SLIPPERY ROCK — Roger Neel was there when the Slippery Rock High football program started.

The 1969 graduate admitted he and his teammates didn’t know what they were doing most of the time.

“But we learned,” Neel said.

Neel learned so well, he parlayed his high school playing career into one at Westminster College as a starting offensive tackle.

With Neel moving defensive linemen out of the way, the Titans won the NAIA national championship in 1970 and lost in the title game in 1971.

That’s just a few of the reasons why Neel will be inducted into the Slippery Rock High School Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday.

Joining Neel will be Jamie Dick, Elizabeth (Davis) Barnette, Jence Rhoads, Rich Lee and Dennis King.

“I think it’s nice to be remembered,” Neel said.

Neel said he was fortunate to be in the Slippery Rock school district. He grew up near the Butler school district.

“I grew up in sight of Butler Township, but I went to school in Slippery Rock,” Neel said. “I feel fortunate. I am a big believer in medium-sized schools because it give a lot of kids a chance to play and develop. Had I gone to Butler, I don’t think I would have had the opportunities to play that I had.”

Neel also said he was fortunate to play for Bill Beattie, who pioneered the football program at Slippery Rock.

Beatty is also a member of the Slippery Rock High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

He also had the chance to play for two hall of fame coaches at Westminster in Harold Burry and Joseph Fusco.

“Coach Burry was the most amazing person in the sports world that I have ever met,” Neel said. “He was an incredible motivator.”

These days sports still keep Neel busy.

He is currently in his 15th season as a play-by-play broadcaster for the Binghamton University men’s basketball team for the Empire Sports Network in Buffalo, N.Y.

He also is the Brand Manager and Sports Director for Townsquare Media’s WNBF and WYOS radio stations and is a morning show host for WNBF.

Neel has been a broadcaster since he graduated from Westminster College in 1973.

Following are short biographies of the other 2013 inductees:

Jence Rhoads — Graduated with a school and Butler County record 2,170 points as a member of the girls basketball team at the school.

Rhoads also was a standout soccer player, scoring 105 goals in her career, which also is a school record .

She started for four seasons at Vanderbilt University left the Commodores as the only player in school history with 1,100 points, 500 assists and 400 rebounds.

Rhoads is currently playing professional basketball as a starting point guard for Sepsi St. George in the Romanian League.

Dennis King — Was hired as the head boys basketball coach at Slippery Rock High at the age of 21.

King won just two games in his first season, but led the Rockets to the WPIAL championship game at the Civic Arena six years later.

In 1983, King was hired as the head boys basketball coach at Brentwood High School near Nashville and has won more than 500 games as a coach there.

Jamie Dick — Is one of eight girls basketball players at the school to score more than 1,000 career points.

Dick set a Slippery Rock record in 1997 with 64 3-pointers and was named MVP of the Mercer County Athletic Conference.

Rich Lee — Was a standout football and basketball player at the school.

As a tight end and linebacker, Lee helped the Rockets reach the PIAA semifinals in 2003, where they lost to eventual state champion Aliquippa, which had Darrelle Revis at quarterback.

Lee was named to the Associated Press all state team after his senior season as a defensive specialist.

On the basketball court, Lee helped Slippery Rock reach the state playoffs in 2004 for only the second time since 1980.

Lee played college football at Gannon University for four seasons and was a second team Academic All-American all four years.

Lee, though, missed 13 games in his career at Gannon — including eight during his senior season — because of concussions. Lee said he suffered five in college.

Elizabeth (Davis) Burdette — Ran the 100, 200 and 400 meters as a member of the school’s track and field team from 1978-1980,

Burdette, though, had her best years on the track in college at Slippery Rock State College where she was named an All-American four times.

She was a member of the 400-meter relay team that set a school record in 1981.

In 1982, she was a member of the 400-meter relay, 800-medley relay and 1,600-meter relay teams that earned her All-American honors.