PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Artwork Nonetheless, a dominant defensive finish on the College of Kentucky and within the Nationwide Soccer League, has been named to the Philadelphia Sports activities Corridor of Fame.
Nonetheless got here to Kentucky from Camden, N.J. (throughout the Delaware River from Philadelphia) and performed at UK from 1974-77 below Coach Fran Curci. Nonetheless helped the Wildcats to a 19-4 file in his last two seasons. UK went 9-3 in his junior yr, profitable a share of the Southeastern Convention championship, and capped the season with a 21-0 blanking of North Carolina within the Peach Bowl. The Cats have been ranked 18th within the last Related Press ballot.
UK posted a 10-1 mark in Nonetheless’s senior season, ending the marketing campaign No. 6 within the last AP rating. The Wildcats went 7-3 in opposition to High-20 ranked groups his final two seasons, profitable the final 5 in a row vs. ranked foes Florida, North Carolina, West Virginia, at Penn State and at LSU. Paced by Nonetheless’s dominant performances, Kentucky led the SEC in complete protection and speeding protection.
Nonetheless was a four-year starter who totaled 327 tackles throughout his profession, an incredible determine for a defensive finish. Quarterback sacks weren’t stored throughout his profession and tackles for loss can be found just for his senior yr, when he compiled 22 TFL – a faculty file that “Nonetheless” stands.
One attention-grabbing reality about Nonetheless is that he additionally noticed vital motion on offense as a decent finish in short-yardage or goalline conditions, averaging roughly 15 performs per sport and continuously serving to pave the way in which for touchdowns or first downs. Kentucky rushed for 269.1 yards per sport in 1976, the second-highest mark in class historical past, and rushed for 228.7 yards per sport in 1977.
Nonetheless was a unanimous first-team All-America choice in 1977 as chosen by AP, United Press Worldwide, Soccer Writers Affiliation of America, the American Soccer Coaches Affiliation, Newspaper Enterprise Affiliation, Walter Camp Soccer Basis, The Sporting Information and Soccer Information.
Nonetheless was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and the UPI Nationwide Lineman of the 12 months. He was the Brooks-Irvine Memorial Soccer Membership of South Jersey School Participant of the 12 months.
Nonetheless’s unimaginable performances impressed quite a few memorable quotes throughout his collegiate days:
“He’s only a nice participant. He divides the sphere in half, and I inform my boys to run on the different half!”
— Corridor of Fame Coach Charlie McClendon of LSU; Nonetheless earned Southeast Defensive Participant of the Week honors twice vs. LSU
“The one that stated Artwork Nonetheless coated one complete aspect of the sphere was proper! He appeared like a mountain on the market! He is likely to be as nice a defensive finish as there may be within the nation … or a defensive participant.”
— North Carolina Coach Invoice Dooley after UK shut out the No. 19-ranked Tar Heels within the Peach Bowl
“He’s a really dominant participant.”
— West Virginia Coach Frank Cignetti after UK defeated the No. 17-ranked Mountaineers
“I simply really feel Artwork might be the perfect defensive finish within the nation, higher than (eventual Corridor of Famer) Ross Browner of Notre Dame. Anyway, I haven’t seen any finish I’d take over him.”
— New York Jets assistant coach Carroll Huntress, whose ideas have been proved appropriate when Nonetheless was chosen because the No. 2 general choose within the NFL Draft
“My phrase, you’re a giant one, aren’t you?”
— Prince Charles of England, when the inheritor to the English throne met Artwork at a Kentucky sport
On the convention degree, Nonetheless was the SEC Senior Participant of the 12 months by the Birmingham Landing Membership and the UPI SEC Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He was first-team All-SEC as a junior and senior.
The collegiate honors have continued lengthy since Nonetheless’s time in Lexington. He was named to the School Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2015. He’s a UK retired jersey and UK Athletics Corridor of Fame honoree. He was named to the UK All-Time Groups for the a hundredth 12 months of Kentucky Soccer (1990) as chosen by the Lexington Herald-Chief and Louisville Courier-Journal. He additionally was picked to the Quarter-Century All-SEC Staff (1961-85) by the Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger. In 2002, he was named one of many Dwelling Legends of the SEC.
Even with all of the staff success and the person accolades, Nonetheless’s most cherished recollections come from the friendships cast throughout his time on the College.
When requested his greatest thrill at Kentucky when inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Fame, Nonetheless stated, “The sports activities aspect was good however what I keep in mind most are the relationships with my teammates and classmates. The place I got here from in Camden, it was predominantly African-People and Puerto Ricans. (At UK) I realized take care of individuals from totally different environments, relate to individuals and deal with individuals. We had gamers from all components of the nation and we realized to deal with individuals the way in which we needed to be handled.
“Teammates like Derrick Ramsey, Billy Williams, Mike Martin, Jerry Blanton, Dallas Owens. Coach Curci. (Power coach) Pat Etcheberry, who set the muse for self-discipline, weight coaching and velocity. You are taking all these issues – household, pals, teammates, coaches – they usually made you a greater individual,” stated Nonetheless, who cherishes his visits to Lexington when he and his teammates have their “Curci’s Cats” reunions.
Following his senior season, Nonetheless performed in three nationwide all-star video games, together with the East-West Shrine Sport, the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl, the place he was named the sport’s Excellent Defensive Participant.
After being tabbed because the second general choose of the 1978 NFL Draft (solely behind Earl Campbell), Nonetheless went on to a record-setting 12-year profession with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (1978-87) and the Buffalo Payments (1988-89). He was a four-time Professional Bowl choice, two-time All-Professional, two-time Chiefs Most Beneficial Participant, set Kansas Metropolis data for many sacks in a profession (73) and season (14.5, twice), and was second in staff historical past in complete tackles (992).
Along with his newest honor, and beforehand talked about UK and School Soccer HOFs, Nonetheless additionally has been chosen for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Corridor of Fame, Missouri Sports activities Corridor of Fame and Peach Bowl Corridor of Fame. All totaled, he’s now in six halls of honor.
Over time, he has participated in quite a few neighborhood service actions, akin to Particular Olympics, being a mentor in a Massive Brothers program, Sickle Cell Basis, Dare Program, and so forth. He’s a member of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Ambassadors, an affiliation of former Chiefs gamers who take part in service actions.
Born in Camden, he starred in soccer and basketball at Camden Excessive College, teaming with Derrick Ramsey to steer the Golden Panthers to state championships in each sports activities.
Nonetheless will be part of his sister, Valerie, who was inducted within the Philadelphia Sports activities Corridor of Fame in 2023. Valerie was a star basketball participant, following Artwork to the College of Kentucky and turning into the Wildcats’ all-time main scorer and rebounder.
Artwork will probably be formally inducted into the PSHOF on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, on the Reside! On line casino & Resort Occasion Heart. The PSHOF was based in 2002 and proceeds from its occasions help native museum-focused areas, Corridor of Fame charities and native universities in offering instructional alternatives.
