LT Among College Football Hall of Fame Candidates
Former University of North Carolina standout Lawrence Taylor is one of 75 players and eight coaches on the 2008 Football Bowl Subdivision Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The ballot was released by the National Football Foundation (NFF).
"Since our founding in 1947, the NFF has stood at the forefront of preserving the rich history of our game, and nothing better represents our efforts than the selection of college football's greatest legends for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "We take great care in engaging all our key constituents in the process, especially our membership. Their enthusiasm to have a voice is a testament to America's passion for college football."
Taylor was a consensus first-team All-America and the ACC Player of the Year in 1980, helping lead the Tar Heels to an 11-1 record and the league title. He had a single-season school record 16 sacks that season for losses totaling 127 yards.
The ballot mailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which deliberates and selects the class. Chaired by Gene Corrigan, a former ACC Commissioner and NCAA president, the 11- member NFF Honors Court includes an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletics directors, conference commissioners, Hall of Famers and members of the media. Of the 4.6 million individuals who have played college football, only 829 players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. From the coaching ranks, 178 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.
"The College Football Hall of Fame symbolizes the pinnacle of achievement in our sport," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Ole Miss. "Each year we go through a painstaking process to determine the names that will be added to a short list of our sport's finest players and coaches, and it's a privilege to play a role."
The FBS Hall of Fame Class will be announced live on ESPNEWS at a press conference in New York City's prestigious Waldorf=Astoria on May 1 and inducted at The National Football Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, 2008 also at the Waldorf=Astoria. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind. in the summer of 2009.
To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a First Team All-America by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least ten years prior; played within the last 50 years and cannot be currently playing professional football. Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60% of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years; be retired from coaching and over the age of 70 (no waiting period); or over the age of 75 (active coaches eligible). In both cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
Once nominated for consideration, all player candidates are submitted to one of eight District Screening Committees, depending on their geographic location, which conducts a vote to determine who will appear on the ballot and represent their respective districts. Each year, 15 candidates, who are not selected for the Hall of Fame, will be named automatic holdovers and will bypass the district screening process and automatically appear on the ballot the following year. Additionally, the Honors Review Committee may make recommendations to Honors Court for exceptions that allow for the induction of players who played more than 50 years ago and coaches who have not won at least 60 percent of their games.
FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION PLAYER CANDIDATES
Candidates are listed alphabetically.
(Player - School, Position (Years))
1. Billy Ray Adams - Mississippi, Fullback (1959-61)
2. Troy Aikman - UCLA, Quarterback (1987-88)
3. Trev Alberts - Nebraska, Linebacker (1990-93)
4. Otis Armstrong - Purdue, Running Back (1970-72)
5. Pervis Atkins - New Mexico State, Running Back (1958-60)
6. Steve Bartkowski - California, Quarterback (1972-74)
7. Hal Bedsole - Southern California, Split End (1961-63)
8. Bob Berry - Oregon, Quarterback (1962- 64)
9. Tim Brown - Notre Dame, Wide Receiver (1984-87)
10. Dave Butz - Purdue, Defensive Tackle (1970-72)
11. Billy Cannon - Louisiana State, Running Back (1957-59)
12. Dave Casper - Notre Dame, Tight End (1971-73)
13. Ronnie Caveness - Arkansas, Center (1962-64)
14. Chuck Cecil - Arizona, Defensive Back (1984-87)
15. Ray Childress - Texas A&M, Defensive Lineman (1981-84)
16. Randy Cross - UCLA, Offensive Guard (1973-75)
17. Randall Cunningham - Nevada-Las Vegas, Punter (1982-84)
18. Sam Cunningham - Southern California, Running Back (1970-72)
19. Eric Dickerson - Southern Methodist, Running Back (1979-82)
20. Jim Dombrowski - Virginia, Offensive Tackle (1982-85)
21. Bobby Douglass - Kansas, Quarterback (1966-68)
22. Ed Dyas - Auburn, Fullback (1958-60)
23. Luther Ellis - Utah, Defensive Lineman (1991-94)
24. Pat Fitzgerald - Northwestern, Linebacker (1994-96)
25. Willie Gault - Tennessee, Wide Receiver (1979-82)
26. Kirk Gibson - Michigan State, Wide Receiver (1975-78)
27. Al Harris - Arizona State, Defensive End (1975-78)
28. Major Harris - West Virginia, Quarterback (1987-89)
29. Mark Herrmann - Purdue, Quarterback (1977-80)
30. Dick Jauron - Yale, Running Back (1970-72)
31. Jess Lewis - Oregon State, Defensive Tackle (1966-67, 1969)
32. Woodrow Lowe - Alabama, Linebacker (1972-75)
33. Robert Lytle - Michigan, Running Back (1974-76)
34. Bobby Majors - Tennessee, Defensive Back (1969-71)
35. Tony Mandarich - Michigan State, Offensive Tackle (1985-88)
36. Wilber Marshall - Florida, Linebacker (1980-83)
37. Paul Martha - Pittsburgh, Running Back (1961-63)
38. Rueben Mayes - Washington State, Running Back (1982-85)
39. Randall McDaniel - Arizona State, Offensive Guard (1984-87)
40. Marlin McKeever - Southern California, Tight End (1958-60)
41. Steve McMichael - Texas, Defensive Tackle (1976-79)
42. Don McPherson - Syracuse, Quarterback (1984-87)
43. George Mira - Miami (Fla.), Quarterback (1961-63)
44. Art Monk - Syracuse, Wide Receiver (1976-79)
45. Paul Naumoff - Tennessee, Linebacker (1964-66)
46. Ken Norton, Jr. - UCLA, Linebacker (1984-87)
47. Jay Novacek - Wyoming, Tight End (1982-84)
48. Bob Novogratz - Army, Offensive Guard (1957-58)
49. Tom Nowatzke - Indiana, Fullback (1961-64)
50. Jim Otis - Ohio State, Fullback (1967- 69)
51. Paul Palmer - Temple, Running Back (1983-86)
52. Dave Parks - Texas Tech, Split End (1961-63)
53. Gabe Rivera - Texas Tech, Defensive Lineman (1979-82)
54. Ron Rivera - California, Linebacker (1980-83)
55. Deion Sanders - Florida State, Defensive Back (1985-88)
56. Jake Scott - Georgia, Defensive Back (1967-68)
57. Jim Seymour - Notre Dame, Wide Receiver (1966-68)
58. Will Shields - Nebraska, Offensive Guard (1989-92)
59. Rod Shoate - Oklahoma, Linebacker (1972-74)
60. Ron Simmons - Florida State,Nose Guard (1977-80)
61. Zeke Smith - Auburn,Defensive Guard (1957-59)
62. Percy Snow - Michigan State, Linebacker (1986-89)
63. Chris Spielman - Ohio State, Linebacker (1984-87)
64. Larry Station - Iowa, Linebacker (1982- 85)
65. Jerry Stovall - Louisiana State, Halfback (1960-62)
66. Darryl Talley - West Virginia, Linebacker (1979-82)
67. Lawrence Taylor - North Carolina, Linebacker (1977-80)
68. Thurman Thomas - Oklahoma State, Running Back (1984-87)
69. Pat Tillman - Arizona State, Linebacker (1994-97)
70. Gino Torretta - Miami (Fla.), Quarterback (1989-92)
71. Don Trull - Baylor, Quarterback (1961- 63)
72. Curt Warner - Penn State, Running Back (1979-82)
73. Alfred Williams - Colorado, Linebacker (1987-90)
74. Grant Wistrom - Nebraska, Defensive End (1994-97)
75. Scott Woerner - Georgia, Defensive Back (1977-80)
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