Rutgers Announces Football Hall of Fame Inductees
Oct 02 | Football
Williams, who played for Rutgers from 1989-92, was an All-BIG EAST as well as All-East (Associated press) selection at outside linebacker following his senior season. A captain in 1992, Williams helped lead Rutgers to a 7-4 record, including a 4-2 mark in BIG EAST play. He began his career in 1989, and was in on 34 tackles, the most by a freshman that season. As a sophomore in 1990, he was third on the team with 60 tackles, including a career-high 16 in a win over Army. In 1991, Williams was among the top linebackers in the East, registering 79 tackles, second-best on the team, and leading the BIG EAST with 13 sacks for minus 78 yards. As a senior, Williams capped his standout career with 69 tackles, giving him 242 in his career which, at the time of his graduation, ranked him among the top linebackers to ever play at Rutgers. His 21 career quarterback sacks rank fourth in school history.
The late Andrew “Abe” Sivess (B.S. ’49; M.A., Education, ’50) was a long-time member of the Rutgers University athletic department, serving on the athletic training staff from 1946 to 1984. He was appointed the head athletic trainer in 1965 and worked with the football program during the 1960’s and 1970’s, including the team’s undefeated seasons in 1961 and 1976. As a student-athlete at Rutgers, Sivess earned 10 varsity letters (two in football and four each in basketball and baseball), helping the basketball team to a 13-7 mark in 1945-46 and the football team to a combined 12-4 mark in 1945-46. A native of South River, he also served as the golf coach at Rutgers from 1973-1982, guiding the team to an undefeated season in 1979. He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
With the induction of Williams and Sivess, the Hall of Fame now features 85 members since the first class was introduced in 1988.
