The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and the alumni schools of their 2001 Hall of Fame inductees, paid tribute to Joseph Fusco, Bill Redell, and Grant Teaff with On-Campus Salutes.
Joseph Fusco was honored when Westminster College hosted Washington & Jefferson College. Fusco was the head coach at Westminster for 19 years. Occidental College paid tribute to their former All-American ironman, Bill Redell, when they hosted La Verne. Grant Teaff was honored by two of the schools he formerly coached, Angelo State University and McMurry University. Because the two schools are only 92 miles apart, Teaff was able to take part in the McMurry festivities at their 2:00pm start and the Angelo State festivities at their 7:00pm start. Baylor University where Teaff coached from 1972-92 has chosen Oct. 27 to honor him. All four tributes were held on Saturday, Sept. 29.
The rest of the 2001 Hall of Fame Class will be honored with On-Campus Salutes at their respective alma maters throughout the remaining schedule of the 2001 college football season.
HONOREE BIOGRAPHIES
Joseph Fusco - Head Coach, Westminster College, 1972-90 - Few men could have ever matched the record of excellence set by Westminster's College Hall of Fame Coach Harold Burry, but from 1972-90 Joe Fusco won consistently adding his name to the all-time record books. In 19 seasons at Westminster's helm, Fusco posted a record of 154-34-3 for a winning percentage of .814. His football teams won four NAIA Division II National Championships (1976, 1977, 1988, 1989.), and in 1977, his team was awarded the Lambert Bowl as the best team in the East. In addition to his four championship seasons, Fusco had five other playoff appearances and 11 Top 20 finishes to his credit. During the 1988 and 1989 championship seasons, Fusco's Titans compiled a 27-game win streak, which at the time was the nation's longest. Those spectacular seasons earned Fusco NAIA Division II Coach of the Year recognition to go along with six other NAIA District 18 Coach of the Year honors. When Fusco stepped down in 1990, he was tied for second among NAIA Division II's active winningest coaches and still ranks near the top.
Bill Redell - Quarterback/Defensive Back, Occidental College, 1962-63 - A standout football player, leader, and dedicated servant to the game of amateur football, Bill Redell starred at Occidental College as one of the last great 'triple threats.' On offense, defense and special teams, Redell combined his versatility with a unique competitive nature to lead the Tigers to great success. A two-time team captain and MVP, Redell earned First Team All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection on both offense and defense and was Honorable Mention All-America. In 1963, he was recognized nationally as an NAIA First Team All-America defensive back and All-Conference selection at quarterback. In just two seasons, Redell completed 68% of his passes for 1,567 yards and 11 touchdowns. Averaging 6.3 yards per carry out of the backfield, he gained 1,583 yards and added 8 more touchdowns. In addition he returned kicks and handled the kicking duties, connecting on 36-43 point after attempts and averaging 38.6 yards per punt. Defensively, Redell intercepted seven passes in his career.
Grant Teaff - Head Coach, McMurry University (1960-65), San Angelo University (1969-71), Baylor University (1972-92) Grant Teaff has made an indelible mark on the game of college football in so many ways. Beyond his lengthy successful coaching career, primarily at Baylor, Coach Teaff continues to impact amateur football and the way it is coached and administered. At the time when Grant Teaff took over at Baylor, many people felt that they should drop from Division I. Over the years, he successfully rebuilt the Baylor program. As Baylor's all-time winningest coach with 128 victories, Teaff led the Bears to eight bowl appearances and two Southwestern Conference Championships. His 83 conference wins is fourth all-time in the SWC and his 239 games coached is second all-time in the SWC. On six occasions, Teaff was named Southwest Conference Coach of the Year, and in 1974, AFCA and the Football Writers Association of America named him National Coach of the Year. He was selected to coach in 12 postseason all-star games and is a member of the SWC Hall of Honor and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Currently the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, Teaff has reorganized, modernized and re-energized coaches across America.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit educational organization comprised of more than 11,000 members in 118 chapters nationwide, dedicated to the promotion of amateur football, scholarship, citizenship, and superior athletic performance. Through various programs and initiatives, the Foundation endeavors to promote the positive values learned through participation in sport. The College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana serves as the shrine where those who exemplify the Foundation's ideal of excellence both on and off the field are immortalized.
