An added attraction for Saturday's game is the visit from the College Football Hall of Fame Road Show, which will be in the Banta Bowl parking lot. Fans can walk through the 38-foot motor home, which houses displays, artifacts, and memorabilia from the Hall of Fame. Reppert, who now lives in Belvidere, Ill., was one of six players and three coaches in the divisional class, which includes NCAA Divisions I-AA, II, III, and NAIA. The complete class of inductees totals 24 and includes names like former Green Bay Packers Reggie White and John Jefferson, and Dan Marino, Ronnie Lott, Napoleon McCallum, and Kellen Winslow.
Reppert is the first player from the Midwest Conference to be enshrined in South Bend and the first player from the modern era to represent a state college other than the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Marty Below, who played tackle for UW-Oshkosh from 1918-23, was enshrined in 1988.
Reppert starred for the Vikings from 1979-82. He finished his career with 807 rushes for 4,442 yards, a 5.5-yard per carry average. A three-time first-team All-American, Reppert set a high standard on the field at Lawrence. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound dynamo led the nation in rushing for three consecutive seasons from 1980-82. He is one of only four players in NCAA history to accomplish that feat and the only Division III player to have done it.
Reppert, a charter member of the Lawrence Intercollegiate Athletic Hall of Fame and one of only two players to have his number retired, was a star in one of the truly great eras of Lawrence football. During Reppert's four seasons, the Vikings went 33-5, won three Midwest Conference championships, and reached the semifinals of the NCAA Division III playoffs. Lawrence's victory over the University of Minnesota-Morris in 1981 remains the only win by a Midwest Conference team in the NCAA playoffs.
As a freshman backup in 1979, Reppert ran 30 times for 255 yards and averaged 8.5 yards per carry. When he broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore, Reppert ran 223 times for 1,223 yards and 11 touchdowns. Reppert had a huge year in 1981, as Lawrence won a third consecutive Midwest Conference title and he ran 300 times for 1,641 yards and 16 touchdowns.
He capped his career in 1982 by leading the nation in rushing for a third consecutive season. Reppert ran 254 times for 1,323 and 14 touchdowns as a senior. For his career, he ran for 100 yards in a game 23 times and 200 yards five times. His best statistical game was 252 yards against Coe, a 41-6 Lawrence victory, in 1981.
Reppert signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bears in 1983, attended training camp, and was released during the season. He played for the London Ravens of the European Football League in 1985 and 1986 before an injury ended his playing career.
Reppert, who majored in psychology at Lawrence and was an Academic All-American in 1981, is the general manager of Aramark Uniform Services in Rockford, Ill. Reppert is the son of Laura and Frank Lynch of Appleton and Melinda and Owen Reppert of Omro. He has three children, Luis, Nicho, and Benjamin.