The SIUC men’s tennis team dropped out of competition at the MVC Championships in Carbondale Saturday. In semi-final action, Mick Smyth was defeated 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 in men’s No. 1 singles by Wichita State University’s Shaun Harrop.

In No. 4 singles, Kyle Henry was defeated by Illinois State University’s Mike Miller 6-4, 6-3. Brian Etzkin, who was victorious in his first match over the University of Evansville’s Jeff King 6-3, 6-1, later fell to Dan Rosu of Illinois State.

Munoz, Singletary elected to Football Hall of Fame

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Tackle Anthony Muoz and linebacker Mike Singletary, who dominated their positions during the 1980s, were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility Saturday.

Also chosen by the 36-man board of electors were safety Paul Krause, the league’s career interception leader; Dwight Stephenson, who played 107 straight games at center for the Miami Dolphins; and seniors candidate Tommy McDonald.

Muoz was an indestructible offensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals, elected to 11 consecutive Pro Bowls and chosen for the NFL’s 75th anniversary team in 1994.

He was a three-time choice as Offensive Lineman of the Year and was picked as the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1991.

Coming out of college, Muoz was the third player picked in the 1980 draft, but was considered a risky pick because of a knee injury that limited him to one game in his senior season at Southern California. He missed just four games in 13 seasons with the Bengals.

Muoz remembered being drafted by Paul Brown and the Bengals. What a thrill for me now to be there [in the Hall of Fame] with Paul Brown. It’s a great thrill. I was part of that football team for a long time.

So was Singletary in Chicago. The linebacker was the emotional leader of the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team, spearheading the 46 defense that allowed just 11 points per game that season. He played 12 years, reaching the Pro Bowl 10 times, and was Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1988.

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Krause intercepted 81 passes in a 16-year career with Washington and Minnesota. He led the NFL with 12 interceptions in 1964, his rookie year, and made eight Pro Bowls. He missed just two games in 16 seasons and was an All-Pro choice four times.

Krause played on all of Minnesota’s four losing Super Bowl teams. It still hurts, he said. I was part of a great team that has a little cloud over it because it couldn’t win the big one. That still bothers us.

Stephenson, a finalist in last year’s Hall of Fame election, became the seventh modern-era center to be elected. He played eight seasons for Miami and was the team’s offensive captain and a major factor in the Dolphins’ record of allowing the fewest sacks in the NFL for six straight years.

McDonald, a third-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957, spent 12 years in the league as a wide receiver. A six-time Pro Bowl choice, he had 495 career receptions for 8,410 yards and 84 touchdowns. He had a streak of 93 consecutive games in which he caught at least one pass.

Ten other finalists coach George Allen, quarterback Ken Anderson, defensive ends Carl Eller and Jack Youngblood, guard Tom Mack, tight end Ozzie Newsome, administrator Dan Rooney, wide receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann and tackle Ron Yary failed to receive the necessary 80 percent of the votes for election. Because they made the final six, Newsome and Rooney become automatic finalists for the 1999 election.