84) holds the U of L career record for earned run average (3.11) and ranks sixth in career strikeouts (188), sixth in complete games (11) and is tied for third in wins (17) -- all in just two seasons with the Cardinals. He led the team in wins, strike outs, innings, complete games and starts both seasons he was at U of L and had the top ERA on the squad in 1984. His 10 wins in 1984 ties him for the most in a single season in Cardinal history. His single season strikeout totals place him tied for second (96 in '83) and fourth (92 in '84) in school history. His seven complete games in his first season as a Cardinal is tied for fourth at U of L. Reburn earned first team All-Metro Conference honors in 1984 and was drafted in the 13th round of the MLB draft in 1984 by the Cincinnati Reds.