Gambia's veteran athlete, Sheikh Faye, has been honoured by the United State University for his unprecedented track record as a sportsman with both his country and the university.

Faye, alongside four other sports personalities who had served Middle Tennessee University in various sporting disciplines, will make up the 2009 Hall of Fame class when they are inducted into the Blue Raider Hall of Fame in a ceremony scheduled to take place at Kennon Hall of Fame building in October.

The other four are Granville Bouldin (tennis), Charles Harmening (men's basketball), Steve McAdoo (football) and Danny Moore (baseball). They five great men will be enshrined during Hall of Fame induction ceremonies prior to Middle Tennessee's football game against Mississippi State. This marks the second year in a row the Hall of Fame committee has had five inductees. Prior to 2008, the classes were limited to three inductees. "This year's class truly reflects the depth of our rich sports history, representing five different sports over seven decades at Middle Tennessee," said Jim Simpson a member of the Fame committee.

"The class of 2009 will long be remembered for their outstanding achievements as Blue Raiders." Sheikh Faye was a stalwart on Blue Raider track teams in the late 1970s. The highly-colorful Gambian was a four-time All-American under Coach Dean Hayes in the long jump with indoor honors in 1976 and outdoor honors in 1976, 1977, and 1978. Faye, who is also the 1977 and 1978 Ohio Valley Conference long jump champion represented his homeland of Gambia in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.

"It is an honour and a privilege to be inducted into the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame," elated Faye was quoted saying. "It would have never been possible without Coach Dean Hayes, who I consider the greatest coach of all time. I am truly humbled".