The LSU Athletics Hall of Fame is filled with legendary athletes, and on Sept. 22, six new athletes joined its membership in a ceremony at the L’Auberge Baton Rouge Event Center.
The six athletes chosen to be inducted were pole vaulter Russ Buller, diver Alison Maisch, track athlete Debbie Parris-Thymes, softball pitcher Kristin Schmidt, men’s basketball player Collis Temple Jr. and women’s basketball player Joyce Walker.
The criteria for an athlete to be inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame are for the athlete to have been successful in their sport at LSU, to have graduated from a college and to have made a significant impact on their community.
“I am very honored to be here,” Buller said. “I never thought in my wildest dreams that this would happen — to be inducted in such a prestigious hall of fame like LSU’s.”
On Friday night Buller was the first player inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame. Buller competed for LSU from 1997-2000 and was a two time NCAA champion in his time at LSU and a six time SEC champion.
He was also selected as an All-American seven times in his time at LSU.
After completing his time at LSU, Buller competed for team USA in track and field competitions, winning silver in the 2003 Pan American Games, and was an Olympic alternate in 2008.
Buller credited his parents for his success, particularly his father who introduced him to pole vaulting.
“My father was a former pole vaulter and basically my high school coach,” Buller said. “He would work all day and meet me at the track and we would practice until the sun went down. He introduced me to the event in my 9th grade year. He gave me a broom and said, ‘If you can do this, do it.’ I thought he was crazy.”
Maisch was the next athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She was an All-American in all four seasons as a Tiger. She made history by becoming the first Tiger to win an NCAA championship in diving. Maisch said she came to LSU wanting to build a team, even though she was from New Jersey.
“I will never forget being recruited to LSU, I was at Alabama for the diving nationals,” Maisch said. “I was a senior, and I was outside talking to other divers and we were talking about recruiting trips. Former Coach Donnie Craine came out and asked if I was going to save a recruiting trip for him. I replied, ‘Sure, I don’t who you are or where you’re from, but sure.’”
Parris-Thymes followed Maisch. She competed for LSU in the track and fieldfrom 1993-1994. She won the NCAA championship in the 400-meter hurdles in 1993 and 1994 and was a member of the 4×100-meter relay that won the national title in both seasons.
In the 1996 and 2004 Olympics, Parris-Thymes represented Jamaica in the 400-meter hurdles and finished fourth in the 1996 Olympics.
After finishing her time as an Olympic athlete, Parris-Thymes returned to LSU where she served as an assistant coach for track and field for the last 12 years.
“If you set goals for yourself don’t let them become limitations, move the bar higher,” Parris-Thymes said. “I recall during my first Olympics, where making it outside of the first round was a dream come true for me. Instead I finished fourth just outside of the medal podium.”
Schmidt just became the second softball player to be inducted into the LSU Hall of Fame, following Britni Sneed, who led LSU to its first Women’s College World Series.
“It means a great deal to be the second softball player,” said Schmidt. “Because I think that I am only to be the second of many more, because the program has only continued to grow and become a presence on the national stage.”
Schmidt originally attended Notre Dame, but transferred to LSU, competing for the Lady Tigers from 2002-04. Schmidt won 89 games as a pitcher at LSU, and pitched in three games in 24 hours during the 2004 Women’s College World Series. She led LSU to the semifinals and was selected as the MVP in the tournament.
Schmidt said she was nervous prior to the speech at the induction and she would rather be back at the WCWS. “Like everyone else, I’m a little nervous too,” Schmidt said. “Wish I could just come up here and throw strikes.”
Temple was the fifth athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Temple broke down barriers at LSU during his playing time from 1972-74 by becoming the first black basketball player for the Tigers.
During the ceremony, Temple talked about the racism he faced before coming to LSU, including being turned down from every bar near campus on his recruiting trip to LSU. Temple’s father was also denied entry to LSU as the university refused to admit black students.
“It may sound like it is not that big a deal, but I never was complimented by a white person until I was a senior in high school and we were state champions” Temple said.
Temple’s play at LSU helped change the program and the community. He opened the door for athletes like Shaquille O’Neal, Glen Davis and Rudy Macklin.
Temple was supported by his sons Collis Temple III and Garrett Temple, who stood on stage with him. Temple III led LSU to the 2000 Sweet 16 and was a three year starter at LSU. Garrett Temple helped LSU to reach the 2006 Final Four as a starter in his freshman season, and led the team to the 2009 SEC championship in his senior season.
Temple Jr. was selected as a captain by coach Dale Brown as an underclassmen.“Coach Brown said, ‘You can run fast and jump high, so you’re the captain of the team,’” recalled Temple Jr.
Joyce Walker was the final athlete to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Walker played for the Lady Tigers from 1980-84 and was a three time all-American at LSU.
Walker remains the all-time leading scorer at LSU in women’s basketball with 2,906 points and still likes to shoot the ball. Walker credits former LSU assistant Clarence “Christy” Christenson, who passed away in March, with recruiting her and dedicated her induction to him.
Walker currently teaches kids in her hometown of Seattle skills in STEM and basketball. She says her goal is for kids to dream high no matter what.
“I didn’t dream of being the best girls’ basketball player — I dreamed of being the best basketball player,” Walker said.