The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/20/07 Section: Sports

From the left, football player Ben Zambiasi, gymnast Hope Spivey and football player Royce Smith recently were inducted into the University's Circle of Honor, which is the school's highest tribute paid to former athletes and coaches. [Click to enlarge]

The University announced the three newest members of its Circle of Honor on Sunday. Former football players Ben Zambiasi and Royce Smith and Gym Dog Hope Spivey will be honored at an induction ceremony on Sept. 14 at the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.

Zambiasi, an All-American linebacker, began his Bulldog career in 1974, and holds the Georgia record with 467 career tackles.

Former Georgia coach Vince Dooley said of Zambiasi, "In all my years of coaching, I never coached a more intense and tenacious football player."

Following college, Zambiasi went on to a very successful career in the Canadian Football League, where he was inducted into the sport's hall of fame.

Smith, another All-American performer, was an offensive guard, and named team captain in his senior season of 1971. The Chatham County native was drafted by the New Orleans Saints, for whom he played before closing his career out in Atlanta.

Smith, a member of the State of Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, passed away in 2004 at the age of 54.

Spivey was a member of the 1993 national champion Gym Dogs, as well four straight SEC Championship teams.

She was the fifth gymnast in collegiate history to record a perfect 10.0, and finished her career in Athens with 27 perfect scores.

Still considered one of the best gymnast teams of all time, Spivey's 1993 team went a perfect 32-0 and also became the first to score a 198.0 in team competition.

Spivey, the first gymnast to win All-American honors in four events, also competed in the Pan American Games, the 1988 Olympic Games, and the 1993 World University Games.

Spivey, a native of Suffolk, Va., now runs Spivey's Gymnastics & Tumbling International in Winder.

The Circle of Honor, displayed at the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, is the University's highest tribute paid to former athletes and coaches.

Zambiasi, Smith and Spivey also will be honored at the Georgia-Western Carolina football game on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Club Sports

The UGA men's club soccer team will hold tryouts Wednesday through Friday at Intramural

Field Seven. Tryouts will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

E-mail ugasoccerclub@hotmail.com for more information.

Men's crew also is recruiting. Contact Nathan Lantz at trueiron@uga.edu for more information.



- University Sports Communications

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