IHSAA inducting 6 into football hall of fame

(This is from the Iowa High School Athletic Association)

Six individuals who distinguished themselves in football will be inducted into the IHSAA Football Players Hall of Fame at the halftime of the Class 4A Championship, Friday, Nov. 21.

The new honorees are Sean Shafar from Bedford, Scott Raridon who played at Mason City; Bruce Nelson from Emmetsburg; Adam Timmerman from Cherokee; Aplington-Parkersburg's Brad Meester; and Kyle Vanden Bosch who starred at West Lyon, Inwood.

Profiles of each follows.

SEAN SHAFAR, Bedford: As a four year starter he had the rare distinction of playing in the post season each year for Hall-of-Fame coaches Max Dougherty and Bob McCoy. He was the catalyst in the Bulldogs' attack that posted a 39-8 record, en route to the 1998 State Runner-up in Class 1A. He rushed for over 1,100 yards each season culminating with 2,517 yards and 53 TDs as a senior. In his career he averaged over 9 yards per rush and his 6,536 yards, 105 TDs, and 686 points were each state leading marks when he graduated and they still rank in the top four. He had 806 receiving yards to swell his career all purpose yards to 9,629. He was twice an All-State choice and honored as a first team pick at running back or on defense his senior year when he was named Elite All-State, and selected as player of the year by the Iowa Football Coaches Association's Yearbook. He was a member of the 1998 Shrine Bowl team. He also was a four year starter in basketball and baseball while being a three time 100 meter dash state qualifier in track. At Northwest Missouri State, he was a member of Coach Mel Tjeerdsma's 1999 national championship team, and then started two seasons at fullback before a neck injury caused him to forego his senior year. After working in banking, he now has a farming operation near Bedford.

SCOTT RARIDON, Mason City: At 6-4, 250 lbs., he was an offensive and defensive lineman for two seasons playing for Coach Barry Alvarez. The Mohawks had a banner season in 1978 going 11-1 and claiming the 4A State Championship by edging Dubuque Hempstead, 15-13. The Mohawk defense came up big in the final period, stopping one drive deep in their own territory when he forced and recovered a fumble, while his teammates stopped a two point conversion and came up with an interception. The run-up to the title came after a three overtime 26-24 loss to Fort Dodge. But they closed with double digit wins over Cedar Falls and Waterloo Central to clinch the playoff berth. In the post season they beat Valley, West Des Moines and avenged the Fort Dodge loss with a 33-6 triumph to reach the finals. After earning first team All-State and Shrine Bowl honors, he became a three year letter winner at Nebraska, playing on three straight Big 8 Championship and Orange Bowl teams. In 1983 he was first team All-Big 8 and named second team All-American. He was chosen for the East-West Shrine Bowl and drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles but opted to be strength and conditioning coach and an assistant at Notre Dame. He was part of their 1988 National Championship team before reuniting with Alvarez as Wisconsin's strength and conditioning coach in 1990. In 1992 he earned his Masters' Degree in Business from Notre Dame. He has started several businesses in the Midwest that employ over 200 people.

BRUCE NELSON, Emmetsburg: Playing for Hall-of-Fame Coaches Duane Twait and Tom Steen he started three years at tight end and defensive end. He helped Emmetsburg to three straight playoff appearances, reaching the semifinals in 1996 and winning the 1997 Class 2A title. He was twice a first team All-State selection. His blocking helped key the vaunted Emmetsburg rushing game and his defensive play anchored one of the top units in Class 2A. His senior year he led all classes converting 65 extra point kicks. He played three other sports, was twice a state discus place winner while being active in vocal music and the National Honor Society. He walked on as a tight end at the University of Iowa and four years later left as an All-Big 10 first team selection, an All-American center and a Rimington Award finalist anchoring an offensive line that did not allow a sack. He started 48 consecutive games and was named their team captain and Co-MVP as a senior. He played in the Alamo Bowl as a junior and the 2003 Orange Bowl and Senior Bowl. He was a three time Academic All-Big 10 performer and earned his degree in business in 2003. He was a second round draft choice of the Carolina Panthers and a member of their 2004 Super Bowl team. Injuries forced his NFL career to end in 2004. An articulate spokesperson for the importance of farming, he is part of a family operation and helps Emmetsburg's team by coming to practice every Tuesday and being on the sidelines as an assistant coach.

ADAM TIMMERMAN, Cherokee, Washington: By his own admission he was not a star high school athlete but his work ethic transformed him into an amazing collegiate and professional player. As a senior, he won all-conference and honorable mention all state honors and was selected for the Shrine Bowl. He was eighth in the 1989 State Meet in the 110 Meter High Hurdles. His football story and life journey is one of dedication and determination. A program in agribusiness and a chance to play football led him to South Dakota State University. He broke a leg in a 1991 game but returned for his final three seasons, and achieved all-conference honors and Academic All Conference recognition to each year. In 1993 and 1994 he added First Team All American honors, and in 1994 he was chosen as Division II's Offensive Lineman of the Year by two different publications. In the 1994 Snow Bowl, he caught the eye of NFL scouts and signed with Green Bay. In a 12-year NFL career with the Packers and St. Louis Rams, he started 221 consecutive games, played in four Super Bowls, winning in 1997 and 2000, was twice selected for the Pro Bowl, blocked for six NFL MVPs, and was a team captain. Today, he is part owner and general manager of five John Deere dealerships in northwest Iowa and helps in a family farming operation. In addition, he contributes to the football program at Cherokee, Washington, gives testimonials at churches and schools, and is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

BRAD MEESTER, Aplington-Parkersburg: A 1995 Aplington-Parkersburg graduate, he continued the Falcons' tradition under Coach Ed Thomas of turning out quality athletes who became collegiate and professional stars. He was an All-District choice in 1993 and 1994 and as a linebacker helped A-P to a perfect 13-0 season and the Class 1A state title in 1993. As a linebacker he had 82 tackles on a defense that limited four playoff foes to a meager 24 points. In his three varsity seasons, the Falcons chalked up a 31-3 record and he was a consensus first team All-State lineman as a senior. His career 204 tackles was then a school mark. He played in the 1995 Shrine Bowl game. After helping A-P teams to success in basketball, track and baseball, he was a four year football starter for the University of Northern Iowa under coaches Terry Allen and Mike Dunbar. With the Panthers he earned first team All-Gateway Conference honors three times, was a Division I-AA third team All-American in 1998 and first team All-American as a senior, when he was voted the team's Offensive MVP. Of the four NFL draft picks from Coach Thomas' teams, he went the highest being chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the NFL draft. He played for four different coaches during his 14-year career and as a center started 209 games. In 2008 he won the Ed Block Courage Award and twice during his career won the Walter Payton Man-of-the-Year Award. He retired after the 2013 season. He and his family reside in Jacksonville, FL.

KYLE VANDEN BOSCH, West Lyon: A broken leg in the first game as a sophomore was the only thing that could sideline West Lyon's first IHSAA hall of fame player. He returned for a 12-1 junior campaign for Coach Jay Rozeboom's team that was the Class 2A Runner-up. As a senior, he was a Parade All-American, earned Elite All-State linebacker honors, was the Class 2A Player-of-the-Year, and was Athlete-of-the-Year by the Sioux City Journal and Des Moines Register in leading the Wildcats to the playoffs. He averaged over six yards per rush, tallied 43 TDs and 264 points in his career while starring on defense. His 4.00 GPA made him the class valedictorian. He was a first team all-state basketball player, and ran on relays at the State Track Meet. He was the Defensive MVP of 1997 Shrine Bowl before attending the University of Nebraska. With the Huskers, he was a three year letter winner and two year starter at 'rush end” with 142 tackles (34 for a loss) and 13 sacks, while playing in three bowl games. Twice he was named First Team Academic All-American and in 2000 he was the National Football Foundation winner of the Vincent DePaul Draddy Award, known as the Academic Heisman. He was a first team All-Big 12 defensive player, a team captain, and Nebraska's Male Student Athlete of the Year. Drafted by Arizona in the second round (34th overall) he played 12 years in the NFL with Cardinals, Tennessee and Detroit. Seven years he was a team captain and twice was named to the Pro Bowl. He finished with 464 tackles and 58 sacks. He and his family make their home in Phoenix, AZ.