Michael Erickson was a four-year letter winner on one of the best SVSU golf teams in school history. Erickson competed in four consecutive NAIA National Championships from 1982 through 1985. Along with being a three-time all-district selection, Erickson was named All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in his freshman, junior and senior seasons. Erickson capped off his stellar Cardinal career earning Team Most Valuable Player honors after his senior season in 1985. At the time, Erickson finished his SVSU career with the lowest individual four-year scoring average in school history (77.2). Erickson was also part of the 1984 SVSU golf team that holds the lowest stroke average in program history at nationals. After Saginaw Valley, Erickson played professionally on the Space Coast Golf Tour and the Tommy Armour Mini Tour in Florida. Erickson has a multitude of victories and impressive performances in some of the biggest tournaments in the state of Michigan, including: winner of the Michigan Pro-Pro (1989), two-time Michigan State Pro-Am champion (1990, 1991), Michigan State Assistant Championship (1991), Great Lakes Open winner (1993), Michigan Tournament of Champions victor (1993), and a three-time runner-up in the Michigan Open and the Michigan PGA. Erickson is currently the Head Golf Professional at Bloomfield Hills Country Club. 

Eugene Hamilton joined then-Saginaw Valley College in 1969 as its first head men’s basketball coach and an admissions counselor. In his first season on the bench, Hamilton led the Cardinals to a 13-5 record. In the seasons that followed, he helped lay the groundwork for future success not only on the hardwood, but in all areas of athletics. In the spring of 1970, while on a trip with the golf team to Berea, Kentucky for a tournament, he and golf coach Bob Becker came up with the idea of the “Cardinal” as the mascot of Saginaw Valley College. In his years after athletics, he held a number of administrative appointments. Hamilton worked as director of financial aid and scholarships, cooperative education and field experiences, and the Career Services Center. He served nine years as dean of continuing education and international programs. For the past two decades, Hamilton’s chief work has been in the area of government affairs. He became special assistant to the president for government and community relations in 1991 and has served as SVSU’s chief advocate to state, federal and local government officials ever since. From 2001 to 2003, Hamilton accepted an appointment as vice president for public affairs before returning to his current role as special assistant to the president for government relations. In Lansing, he has earned a reputation as a consensus builder amongst Michigan’s 15 public universities. His tireless lobbying efforts have helped secure valuable resources for SVSU including its athletic programs.

Marsha Reall became the first female coach of Saginaw Valley’s women’s basketball program in 1979.  In her six-year career, Reall posted a 151-37 (.803) record.  While at SVSU, Reall also served as Women’s Athletic Coordinator and a physical education professor.  Reall led the Cardinals to consecutive undefeated GLIAC titles in 1983-84 and 1984-85.  Her most successful season came in 1984-85 when her team broke six records that still stand in SVSU’s record book.  These records include: best record (32-1), best winning percentage (.970), most wins (32), most points (2,753), most field goals made (1,163) and best field goal percentage (.485).  Along with these marks, her 1983-84 team also holds the record for highest scoring average at 83.6 points per game.  During her tenure at Saginaw Valley, Reall was also given the opportunity to coach SVSU hall-of-famers, Gail Goestenkors and Beverly Sanders-Lynch.  Goestenkors was named a 1984 and 1985 NAIA All-American and the GLIAC MVP while finishing her career with 1,158 points and recorded 469 assists.  Sanders-Lynch received All-American honors in 1983, 84 and 85 and is the school’s all-time leader in points (1,922) and tied atop the record book for most career rebounds (816).  After her time at SVSU, Reall went on to coach at Ball State University (‘85-86), Purdue University (‘86-87) and Ohio University (‘90-98).

The 1983 Saginaw Valley State Men’s Indoor Track and Field Team defended their 1982 title by winning the University’s second National Championship in as many years. Led by 2011 Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Doug Hansen, the 1983 squad was a deep and talented team that continued to build on the program’s past accomplishments. One of the driving forces behind the success of the 1983 Cardinals was captain and 2011 Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Ed LaBair. The 1983 team had 13 student-athletes recognized as NAIA All-Americans and established many records.  Of the records that were established that season, ten have stood the test of time and continue to be program benchmarks to this day. 

The 2013 class will be formally inducted into the Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, September 27th at 6:00 PM.  The members of the class will then be honored at halftime of the football game on September 28th.  Kickoff for the football game against Lake Erie College is scheduled for 7:00 PM.