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Curry Named Member of Big Ten Fellowship
7/26/2022 7:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Student-Athlete Development
University of Minnesota men's basketball alum Eric Curry has been named one of four to earn a Big Ten Conference Fellowship beginning this upcoming year. A two-year term, Curry's selection was announced at the 2022 Big Ten Football Media Days.
The George and Viola Taliaferro Fellowship provides individuals who have not historically had access to collegiate conference office leadership positions with an opportunity to work in the Office of the Commissioner and gain valuable experience in both the sports and business sectors. It marks the second year of the fellowship as Curry will work directly within the Big Ten office, specifically in event management and planning.
Curry, a Memphis, Tenn., product, obtained both a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Minnesota. A Gopher men's basketball member from 2016-2022, Curry persevered through multiple injuries throughout his collegiate career. After announcing he was completing his Gopher career in 2021, Curry decided to return to the Gopher lineup for one final year in 2021-22 under head coach Ben Johnson. It proved to be his best point production year of his college career. Curry averaged 7.7 points, bettering his 3.7 ppg he had in 2020-21 and 5.5 his freshman year. He started in 26 games his final year and averaged 27.8 minutes, both career highs. Curry received the team and department's Big Ten Sportsmanship award and was named Academic All-Big Ten. He also received Minnesota's Pinky McNamara award, given to select individuals within Gopher athletics that shows great signs of perseverance.
Fellowship Naming Information
George Taliaferro was the leading rusher on Indiana's 1945 Big Ten championship team, a three-time All-American and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He also became the first Black player drafted into the National Football League in 1949 when George Halas and the Chicago Bears drafted George in the 13th round. He was the first Black athlete to play quarterback in the NFL and the only man to play seven positions. George played for the New York Yanks from 1950-51, the Dallas Texans in 1952, the Baltimore Colts from 1953-54, and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1955, earning Pro Bowl honors in 1951 through 1953. George later earned a master's degree at Howard University, taught at the University of Maryland and served as Dean of Students at Morgan State University.
Judge Viola "Vi" Taliaferro became the first African American to serve as magistrate and then judge in the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Indiana. She handled all county juvenile, paternity, probate, and mental health commitment cases. Vi served as a consultant to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and was on the National Research Council on Juvenile Crime.
The George and Viola Taliaferro Fellowship provides individuals who have not historically had access to collegiate conference office leadership positions with an opportunity to work in the Office of the Commissioner and gain valuable experience in both the sports and business sectors. It marks the second year of the fellowship as Curry will work directly within the Big Ten office, specifically in event management and planning.
Curry, a Memphis, Tenn., product, obtained both a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Minnesota. A Gopher men's basketball member from 2016-2022, Curry persevered through multiple injuries throughout his collegiate career. After announcing he was completing his Gopher career in 2021, Curry decided to return to the Gopher lineup for one final year in 2021-22 under head coach Ben Johnson. It proved to be his best point production year of his college career. Curry averaged 7.7 points, bettering his 3.7 ppg he had in 2020-21 and 5.5 his freshman year. He started in 26 games his final year and averaged 27.8 minutes, both career highs. Curry received the team and department's Big Ten Sportsmanship award and was named Academic All-Big Ten. He also received Minnesota's Pinky McNamara award, given to select individuals within Gopher athletics that shows great signs of perseverance.
Eric Curry sat down with @MikeGrimm3 at Football Media Day to discuss his recent @bigten Fellowship. Tune in as they discussed what's up next for the #Gophers alum! #C2Fhttps://t.co/UPoTHK7S7U pic.twitter.com/QnGELox26H
— Minnesota Men's Basketball (@GopherMBB) July 27, 2022
Fellowship Naming Information
George Taliaferro was the leading rusher on Indiana's 1945 Big Ten championship team, a three-time All-American and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981. He also became the first Black player drafted into the National Football League in 1949 when George Halas and the Chicago Bears drafted George in the 13th round. He was the first Black athlete to play quarterback in the NFL and the only man to play seven positions. George played for the New York Yanks from 1950-51, the Dallas Texans in 1952, the Baltimore Colts from 1953-54, and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1955, earning Pro Bowl honors in 1951 through 1953. George later earned a master's degree at Howard University, taught at the University of Maryland and served as Dean of Students at Morgan State University.
Judge Viola "Vi" Taliaferro became the first African American to serve as magistrate and then judge in the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Indiana. She handled all county juvenile, paternity, probate, and mental health commitment cases. Vi served as a consultant to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno and was on the National Research Council on Juvenile Crime.
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