Varsity Club Hall of Fame
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Francis R. Ryan was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in the sports of baseball and basketball.
Ryan was a Small College All America as a senior in 1964, when the college basketball world recognized him as one of the game's complete rebounders, scorers and defensive intimidators. With Ryan patrolling the hardwood at Cabot Gym, the Huskies posted a three year mark of 55-22 between 1962 and 1964. He averaged 10.7 rebounds a game over his career, which is the second highest total in Husky hoops history.
Ryan could also play a little baseball and won letters in 1962 and 1963 as a right handed pitcher and outfielder.
On the basketball court, Ryan enjoyed a prosperous freshman campaign, and his obvious rebounding skills gave coach Dick Dukeshire some notions. Dukeshire decided the pivot was the spot in which the 6'6 jumping jack should operate, as opposed to power forward. Ryan responded by becoming one of New England's chairmen of the boards. With Ryan pounding the glass and chipping in double figures in scoring, the Huskies were a dominant Division II team, and consistently beat many Division I teams. Northeastern won the NCAA Small College Regional Tournament with Ryan as a sophomore in 1962, beat Springfield in the Regionals the following year on a last second Ryan tap-in, and as a senior in 1964-65, Ryan and the Huskies knocked off Boston College at Cabot Gym; it is the last NU squad to have bested the Eagles.
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