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Football standouts highlight of WVU Hall of Fame inductees

By Bob Madison - For the Chronicle | Jul 29, 2022

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Touchdowns, pass receptions, offensive records and stellar quarterback play while performing for West Virginia University, were all brought back to memory, when the university announced its 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.

Not to be shuffled into the background, were basketball’s Kevin Jones, track/cross country athlete Marie-Louise Asselin, women’s basketball standout Donna Abbott, rifle head coach Marsha Beasley and rifle athlete Marilee Hohmann.

With the installment of football players Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey and Geno Smith, the 2022 Hall of Fame class included a total of eight new members.

Austin, Bailey and Smith all played in the National Football League, after setting or shattering offensive marks in the school’s record books.

Austin and Bailey were primarily wide receivers for the Mountaineers. Austin was best known for his all-purpose yardage, and was even able to score points in one season as a running back, pass receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner — feats no other college player had achieved when Austin was a senior.

Bailey and Smith provided Mountaineer fans with offensive highlights that put both of them near the top of categories, including touchdowns scored, points responsible for, passing yardage, receiving yardage and total offense. Smith set 33 school offensive records, during his four years as quarterback for the Mountaineers.

Jones received All-American mention in several seasons. His best scoring average was at 19.9 points a game, and he was only outdone in career points/rebounds by the legendary Jerry West.

He had a short-lived NBA career and has played professionally in Europe, Asia and Africa. He is still active and currently plays for “Best Virginia,” a team of former Mountaineers performing in a national tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning team.

Abbott played from 1989 through the 1992 season, and in her career scored over 1,000 points and had over 1,000 rebounds.

The versatile Asselin was a seven-time All-American in either track or cross country, having a WVU career that lasted from 2006 through 2010.

Coach Beasley led WVU’s nationally prominent rifle team for 16 seasons, and won eight national championships during her highly successful tenure.

Hohmann was the first woman at WVU to ever compete in athletics. She was a member of the rifle team in both 1961 and 1962. Upon graduation, she became a public school teacher in Marion County.