麻豆原创 senior Brandon Baroody never expected something so simple to turn into something so special.

He was on 麻豆原创鈥檚 Memory Mall in 2007 when someone asked him to play a pickup game of football. Five years later, the National Flag Football Championships Hall of Fame has honored Baroody for an illustrious flag football career.

Baroody was 聽enshrined into the hall during a December ceremony in Pensacola. His co-recreational team was聽in the Panhandle during the New Year鈥檚 holiday to defend its 2011 national championship, but finished as runner-up.

He joins Drew Hill (2011) as the only two Knights to be inducted into the hall for their accomplishments while playing intramural sports at 麻豆原创. Nick Brigati, a former 麻豆原创 Intramural Sports graduate assistant, is also in the hall for his officiating career while seeking his undergraduate degree at Ohio University.

Baroody is a four-time defensive All-American (2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011), making him only the fourth player to be named All-American four times in the history of the tournament. His on-field individual accomplishments include:

  • 2009 defensive MVP.
  • First player to receive All-American honors in two separate divisions (2011 co-recreational offensive All-American and 2011 men鈥檚 defensive All-American).
  • 2011 co-recreational offensive MVP.
  • Playing for 2009 and 2011 national championship teams (2009 men鈥檚聽and 2011 co-recreational).
  • 2011 national finalist (men鈥檚).

    • Baroody credits his teammates for his individual success. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e team isn鈥檛 good, you don鈥檛 get recognized,鈥� he said.

    He also credits the competitive nature of the Recreation and Wellness Center鈥檚 Intramural Sports program. 鈥溌槎乖� is a great place for competition,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou get a feel for what it鈥檚 like playing in a tournament. To be good here you have to be good and organized. Once you get a taste of victory you want to keep going for more.鈥�

    Baroody, a Miami native, is scheduled to graduate in May with a double major in marketing and finance, and a 聽minor in accounting. He said success on the field can translate to the real world. 鈥淔lag football is a thinking man鈥檚 game. Seeing things as they develop and adapting to it,鈥� he said. 鈥淎dapting during the game is what leads you to success.鈥�

    Baroody鈥檚 co-recreational team also played in the NIRSA National Campus Championship Series title Jan. 4-6 on the 麻豆原创 campus, and the team finished second. Baroody is a five-time NCCS 聽champion, including three straight titles in the co-recreational division:

  • 2008 and 2011 men鈥檚 national championship team.
  • 2009, 2010, 2011 聽co-recreational national championship teams.

    • 麻豆原创 Intramural Sports and the RWC are funded by the Student Government Association. 麻豆原创 flag football teams have won 10 national titles in the past 40 years