September 2003

Four sports heroes
headed to Hall of Fame
Several University of Montana athletic greats will be inducted into the Grizzly Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 26. Those slated for enshrinement -- Doug Betters, Guy Bingham, Kirk Scrafford and Mike Tilleman -- all played Grizzly football before making their mark in the NFL.

The Hall of Fame Banquet starts with a 6 p.m. social hour in the University Center Ballroom. Dinner is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for individuals and $250 for tables of 10. They are available at www.griztix.com.

Defensive end Doug Betters played for the Miami Dolphins during 1978-87. He played in the 1983 and '85 Super Bowls and was the NFL "Defensive Player of the Year" in 1983. While playing in 146 career games he racked up 43.5 sacks and was a member of the Dolphins' "Killer Bs" defensive line. He was named the Dolphins' "Outstanding Defensive Lineman" in 1983 and '84 and was selected by fans to the Dolphins' Silver Anniversary Team.

Betters played for the Grizzlies during 1974-76, earning the Larry Miller Award for outstanding defensive lineman as a junior in 1976 and an All-Big Sky Conference selection in 1975. He played his senior season at Nevada-Reno.

Betters returned to the Griz as an assistant coach during 1995-96, helping UM earn a I-AA national championship. He was paralyzed from the waist down in a skiing accident on Feb. 5, 1998. A Whitefish resident, he has hosted the Doug Betters Winter Classic for 17 years, raising more than $1 million for children's hospitals.

Guy Bingham, who played center, guard and long snapper in the NFL, spent 13 seasons in the pros starting in 1981, when he was drafted in the 10th round by the New York Jets. He played nine years for the Jets, three seasons for the Atlanta Falcons and a final year with the Washington Redskins.

While with the Griz, "Bing" was an All-Big Sky Conference Team pick in 1978 and '79. He also earned UM's Paul Weskamp Award -- presented to UM's "Outstanding Offensive Lineman" -- during 1978-79. Bingham played three offensive line positions at UM. He now is a Missoula businessman.

Offensive lineman Kirk Scrafford played nine seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989. He played three seasons with the Bengals, two with the Denver Broncos and four with the San Francisco 49ers. He was a starter at offensive tackle for the 49ers in 1997 but retired after the season because of a persistent neck injury.

"Scraffy" was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Team twice at UM, and in 1989 won the Paul Weskamp Award. He was the Grizzlies' "Outstanding Junior" in 1988, the same year he received an All-American honorable mention nod from the Associated Press. He was a first-team AP pick in 1989, and he started 43 consecutive regular-season games in his four years at UM -- a record at that time.

Scrafford now lives in the Bitterroot Valley.

Defensive Lineman Mike Tilleman played in the NFL during 1965-76. A starter for 11 seasons, he was drafted by the Denver Broncos of the American Football League and the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. During his pro stint he played two years for the Vikings, four seasons with the New Orleans Saints, two years for the Houston Oilers and four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.

He was named the NFL's "Comeback Player of the Year" in 1972, when he led the league with 15 quarterback sacks. He earned a spot on the NFL's All-Pro Team in 1973.

Tilleman played for the Grizzlies during 1963-64. He was a second team All-Big Sky Conference pick in '63 and '64. He now is a Havre businessman.

University Relations | Cary Shimek, Editor
The University of Montana-Missoula
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT 59812
phone (406) 243-2522 | fax (406) 243-4520
© 2004 The University of Montana