Former Defensive Stars Lead 2005 Hall of Fame Class
March 21, 2005

The Ashland University football program has always prided itself on playing physical, don’t-give-an-inch defense. That legacy has been built over the years in different leagues and on different levels of small college football.

That point is reinforced with the 2005 Ashland University Hall of Fame class. Three former defensive stars from the gridiron, plus a former punter, are part of this year’s class.

This year’s class lists James Barry (Class of 1969), Jeff Freedman (Class of 1979), Vince Mazza (Class of 1987), Dick Miller (Class of 1974), Rod Moore (Class of 1968), Bill Royce, Class of 1993) and Elijah Whitten (Class of 1974).

The former Eagles will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 21st Annual Ashland University All-Sports banquet, which will be held Sunday, April 17, at 5 p.m. at the John C. Myers Convocation Center. The induction ceremony is part of a full evening that includes the recognition of the 2004-05 Ashland University Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year. The Eagle Forever Award will be presented to Bob Roland. (For ticket information, call the AU Athletic Department, 419-289-5441).

Barry, Miller and Royce are three of the football program’s top defensive players and Mazza was a leader on special teams as a punter. The three other members of this year’s class are remembered for their exploits on the wrestling mat, in track and field and in cross country. Information on each inductee follows.

James Barry (Class of 1969) – Barry is being inducted posthumously. A four-year letterman as a middle guard, he played at Ashland from 1965-69. The Eagles went 28-6-4 during his tenure and the 1967 team was undefeated. That 1967 defense held seven of nine opponents to seven points or less. That team was ranked 12th in the country.

Barry was named the team’s outstanding defensive lineman as a senior and also earned honorable mention Little All-America honors. He was part of the Ashland Dream Team (1920-70).

Football wasn’t the only sport where Barry competed. He was also part of the club lacrosse team. He was a letterman and co-captain for that team in 1969, the first year the team was a varsity sport.

Barry graduated with a degree in education/comprehensive social studies. He spent a long career as a teacher and administrator in the Pickerington (OH) School District.

Jeff Freedman (Class of 1979) – Success came Freedman’s way on the wrestling mat. In 1977 he finished third in the country, NCAA Division III and in 1979, he won a national championship at 158 pounds. Freedman shares the school record for most wins in a season (37), a mark he reached in 1978-79. The 1979 Eagles placed sixth in the country at the national meet.

The two-time All-America is a member of AU’s Dream Team. Today, he is an assistant wrestling coach at Eastridge High School in Rochester, NY. Freedman served as an assistant wrestling coach at Rochester Institute of Technology from 1979-83. He received his degree from Ashland in education (health and physical concentration).

Freedman lives in Rochester, NY, where he owns and operates LittleVenice Pizza.

Vince Mazza (1987) – Mazza’s name appears frequently in the Ashland record book. He holds the school single-game record for punting yardage (574) and punts (13). He is the career leader in punting yards (10,043) and yards per punt (41.3).

Mazza’s numbers caught the attention of football folks around the country. He was named a first team Kodak All-America and an Associated Press All-America. All told, Mazza was a four-time All-America. He was also an All-Heartland Conference selection and a member of the 1986 team that finished 9-2 and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs. That was the first time the Eagles were invited to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Today, Mazza is employed by the Dunlop/Goodyear Tire Corporation.

Dick Miller (Class of 1974) – Miller is second in career tackles (432) at AU. His season high in tackles came in 1972 when he made 144 stops. He had 130 tackles in 1973. He played in the 1974 Shrine Bowl and during his career was honored as Ashland’s best freshman defensive player, best defensive back and best defensive lineman.

Miller was a two-time All-America, earning that status in 1973 and 1974. After leaving Ashland, he went on to play linebacker for the Memphis Grizzlies in the World Football League (WFL) in 1975.

Miller and his wife, Jacki, have two children – a daughter, Bailee, who’s 16 and a son Carson, 10.

Rod Moore (Class of 1968) – Moore made a name for himself in cross country and track and field. At one point, he held the school record in the indoor mile (4:13). As a sophomore, he placed 14th at cross country nationals. That was the best finish by any sophomore at the meet.

After leaving Ashland, Moore was an elementary school teacher for the Heath City Schools. Today he works for Park National Bank in Newark, OH. He and his wife, Barbara, have one daughter, Tracey and a grandson, Wesley.

Bill Royce (Class of 1993) – Very few defensive players in AU history had a career like Royce. He was a dominating defensive lineman who was nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the NCAA Division II player of the year award. In 1993 he was the The Sporting News preseason defensive player of the year. Royce was the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference defensive lineman of the year twice and in 1993 was the league’s player of the year. He is AU’s career leader in sacks (71) and owns the three highest single-season sack totals in school history. He led the MIFC in sacks for three consecutive seasons.

As a senior, Royce was named an All-America by four organizations. He was an Associated Press Little All-America as a junior (third team) and senior (first team).

Royce also excelled in track and field where he was a four-time letterman. He was a three-time qualifier for the national championships and in 1992, placed fourth in the shot put at indoor nationals. He received the program’s J.C. Hyland award in 1993.

Elijah Whitten (Class of 1974) – A two-time All-America in wrestling, Whitten is a member of AU’s Dream Team. He wrestled at 177 pounds and was third in the country in 1974 and fifth in 1973. With Whitten playing a major role, Ashland placed fifth in the country at the NCAA Division III national meet in 1974 and was ninth in 1973. As a senior, he won 18 consecutive matches and entered the national tournament ranked first in the country. Whitten was named to the Amateur Wrestling News All-Ohio First Team (1970-1980).

Whitten earned a business degree from Ashland in 1974. After leaving the Eagles, he was a wrestling coach at the University of Kentucky and Cuyahoga Community College. Whitten also served as an assistant coach at Kentucky and Moorhead State.