Damn, we love this time of year!
The College Football Hall of Fame has announced their new class and although we here at Notinhalloffame.com do not rank those who are not in their Hall, we love their institution and always pay attention to their news.
Let’s take a look at their latest group of inductees, which includes fifteen players and two coaches.
Trev Alberts, Linebacker: Nebraska, 1990-93
Trev Alberts helped bring the Cornhuskers to three straight Orange Bowls (though they lost all three) and was named the Dick Butkus Award winner in 1993 as the top Linebacker in College Football. He is currently the Athletic Director of the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
Brian Bosworth, Linebacker: Oklahoma, 1984-86
Brian Bosworth was cocky, arrogant and a self-marketing machine. He was also one of the best college Linebackers of all time. Bosworth remains the only two time Dick Butkus award winner as the nation’s top Linebacker and the two time All American finished fourth in Heisman voting in 1986. The Sooners would win the National Championship in 1985, largely because of Bosworth, though he is remembered by many for not being allowed to play in the 1987 Orange Bowl due to a steroids suspension and wearing a t-shirt at the game referring to the NCAA as communists.
Bob Breunig, Linebacker: Arizona State, 1971-74
Bob Breunig was a major part of two Arizona State Fiesta Bowl wins and would lead the Sun Devils three times in tackles. He would be named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year twice (1973 & 1974) and as a professional, he was named a Pro Bowl three times while playing with the Dallas Cowboys.
Sean Brewer, Defensive End: Millsaps, 1989-92
Sean Brewer was the most dominant Defensive End in Division III during his time at Millsaps and was a three time All American.
Ruben Brown, Offensive Tackle: Pittsburgh, 1991-94
Ruben Brown starred on the Pittsburgh O-Line for four years and would become one of the most successful Pitt players in the NFL earning nine Pro Bowls.
Wes Chandler, Wide Receiver: Florida, 1974-77
Wes Chandler was regarded as the top Wide Receiver for the Florida Gators in the 1970’s and he would finish tenth in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1977. He would catch 94 passes for 1,994 Yards and 22 Touchdowns, which were excellent numbers for that team in that era.
Tom Gatewood, Split End: Notre Dame, 1969-71
Tom Gatewood would set multiple receiving records at Notre Dame and would be an All American in 1970 where he caught 77 passes for 1,123 Yards. That year, the Fighting Irish would finish second overall and win the Cotton Bowl.
Dick Jauron, Running Back: Yale, 1970-72
Dick Jauron would become more known for being a Head Coach in the NFL (he was the Coach of the Year in 2001) but at Yale he was 53 Yards short of rushing for 3,000 over his college career and he would become the first Yale player to go First Team All-Ivy for three years. Jauron would also be a one time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL.
Clinton Jones, Running Back: Michigan State, 1964-66
Clinton Jones finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1966, and the Spartans were named National Champions in both 1965 and 1966 with Jones being a large part of that success. He would rush for 2,034 Yards with 20 Touchdowns and would have a lengthy run as a professional with the Minnesota Vikings.
Lincoln Kennedy, Offensive Lineman: Washington, 1989-92
Part of two Rose Bowl Championships, Lincoln Kennedy would also win the prestigious Morris Trophy as the Pac 10’s top Offensive Player in 1991 and 1992. He would go on to have a successful pro career earning three Pro Bowl selections.
Rob Lytle, Running Back: Michigan, 1974-76
Rob Lytle would finish third in Heisman Trophy voting in 1976 and was also a consensus All-American that year. He would set the then Michigan Wolverine rushing record and would tabulate 3,311 Rushing Yards with 26 Touchdowns and Michigan would finish in the top ten in all three seasons he was there.
Michael Payton, Quarterback: Marshall, 1989-92
Michael Payton would lead the Thundering Herd to the NCAA I-AA Championship in 1992 and would also win the Walter Payton Award as the Most Valuable Offensive Player in I-AA.
Bill Snyder, Head Coach: Kansas State, 1989-2005 & 2009-present
Longtime Kansas State Wildcats Head Coach Bill Snyder becomes one of the few active Head Coaches to be selected for the College Football Hall of Fame. Snyder inherited a horrific Kansas State program in 1989 and slowly brought them to prominence in the then Big Eight Conference. All of his effort would pay off when in 1998, Kansas State was ranked #1, a decade after being named by Sports Illustrated as the worst program in the country. Snyder currently has a Head Coaching record of 187-94-1 and was named in 1998 was the consensus College Coach of the Year.
Zach Thomas, Linebacker: Texas Tech, 1992-95
Zach Thomas was a consensus All American in 1995 and was a two time SWC Defensive Player of the Year.
Jim Tressel, Head Coach: Youngstown State, 1986-2000 & Ohio State 2001-10.
Tressel has an overall Head Coaching record in NCAA of 229-72-2, and took Youngstown State to four titles and Ohio State to the National Championship in the 2002 season with a surprise win over the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. He would also score major wins at the 2002 and 2005 Fiesta Bowl, 2009 Rose Bowl and 2010 Sugar Bowl and would win the Big Ten Conference seven times. Although Tressel was forced to resign over the infamous tattoo scandal, fans of the Buckeyes will long remember his success at Ohio State; especially in the years he beat Michigan!
Ricky Williams, Running Back: Texas, 1995-98
The most dominating Running Back of his time in University, Ricky Williams would set the NCAA all-time Rushing record (though it would be broke one year later by Ron Dayne of Wisconsin), and would lead the NCAA in Rushing Yards in both 1997 and 1998. Williams would finish 5th in Heisman Trophy balloting in 1997 and would win the coveted award in his senior year, where he would lead his team to a Cotton Bowl win. He would net a whopping 6,592 Rushing Yards with 75 Touchdowns (along with 988 Yards Receiving and 4 more TDS) over his collegiate career and the two time All American would be a first round draft pick with the New Orleans Saints and rush for 10,000 Yards as a professional.
This Class will formally inducted on December 8 at an awards dinner in New York City.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of great college stars, and the College Football Hall of Fame in general, which has made great strides in the past two years.
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