Bama Well-Repped Among New ASHOF Inductees

'The Deuce' is on the loose again, and this time he's headed to the Hall of Fame.

And deservedly so. David Palmer was arguably the most fun Alabama football player to watch, at least in my lifetime, and I'm 65. Talk about cutting on a dime and giving you five cents change! That was David Palmer.

Palmer is not alone in the 2024 Alabama Sports Hall of Fame class when it comes to Bama connections. He's joined by two other former  UA – gymnast Penny Hauschild Buxton and football player Mike Washington. More on those three:

PENNEY HAUSCHILD BUXTON / GYMNASTICS

I can speak first hand on Penny as for two of her seasons in Tuscaloosa I served as her PA announcer under legendary coach Sarah Patterson.

Born August 6, 1964, in Horsham, Penn., Buxton was the first SEC gymnast to win an NCAA title and won four during her time at The University of Alabama: two NCAA all-around championships in 1985 and 1986, the 1985 NCAA uneven bars championship, and the 1986 NCAA floor exercise championship. Between 1983 and 1986, she was named an All-American 10 times. She won back-to-back Honda Awards in 1985 and 1986, becoming the first UA gymnast to win the award and the only one to win multiple. Buxton was honored as an SEC Great in 2006.

Born November 19, 1972, in Birmingham, Palmer played at The University of Alabama and was the school’s first single-season 1,000-yard receiver. In 1992, he was a member of the Crimson Tide’s national championship team. Following his junior season, Palmer was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Palmer won the Paul Warfield Trophy as the nation’s top collegiate wide receiver. In the 1994 NFL Draft, Palmer was selected in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings. He played seven years with the Vikings, primarily as a return specialist. He led the NFL in punt returns in 1995 and finished his career with 4,884 return yards.

Born January 7, 1953, in Montgomery, Washington played defensive back at Robert E. Lee High School and then The University of Alabama where he was a member of the 1973 national championship team. He was named All-SEC and All-American in 1973 and 1974. Washington was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the third round of the 1975 NFL Draft and was later traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played nine seasons in Tampa Bay and started 105 games. Washington finished his career with 28 interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and three touchdowns.

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The first ASHOF class was in 1969, making this the 56^th class of inductees and bringing the “roster” of inductees to 401.

Also selected for 2024 were former UAB Basketball Coach Mike Anderson, former AUM Basketball Coach Larry Chapman, former J.F. Shields High School and NBA basketball star John Drew [an Atlanta Hawk legend], former Alabama A&M and NFL football player Robert Mathis, and former Auburn and major league baseball pitcher Scott Sullivan.

The induction banquet will be May 4, 2024, at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.

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