Former University of Alabama safety officer Roman Harper was inducted into the inductive class of 2023 for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday morning.
The 55thth The annual induction banquet and ceremony will be held on May 13, 2023 in the Birmingham Ballroom at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.
The class of 2023:
KAREN MAYSON BAHNSEN/GOLF
Born October 11, 1960 in Mobile, AL. Bahnsen was the first golfer to earn an athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University, where she played from 1980-1983. She was the head coach of the Lady Tigers from 1985 to 2018. In Bahnsen’s 34 years as head coach, her team has won 28 team titles and 28 individual titles. She led the Tigers to an SEC championship win in 1992 and her teams qualified 11 times for the NCAA championship tournament. In 2011, Bahnsen’s team placed third in the NCAA National Championship Tournament, and LSU golfer Austin Ernst won the NCAA Individual Championship. The National Golf Coaches Association inducted Bahnsen into their Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009.
KARLOS DANSBY / SOCCER
Born November 3, 1981 in Birmingham, AL. Dansby was an all-state linebacker and wide receiver at Woodlawn High School and played football at Auburn University from 2000-2003. During his career at Auburn, he was a First-Team All-American and Butkus Award semifinalist. Dansby was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. During his 14-year NFL career, he spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals. When Dansby signed with the Dolphins in 2010, his $43 million contract made him the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history at the time. He finished his career with 1,422 tackles, 43 sacks and 20 interceptions.
NOVEL HARPER / FOOTBALL
Born December 11, 1982 in Prattville, AL. Harper played football at the University of Alabama, where he certainly started three seasons. During his time in Alabama, Harper accumulated 302 tackles along with five interceptions and five forced fumbles. He was named First-Team All-SEC in his senior year. Harper was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In Super Bowl XLIV, Harper led the Saints with eight tackles and the team won its first Super Bowl in franchise history. He played with the Saints for eight years before signing with the Carolina Panthers as a free agent in 2014. After two seasons with the Panthers, 2016 was Harper’s senior year with the Saints. He ended his 11-year NFL career with 819 tackles. 18 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and 11 interceptions. In 2020, Harper was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.
LARRY KENON / BASKETBALL
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Born December 13, 1952 in Birmingham, AL. Kenon played two years at Amarillo College before transferring to Memphis State University. In his junior year, Kenon was named the Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year and helped lead Memphis State to the NCAA Championship Game. A member of the New York Nets, Kenon won the ABA Championship as a rookie and was also named to the ABA All-Rookie First Team. After three seasons with the Nets, Kenon was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, which merged with the NBA in 1976. Kenon also spent time with the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a three-time ABA All-Star, two-time NBA All-Star, and holds the NBA record for most steals in a game at 11. Kenon ended his 11-year ABA/NBA career with 12,954 points and 6,701 rebounds.
THEO RATLIFF / BASKETBALL
Born April 17, 1973 in Demopolis, AL. Ratliff attended the University of Wyoming where he led the country in blocks in 1993 and was named First-Team All-Conference in 1994 and 1995. He was drafted 18thoverall by the Detroit Pistons in the 1995 NBA Draft. Ratliff played three seasons in Detroit before moving to the Philadelphia 76ers. After four years with the 76ers, he joined the Atlanta Hawks, where he was named an NBA All-Star in 2001 and led the NBA in blocks in 2001, 2003 and 2004. Ratliff also spent time with the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston Celtics, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Lakers before retiring in 2011. Ratliff finished his 17-year NBA career with 5,809 points, 4,596 rebounds and 1,968 blocks. In 2005 he was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame.
JACKIE SHERRILL / FOOTBALL – TRAINING
Born November 28, 1943 in Duncan, OK. Sherrill played football at the University of Alabama and was a member of two consecutive National Championship teams. After his playing career, Sherrill served as a graduate assistant in Alabama and Arkansas. He was an assistant coach at Iowa State and Pittsburgh before earning his first head coaching position at Washington State in 1976. After one season at WSU, he returned to Pittsburgh, where he served as head coach from 1977-1981. In 1981 he was named Walter Camp Coach of the Year. In 1982, Sherrill became the head coach of Texas A&M and led them to three consecutive Southwest Conference Championships from 1985-1987, earning SWC Coach of the Year honors in all three seasons. He was the head coach of Mississippi State for 13 years and won the 1998 SEC Western Division. He is one of only two Division IA head coaches to ever lead three different schools to ten or more wins in a single season. His overall record was 180-120-4.
GERALD WALLACE / BASKETBALL
Born July 23, 1982 in Sylacauga, AL. During his senior year at Childersburg High School, Wallace was named Naismith Prep Player of the Year and First-Team Parade All-American. He played collegiately at the University of Alabama for one season and then declared for the NBA draft. Wallace was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 25th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft. He was later selected by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2004 NBA Expansion Draft. In 2006, Wallace led the NBA in steals. He was an NBA All-Star in 2010 and was named an NBA All-Defensive First Team. Wallace is one of three players in NBA history to average at least two steals and two blocks per game over the course of an entire season. He was selected to the US men’s national basketball team in 2010–2012 to represent the United States at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Wallace also played with the Portland Trail Blazers, the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics. He ended his 15-year NBA career with 9,993 points, 4,838 rebounds and 1,725 assists.
RODDY WHITE / SOCCER
Born November 2, 1981 in Charleston, South Carolina. White played college football at the University of Alabama-Birmingham from 2001 to 2004, where he accumulated over 3,000 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. During his senior season, White led the nation with 1,452 receiving yards. He was born on the 27thth overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2005 NFL Draft. In 2010, White was named a first-team all-pro and led the NFL in receptions. He was also selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2008 to 2011. White spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Falcons and leads the franchise in career touchdown scoring. He finished his career with 808 receptions, 10,863 yards and 63 touchdowns.
