DALLAS, Sept. 22, 2011 - The University of Arizona and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor Rob Waldrop with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments®, on September 24 during the game between the Wildcats and Oregon. Coverage of the game will start at 10:15 p.m. ET, and it will air on ESPN2.

"My reaction was that it's pretty awesome. It really is," said Waldrop to The Tucson Citizen when his induction was announced on May 17. "After this many years, to still be recognized and to be inducted with that group that's going in, it's special."

The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program is a hallowed tradition that began with the inaugural class in 1951, and to this day the salutes remain the first of numerous activities in each inductee's Hall of Fame experience. During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each inductee from the Football Bowl Subdivision returns to his alma mater to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will remain on permanent display at the institution. The events take place on the field during a home game, and many inductees cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them one more chance to take the field and hear the crowd roar their name.

A fierce cornerstone of the "Desert Swarm" defense, Waldrop dominated the awards circuit his final year in Tucson, claiming the 1993 Bednarik, Nagurski and Outland trophies. He garnered consensus All-America honors as a junior in 1992 and claimed unanimous All-America accolades as a senior. A two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, Waldrop was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1993 and won the Morris Trophy as the league's best defensive lineman as a junior.

"Rob Waldrop became one of the most decorated college defensive players in the history of the game while playing on one of the best defenses that we have ever seen," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "He was the immovable force in the middle of the Arizona defensive line, and his dominance often took three opponents to contain. It will be a thrill to honor him in front of the Wildcat faithful on September 24."

Waldrop and the Desert Swarm defense set a Pac-10 record by limiting opposing offenses to 30.1 rushing yards per game. With 171 career tackles, 22.5 sacks and 45 TFL, Waldrop aided Arizona to three bowl games, capping his career with a 29-0 blanking of No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.

Drafted in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1994, Waldrop played one season in the NFL before enjoying considerable success in the Canadian Football League. He played on two championship squads and was twice named to the Canadian Defensive All-Pro Team.

A decorated police officer, Waldrop created "Every Dog Has a Day" which raises money for K9s throughout the greater Tucson area. The University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame member completed his degree with a BA in psychology from the University of Arizona in 2004. He currently works in law enforcement in Los Angeles County.

Waldrop becomes the third Wildcat player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining (with year of induction) Chuck Cecil (2009), Ricky Hunley (1997). Hall of Fame coaches with stints at Arizona include Darrell Mudra (2000), Jim Young (1999), and Warren Woodson (1989). Including the 2011 FBS class, only 900 players and 194 coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly five million who have played or coached the game over the past 143 years. In other words, less than .0002 percent have been deemed worthy of this distinction. For a complete list of players and coaches in the hall, please visit www.collegefootball.org.

This year's class includes: Carlos Alvarez (Florida), Doug English (Texas), Bill Enyart (Oregon State), Eddie George (Ohio State), Marty Lyons (Alabama), Russell Maryland (Miami, Fla.), Deion Sanders (Florida State), Jake Scott (Georgia), Will Shields (Nebraska), Sandy Stephens (Minnesota), Darryl Talley (West Virginia), Clendon Thomas (Oklahoma), Rob Waldrop (Arizona), Gene Washington (Michigan State), coach Lloyd Carr (Michigan), and coach Fisher DeBerry (Air Force).

The 2011 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted at the 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, held at New York City's historic Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, December 6. For tickets, please contact Will Rudd at wrudd@footballfoundation.com or by calling 972-556-1000.

Currently Scheduled 2011 NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes (Chronological Order)

* Deceased and represented by a family member and/or teammates.

The 2011 season marks the second season that Fidelity Investments is serving as the national presenting sponsor of the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes. The NFF and Fidelity recently announced an expanded multi-year initiative between the two organizations to celebrate the scholar-athlete ideal and a joint commitment to higher education. The salutes are one component the sponsorship, which also includes Fidelity being named the first presenting sponsor of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards in the 53-year history of the program.