According to the WWF storyline, Kane returned through hell-fire and brimstone

to exact revenge on his "brother," the Undertaker, and to become a major player in Vince McMahon's sports entertainment empire. The Big Red Machine was "unmasked" in the last issue of the index as none other than the University's own Glenn Jacobs.

Kane's alumnus status had been rumor among local WWF aficionados for some time. The news appeared to come as a surprise to many Index readers. I admit, it is hard to believe the same man who defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin to claim the WWF World Heavyweight Championship belt once strapped on his pads in the Bulldog Kennels. But it's true.

This means local wrestling fans can feel a surge of Bulldog pride whenever Kane drives some poor jabroni's head into the mat with the Tombstone Piledriver. Unfortunately, there are still many who insist the WWF does not constitute legitimate athletics. To them Glenn Jacobs does not exactly warrant alumni-hero status. It is for these people, and indeed for all University fans, that I have dug into the Bulldog archives to find other former University athletes who have made names for themselves in the world of sports.

Because the University's football program dates back to the turn of the century, it came as no surprise that some of the most notable names were found to have gridiron roots.

There are three 'Dogs active in professional football. Offensive lineman Spencer Stevens of the Quad City Steamwheelers, 13-year NFL veteran Mike Morris and Titans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

If that isn't electrifying enough, take heart Bulldog fans. There's so much more.

Coaching legend Don Faurot, patrolled the sidelines for the University from 1926-1934. In this short span, he racked up seven conference titles and a record of 63-13-3 while at the same time coaching basketball, track and baseball.

Faurot moved on to coach the University of Missouri-Columbia for 19 seasons, during which time he took the Tigers to their first bowl game (the Orange Bowl in 1939) and invented the Split-T offensive formation, a predecessor to the option and wishbone offenses. Faurot Field, where the Tigers play today, is named for him.

There is yet one more Bulldog footballer to note, a man who could indeed give Glenn Jacobs a run for the title of baddest "Dog to step into the squared circle". While Kane defeated Stone Cold, this man once broke Muhammed Ali's jaw. This man is Ken Norton.

Ken Norton participated in football, basketball and track at the University from 1961-1963. Old newspaper articles reveal former Bulldog hoops coach Boyd King commenting on Norton’s "terrific strength and real good speed," attributes that would one day aid his development into a pugilistic powerhouse.

Norton was one of the main players during a time many consider boxing's heyday, the 1970's. Norton stepped in the ring with many of boxing's biggest names, including Leon Spinks, George Foreman, and Ali.

In fact, Norton survived two 12-round bouts with Ali in 1973, becoming only the second man to defeat "The Greatest." At the peak of his career in 1977, Norton was the WBC heavyweight champion and named Boxing Writers Association of America's Fighter of the Year.

Now that we all know Kane was not the first Bulldog to claim a world heavyweight title, we can safely turn our attention to other sports.

Let's add an Olympic gold medal to our pair of heavyweight belts.

In the 1984, Summer Olympics, Ray Armstead ran the second leg of the 4x400-meter relay in a blazing 43.97 seconds, becoming the first Bulldog athlete to earn an Olympic gold. His success came as no surprise to Northeast track gurus, as he was a three time All-American collegiate athlete.

To the triumvirate of these athletes, another member must be added. Indeed a National Basketball Association Hall of Famer certainly warrants mention alongside our heavyweight titles and gold medal. Harry Gallatin was an all-conference performer for the 'Dogs Between 1946-1948, during which time his teams posted a mark of 59-4. He was also a standout ball player who went on to spend four years with the Chicago Cubs organization. Gallatin became the first and only Bulldog to step on the NBA hardwood in 1948. Dubbed "The Horse" for his hard-working style, Gallatin starred for the New York Knicks for nine seasons, highlighted by seven all-star selections and two all-NBA honors. He went on to coach at both college and professional levels, including an NBA coach of the Year season in 1962-1963 at the helm of the St. Louis Hawks. Gallatin, along with five others (including Bobby Knight), was inducted into the Hall of Fame on May 13, 1991.

As a fan of our national pastime, I would be remiss not to mention the 'Dogs who have entered the ranks of professional baseball. This list includes two pitchers who actually met in the 1986 World Series: Bruce Berenyi of the Mets and Al Nipper of the Red Sox. Nipper got the first World Series start by a Bulldog in Game Four, but Berenyi got the ring.

So there you have it. Genuine athletic heroes who have donned the purple and white. I suspect this exposure to the cream of our University's sporting crop may leave many of you with an altered, and hopefully improved outlook on the history of our Bulldog athletics. Just ponder the ramifications off names like Ken Norton, Ray Armstead, Don Faurot and Harry Gallatin now allows you to include your school in those arguments about who has the best athletic programs. And at the very least, we no longer have to harness all our collective Bulldog sport dreams to Glenn Jacobs' next chokeslam from hell.

 

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