NORFOLK, Va. – Former South Carolina State quarterback Nathaniel "Nate" Rivers is among five former student-athletes and coaches scheduled for induction into Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame Friday (Mar. 14) during a 9 a.m. brunch at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel.

Joining Rivers in this year's class will be Andrea Gardner (basketball) of Howard, Kellie Wells (track) of Hampton, Tanisha Kemp (softball) of Morgan State, and former North Carolina A&T football coach William "Bill" Hayes.

"I'd like to applaud the 2014 Hall of Fame class for all their accomplishments both athletically and professionally," said Dennis E. Thomas, MEAC Commissioner in an earlier announcement . "They have made significant contributions to their communities, institutions and the conference."

Rivers was a standout quarterback for the Bulldogs from 1976-1979 and ranks among the top offensive players to have played at SC State. During his college career, Bulldogs teams were among the most productive in the MEAC, compiling a four-year record of 20-2-1 in the conference, including three straight MEAC titles (1976, 1977, 1978). In two years as a starter, Rivers rushed for over 1,400 yards, passed for 1,045 yards and recorded 28 touchdowns.

The Wadmalaw Island, SC native, earned first-team All-MEAC accolades in 1977, and was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year. He was drafted in the fifth round of the college draft in 1980 by the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded him to the New York Giants, where he played for three seasons. Rivers is enshrined in the South Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame (2000) and is a member of the school's Centennial (1907-2007) Football Team.

Following his stint in the NFL, he had a distinguished military career, reaching the rank of major before retiring.

Tickets for the induction brunch are $35 per seat or $300 per table (10 persons). Tickets can be purchased by calling the MEAC office at 757-951-2055.

The MEAC Hall of Fame highlights former student-athletes, coaches, university and/or conference administrators as well as special contributors, who have enriched the legacy of the conference since its inception in 1970. Enshrinees were selected by a 13-person committee made up of administrators and representatives from member institutions.
The inaugural Hall of Fame class was inducted on May 29, 1981 during a 10-year anniversary banquet in Greensboro, North Carolina. Since its establishment, the Hall of Fame has enshrined 123 people, including the class of 2014.

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