Rutgers University Athletics

Rutgers Athletics Announces 2023 Hall Of Fame Class

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced the members of the 2023 Hall of Fame class including Rita Kay Thomas (athletic administrator), Katie Batiuk (women’s lacrosse), Jeff Frazier (baseball), Robert Galbraith (men’s swimming & diving), George Peter Savidge (men’s lacrosse) and the 1976 football team.

“Each year, our Hall of Fame inductees feature a highly accomplished and excellent class,” said Pat Hobbs, Rutgers athletic director. “This group continues to uphold that standard as excellence personified. We are excited to have them join their fellow Scarlet Knights as the newest members of the Rutgers Hall of Fame.”

The 2023 Rutgers Hall of Fame induction will take place on Friday, September 29 at the East Brunswick Hilton with the inductees recognized on Saturday, September 30 when Rutgers football hosts Wagner at SHI stadium.

RITA KAY THOMAS – Athletics Administrator

Rita Kay Thomas was a pioneer in women’s athletics. Hired in September 1974, Thomas was the Assistant Athletic Director for Women’s Sports and head coach of the women’s tennis team and an integral member of the athletics administration until her retirement in 2001. Under Thomas’ leadership, women’s sports in the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at Rutgers University grew from its inaugural seven teams to 443 female student-athletes across 15 Division I programs.

Thomas arrived at Rutgers two years after the university became a coeducational institution and the passing of Title IX in 1972. She was hired as Rutgers’ first director of women’s athletics responsible for all aspects of administration and leadership of the original women’s programs, including the hiring and evaluation of coaches, scheduling, game contracts, eligibility of student-athletes and budgeting all while serving as the head coach of the women’s tennis program, including one undefeated season. Among her numerous duties were overseeing the expansion of full-time staff positions, serving on the admission committee for prospective student-athletes, managing the student-athlete insurance program, acting as a member of academic committees and administering the department awards programs. Additionally, under her watch, women’s athletics successfully transitioned from the AIAW to the NCAA.

Later in her career, Thomas moved from the role of a sport administrator to running the university’s compliance program with oversight of Rutgers’ 27 men’s and women’s sports while serving as an advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Title IX liaison.

During her tenure, Thomas represented Rutgers at state, regional and national organizations for women’s athletics and championships. She was a member of the National Association of Women’s Collegiate Athletic Administrators and President of the NJAIAW chapter.

KATIE BATIUK – Women's Lacrosse

One of the top student-athletes in Rutgers women’s lacrosse history, Katie Batiuk was a four-time all-conference selection, four-time all-region honoree and a 2007 All-American during her time “On the Banks”. The midfielder finished her collegiate career within the top 10 in career goals (160), assists (56), caused turnovers (75) and draw controls (120) at RU, as she produced 216 points across four seasons of play.

Batiuk closed out her senior season in 2007 with a team-best 42 goals and 48 points to help Rutgers to an impressive 12-5 mark and a trip to the BIG EAST tournament. That year, Batiuk was named All-BIG EAST for the fourth consecutive season, earned third-team All-America honors by both the IWLCA and Inside Lacrosse, and was selected to the Tewaaraton Trophy watch list – the only player in program history to find herself as an honoree for the prestigious award.

Also a standout in the classroom, the Jackson, New Jersey native was an academic all-conference honoree as a senior. Batiuk wrapped up her Rutgers career with an appearance in the North/South Senior All-Star Game.  

JEFF FRAZIER – Baseball

Jeff Frazier more than left his mark on the Rutgers baseball program.  Frazier etched his name in RU history in his first season as a Scarlet Knight, setting the program record with 13 home runs and was named Freshman All-America by Baseball America. He followed that up with First Team All-Big East honors in both 2003 and 2004 as well as Second Team All-America honors in 2004. He was named one of 10 finalists for the Dick Howser Award in 2004, which is the top individual honor in collegiate baseball.

An everyday player during one of the winningest three-year stretches in program, history, Frazier was part of 102 wins, played in two Big East Tournament title games and played in the 2003 NCAA Regional in Tallahassee, Florida.

His 34 career home runs were a program record at the time, a mark later broken by his brother Todd and now held by Chris Brito.

Frazier’s name remains prominent in the Rutgers record books, as he currently ranks fourth in career home runs (34), fifth in career RBIs (167), seventh in career total bases (370) and ninth in single-season RBIs (59 in 2004).

After a prolific playing career “On The Banks”, Frazier was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 73rd overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft and made his major league debut for the Tigers in 2010.

A native of Toms River, New Jersey, Frazier was also named New Jersey Player of the Year as a senior and played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. with the Toms River East American team.

ROBERT GALBRAITH – Men's Swimming & Diving

Robert Galbraith was Rutgers’ first-ever national champion. A star of the Rutgers swimming team, Galbraith was one of two Scarlet Knights to participate in the inaugural Men’s Swimming NCAA Championship and was crowned the 1924 NCAA “fancy diving” champion.

Galbraith was one of six to qualify for the finals with two from Princeton and Yale as well as one qualifier from Penn.

During the season, Galbraith helped Rutgers win all but one meet and capture the Eastern Collegiate Championship.

Rutgers’ annual Diver of the Year award is named in Galbraith’s honor.

GEORGE PETER SAVIDGE – Men's Lacrosse

George Peter Savidge was a standout and team captain in two sports during his time at Rutgers, playing both lacrosse and football from 1963 to 1966.

On the lacrosse field, Savidge was a stellar defenseman for the Scarlet Knights. One of the rare three-time All-Americans, earning the accolade after each season he played ‘On the Banks’. He was honored as a Second Team All-American in 1965 and 1966, as well as a Third Team All-American in 1964. 

In 1966, he was named a team captain for the Scarlet Knights squad coached by Bob Naso that finished 9-5, tying the then-program record for wins. Over his three seasons, RU won 25 games. 

Following that 1966 season, he was the recipient of Rutgers’ Donald Leslie Coursen Award as Rutgers’ Outstanding Male Athlete and won the team’s William Miller Trophy, awarded to the team member who constituted an inspiration to his teammates and made the greatest contribution to the team in the season’s play. Savidge was also tabbed for the prestigious North/South Senior All-Star Game in 1966. 

On the football field, Savidge played center on the offensive line as a three-year letterwinner under head coach John Bateman helping the Scarlet Knights to 12 victories on the gridiron. His career was highlighted by a meeting against Princeton in the 1965 season opener, where Savidge, the team’s lone captain, was pitted against his twin brother George Paul Savidge, who was also a team captain with the Tigers squad, with the fraternal twins meeting for the pregame coin toss. 

Savidge has previously been named to the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame as well as the Athletic Hall of Fame for the Hun School of Princeton.

1976 TEAM – Football

The 1976 Rutgers football team is remembered among the best in the program’s history. Posting a perfect 11-0 record under head coach Frank Burns, the Scarlet Knights were captained by Nate Toran and Dan Pfabe. 

In an emotional speech after the final victory over Colgate, Burns said to his players that “this season is something you're going to remember for the rest of your lives.” Later he told the media, “These guys are winners. I'm very proud of each and every one of them. When you win 11 games, you learn how to win.” 

The defense led the nation in scoring (7.4), rushing (83.9) and total defense (179.2) with 8-of-11 opponents held to single-digit points. Toran was a constant in the backfield with 17 sacks, while Jim Hughes (team-leading 113 tackles) and Bob Davis both recorded five interceptions to help force 32 turnovers overall. 

Rutgers outscored opponents by a combined total of 287-81. Mark Lassiter led the way with 10 touchdowns scored (nine rushing, one receiving) on offense, as Glen Kehler rushed for a team-high 764 yards and Bert Kosup threw for 1,098 yards as the starting quarterback. 

“No one understands, unless you’re on a team that’s done it, how difficult it is to play an entire season and win them all,” Kosup said. 

The team finished No. 17 in the Associated Press final rankings as one of three nationally in 1976 to complete an undefeated season.

The annual Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame dinner will take place at the East Brunswick Hilton on Friday, September 29. Additional information about this year's dinner will be announced at a future date with online registration beginning in August. If you have any questions on the dinner, please contact Brett Miller at b.miller@scarletknights.com or Sue Beurskens at sbeurskens@scarletknights.com.

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