TEMPE, Ariz.—Arizona State University football legend Gerald Riggs is one of five individuals who will be inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, February 16, at the Emory Conference Center Hotel, located at 1615 Clifton Road in Atlanta. A reception, dinner, art exhibit, silent auction, and raffle will begin at 6:00 p.m., with the induction ceremony slated for 7:45 p.m.
Riggs, an Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2000) that played for the Sun Devils from 1978-81, joins a stellar class that includes 1999 Davey O'Brien Award winner Joe Hamilton, second winningest coach in Georgia Tech basketball history John "Whack" Hyder, Atlanta Braves outfielder (1996-2007) and the 2005 NL Hank Aaron Award winner Andruw Jones, and all-time great Atlanta Braves pitching coach (1990-2005) Leo Mazzone.
A native of Tullos, La., Riggs used an outstanding senior season at ASU to propel himself to honorable mention All-America distinction by the Associated Press and Sporting News. In addition, he became the first first-team All-Pac-10 running back in ASU history in 1981 when he led the Sun Devils in rushing with 891 yards on 148 carries (6.0 average) and six touchdowns. Riggs is also one of 15 Sun Devils to rush for more than 2,000 career yards as he earned 2,097 on 400 carries in his Sun Devil career, ranking 12th on the all-time list. The definition of a true student-athlete, Riggs earned the Sun Angel Award in 1981 and the Clyde B. Smith Academic Award in 1980.
He went on to a prosperous NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Riggs was a first round draft pick by the Falcons in 1982. The highlight of his professional career was in 1985 when he rushed for 1,719 yards and ten touchdowns, while also catching 33 passes for 267 yards. In his seven years with the Falcons, he rushed for 6,631 yards, making him the franchise all-time leading rusher. A member of Falcons Ring of Honor, Riggs made three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances with the Falcons from 1985 to 1987.
The Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring Atlanta's sports heroes, remembering great moments in Atlanta's sports history, and preserve the past from which future generations can learn and take pride.
To purchase tickets for this event or for more information, visit the website at www.AtlantaSportsHallofFame.org.
The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, February 16, at the Emory Conference Center Hotel, located at 1615 Clifton Road in Atlanta. A reception, dinner, art exhibit, silent auction, and raffle will begin at 6:00 p.m., with the induction ceremony slated for 7:45 p.m.
Riggs, an Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame inductee (2000) that played for the Sun Devils from 1978-81, joins a stellar class that includes 1999 Davey O'Brien Award winner Joe Hamilton, second winningest coach in Georgia Tech basketball history John "Whack" Hyder, Atlanta Braves outfielder (1996-2007) and the 2005 NL Hank Aaron Award winner Andruw Jones, and all-time great Atlanta Braves pitching coach (1990-2005) Leo Mazzone.
A native of Tullos, La., Riggs used an outstanding senior season at ASU to propel himself to honorable mention All-America distinction by the Associated Press and Sporting News. In addition, he became the first first-team All-Pac-10 running back in ASU history in 1981 when he led the Sun Devils in rushing with 891 yards on 148 carries (6.0 average) and six touchdowns. Riggs is also one of 15 Sun Devils to rush for more than 2,000 career yards as he earned 2,097 on 400 carries in his Sun Devil career, ranking 12th on the all-time list. The definition of a true student-athlete, Riggs earned the Sun Angel Award in 1981 and the Clyde B. Smith Academic Award in 1980.
He went on to a prosperous NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Riggs was a first round draft pick by the Falcons in 1982. The highlight of his professional career was in 1985 when he rushed for 1,719 yards and ten touchdowns, while also catching 33 passes for 267 yards. In his seven years with the Falcons, he rushed for 6,631 yards, making him the franchise all-time leading rusher. A member of Falcons Ring of Honor, Riggs made three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances with the Falcons from 1985 to 1987.
The Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring Atlanta's sports heroes, remembering great moments in Atlanta's sports history, and preserve the past from which future generations can learn and take pride.
To purchase tickets for this event or for more information, visit the website at www.AtlantaSportsHallofFame.org.