As the Ball State University football team received national recognition for an undefeated regular season in 2008, two Ball State seniors stole the spotlight before 20 years ago in 1988.
No, the seniors of Eric Nixon and Todd Hershey didn't play quarterback and wide receiver -¡- they were a doubles tandem whose success in college tennis gave Ball State national recognition.
"It was a storybook career," said men's tennis coach Bill Richards, who coached Hershey and Nixon during their four-year tenure from 1985-88. "So many great accomplishments, team and individuals. Four conference championships, numerous wins over Big Ten teams and a doubles career that was hard to put into words. Their four years were some of my most satisfying."
Nixon and Hershey received national recognition with wins against tennis powerhouses such as the University of Southern California and Stanford University.
"We were able to make a name for ourselves nationally," Nixon said. "We were one of the top teams in the Midwest. We definitely raised the recognition of the school."
In their senior season Nixon and Hershey advanced to round 16 in the NCAA doubles tournament. During that year they were ranked as high as 12th nationally.
"It's something in the record books and you can't take that away," Hershey said of his accomplishments. "If you put in the hard work you are going to accomplish big things."
Hershey and Nixon appeared in two NCAA tournaments in 1987 and 1988. They also won a Midwest regional championship and advanced to the finals of the National Indoor Tournament in Minneapolis.
"We were the first alternate for the indoor tournament, and one team pulled out at the last minute," Nixon said. "Coach Richards pulled me out of my 1 o'clock class to catch a plane at 2. We were playing tennis at 6 p.m."
Hershey and Nixon defeated nationally known doubles teams from the University of Kentucky and Arizona State University in the tournament before losing in the finals. A year before the indoor tournament Hershey and Nixon defeated the duo of Patrick McEnroe and Scott Moody from Stanford in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American Tournament. Patrick McEnroe is the brother of tennis star John McEnroe.
Hershey and Nixon then went on to win another doubles match against USC before losing in the semifinals. Ball State was the only Midwest team to qualify for the tournament.
"No one had heard of Ball State," Richards said. "Winning those matches were surreal, almost a dream."
The Cardinals won the MAC all four years of Hershey and Nixon's college tenure. Under Richards Ball State won 12 straight MAC titles from 1984 to 1995. However, Hershey and Nixon didn't think they would start a winning tradition when they were recruited.
"I had a lot more success on the tennis court than I had anticipated," Hershey said. "It was the coach, Bill Richards. I thought he was a standup guy and someone I really clicked with. I also like the atmosphere and the guys on the team. Coming from Chicago to this place called Muncie, Ind., and the guys made me feel at home right away."
Nixon, who is also from Illinois, shares the same story with Hershey.
"Coming into college we weren't highly recruited," Nixon said. "So we worked hard and Bill did a good job working with us, and we became better all-around players, got in shape and raised our level of play with the competition we faced."
Hershey and Nixon never lost a match their freshman year. Hershey credits some of his success to the camaraderie on the team.
"To this date some of my best friends are from Ball State tennis, and I talk to them on a regular basis," Hershey said. "They are the type of guys I would want on my side going into battle. I know I count on them."
Today Hershey lives in Naperville, Ill., and teaches tennis full-time in Hinsdale, Ill. He is married to his wife, Machelle, and has a daughter named Taylor. Nixon has a wife, Ellen, and a daughter, Juila. Nixon lives in Maine working for a mortgage company based out of Fishers.
Richards, who recruited the two in the mid-1980s, continues to build Ball State off their success as the Cardinals prepare for the dual-match season that starts in January.
"Todd and Eric were two guys from Illinois that never played on a national level in junior tennis," Richards said. "They came in, worked hard to improve. They were great competitors and very tough-minded. They didn't get intimidated when they played the big names, and their record speaks for itself."
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