Hall of Fame Profile: Dave Nelson
9/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Sept. 28, 2004
Sept. 23 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Greg Lotzar (Baseball)
Sept. 24 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Dick Horgan (Golf)
Sept. 25 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Marcy Weston (Volleyball Coach)
Sept. 27 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Carla (Sterk) Fles (Women's Basketball)
Sept. 28 -- Hall of Fame Profile: Dave Nelson (Men's Basketball)
Sept. 29 -- Hall of Fame Profile: John DeBoer (Football)
Sept. 30 -- Hall of Fame Profile: 1974 Football Team
Dave Nelson was an unusual player for Central Michigan University in the early 1960s.
He was 6-5 and, in that era, he was considered a big man. He certainly rebounded like a big man.
He was also an exceptional shooter ... more like a guard than the forward position he occupied.
"He was a tremendous shooter, especially for a big man," recalled former CMU basketball coach Dick Pariftt who was the Chippewa freshman coach at the time. "Plus, he was a great rebounder. He was always in the right place and had great hands.
"I didn't coach him but I saw him play and practice a lot. He was a gym rat and just loved the game of basketball."
Nelson will be recognized for his outstanding accomplishments when he'll be inducted into the CMU Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 1, at a banquet at the Comfort Inn Conference Center. Tickets are $30 each and may be purchased by contacting the CMU ticket office at 1-888-FIRE UP2.
Also being inducted that evening will be John DeBoer (football), Dick Horgan (golf), Greg Lotzar (baseball), Carla (Sterk) Fles (basketball), Marcy Weston (volleyball coach) and the 1974 football team (Division II national champions).
Dave Nelson  | |
Nelson averaged 13.5 rebounds in 1961-62 and 11.8 in 1963-64. The Muskegon High product also finished his career 10th in free throw percentage at .775, nailing 211-of-285.
CMU won the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 1964, posting an 18-6 overall record and a 7-2 league mark.
Nelson was named first team All-IIAC in 1964 and was tabbed team MVP in '64.
An outstanding golfer who Parfitt said could have played for CMU, Nelson nows lives in Green Valley, Ariz.