DALLAS – May 8, 2008 – Thousands of college football fans from across the country will join the National Football Foundation from July 18-19 at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., for the organization's annual Enshrinement Festival, which will pay tribute to the storied careers of 20 of the game's greatest stars.
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to enshrine another exceptional class of college football legends," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "Each year our hard-working honors courts do an outstanding job in ensuring the game's legends are duly recognized. We look forward to celebrating in South Bend with this amazing class of our game’s biggest stars and their loyal fans from around the country."
The weekend’s celebration will include a celebrity golf tournament, a live concert, a grand parade, a flag football game featuring the Hall of Fame class, a youth clinic, culminating with the Enshrinement Dinner and Show on Saturday night. Pre-Festival events kick off July 11 and include a pageant, softball tournament, flag football tournament, and Ribs Cook off, Concert, & Car Show. The events feature several local and national partners, including the South Bend Regional Sports Commission, Studebaker National Museum, South Bend Parks and Recreation, and the American Tailgaters Association.
“The College Football Hall of Fame's Enshrinement Festival is one of the most anticipated events in South Bend and a cornerstone for the hub of activities that attract thousands to downtown each year," said South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke. “The team at the Hall of Fame has scored again with exciting new partnerships and events for all ages and interests. From the Enshrinement Grand Parade and FanFest, to the Ribs Cook-Off, Concert and Car Show. South Bend is ready to welcome this year’s outstanding players and coaches.”
Tickets for all events go on sale to the general public this month. Space is limited. Contact the Hall of Fame at 517-235-5717 to purchase tickets. For more information and updates regarding the College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, visit www.collegefootball.org.
2008 Enshrinement Festival Schedule of Events
FRIDAY, JULY 11
Enshrinement Festival Queen Pageant
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
College Football Hall of Fame Press Box
Young women between the ages of 17-21 compete for the title of Miss Enshrinement Queen.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JULY 11-13
Enshrinement Softball Tournament
Presented by Street Kids Softball
Belleville Softball Complex, South Bend, Ind.
Divisions: Men's Upper, Men's Lower, and Co-ed
Enshrinement Flag Football Tournament
Presented by South Bend/Mishawaka Visitors and Convention Bureau & the South Bend Parks and Recreation
O'Brien Park, South Bend, Ind.
SATURDAY, JULY 12
Enshrinement Festival Ribs Cook Off, Concert, and Car Show
Presented with the Studebaker National Museum & American Tailgaters Association
2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Hall of Fame Gridiron Plaza
FREE EVENT
Join us for the area's best barbeque, live music and great cars!
FRIDAY, JULY 18
Enshrinement Celebrity Golf Scramble
Registration - 7:30 a.m.
Shotgun Start - 9:00 a.m.
Blackthorn Golf Club, South Bend, Ind.
Price: $250/person, $1,000/foursome
Tee it up with the 2008 Enshrinees on one of America's finest public courses. Each foursome will be paired with a Hall of Famer or sports celebrity.
Enshrinement Ladies Brunch and Fashion Show
Presented by LaSalle Grille
9:30 a.m.
LaSalle Grille Restaurant
Price: $35/person
Enjoy a delicious brunch while viewing the latest fashion trends from local boutiques.
Enshrinement Evening Concert
Time: TBA
Morris Performing Arts Center, South Bend, Ind.
Performers: TBA
SATURDAY, JULY 19
Enshrinement Grand Parade
9:30 a.m.
Downtown South Bend, Ind.
FREE EVENT
Featuring over 100 units, including marching bands, floats, specialty units, and the 2008 Enshrinees.
Enshrinement FanFest
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Hall of Fame Gridiron Plaza
Price: $5/person (includes admission to the Hall).
Children under 5 are free.
FanFest will provide fun for the entire family and a chance to get up close with the Enshrinees.
Hall of Famer Flag Football Game
11:30 a.m.
Hall of Fame Gridiron Plaza
Price: Free with FanFest Ticket
Watch the 2008 Enshrinement Class suit up one more time in this annual flag football fan favorite.
Hall of Famer Youth Football Clinic
12:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame Gridiron Plaza
Price: Free with FanFest Ticket
Bring your kids to a football clinic taught by the 2008
Enshrinement Class, creating priceless memories for any young football fan!
Autograph Session
1:45 p.m.
Hall of Fame Press Box
$60/person
Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 19 at 8:00
a.m. at the Hall of Fame ticket counter. For rules and information visit www.collegefootball.org.
Enshrinement Reception and Silent Auction
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Palais Royale, South Bend, Ind.
*Must have Enshrinement Dinner& Show ticket to attend
Enshrinement Dinner & Show
7:30 p.m.
Palais Royale Ballroom, South Bend, Ind.
Price: $175/person, $1,750/ Table of 10.
Event features the official Enshrinement of the 2008 Hall of Fame Class.
2008 FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION ENSHRINEMENT CLASS
*Tom Brahaney – C, Oklahoma, 1970-72
*Dave Brown* – DB, Michigan, 1972-74
*Jeff Davis – LB, Clemson, 1978-81
*Doug Flutie – QB, Boston College, 1981-84
*Johnnie Johnson – DB, Texas, 1976-79
*Rex Kern – QB, Ohio State, 1968-70
*Ahmad Rashad – RB / WR, Oregon, 1969-71
*Anthony Thompson – RB, Indiana, 1986-89
*Wilson Whitley* – DT, Houston, 1973-76
*Reggie Williams – LB, Dartmouth, 1973-75
*Richard Wood – LB, Southern California, 1972-74
*Chris Zorich – DT, Notre Dame, 1988-90
COACHES
*Herb Deromedi – Central Michigan (1978-93): 110-55-10
*Joe Paterno – Penn State (1966-present): 373-125-3
2008 DIVISIONAL ENSHRINEMENT CLASS
*Jim Ballard – QB, Mount Union (Ohio) (1991-93)
*Ronald McKinnon – LB, North Alabama (1992-95)
*John Randle – DE, Texas A&M-Kingsville (1988-89)
*Brad Rowland – HB, McMurry College (Texas) (1947-50)
COACHES
*W.C. Gorden – Jackson State (1976-91): 119-47-5
*Doug Porter – Mississippi Valley State (1961-65), Howard (1974-78), Fort Valley State (Ga.) (1979-85, 1987-96): 166-107-5
*Deceased
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1947, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame inducted its first class of inductees in 1951. The first class included 32 players and 19 coaches, including Illinois' Red Grange, Notre Dame's Knute Rockne, Amos Alonzo Stagg and Carlisle's Jim Thorpe. Out of the more than 4.6 million individuals who have played college football over the past 139 years, only 829 players and 178 coaches have been immortalized with a place in the sport's most hallowed institution.
275 schools are represented with at least one College Football Hall of Famer. The current building in South Bend, Ind. was built in 1995 as a $17 million state-of-the-art interactive facility for fans of all ages.
This year the Enshrinement Festival will include a celebrity golf tournament and concert on Friday, the Enshrinement Parade and Fan Fest on Saturday and the Enshrinement Dinner& Show that evening.
The next class of College Football Hall of Famers from the Football Bowl Subdivision, which was announced May 1, 2008, will be inducted at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend during ceremonies in July of 2009.
CRITERIA
1. First and foremost, a player must have received First Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation's Honors Courts ten years after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee's football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2008 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1958 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage*.
(*Those players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that have not won 60% of their games may still be eligible for consideration by the FBS (Formerly Division I-A) and Divisional Honors Review Committees, which examine unique cases.)
FOOTBALL BOWL DIVISION ENSHRINEE BIOGRAPHIES and QUOTES
Tom Brahaney
University of Oklahoma
Center, 1970-72
From one of the most storied football programs in history, Tom Brahaney continues the legacy of outstanding Oklahoma players in the College Football Hall of Fame.
A two-time consensus First Team All-America (’71, ’72), Brahaney was the hub of an offensive line that allowed the Sooners to lead the nation in rushing, scoring and total offense in 1971. The Midland, Texas, native was also a two-time All-Big-8 selection and a Lombardi Award finalist in 1972.
Serving as team captain during his senior campaign, Brahaney’s snap precision and unsurpassed one-on-one blocking earned him high acclaim – even from archrivals. Following the 1971 “Game of the Century,” Nebraska’s Rich Glover, a 1995 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, called Brahaney the best center he played against all year.
Brahaney was drafted in the fifth round of the 1973 NFL Draft and played nine seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He currently owns and operates a drilling company and resides in Midland.
"I started playing flag football as a young kid," said Brahaney. "And worked my way through the ranks of high school, Oklahoma and the NFL. I received the football and notification about the Hall of Fame and felt like part of a team again. This just rejuvenates you, and I feel exhilarated. I want to thank my coaches and teammates and everyone responsible for this wonderful honor."
Dave Brown*
University of Michigan
Defensive Back, 1972-74
A defensive phoenom, Dave Brown led one of the stingiest Michigan defenses in school history en route to three Big Ten Championships and a 30-2-1 record during his playing years for the Wolverines.
A two-time First Team All-America selection (consensus-’73, unanimous-’74), Brown commanded the UM secondary that recorded 11 shutouts in 33 career games, allowed no touchdowns in 14 games and just one touchdown in 16 contests. He recorded 212 career tackles and held the school record for career pass break-ups (18) at the end of his career.
Brown, a three-time All-Conference selection, was a first round NFL Draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975 and played on the team’s 1976 Super Bowl Championship team. He played 16 years in the pros, mostly with the Seattle Seahawks, and garnered All-Pro recognition in 1984. He was also enshrined in the Seahawks Ring of Honor.
Following his professional career, the Akron, Ohio, native served as an assistant coach for the Seahawks and then with Texas Tech until he passed away in 2006. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and his two sons. His wife resides in Lubbock, Texas.
"I want to thank all of you on behalf of our family for this honor for Dave," said Rhonda Brown, who spoke on behalf of her late husband. "He was an exceptional man, a loving father, a wonderful husband, and an outstanding football player. We are so happy to be continuing his legacy with the College Football Hall of Fame. Dave always wanted to be the best, and he loved to mentor football players. He had strong leadership characteristics and was a humble person."
*Deceased
Jeff Davis
University of Clemson
Linebacker, 1978-81
Captain of Clemson’s only National Championship team, Jeff Davis becomes the third Tiger inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The first linebacker in school history to be named consensus First Team All-America (1981), Davis led a Tiger defense that forced a school-record 41 turnovers. He accumulated 175 tackles in 1981, a Clemson record at the time, en route to being named the ACC Player of the Year. He finished his collegiate career with 469 tackles and was also named MVP of the 1982 Orange Bowl.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 1982 Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Greensboro, N.C., native started in 72 games between 1982-87 and led the Bucs in tackles three of his six years with the franchise. Davis was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame in 2001 and was also named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team.
He received the “Use Your Life Award” from Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network for his work with “Call Me MISTER,” an innovative program designed to train African-American male role models as teachers in South Carolina elementary schools. Davis currently works as an assistant athletics director for his alma mater.
"I want to thank everyone and am very grateful to the Hall of Fame," said Davis. "As a little boy I played the game of football for fun. I thank God for his blessings and the work ethic that my mother and grandmother instilled in me as I got into college. Jonathan Mckee, who has passed away, was a great high school coach and mentor, and playing at Clemson was part of my childhood dream."
Doug Flutie
Boston College
Quarterback, 1981-84
A consummate leader on and off the football field, few can match the unparalleled collegiate success of Boston College’s unanimous All-America Doug Flutie.
Remembered forever for his “Hail Mary” touchdown pass to beat Miami (Fla.), Flutie’s record-setting career was highlighted by a senior campaign that won him the 1984 Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. The three-time ECAC Player of the Year still holds nine BC records, including career passing yards (10,579), season passing yards (3,454) and game touchdown passes (6) and led the BC to a 10-2 record and a 1985 Cotton Bowl victory.
Originally from Manchester, Md., Flutie was known for conquering academia as well, having been named an NFF National Scholar-Athlete and a Rhodes Scholarship nominee in 1984. Drafted in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft, he split his 21-year professional career between the NFL and the Canadian Football League. He was a six-time CFL Player of the Year and three-time Grey Cup MVP prior to earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year laurels in 1998.
He and his wife established the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism in 2000, assisting disadvantaged families in the care of their autistic children. He has since raised over $7 million for the cause. Currently a studio analyst for ABC/ESPN, he resides in Natick, Mass.
"Getting to the Hall of Fame means that I had to throw more than one pass," said Flutie. "There's a colleague of mine who reminds me often of that pass in our television studio. I was very fortunate as an undersized guy at a small school to have a great group of guys around me. It truly was a team effort."
Johnnie Johnson
University of Texas
Defensive Back, 1976-79
A versatile threat as a fierce tackler and punt returner, Texas’ Johnnie Johnson set numerous school records and was twice named a consensus All-America (’78, ’79) during his prolific career.
Hailing from LaGrange, Texas, Johnson earned recognition from the Downtown Athletic Club as the nation’s top defensive back in 1978. He finished his career with 13 interceptions returned for 150 yards, 282 tackles and led a defense that surrendered an average of only nine points per game.
Equally as impressive as his defensive accomplishments, Johnson accumulated over 1,000 career punt return yards and still owns the UT records for single season punt returns (44) and career punt returns (114). The three-time All-Southwest Conference pick currently ranks second all-time in school season return yards (538) and fourth in career return yards (1,004).
Selected as the 17th overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, he spent 10 of his 11 years in the professional ranks with the Los Angeles Rams. Named to the SWC All-Decade Team for the 1970s and to the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1990, Johnson currently resides in Santa Clara, Calif.
"I echo what has been said about teammates and good fortune," said Johnson. "We are very lucky just to have played in the college game. I always tried to play at the highest degree possible and was encouraged and helped by my teammates. Throughout college and even high school, I never thought I would be here to receive this. You meet all these great people and fellow inductees, introduce them to your children and try to apply some of their life principles."
Rex Kern
Ohio State University
Quarterback, 1968-70
Considered one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Ohio State history as well as a quintessential performer in the classroom, Rex Kern was the true definition of a scholar-athlete during his Buckeye career.
The first All-America (1969) quarterback to play for legendary coach Woody Hayes, Kern led OSU to three consecutive Big Ten titles and the 1968 National Championship. During his junior campaign, he set a school record for total offense in a single season (1,585) and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was also named Rose Bowl MVP. In three years as a starter, “Ramblin’ Rex” completed 188 of 364 passes for 2,444 yards and 19 touchdowns.
A recipient of the NFF’s National Scholar-Athlete Award, Kern earned All-Big Ten Academic Team accolades in 1970 and an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship the following year. After receiving his bachelor’s degree, the Lancaster, Ohio native twice returned to his alma mater to further his education, ultimately earning his Ph.D. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation.
Kern was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 1971 and played four seasons in the NFL, receiving numerous humanitarian awards from the league. He established the Anne and Woody Hayes Endowment for the prevention of child abuse at Columbus Children's Hospital in 2001 and resides in Camarillo, Calif.
"This is a tremendous honor," said Kern. "Congratulations to the Ohio State University, my coaches and teammates. It was three years of great fun, and you know there are some schools represented here who don't usually throw the ball around a lot. I can't recall a greater honor, and I am humbled."
Ahmad Rashad
University of Oregon
Running Back / Wide Receiver, 1969-71
A two-position standout at the University of Oregon, Ahmad Rashad’s versatility confirmed his status as a premier player in the Pac-10 as well as one of the Ducks’ most record-breaking athletes in history.
A three-time All-Conference selection, Rashad (then Bobby Moore) set 14 school records and was the only player ever to lead the Pac-10 in scoring at two different positions. He established single-game (249), season (1,211) and career (2,306) rushing records for the Ducks in addition to season (54) and career (131) records in receiving. During his senior season, the Portland native rushed for more than 100 yards in seven of Oregon’s eleven games, despite playing one of the country’s toughest schedules.
By career’s end, the 1971 First Team All-America tallied 226 points and earned team MVP honors twice. He was the first offensive player chosen in the 1972 NFL Draft and enjoyed 14 years in the pros. He made four Pro Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl appearance and ranked tenth all-time in receiving upon retirement.
Extremely active in the community, he dedicates his time to various youth projects, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the NBA Read to Achieve program and the Robin Hood Foundation. An Emmy Award-winning sportscaster, Rashad is executive producer and host for NBA Entertainment series and specials. He resides in Greenwich, Conn.
"This is sort of a culmination of several things," said Rashad. "Football taught people to win and lose as a group and to live life the right way. We all realize that this truly is a team honor. Football has brought me nothing but joy. I also have four children who have no idea about my playing career, but that's okay."
Anthony Thompson
Indiana University
Running Back, 1986-89
Arguably one of the greatest running backs in college football history, Indiana’s Anthony Thompson shattered a multitude of school, conference and national records during his storied rushing career.
Thompson pummeled rival defenses, becoming a two-time First Team All-America (consensus-’88, unanimous-’89) and Big Ten Player of the Year twice. In his prolific senior season, he captured the NCAA rushing and scoring title, received Walter Camp Player of the Year and Maxwell Award honors and finished second in the 1989 Heisman Trophy voting.
A native of Terre Haute, Ind., he finished his career with 5,299 rushing yards and led Indiana to three bowl appearances. Thompson also held the Division I record for career touchdowns (65) until 1998 and the Big Ten record for points scored (412) until 1999. Still holding six Hoosier records, including single-game rushing yards (377) and most 100-yard rushing games (28), IU’s most valuable player award was renamed in his honor.
He was selected in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Phoenix Cardinals, spending three seasons with the club and two with the Los Angeles Rams. Thompson currently works an assistant director for the Hoosier Varsity Club.
"This is a long way from the playing fields of Terre Haute, Ind.," said Thompson. "Football taught me about the game of life. I am a pastor in Bloomington, Ind., and this has taught me to challenge and bring out the best in our congregation through the teaching of the holy word. I am just so grateful to God and many others who have blessed me in so many ways through football."
Wilson Whitley*
University of Houston
Defensive Tackle, 1973-76
The heart and soul of a Houston squad that silenced some of the college football’s greatest teams, Wilson Whitley left an indelible mark on school and conference history.
The 1976 consensus All-America led UH to a share of the 1976 Southwest Conference title in its first year in the league and a Cotton Bowl berth, where the Cougars defeated Maryland. In one of his most memorable games, Whitley and the Houston defense blanked perennial powerhouse Texas 30-0, holding Earl Campbell to only 24 yards rushing.
The Plantersville, Texas native was named the Rotary Lombardi Award winner as Division I’s top lineman in 1976, and perhaps even more impressive, Whitley was named Southwest Conference Player of the Decade for the 1970s despite only playing one year of his career in the conference.
Drafted eighth overall in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft by Cincinnati, he played seven seasons in the NFL with the Bengals and the Houston Oilers. Whitley served as the National Director of Sports Marketing with Holiday Inn, Inc., until his passing in 1992.
"My family and I would like to thank you for this wonderful honor for Wilson," said Norma Whitley, who spoke on behalf of her late husband. "I was a little hesitant when they called and asked me to respond on behalf of my husband, but we are very appreciative. Wilson was a humble man, too, and he loved his coaches and teammates. This is a huge validation to what he did, and I know he would be do glad that I was sitting next to his NFL teammate Reggie Williams at the news conference."
*Deceased
Reggie Williams
Dartmouth College
Linebacker, 1973-75
Arguably Dartmouth’s greatest linebacker ever, Reggie Williams cultivated one of the most highly decorated defensive careers in Ivy League history.
A First Team All-America selection in 1975, he won virtually every Dartmouth football award in existence, including the Jake Crouthamel Award for an outstanding underclassman and the Bob Blackman Award as the Big Green MVP. Williams was also a three-time All-Ivy pick and was named to the All-East Region and All-New England teams for two consecutive seasons. He still holds the school record for the career unassisted tackles (243) and ranks second in the school’s all-time career tackles ranks (370).
The Flint, Mich., native attended Dartmouth on an academic scholarship and was also crowned the Ivy League’s Heavyweight Wrestling Champion in 1975. Drafted in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, he enjoyed 14 seasons in pros and twice appeared in the Super Bowl.
Extremely active in community affairs, Williams has volunteered for the United Way and earned numerous humanitarian awards while in the NFL. Named to Sports Illustrated’s “Most Influential Minorities in Sports,” he is the Vice President of Disney Sports Attractions in Orlando.
"I am just leaving corporate America to try and see if I can get some old football injuries recuperated," said Williams. "I got a little choked up about what Norma Whitley said, and he was a wonderful teammate with the Cincinnati Bengals. There may be more titanium (in artificial limbs) at this table than any place locally besides the surgical hospitals, but that's okay. Football matures you and makes you seek bigger goals."
Richard Wood
University of Southern California
Linebacker, 1972-74
A fierce tackler and team leader, USC’s Richard “Batman” Wood joins 26 other Trojans in the College Football Hall of Fame.
The only three-time All-America selection (consensus-’73,’74) in Southern California’s rich football history, the Elizabeth, N.J., native was a member of two USC National Championship teams, captaining the 1974 squad and leading the Trojans to an impressive 31-3-2 record during his career.
Wood twice led the Trojans in tackles en route to garnering First Team All-Conference laurels every season of his career. Selected in the third round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Jets, he spent the majority of his time in the pros with Tampa Bay. He amassed 855 career tackles for the Buccaneers, the third-most in franchise history.
Since retiring from the NFL, Wood has coached on the high school and professional levels, serving as an assistant football coach for the Bucs and for the NFL Europa’s Frankfurt Galaxy. He also spent time as head coach for the Munich Cowboys of the German Football League. He resides in Tampa, Fla.
"Thank you to the National Football Foundation," said Woods. "Being back in New York reminds me of when coach Joe Paterno was recruiting me for Penn State when I lived in Elizabeth, N.J. I'm just a linebacker who loved the game and played on some very good teams. It is just very wonderful to be here at this meeting with such a great group."
Chris Zorich
University of Notre Dame
Defensive Tackle, 1988-90
Among Notre Dame’s most elite defensive tacklers, Chris Zorich enjoyed success after success while playing for one of college football’s most storied programs.
Elected captain of the Fighting Irish during his senior year, Zorich won numerous individual accolades, including consensus All-America honors in 1989 and unanimous All-America laurels the following season. He was also the 1990 recipient of the Rotary Lombardi Award and named the CBS Sports/Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year.
Instrumental in helping the Irish to the 1988 National Championship, the Chicago native amassed 219 career tackles and led ND to four bowl game appearances. He also received Orange Bowl MVP recognition in 1990. Drafted in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft by his hometown team, Zorich enjoyed seven years in the league with the Bears and the Washington Redskins.
Following his NFL career, he returned to his alma mater to pursue a law degree in order to further assist those in need. Zorich established the Chris Zorich Foundation in 1993, which provides assistance and opportunities to disadvantaged Chicagoans.
"I'm very thankful to the NFF and College Hall of Fame," said Zorich. "I didn't play football until high school, and I had to forge my mother's signature on a permission slip. I grew up in a rough part of Chicago, and our role models were the firemen and some people who were in the Army near our home. I got to play football and fell in love with Notre Dame, and it has carried me a long way."
Coach Herb Deromedi
Central Michigan (1978-93)
Head Coach, 110-55-10
A fixture at Central Michigan for 16 years, Herb Deromedi led the Chippewas to 14 winning seasons and becomes the first CMU coach or player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The all-time winningest coach in Mid-American (MAC) Conference history, Deromedi ranked 15th among all active NCAA Division I head coaches in winning percentage upon retirement. His 90 MAC wins are also a league record. He finished his prolific career with a 110-55-10 record (.657), highlighted by consecutive victories over Michigan State in 1991 and ’92.
Under Deromedi’s tutelage, the Chippewas garnered back-to-back conference championships in 1979 and ‘80. CMU added another league title in 1990, sparking a berth in the California Raisin Bowl. He was also twice named MAC Coach of the Year and has coached 71 First-Team All-Conference picks, including seven future NFL players, and four NFF National Scholar-Athletes.
Deromedi served as Roy Kramer’s defensive coordinator at CMU prior to becoming head coach and was instrumental in leading the Chippewas to the Division II National Championship in 1974. He is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and became the CMU’s athletics director in 1994. He retired as an administrator just last year and resides in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
"I want to congratulate all the inductees and thank the Hall of Fame," said Coach Deromedi. "I have many people to thank for the opportunity to be head coach at Central Michigan for 16 years, especially for Roy Kramer, who hired me as a young high school coach to go to Central Michigan as his assistant. This award is a credit to our players and coaching staffs. I was fortunate to be around outstanding people who dedicated themselves to winning."
Coach Joe Paterno
Pennsylvania State University (1966-present)
Head Coach, 372-125-3
No one in Football Bowl Subdivision football history has coached longer or won more games at one school than Joe Paterno has at Penn State. Although his legacy is not yet complete, his coaching influence has spanned parts of six decades and his impact will be felt forever.
For 57 years, Paterno has coached Nittany Lion football (about to enter his 43rd season as head coach). A five-time National Coach of the Year honoree, he currently ranks second for all-time wins with 372 career victories on the major college level, only surpassed with a one game margin by Bobby Bowden’s 373 notches. Paterno’s teams have recorded five undefeated seasons, 21 finishes in the AP Top 10 and two National Championships. With a record of 23-10-1, he is the all-time leader among coaches in bowl appearances and victories.
Since 1966, Paterno has coached 73 First Team All-Americas, 15 NFF National Scholar-Athletes, more than 300 future NFL players and seven members of the College Football Hall of Fame.
PSU’s remarkable 11-1 record in 2005 marked the fifth different decade and 19th time overall that the Nittany Lions have won at least 10 games in a season with Paterno at the helm. The NFF honored him with its Distinguished American Award in 1992 and recognized him again in 2006 with its highest honor, the prestigious Gold Medal. Originally slated as a member of last year’s College Football Hall of Fame class, his induction was deferred due to injury.
"I have been at Penn State for 57 years and the last 42 as head coach," said Coach Paterno. "... including my time in high school I have been involved with football for 64-65 years. I echo everyone's sentiments about these magnificent honors, and I'm just sorry not to be here with Bobby Bowden."
DIVISIONAL ENSHRINEE BIOGRAPHIES
JIM BALLARD
MOUNT UNION COLLEGE (Ohio)
Quarterback (1991-93)
After transferring from Wilmington College (Ohio), Jim Ballard broke numerous school, conference and NCAA records en route to leading Mount Union to its first-ever Division III National Championship in 1993.
A two-time First Team All-America pick in 1992 and ’93, Ballard broke 17 Division III records and threw for over 12,000 yards and over 150 touchdowns. The two-time recipient of the Mike Gregory Award, which is given to the Ohio Athletic Conference’s top offensive back, he was a two-time All-Conference selection and suffered only one OAC loss during his prolific career. Ballard won the inaugural Melberger Award as Division III’s Player of the Year and owned every Mount Union passing record by career’s end.
The Ohio native played in the NFL, Canadian Football League and the Arena Football League during his 10-year professional career and led the Scottish Claymores to an NFL Europe World Bowl title in 1996.
Inducted into the Scottish Claymores Hall of Fame in 2001, Ballard currently serves as the commissioner of the Continental Indoor Football League in North Canton, Ohio.
RONALD McKINNON
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA
Linebacker (1992-95)
The only defensive player to ever win the Harlon Hill Trophy in the 22 years of the award, Ronald McKinnon led the University of North Alabama to three straight Division II National Championships during his record-breaking career.
A three-time consensus First Team All-America, McKinnon was a four-time First Team All-Gulf South Conference pick and led the Lions to three consecutive GSC championships. Named the conference’s Player of the Quarter Century (1971-95), the Elba, Alabama, native led UNA to four straight Division II playoff appearances. He also holds school records for career tackles (621) and season tackles (175).
McKinnon played ten seasons in the NFL, nine as a starter for the Arizona Cardinals, and finished his career with the New Orleans Saints. He was heavily involved in community service activities with the Cardinals and conducted numerous free youth football clinics in Arizona and Alabama while in the league.
A member of the Division II Team of the Quarter Century, McKinnon owns several small businesses and resides in Bessemer, Ala.
JOHN RANDLE
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY – KINGSVILLE
(formerly Texas A&I University)
Defensive End (1988-89)
A defensive phenom, John Randle punished opposing offenses during his successful collegiate and pro careers.
Selected as a First Team All-America in 1988, Randle was twice named the Lone Star Conference’s Lineman of the Year. The Hearne, Texas, native amassed 105 tackles and 34 career sacks en route to leading the Javelinas to back-to-back conference championships in 1988 and ’89 and two trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Starting his college playing career at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, Randle led a defense that allowed an average of only eight points per game during his senior campaign.
Randle played 14 years in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks. Named an All-Pro seven times, he recorded double-digit sacks during eight different seasons, including a career-high and league-leading 15.5 sacks in 1997. He retired as the league’s all-time leader in sacks by a defensive tackle (137.5).
A member of the Lone Star Conference Team of the Decade for the 1980s and a 2006 inductee into the Division II Football Hall of Fame, Randle resides in Medina, Minn.
BRAD ROWLAND
McMURRY COLLEGE (Texas)
Halfback (1947-50)
Recognized as the first small-college player to start in the East-West Shrine Game, Brad Rowland has held six school records for more than a half a century and is a selection from the NFF Honors Review Committee*.
A two-time First Team All-America, Rowland held 16 school records by career’s end, including career rushing yards (4,437), single-season rushing yards (1,249) and career total offense (5,200). The four-time All-Conference selection led the league in rushing each of his four years at McMurry and was a member of three Texas Conference championship teams. Rowland was also honored by Who’s Who Among American College and University Students for his academic success.
The Hamlin, Texas, native played one season with the Chicago Bears before serving in the U.S. Army from 1952-53. He later worked in agribusiness for forty years.
Rowland has served as the national vice president of the Jaycees and as president of the Distribution Companies of America. He resides in Lombard, Ill.
* The Honors Review Committee examines unique cases, including players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that have not won 60% of their games, for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. These candidates are not listed on the NFF’s National Ballot.
COACH W.C. GORDEN
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY (1976-91)
119-47-5
As the winningest coach in Jackson State history, W.C. Gorden established himself as one of the most successful mentors in Football Championship Subdivision annals during his 15-year head coaching career.
During the Gorden era, the Tigers won eight Southwest Athletic Conference titles; made nine trips to the NCAA playoffs; and won a SWAC-record 28 consecutive conference games from 1985-89. JSU also led the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) in game attendance seven times under Gorden’s watch. In 1985, he coached the SWAC all-stars to a 16-14 victory over the Mideastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) team in the third annual Freedom Bowl. Named conference Coach of the Year six times, Gorden was a 1994 inductee into the SWAC Hall of Fame. The Nashville, Tenn., native was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and was the 1997 recipient of the Capital City Classic Humanitarian Award.
After retiring from coaching at JSU, he served as the university’s athletics director for two years and has since become actively involved in community service and governmental affairs. Currently a motivational speaker, Gorden resides in Jackson, Miss.
COACH DOUG PORTER
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (1961-65),
HOWARD UNIVERSITY (1974-78),
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (Ga.) (1979-85, 1987-96)
166-107-5
A fixture in historically black college athletics, Doug Porter forged an indelible coaching and administrative career for more than fifty years.
In 1961, Porter accepted his first head coaching job at Mississippi Valley State, where he turned around a program that had not had a winning season in five years before his third season in 1963. He then served as Eddie Robinson’s assistant at Grambling State for nine seasons and later took the helm at Howard from 1974-78. After Fort Valley State hired him in 1979, it took Porter only one season to lead the Wildcats to a conference title. He led his teams to six Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and two NCAA playoff appearances. He boasts only five losing seasons in 26 years as a head coach.
The Memphis, Tenn., native and seven-time SIAC Coach of the Year served as Fort Valley’s athletics director for 16 years. He also acted as chairman of the Division II Football Committee and as president of the National Athletic Steering Committee. Porter returned to Grambling in 1997, becoming an advisor to former GSU coaches Doug Williams (a 2001 player inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame) and Melvin Spears and current coach Rod Broadway. Porter currently assists in the efforts to establish a museum in Hall of Fame Coach Eddie Robinson’s honor.
NFF
