Emtman in state Sports Hall of Fame Class of '13

Cheney’s Steve Emtman, considered one of the best defensive linemen in college football history as a member of the Washington Huskies, is one of two people who will be inducted into the State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013.

Emtman, a two-time All-American and the 1991 Outland Trophy winner as college football’s top lineman, also won the Lombardi Award and was UPI Lineman of the Year, joins sports promoter Bob Walsh as inductees who will be honored at Safeco Field just prior to the Los Angeles Angels-Seattle Mariners game Saturday, Aug. 24.

The nearly unblockable Emtman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1992 draft but was hampered by injuries during his six-year pro career with Indianapolis, the Washington Redskins and Miami.

Emtman played a big role in Washington winning the Rose Bowl to cap the 1990 and 1991 seasons.  The undefeated Huskies were national co-champions for the 1991 season and Emtman was co-MVP in the Huskies’ 34-14 Rose Bowl win over Michigan.

Emtman finished fourth in the Heisman voting for the 1991 season and was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.  He is currently a real estate developer in Cheney and elsewhere.

Walsh is best known as a promoter and his signature achievement was bringing the 1990 Goodwill Games to Seattle and Tacoma and also played a pivotal role in the NCAA Final Four being played in Seattle in 1984, 1989 and 1994.

The State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame was started by sportscaster Clay Huntington of Tacoma in 1960 and this duo will bring the total of inductees to 181. The Hall of Fame is located at the Tacoma Dome.

Information is available at washingtonsportshof.com.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.