
Memphis M Club Adding Five Honorees
Jan 31, 2019 | M Club, Memphis Athletics Fund
Tigers also honoring five special award winners at sold out banquet.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis M Club, the official letterwinners association of the UofM Athletic Department, will add five honorees and will recognize five special award winners at the sold-out M Club Banquet presented by First Tennessee on Saturday, February 9 in the Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame. The honorees will also be recognized at the men's basketball game versus Connecticut on Sunday, February 10.
The M Club membership voted in five honorees off the 2018 ballot and those five individuals will be official inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame. The honorees are Marcus Bell (football, 1997-2000), Brittany Carter (women's basketball, 2009-12), Dave Pawlik (football, 1968-1971), Mark Sherrod (men's soccer, 2009-13) and Stacey Tate (women's golf, 2004-07).
In addition to the former student-athletes being honored at the Saturday night dinner, five individuals will be presented the organization's four special awards. Michael and Jennifer Cook will receive the Golden Tiger Award, presented annually to individuals for their financial support of the UofM Athletic Department. Former football player Eddie Moore will receive the Billy J. Murphy Award, given to a former Memphis student-athlete who excelled in his/her chosen profession since leaving the UofM.
Monica Baker will receive the Ralph Hatley Silver M Award. That award is presented each year to a dedicated supporter who has given multiple years of exceptional service to Memphis Athletics. Marc Hohorst will be the final special award honoree, as he has been named the recipient of this year's Murray Armstrong Award. That award is presented to a Tiger coach, administrator or employee for distinguished service to the Athletic Department.
The 2019 banquet is sold out. Nominations for the 2019 class can be submitted to M Club Director Bob Winn at bwinn@memphis.edu. The M Club membership votes each year on the hall of fame class. To join the M Club, former student-athletes can sign up by calling 901-678-4878.
2018 M Club Hall of Fame Honorees
Marcus Bell, Football, 1997-2000
Marcus Bell, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, signed with the Tigers in 1997 and played during the tenure of head coach Rip Scherer. Seeing action at nose tackle, Bell lettered as a true freshman while playing in eight games and registering 22 tackles and one quarterback sack. He was named to the 1997 Conference USA All-Freshman team. The Kingsbury High School graduate became a starter in 1998 and finished the season ranked 10th in tackles with 42. The veteran defensive lineman had a break-out campaign in 1999 when he totaled 85 tackles, 14 tackles for lost yardage and five quarterback sacks. Bell tallied 13 tackles in the Missouri game and was later named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Week after registering 13 tackles, two sacks, one pass interception and one blocked punt in the Tigers' win over Army. For his play during the 1999 season, Bell was named to the All-Conference USA team. Following his final season as a Tiger, during which he had registered 60 tackles, 14 tackles for loss yardage, four quarterback sacks and three fumble recoveries, the defensive standout was named to his third All C-USA team and received an invitation to play in the 2000 Blue-Gray All-Star Game. Bell was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft and played seven years in the league with the Cardinals, Detroit Lions and New York Giants. He returned to the Memphis Tigers and has served as the Director of High School Relations for the Tigers for the past 10 years.
Brittany Carter, Women's Basketball 2009-12
A transfer from the University of Georgia, Brittany Carter-Carswell came to the Memphis Women's basketball program in 2008 after sitting out her transfer year, began rewriting the Tiger record book. An outstanding scorer, Carter led the Tigers in scoring for three consecutive seasons and finished her career as the school's 14th leading scorer with 1,437 points and added 422 rebounds. Her career average of 15.5 points per games for Memphis ranks 10th all-time and she set the University's basketball single-game scoring record for both men (Larry Finch) and women (Tamika Whitmore) with 49 points against Sacramento State in the University of Washington Tournament. During her sophomore season, Carter set the Tiger single-season scoring record with 654 points. She named the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year in 2009-10, as well as being voted on the All C-USA first team. Carter also received All-CUSA honors during her junior and senior seasons and became one of only four Tigers to ever be so honored. She was named to the University of Kansas All-Tournament Team during her junior year. Carter set the FedExForum scoring record for Memphis basketball teams with 32 points against East Carolina in 2011. Following graduation she played professional basketball in Israel.
Dave Pawlik, Football 1968-71
A Lancaster, New York, native, David Pawlik signed with Billy J. Murphy's Memphis Tigers in 1968 and under NCAA rules, played one season with the Tiger freshman team. He earned his first varsity letter in 1969 as a sophomore reserve in the defensive front and demonstrated his ability to anchor the line. Pawlik earned the Best Defensive Lineman Award in the spring of 1970 and became the Memphis starter at nose tackle as a junior. He was credited with 52 solo tackles and 44 assisted stops during the 1970 season to rank third on the squad in total tackles. He registered a team-high nine tackles against Ole Miss and was selected to the 1970 All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team. Pawlik became a record-setter during his senior season. He recorded a team-high 103 solo tackles and 58 assists during the team's 11 games and was named first team all-Missouri Valley Conference for the second consecutive year. His 103 solo tackles in 1971 remains the Tiger single-season record after 47 years and his 161 total tackles that season still ranks as the second-highest total in Tiger history. Memphis won two Missouri Valley Conference championships in football during his tenure. Pawlik's play as a senior helped the Tigers to the 1971 Pasadena Bowl Game, where he led the squad with 15 tackles during the 28-9 victory over San Jose State. Pawlik was selected to play in the 1971 Blue/Gray All-Star Game and spent one season playing in the Canadian Football League. He joined Hilti, Inc. following his playing days and has been with the company for 46 years.
Mark Sherrod, Men's Soccer, 2009-13
Mark Sherrod came to the University of Memphis in 2009 from Knoxville, Tennessee, and lettered for four seasons under former head coach Richie Grant. The forward played in 71 career matches and scored 96 career points for the Tigers. He is ranked third in career scoring for Memphis with his 96 points and second in career goals made with 42. His 42 points during the 2011 season ranked as the most single season points scored in school history. Sherrod also holds the Memphis record for goals scored in a season with 19 (2011). He was named to the NSCAA All-America Team in 2011 and 2013. In addition, he was named to the College Soccer America All-America Team in 2011 and 2013 and was selected to the Herman Trophy Watch List in 2011, 2012 & 2013 becaming a semi-finalist for the Herman Trophy in 2011. Sherrod was the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2011 and the C-USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 & 2012. He was named to NSCAA Men's Scholar All-America Team in 2012 & 2013 and was drafted by the Houston Dynamo of the MLS following the 2013 season. Sherrod was just the third Tiger to be drafted into professional soccer. He currently resides in Austin, Texas.
Stacey Tate, Women's Golf 2004-07
Stacey Tate-McCartney came to the University of Memphis in the fall of 2004 from Auckland, New Zealand, where she was the fourth ranked amateur in her country. She quickly moved into the number one position for the Lady Tiger golf team. Tate won individual medalist honors in five collegiate tournaments including the Pat Bradley Invitational and the Lady Eagle Invitational (twice). She posted the third best 18-hole round in school history on three occasions with a score of 68. Tate held the Lady Tiger record for the lowest three-day tournament score in school history at 211 during her victory in the 2006 Lady Eagle Invitational. In addition, she held the Lady Tiger record for the lowest season scoring average at 74.1 (2005-06) and the lowest career scoring average at 75.3 strokes per round at the completion of her Tiger career. Tate was named to the All-Conference USA team three times during her career and made the C-USA All-Tournament team in 2006 and 2007. She was the C-USA Player of the Week six times in her career. She was named to Golf World Magazine's Top 50 Collegiate Players to Watch in 2006-07. With her strong play and on-course leadership, she helped lead her team to the 2007 NCAA Regional Golf Tournament. Tate participated in 28 collegiate tournaments during her Tiger career and finished in the top 20 in 22 of the 28 events.
The five special award winners are:
Michael & Jennifer Cook
Dr. Cecil C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award
Michael and Jennifer Cook,who became members of the Athletic Department Ambassadors Club in 2014, are recipients of the 2018 Cecil C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award.
A native of Memphis, Michael founded Southern Sun Asset Management in 1989 and continues to lead the Memphis-based investment management business as the firm's CEO and Chief Investment Officer. In his 30 years as a research analyst and portfolio manager, Cook has developed a unique investment philosophy which serves as the core of the of the firm's U.S. and global equity strategy. Michael has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg magazine and Barron's and has been a guest on CNBC, Fox Business Network, and Bloomberg TV. Cook attended Covenant College and the OCCA Business Program, Wycliff Hall, University of Oxford. He is a member of the CFA Institute. Jennifer Cook, his wife of twenty-two years, is a native of Adamsville, Tennessee. She studied History as an undergraduate and Literature as a graduate student at the University of Memphis in the 1990's. She serves as a general partner of Cook Trust which exists to efficiently steward resources for the benefit of communities both in Memphis and abroad.
The Cooks founded and named the Cook Analytics and Trading Lab, the first of it's kind, to provide students with a portal to real life experience in Finance in the Fogelman College of Business and Economics in 2014 and additionally made a generous donation to the athletic department's "Time to Shine Campaign".
The Cooks family history with the University spans well over 60 years. They have four children and four grandchildren all of whom continue the family's support of the University and are proud Tiger fans!
Eddie Moore
Billy J. Murphy Award
Eddie Moore, a former All-American defensive back for the Memphis State Tiger football team, is this year's recipient of the Billy J. Murphy Award. A native of Panama City, Florida, Moore came to the University of Memphis in 1986 and lettered for four seasons as a safety, earning All-America honors in 1988. He tied the University record for pass interceptions in a single game with three against Tulane and led the nation the same year with seven interceptions. Moore was named The Sporting News Defensive Player of the Week following his two interceptions in the Tigers win over Florida. After earning his BA degree in 1991, Moore entered the water and waste construction industry, focusing his career on the gas and military markets. He left Instiuform Technologies, Inc. and founded one of several companies he has started over the past 23 years. Moore currently serves as Chairman/CEO of Cambridge Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries, Cambridge Construction Management and Cambridge Logistics LLCD. The Moore family currently partners with community leaders and business associates to impact children and youth throughout Tennessee, Georgia and Moore's home state of Florida.
Monica Baker
Ralph Hatley Silver M Award
Monica Baker, a native of Conway, Arkansas, and a graduate of the University of Southern Arkansas, has volunteered her services as the University of Memphis athletic physical therapist for the past 16 years. After receiving her Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas in 1999, Baker came to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis as lead physical therapist and later established an off-site, outpatient clinic for rehab services in Collierville, Tennessee. In 2002, Baker volunteered her services as a physical therapist consultant for the Memphis Athletic Department. In her role, Baker assists with the evaluation and treatment of special case athletes from all Tiger sports teams. She has served as a host trainer for the NCAA South Regional Basketball Tournament in 2009, 2015 and 2017 and assisted in logistical planning for sports medicine coverage for all participating teams. Baker was a seminar presenter for Semmes Murphy Neurological Institute in 2009 and has authored several articles for national and local publications. She has been certified by the National Athletic Training Association for the past 18 years.
Marc Hohorst
Murray Armstrong Award
Marc Hohorst, a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, came to the University of Memphis athletic department in the summer of 2001 as the head equipment manager and has overseen the equipment needs of Tiger athletic teams for the past 18 years. He is responsible for purchasing, issuing and maintaining all athletic equipment, as well as the supervision of numerous student-managers. Hohorst is a member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association and was named the District 4 Equipment Manager of the Year in 2010 and again in 2018. He served as the AEMA District 4 treasurer from 2007-14. He serves on the AEMA Lifetime Achievement Award selection committee and was a member of the Schutt Helmet Advisory Council in 2003 and 2005. Hohorst came to Memphis after serving three years as the supervisor of equipment for Arkansas State University. Prior to his duties at Arkansas State, he worked for one year at his college alma mater, the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, in a game management capacity. Hohorst graduate from ULL in 1997 with a degree in physical education and for two years worked as a substitute teacher at Youngsville Middle School. While attending college, he worked as a student-manager and assisted with hosting the NCAA Softball Regional and the Sunbelt Conference baseball tournament as a tournament official.