The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame and the alma maters of 2002 College Football Hall of Fame inductees Rod Cason, Kenny Gamble, Randy Rhino and Reggie White will pay tribute to their honorees with on-field ceremonies celebrating their legendary collegiate careers on Saturday, September 21.
Angelo State will honor former All-America offensive tackle, Rod Cason, at halftime of Saturday's Angelo State / Southeastern Oklahoma game. Kenny Gamble's gridiron accomplishments will celebrated during an On Campus Salute Saturday when Colgate hosts Dartmouth. Georgia Tech will pay tribute to their only three-time All-America, Randy Rhino, at halftime when they take on Brigham Young University. Lastly, during a game that will attract national attention Saturday, Tennessee sack leader, Reggie White, will be honored when the Volunteers host SEC rival Florida.
The rest of the 2002 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be honored with On-Campus Salutes at their respective alma maters throughout the remainder 2002 college football season.
HONOREE BIOGRAPHIES
Rod Cason
Angelo State University
Offensive Tackle
1969-71
Arguably the greatest and most decorated offensive lineman in Angelo State history, Rod Cason was a key component to the Rams' rise as a Lone Star Conference and NAIA power.
A four-year starter and letterman, Cason became the first player in school history to earn First Team NAIA All-America honors three times. To date, only Cason and fellow College Football Hall of Fame member Pierce Holt hold that distinction from Angelo State. In addition, Cason was twice named Associated Press Second Team All-America.
Struggling in its early years, Cason spearheaded a program turnaround that saw three consecutive winning seasons and a 1971 campaign that was the program's most successful ever with a 7-3 record and an appearance in the NAIA National Semifinals.
An all-conference selection three consecutive years, Cason was named team captain in 1971. He was chosen in the 11th Round of the National Football League Draft in 1972 by the New England Patriots.
Also a successful teacher and businessman, Cason has served as a high school football coach and most recently, Operations Superintendent for Tesoro Petroleum.
Kenny Gamble
Colgate University
Running Back
1984-87
When Kenny Gamble completed his storied four-year career at Colgate, his name had become synonymous with the school, Colonial League, ECAC and NCAA record books. Few in the history of collegiate football ran the ball with such intensity and passion.
A two-time First Team All-America, Gamble won the Walter Payton Trophy in 1987 as the top Division I-AA player in the country finishing first and second respectively in all-purpose yards (2,097) and rushing yards (1,411). As a junior, his 1,816 rushing yards led the nation, while his 21 rushing touchdowns and 2,425 all-purpose yards set NCAA Division I-AA records.
Gamble is a two-time All-Conference pick, three-time All-ECAC choice and was named ECAC Division I-AA Player of the Year in 1987. A two-time recipient of the Andy Kerr Trophy, presented to Colgate's Most Valuable Player, he led the team in rushing all four years of his career.
At the conclusion of his career, Gamble held or shared 13 NCAA Division I-AA records and 29 school records. His career 7,623 all-purpose yards set the all-time record for all divisions of collegiate football. Following graduation in 1987, he played professional football with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.
Randy Rhino
Georgia Tech
Defensive Back
1972-74
The only three-time First Team All-America selection in Georgia Tech history, Randy Rhino roamed the defensive secondary like no other and made his mark on the Yellow Jacket return teams as well.
In addition to being a three-time All-America (consensus in 1973), Rhino was named an All-Southeastern Independent Conference pick three times and saw action in the Blue-Gray Game and Hula Bowl in 1975.
Defensively, Rhino twice led the team in interceptions and is currently tied for second all-time at Georgia Tech with 14 in his career. A fierce hitter, Rhino also ranks 13th all-time in career tackles by a defensive back with 203, which includes a team best 11 touchdown-saving tackles during the 1973 season.
On special teams, Rhino led the nation, averaging 17.6 yards per punt return in 1972, a mark that ranks second all-time at Georgia Tech. He is the school's leader with 749 career punt return yards and ranks sixth with a 13.1 return average. Returning kicks, Rhino ranks seventh with 860 career return yards and a 23.5 return average.
After being drafted by the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League in 1975, Rhino flourished in the Canadian Football League, where he was named All-Pro in three of his five seasons. Today Rhino is a successful chiropractor in Atlanta, Georgia.
Reggie White
University of Tennessee
Defensive Tackle
1980-83
Terrorizing quarterbacks from the collegiate level to the professional ranks, few defensive players in the history of the game of football have dominated the line of scrimmage like Reggie White.
A unanimous All-America selection in 1983, White was a Lombardi Award finalist, was named Defensive Lineman of the Year by the Atlanta Touchdown Club and was Most Valuable Player of the Japan Bowl. Named Southeast Conference Player of the Year in 1983, White was chosen by the Birmingham Quarterback Club as the SEC's Most Outstanding Lineman and Most Outstanding Senior Football Player.
Renowned for his relentless sacking ability, White holds Tennessee records for most sacks in a single game (4), season (15) and career (32). He was chosen by his teammates to receive the UT Simpson Theatre Award as the Volunteer's Outstanding Lineman and the Spiva Award as Most Improved Defensive Player in 1981.
A first round draft choice (fourth overall) of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985, White embarked on a 13-year NFL career, which included 11 Pro-Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl XXXI Championship as a member of the Green Bay Packers. White retired as, and continues to be, the NFL's all-time career sack leader.
With 119 chapters and over 14,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in America's young people. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., Play It Smart, The NFF Center for Youth Development Through Sport at Springfield College (Mass.), the NFL-NFF Coaching Academy, and scholarships of nearly $1 million for College and High School Scholar-Athletes.
