Aug. 28, 2001

Oxford, Miss. - The Ole Miss M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame will expand to 155 members here Saturday afternoon when five former student-athletes are inducted during 2 p.m. ceremonies in The Grove.

This year the inductees include: Mac Haik of Meridian, Miss., Jeff Herrod of Birmingham, Ala., Carol Ross of Oakland, Miss., Carlos Clark of Somerville, Tenn., and Jeff Calhoun of McComb, Miss.

The group will also be presented Saturday night prior to the Ole Miss-Murray State season opener in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

"We're proud to be able to recognize such outstanding men and women as new members of the Athletic Hall of Fame," said Ole Miss Athletics Director John Shafer. "Their successes in their arenas of competition carried over to help them become successful in their professional lives."

Mac Haik, a split end for the Rebels from 1965-67, helped lead Ole Miss to three straight bowl games and a record of 21-11-1 during his three years as a member of the receiving corps. A co-captain during his senior season, Haik was named All-Southeastern Conference second team in 1967, and also received Academic All-America honors from the Associated Press in 1966. Haik is ranked among the Ole Miss single-season receptions leaders with his 33 catches in 1967.

During his career, Haik pulled in 54 receptions for a total of 755 yards (14.0 yard per catch average) and six touchdowns. He was a 2nd-round draft pick by Houston in 1968, and played for the Oilers from 1968-71.

"The principles that I was exposed to at Ole Miss helped me establish a foundation that allowed me to be, and become, the best that I could be," Haik said.

Jeff Herrod established himself as a presence on the football field for the Rebels during his career from 1984-87.

Herrod wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, especially during his senior campaign which saw him earn recognition on the national level. The 1987 co-captain earned Defensive Player of the Week honors from Sports Illustrated and the SEC for his performance against Arkansas State. It was the second career Player of the Week honor, as his first came in a 24-3 win over Mississippi State in 1986 that propelled Ole Miss to the Independence Bowl.

The linebacker was named to the Associated Press All-SEC second team in 1986 and 1987, and also earned All-SEC first team accolades from the league's coaches in 1986. Herrod earned a spot on Athlon's All-Time Rebel Team and was also named to the Ole Miss "Team of the Century."

At the end of his collegiate career, Herrod played in the 1987 Senior Bowl, where he was named Defensive MVP of the South Team, and in the Blue-Gray game. He was a 9th-round pick by Indianapolis in 1988. Herrod played with the Colts (1988-96, 1998) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1997) during his NFL career.

"From a success standpoint, this is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me," Herrod said. "It means the world to me because I never received many pats on the back during my playing career. This is something I will cherish forever."

Ole Miss athletes have also excelled on the basketball court through the years.

Carol Ross led the Lady Rebel charge on the hardwood as a point guard from 1978-81. The tenacious defensive leader helped put Ole Miss on the women's basketball map as a team captain during her senior season.

Ross' 135 appearances on the court in a Lady Rebel uniform is second all-time in the program's history. The Oakland, Miss., native is one of only two Lady Rebels to score 1,000 points, 500 assists and 250 steals in a career. Ross' 333 career steals are the most in Lady Rebel history, and her 531 assists are the fourth-most in the program's history.

Ross was named to the first-ever SEC All-Tournament Team for her performance in the 1980 league postseason tournament. She has continued her love for the game of basketball by joining the coaching ranks on the collegiate level. She is currently in her 12th season as the head coach of the Lady Gators at the University of Florida.

"It's a great honor," Ross said of her induction. "Any time you can be recognized by your alma mater, it means a lot. I never expected to be in the Hall of Fame. As an athlete, I don't even know if you are aware of it. I was just thrilled to be competing. Being inducted into the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame is an honor. I will look on it with great pride for years to come."

On the men's side, Carlos Clark paced the Rebels on the hardcourt as well. The guard/forward played for Ole Miss from 1980-83 and pulled in the honors.

Clark's 1,822 points and 118 games played both are the third-most in Rebel history. Clark set the tone for Ole Miss with his constant effort on the court and helped Ole Miss capture its only SEC Tournament title in the program's history. The magical run to the league crown in 1981 propelled the Rebels to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. He finished his career in the third spot for minutes played with 4,028, including a 60-minute performance in a four-overtime 51-48 win over Vanderbilt.

Clark notched double-digit scoring in 37 consecutive games, the fourth longest streak for any Rebel, and his 54 percent from the field is second-best in Ole Miss history.

The forward earned spots on the All-SEC team in 1982 and 1983, and he was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team in 1982. Clark also earned All-America Honorable Mention honors for the Rebels, before being drafted in the fourth round by the Boston Celtics. He played for the Celtics from 1983-85 and was a member of the 1984 Boston squad that won the NBA Title.

The baseball diamond also had its share of all-star athletes. Jeff Calhoun sparked the Rebels on the baseball field from 1977-80 as a pitcher, helping lead Ole Miss to the SEC Tournament title as a freshman in 1977.

Calhoun started 46 games in his career with the Rebels, which is third for starts in a career. His name also appears in the Rebel record book for single-season starts (4th with 16) and victories (11th with 8) and career wins (3rd with 25) and innings pitched (3rd with 305.2).

During his freshman campaign in 1977, Calhoun pitched the Rebels to an NCAA regional victory over Miami, after helping Ole Miss clinch the SEC Tournament crown. As a senior, Calhoun closed out his career by winning a critical SEC playoff game with Florida.

Calhoun earned All-SEC West and All-SEC honors in 1980 for his performance on the field. He was drafted by the Houston Astros and played in the majors from 1984-88. He played for the Astros from 1984-86 and the Philadelphia Phillies from 1987-88. Calhoun then came back to Ole Miss and served as the pitching coach for the 1992-93 season.

Ole Miss has, indeed, had much success in the athletics arena -- all the result of hard work and dedication from the many athletes, like these five, who have worn the Red and Blue.