ECAC Release
ECAC Hall of Fame
HAMILTON – Jamaal Branch '05, one of Colgate Football's top running backs and an inductee to the most recent Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor, was named Friday to the ECAC Hall of Fame Class of 2017.
Branch won the 2003 Walter Payton Award as the nation's most outstanding player in the FCS division while leading the Raiders to a 15-1 season and berth in the national championship game. The consensus All-America selection was Player of the Year that season in both the Patriot League and ECAC after rushing for 2,326 yards.
He broke NCAA divisional records for carries, rushing touchdowns and 100-yard rushing games. For his career, Branch stands second on Colgate's all-time rushing yardage list with 4,108 and he's third in points with 288.
Branch was part of the 2015 induction class to the Colgate Athletics Hall of Honor.
Also in the class is Bob Deming '57. Deming is being recognized for his work as Ithaca athletics director from 1980-97, but he lettered in the 1955 and 1956 seasons for Colgate Football and later served as Colgate athletics director from 1973-75.
The ECAC Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony is set for April 28 at the Matrix Conference & Banquet Center in Danbury, Connecticut.
Established in 2015, the ECAC Hall of Fame recognizes former student-athletes, coaches, administrators, teams, officials, and support staff for outstanding achievements, service, dedication, commitment and contributions to the ECAC. The ECAC Hall of Fame selection committee, composed of representatives from a variety of different ECAC constituency groups, meets annually to determine the year's induction class.
ECAC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017
Jamaal Branch (Athlete)
COLGATE UNIVERSITY, Football
Bob Deming (Administrator)
Ithaca College
Jennifer DiMaggio (Athlete)
Pace University, Women's Basketball
Laura Hurd (Athlete)
Elmira College, Women's Hockey
Fredina Ingold (Administrator)
Penn State University - Altoona
Gordie Lockbaum (Athlete)
College of the Holy Cross, Football
Noreen Morris (Administrator)
Northeast Conference
Northwestern University
Conference USA
University of Connecticut
Jim Nelson (Administrator/Coach)
Suffolk University
Shana Williams (Athlete)
Seton Hall, Track and Field
1970 Cornell Men's Hockey Team
