DALLAS – June 28, 2012 – Thousands of college football fans from across the country will join the National Football Foundation from July 20-21 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 23 of the game's greatest stars and conclude with the grand finale Enshrinement Dinner & Show on July 21.

"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 ensuring the game's greatest players and coaches find their place on college football’s mountain top. We look forward to celebrating in South Bend with this amazing class and their loyal fans from around the country."

Fans will have a variety of family-friendly and affordable opportunities to meet and mingle with the enshrinees during this spectacular event. The jam-packed weekend will include the Annual Ribs Cook-Off & Downtown Block Party, Hall of Famer Blazer Presentation, live concerts and the Fireworks Spectacular, all free of charge. The celebration culminates with the Enshrinement Dinner & Show on Saturday evening.

"The College Football Hall of Fame is elated to bring another Enshrinement Festival to our community," said Hall of Fame Executive Director Mikki Dobski. "The 2012 Enshrinement Festival promises to be the best ever as we continue our tradition of engaging the entire family. We are excited to welcome the large groups of fans and alumni that will be joining us from across the country to celebrate with this year's outstanding class as they receive college football's greatest honor."

Nationally acclaimed television commentator Charles Davis, who appears on FOX Sports and the NFL Network, will host the Enshrinement Dinner & Show, which will cap the weekend’s festivities with panache and flair. Attendees and those watching on the internet will have the opportunity to hear from each member of the enshrinement class as they reflect on their careers and the meaning of being bestowed with the sport’s ultimate honor. Highlight footage of each inductee will be shown, and several interviews with special guests in the audience will take place during the show.

Fans will have three options for watching the event, which will start at 8:30 p.m. ET on the internet. XOS Digital for the second consecutive year will produce a live stream that can be watched on the NFF onDemand YouTube Channel or at the NFF’s home page. Fans will also be able to watch a live stream on ESPN3. For those wishing to watch on their smart phones or tablets, XOS Digital has built the NFF iPhone and iPad applications, which can be purchased at the iTunes App Store by searching for "National Football Foundation."

SiriusXM College Sports Nation (Channel 91) will provide live coverage of the Enshrinement Dinner and Show from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sirius XM will also do a live show on Friday night from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET during the Hall of Fame Pep Rally and Blazer Presentation with one-on-one interviews members of the 2012 class on site.

The NFF will also keep fans abreast of the festivities on Twitter (@NFFNetwork) and Facebook (Facebook.com/NFFNetwork). To help local TV stations nationwide, CBS Newspath is putting the entire event on satellite for the affiliates to download broadcast quality video for use during their local newscasts.

To purchase tickets or for more information about the 2012 Enshrinement Festival, visit www.enshrinementfestival.org or call 1-800-440-FAME. For information concerning media credentials, satellite coordinates, or scheduling interviews, please email Magan Ngoto at magann@collegefootball.org or call him at 574-235-5714.

2012 ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, JULY 20

RIBS COOK-OFF AND BLOCK PARTY WITH LIVE MUSIC & FIREWORKS
The day begins with a variety of tailgate activities, including a Cornhole competition and Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned Ribs Cook-Off. There will be a full complement of inflatables and other interactive activities for kids and adults alike. Live music will be played throughout the day, concluding with a spectacular fireworks display at dusk!
11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. ET
Hall of Fame Gridiron Plaza, Downtown South Bend
FREE EVENT

HALL OF FAMER PEP RALLY & BLAZER PRESENTATION
The Blazer Presentation provides a unique opportunity to see this year’s enshrinee class up close and personal. The inductees will be formally introduced and presented with their official blazers amidst the fans and spectators.
7:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame Gridiron Plaza, Downtown South Bend
FREE EVENT

SATURDAY, JULY 21

ENSHRINEMENT RECEPTION AND SILENT AUCTION
Enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and full-bar service as you peruse and bid on sports memorabilia and mingle with the inductees.
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. ET
Century Center Convention Center, Downtown South Bend
TICKET REQUIRED

ENSHRINEMENT DINNER AND SHOW
The grand finale of the Enshrinement weekend! Watch history unfold at this Hollywood-style show, featuring enshrinee interviews, presentations and more. Be there as this year’s Enshrinement Class is permanently enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame!
7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. ET
Century Center Convention Center, Downtown South Bend
TICKET REQUIRED

2012 College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Class (Visit http://www.collegefootball.org/famer_search.php for full bios on each member of this year’s enshrinement class.)

PLAYERS

• CARLOS ALVAREZ - WR, Florida (1969-71)
• CHRIS BISAILLON – WR, Illinois Wesleyan, WR (1989-92)
• DOUG ENGLISH - DT, Texas (1972-74)
• BILL ENYART - FB, Oregon State (1966-68)
• EDDIE GEORGE - RB, Ohio State (1992-95)
• JIM HOLDER* – RB, Oklahoma Panhandle State (1961-63)
• MARTY LYONS - DT, Alabama (1975-78)
• RUSSELL MARYLAND - DT, Miami, Fla. (1986-90)
• RICHARD McGEORGE – TE, Elon (1966-69)
• REX MIRICH – OT/DG, Northern Arizona (1960-63)
• DEION SANDERS - DB, Florida State (1985-88)
• JAKE SCOTT - DB, Georgia (1967-68)
• WILL SHIELDS - OG, Nebraska (1989-92)
• SANDY STEPHENS* - QB, Minnesota (1959-61)
• DARRYL TALLEY - LB, West Virginia (1979-82)
• CLENDON THOMAS - HB, Oklahoma (1955-57)
• ROB WALDROP - DL, Arizona (1990-93)
• GENE WASHINGTON -WR, Michigan State (1964-66)

COACHES

• LLOYD CARR: 122-40-0 (75.3%); Michigan (1995-2007)
• GENE CARPENTER*: 220-96-6 (69.3%); Adams State [Colo.] (1968), Millersville [Pa.] (1970-2000)
• FISHER DeBERRY: 169-109-1 (60.8%); Air Force (1984-2006)
• WILLIAM “LONE STAR” DIETZ*: 96-62-7 (60.3%); Washington State (1915-17), Purdue (1921), Louisiana Tech (1922-23), Wyoming (1924-26), Haskell Indian Institute [Kan.] (1929-32), Albright [Pa.] (1937-42)
• RON HARMS: 218-117-4 (64.9%); Concordia [Neb.] (1962-69), Adams State [Colo.] (1970-73), Texas A&M – Kingsville (1979-99)

* 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.

Including the 2012 enshrinement class, only 904 players and 197 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 one percent (.0002) have been deemed worthy of this distinction. 293 schools are represented with at least one College Football Hall of Famer.

The next class of College Football Hall of Famers from the Football Bowl Subdivision, which was announced May 15, 2012, will be inducted at the 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 4, 2012, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

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 2012 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1962 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 may still be eligible for consideration by the FBS (Formerly Division I-A) and Divisional Veterans Committees, which examine unique cases.)