Ross, Brooking lead Tech Hall honorees

By MATT WINKELJOHN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/12/07

Bobby Ross is coming back to Georgia Tech.

The former Yellow Jackets football coach — who led Tech to a share of a mythical national title in 1990 — will be inducted into Tech's Sports Hall of Fame next month with three former All-America Tech athletes: linebacker Keith Brooking, track star Conrad Nichols and softball's Laura Hartman.

They are all expected to attend a dinner Sept. 28 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, and to be honored the following day at halftime of the Clemson-Georgia Tech football game at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

"The accomplishments of Coach Ross and Keith Brooking, both at Georgia Tech and in the NFL, are well-chronicled," Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. "Laura is one of the pioneers in softball and women's sports at Tech, and Conrad is another in a long line of top-notch runners in our track program."

Under Ross (1987-91), Tech won its first ACC title in '90, and was later named UPI national champion.

Brooking (1994-97), who became the Jackets' all-time leading tackler with 467, plays for the Atlanta Falcons, where he has earned Pro Bowl honors five times.

Hartman (1993-97), known as Laura Williams while becoming the first softball All-America at Tech and only first-team selection, will be the first softball player in the hall.

Nichols (1992-96), an outdoor national champion as part of Tech's 4x400 relay team in '94, set several school records and was named All-America a combined seven times in indoor and outdoor track.

Tickets for the induction dinner will be on sale in August for $50. For information, call Barb Dockweiler in the Alexander-Tharpe Fund at (404) 894-6124.