Floor Rijpma (Hall of Fame class of 2021) was inducted with the 2022 class due to Covid-19 travel restrictions last year. 

It was an evening flooded with emotion. Family, friends, teammates and coaches gathered to celebrate the induction of their loved ones. 

“I remember walking that hallway for the first time in 2007, just wondering if I had the opportunity to make it,” Greg Jones said. “It’s been such a great journey. I’m so appreciative to be here at this point in time."

Jones played football under Mark Dantonio from 2007-10. The two-time All-American helped lead the team to the Big Ten Championship title in 2010 and earned multiple honors including the 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He went on to win the Super Bowl with the Giants in 2011. 

The mystery of Herb Adderley and why he turned down admittance into the HOF

Herb Adderley is another name that built the foundation on which MSU Football stands today. Adderley played from 1957-60 under Head Coach Duffy Daugherty.

For Adderley, this wasn’t his first hearing of a spot for him in the Hall of Fame.

“He was asked to go in before," Adderley’s daughter, Dr. Toni Adderley, said. "My dad was very humble and he felt like other athletes should’ve gone in, so he turned it down."

Adderley was a part of the first All-Big Ten team in 1960 and the first ever Spartan to be welcomed into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Following his college career, he went on to win three Super Bowls.

“He loved Michigan State," Dr. Toni Adderley said. "Michigan State was a part of his legacy and creating that legacy."

Bob Steele was at Michigan State shortly after Adderley, who died in October 2020. He was choked up while accepting the honor. 

“As time wore on, the football team became national champions, by 1966 the soccer and hockey teams were national champions. It was across the board an incredible period,” Steele said. “I never left town. I lived 50 adult years four blocks from the stadium. It couldn't be better to be here." 

Women Spartans make history

Kathy DeBoer played basketball on Karen Langeland’s first team in 1975. Both were honored to be inducted together.

“You don’t know what you don’t know when you're doing things for the first time so what did Karen do, she just coached us, “ DeBoer said. “She got mad when we lost and she liked it when we won. We were kind of wired the same way, so it wasn’t complicated.”

DeBoer played volleyball as well from 1975-78. The role women play in athletics has evolved immensely since DeBoer first stepped foot on MSU’s campus.

“I think it's indicative of where we are in the history of sport in the United States,” DeBoer said. "There were lots of fights at the beginning and part of me says that putting me into The Hall of Fame here at Michigan State is evidence of the fact that I've lasted longer than all of the people that I hacked off when I was here."

Not only is this year the 50th anniversary of Title IX, but it’s the first time in history that there have been more women in the Hall of Fame Class than men. DeBoer and Langeland are joined by Joan Garety (women’s golf 1974-78), Laura Heyboer (women’s soccer 2008-11) and Kalisha Keane (women’s basketball 2007-11).

“It’s about time,” Karen Langeland said when asked about her thoughts on the majority of women being inducted."

"You can't play in this program if you don't have fire"

MSU former basketball star and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green brought the heat. Green couldn’t be prouder to return to his alma mater and represent those who came before him. 

“If there’s one thing that I've learned, it’s that you never truly leave this place,” Green said. "You move on and go after your dreams and other things, but to the core of who you are, it always comes back to being a Spartan and everything that embodies.”

Green expressed his undying appreciation towards men's basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo, who set him up to become the leader that he is today.

“I came onto this campus and I thought I knew how to work hard because I was good at basketball,” Green said. “I’m so thankful to have played under a leader like Coach Izzo who preached hard work and taught hard work and the moment you thought you were working hard was never good enough because there's always something else."

Green acknowledged those who laid the groundwork for the MSU men’s basketball program, and how they resembled what it takes to be a better man. He's grateful that the induction fell on the same weekend as men's basketball's annual "Grind Week" to be surrounded by beloved teammates and Spartan alumni.

“I walked onto this campus thinking I had all the answers, and I left a better man. That to me is why I'll always return,” Green said. “ To have everyone here is such a special thing. To know that love and support and you’ve got all those guys coming back and Coach Izzo keeps making it happen, that’s why Michigan State is the place I grew up in.”

2022 Hall of Fame inductees couldn't be prouder to return to campus to represent the almighty green and white.

"The goal is to make it better for the next group that comes in," Green said. "I look around this campus and I think we've been able to do that."