Bowens to represent ICC in MACJC Sports Hall of Fame

Bowens to represent ICC in MACJC Sports Hall of Fame
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON, MS – Former ICC football standout Tim Bowens will be inducted into the Mississippi Association of Community and Juniors Colleges (MACJC) Sports Hall of Fame in a special ceremony held in Jackson on Tuesday.

Bowens' athletic prowess was first recognized when he earned All-District honors in football as a junior at Okolona High School before grabbing the spotlight by leading the Chieftains to an 11-2 record and the Class 2A North State championship game while earning All-State and All-District honors as a senior.

As a freshman at ICC, Bowens helped lead the Indians to a 7-2-1 record. In his final season, the Indians wrapped up the regular season with an 8-2 record and advanced to the MACJC Championship game and played in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, MO.

Bowens left his mark on the ICC football program by laying the ground work for future teams to build upon and raising the bar of expectation for what it means to wear the red and blue after being named a two-time MACJC All-State selection and NJCAA All-American.

After his two seasons in Fulton, Bowens kept his talents in North Mississippi and played for Coach Billy Brewer and the Ole Miss Rebels. Time started in seven games and play in nine to record 47 solo tackles, six assists, six sacks, five tackles for loss, four pass break-ups, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

Bowens opted out of his senior season in Oxford and entered the 1994 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, the first round selection made an immediate impact for the Dolphins. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press and was named to the All-Pro team after recording 44 solo tackles, eight assists, one fumble recovery, and three sacks as a rookie.

Bowens retired from an illustrious 11-year career after spending his entire career with the Dolphins. He finished his career with 407 tackles (297 solo), 22 sacks, 21 pass deflections, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and made an impress interception in 2000 against the Minnesota Vikings. Tim earned Pro Bowl honors in 1998 and 2002, helped Miami reach the playoffs seven times, and started 92 consecutive games, which, at that time, was the third best run in team history.

Former teammate Jason Taylor once said of Bowens, "Timbo was the transmission that made the machine run. He was a valuable as any teammate I ever had, yet he wanted absolutely none of the credit for it."

In 2012, he got the recognition he justly deserved by having his named etched in stone at Sun Life Stadium as part of the Miami Dolphins Walk of Fame. The 2012 inductees were celebrated as "Unsung Heroes" for their unselfish contribution to their teams and willingness to go above and beyond their roles in any way they were asked.

Other members of the MACJC Sports Hall of Fame from ICC include: Mark Bray (2007), Joe Ferguson (2007), Larry Gann (2007), Bud Davis (2008), Buster Davis (2008), Linda Partlow (2009), Paul Johnson (2010), Roy Cresap (2011), Mike Eaton (2012), Jim Walden (2013), and Carrie Ball-Williamson (2014).

The Hall of Fame ceremony will start at 6:00 p.m. be on the Rankin Campus of Hinds Community College.

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