Michigan’s Tom Curtis, Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Coach Roger Harring, fullback Roosevelt Leaks from the University of Texas, and former West Virginia and Bowling Green Head Coach Don Nehlen returned to their respective places of triumph on Saturday to receive recognition as part of halftime “On-Campus Salute” ceremonies.
An annual tradition for College Hall of Fame inductees, every Hall of Famer returns to his alma mater to receive an On-Campus Salute during the year of his induction. With official school dignitaries on hand, an NFF representative presents the inductee with his official framed Hall of Fame plaque. The institution receives an identical plaque for display within their respective Hall of Honor.
Curtis, Leaks and Nehlen, along with 10 others, will be inducted into the Hall as the 2005 College Football Hall of Fame class during the NFF’s 48th Annual Awards Dinner on December 6, 2005, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Harring, as a divisional honoree, was enshrined at the Hall during ceremonies this past August at the Hall in South Bend, Ind.
Joining Curtis, Leaks and Nehlen for induction this December are Cornelius Bennett (Alabama), Anthony Davis (USC), Keith Dorney (Penn State), Jim Houston (Ohio State), John Huarte (Notre Dame), Mark May (Pittsburgh), Joe Washington (Oklahoma), Paul Wiggin (Stanford), David Williams (Illinois) and Coach Pat Dye (Auburn, East Carolina, Wyoming).
For a complete list of the remaining On-Campus Salutes for 2005, please click here.
Tom Curtis
University of Michigan
Defensive Back, 1967-69
Opposing quarterbacks beware! Lurking deep within the defensive secondary stands one of the greatest interception threats in NCAA history, Michigan’s Tom Curtis.
A consensus First Team All-America selection in 1969, Curtis set an NCAA career record with 431 interception return yards and led the nation with 10 picks in 1968. With 25 career interceptions, he is the all-time leader at Michigan, ranks second all-time in BIG TEN Conference history and is tied for fourth in NCAA history. A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, Curtis led the Wolverines in interceptions for three straight seasons and helped guide them to a share of the BIG TEN title in 1969.
A recipient of the academic Frederic Matthaei Award in 1968, Curtis went on to graduate with a degree in Economics in 1970. Following graduation, he was drafted by the Baltimore Colts, played two seasons in the NFL, and appeared in Super Bowl V.
Owner and publisher of the Football News and three NFL team publications, Curtis remains active in the community with the Haileah/Miami Springs Rotary and the NFL Alumni Association in Miami, Florida.
Coach Roger Harring
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse (1969-99)
Head Coach, 261-75-7, .771
A staple of the Wisconsin - La Crosse football program for more than three decades, Roger Harring guided the Eagles to heights the university had never before seen while establishing the Eagles as a perennial national power.
Named National Coach of the Year in 1995, Harring guided UW-L to three national championship seasons while becoming the first coach to win NAIA and Division III national titles in his career. His 261 victories currently rank him 12th all-time among all divisions in college football history and fourth among only Division III coaches.
Twenty-five times in 31 years Harring’s teams finished first or second in their conference, including 15 conference titles and 14 national playoff appearances. Named conference Coach of the Year seven times, he has amassed the most coaching victories in school and conference history.
During his tenure, Harring compiled an overall record of 261-75-7 for a win percentage of .771, another school best. He is a member of the NAIA District 14, Wisconsin – La Crosse Athletic, Wisconsin High School Football Coaches and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Halls of Fame.
Roosevelt Leaks
University of Texas
Fullback, 1972-74
A tremendous running back and fearless pioneer, Roosevelt Leaks became the first black athlete to earn All-America and All-Conference honors for the Texas Longhorns, forever changing the complexion of football at Texas and the Southwest Conference.
Prior to suffering a serious knee injury that hampered his senior season, Leaks earned consensus First Team All-America honors in 1973 and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. A two-time First Team All-Conference selection, he was named Southwest Conference MVP in 1973, while setting the conference record for rushing yards (1,415).
A team captain and MVP, Leaks guided the Longhorns to two conference titles. Drafted in the fifth round of the 1974 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts, Leaks enjoyed a nine-year professional career with the Colts and Buffalo Bills.
A community minded individual, Leaks hosts an annual charity golf tournament for children in East Austin, Texas. In 2003, he became the first recipient of the Living Legends Award presented by the Ministry of Challenge.
Don Nehlen
Head Coach - Bowling Green State University (1968-76),
West Virginia University (1980-2000)
The greatest coach ever at West Virginia University, Don Nehlen became the 17th coach in NCAA Division I-A history to record 200 career victories.
After winning 53 games in nine seasons at Bowling Green, Nehlen firmly planted himself on the college football landscape at West Virginia. Named National Coach of the Year in 1988, he coached more seasons (21) and won more games (149) than any other coach in Mountaineer history. Selected to coach in numerous Blue-Gray, East-West Shrine and Hula Bowl all-star games, Nehlen coached 15 First Team All-Americas and 82 First Team All-Conference performers.
Helping the Mountaineers to two undefeated regular seasons in 1988 and 1993, Nehlen guided the team to 13 bowl game appearances, 17 winning seasons and the 1993 BIG EAST Conference title. His career record included 202 wins, 128 losses and eight ties.
The 1997 president and a current trustee of the American Football Coaches Association, Nehlen received the 2002 Distinguished West Virginian Award from the WV Broadcasters Association. An all-time great, he is a member of the Mid-American Conference, Bowling Green State University, Gator Bowl and West Virginia University Halls of Fame. Nehlen continues to reside in Morgantown, West Virginia.
