University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH? Israel Raybon signs an autograph for a young fan after the Lions ' Division II national viaon . Raybon was named chosen for the first- team All-Gulf South Conference. Photo by Amanda Shavers. LET ' S DANCE. Ronald McKinnon does a little dancing cel- ebration while 56 Marcus Hunter and 42 Keith Humphrey look on. McKinnon was a candidate for the prestigious Harlon Hill trophy Photo by Amanda Shavers. TEAM LEADER. Cody Gross looks down field for an open receiver during the championship game. Gross has led the Lions to two consecutive national champi- onships. Photo by Amanda Shavers. CELEBRATION. Lion fans celebrate after the team cap- tured the NCAA Division II National Championship. Photo by Amanda Shavers. National Championship 2t

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National Champs! Lions capture second consecutive national title By Kim Jackson How sweet it is!!! The mighty Lions cap- tured the NCAA Division II National Championship for the second consecutive year at Braly Stadium on December 10, 1994. What word would best describe these young men? How about CHAMPIONS!!! Lions fans poured (more like sloshed) into Braly Municipal Stadium to cheer the Lions to victory. Playing before a 1 3,000 How sweet it is! plus crowd, the UNA football team success- fully took home the trophy once again. Despite rainy and cold weather, fans stayed around to watch the celebration. For the last eight years, the champi- onship game has been played at Braly Stadium. UNA has played in the game twice in those eight years. The Shoals community comes together to make the festivities eventful and memorable. Each year, the Harlon Hill trophy is given at a banquet the night before the championship game. This year ' s winner was Chris Hatcher frofn Valdosta State. The Lions defeated Valdosta in double overtime to advance to the quar- ter-finals of the championship series. Hatcher is a senior quarterback for the - iil slftAtk.i -C UNIVERSITY 0F% NORTH ALABAM ' V NCAA division NATl CHAMP . r WE ' RE 1 . Several presumptious fans had a banner in hand, ready for the crowd to view, after the Lions captured the Championship title. Photo by Amanda Shavers. 22 National Championfihip team. The Lions have carried a number one ranking since 1993 and lost only one game in the last two seasons. The Lions were defeated by Division 1-AA Nationa Champions Youngstown State in Ohio. The ' Lions have remained undefeated in the Guli South Conference for the last two seasons and taken home the Gulf South Conference Championship both in 1993 and 1994. Head coach Bobby Wallace fulfilled e; dream by becoming a national champil onship coach and was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year. Once again, congratulations to the Lions You have made the university member; proud and proven we are simply the best! OUT OF MY WAY. Kenyatta Jones moves his wa down the field to score for the Lions. Jones was name Gul f South Conference Player of the Week against We; Georgia and Football Gazette National Defensive Playe of the Weeic against Texas A M Kingsville. Photo b Amanda Shavers.

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Athletics. The American pastime. We thrive on competition. Whether it be football, baseball, basketball, volleyball or golf, sports bring out our competitive spirit. At the university, our programs are at the top of the Gulf South Conference and national rankings. The young men and women who make up our teams give us pride and allow us to hold our heads high. They bring home trophies and ribbons; their confidence and success exemplify our universi- ty. With every scream and shout for our teams, we are roaring our praise. Our student athletes continuously demonstrate the ideal, that they are the best. 24 Sportii Division Rlge