Dec. 3, 2008

This weekend the Big 12 Conference will honor some of its former student-athletes who have helped shape the Big 12 into the premier conference in college athletics. The Big 12 Legends program will recognize one football great from each of the 12 schools in the Big 12 Conference. John Kadlec, who is a former player and coach at Mizzou will be the honoree from the University of Missouri.

A fixture in Mizzou athletic circles for more than 40 years, Kadlec, a native of St. Louis, was an all-conference linemen in 1950. He served as an assistant football coach at Mizzou under Don Faurot, Frank Broyles, Dan Devine, and Al Onofrio, and has been a Tiger administrator since 1986. Kadlec currently serves Missouri as special assistant to the athletic director and as color commentator on the Tiger Network.

The 12 legends will be recognized at the Big 12 Legend's Reception on Friday night at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City. The function is for invited guests only, but will be streamed online at big12sports.com. On Saturday, the legends will be at the Big 12 Press Box Stage at the Pavilion outside of Arrowhead Stadium, where fans can listen to a moderated discussion with the gridiron greats. The legends will also be honored on the field as part of halftime festivities of the Big 12 Championship Game.

The 2008 Big 12 Legends are:
Grant Teaff- Baylor
Joel Klatt- Colorado
Matt Blair- Iowa State
John Hadl- Kansas
Bill Snyder- Kansas State
John Kadlec- Missouri
Will Shields- Nebraska
Lee Roy Selmon- Oklahoma
Derrel Gofourth- Oklahoma State
Priest Holmes- Texas
John David Crow- Texas A&M
E.J. Holub- Texas Tech