University of Georgia Athletics
2006 Circle Of Honor Inductees Announced
September 20, 2006 | General
ATHENS, Ga. --- Four former University of Georgia All-Americans and one coach have been chosen for induction into the University of Georgia’s Circle of Honor the school’s highest tribute paid to former athletes and coaches.
All-American tennis star George Bezecny, record-setting quarterback Zeke Bratkowski, Hall of Fame men’s golf coach Dick Copas, volleyball All-American Priscilla Pacheco, and national champion gymnast Heather Stepp will be honored at an induction banquet on Friday, Sept. 22, at the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, where they will be permanently enshrined in the Circle of Honor exhibit. They also will be recognized at the Georgia-Colorado football game on Saturday, Sept. 23.
The all-sports recognition program is designed to recognize and pay tribute to extraordinary student-athletes and coaches who by their performance and conduct have brought honor to the university and themselves, and who by their actions have contributed to the tradition of the Georgia Bulldogs. The criteria also stipulate that each recipient has earned his or her academic degree.
After arriving at Georgia as the No. 1 junior player from Florida, Bezecny earned four letters from 1982-85 and was a member of Georgia’s first national championship team as a senior under Coach Dan Magill in 1985. He still stands at No. 13 on Georgia’s top performers list as he posted a 64-9 (.877) singles record during the 1984-85 season, and he occupies the ninth slot for doubles after going 21-9 (.820) the same year. He put together a string of 34 straight wins during his final year in Athens and won 40 of his last 42 before falling in the NCAA singles championship to teammate Mikael Pernfors in the final. He earned All-America honors and was named All-SEC in 1985.
Bratkowski became one of Georgia’s most celebrated quarterbacks under Coach Wally Butts and later had an outstanding 14-year career in the NFL. Bratkowski earned All-America honors in both 1952 and 1953, and he was the nation’s leading passer in 1952 and the nation’s leading punter in 1953. He was a two-time All-SEC selection and a two-time SEC passing champion who set numerous Georgia passing records. Bratkowski threw for 4,836 yards in an NFL career that included stints with the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1980.
In 25 seasons as the Georgia men’s golf coach, Copas led the Bulldogs to 17 NCAA Championship appearances, including 10 top-10 finishes, and seven SEC titles. Copas was chosen as the National Coach of the Year in 1978 and was tabbed as the SEC Coach of the Year seven times. In 1994, Copas was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America’s Hall of Fame. Copas began his Georgia career in 1964 when he was named the head trainer, and he later oversaw academic counseling and the athletic dormitories. He ended his career as Georgia’s Assistant Director of Event Management.
Pacheco, colorfully nicknamed “The Spike Doctor,” was an outside hitter for the Georgia volleyball team from 1991-94. In addition to leading Georgia to the finals of the SEC Tournament twice (1993 and 1994) and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen once (1993), Pacheco was a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and was voted the 1994 SEC Player of the Year. Pacheco, who led the nation in kills during the 1993 and 1994 seasons, has the fifth-most kills (2,675) in NCAA history and also owns the school record. Starting every match of her career, Pacheco was also the 1991 SEC Freshman of the Year and was named an AVCA National Player of the Week in 1994.
Stepp led the Georgia gymnastics team to an NCAA team championship in 1993. She won the 1992 NCAA vault title and the 1993 NCAA vault and floor exercise crowns. Stepp scored at least one perfect 10.0 on all four events during her career at Georgia. She was also the 1992 recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award after returning from a severe elbow injury. A seven-time All-American, Stepp was named SEC Gymnast of the Year in 1993, the first such honoree recognized by the league.
