The Black College Football Hall of Fame selection committee announced today 35 finalists that will be on the ballot for induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. The list includes 25 players, five coaches, and five contributors.
The finalists were selected from a field of over 150 nominees by a 12 member selection committee comprised of prominent journalists, historians and football executives. The committee will meet again to select the 11 members to be inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. All living inductees from the previous Hall of Fame classes will also have the opportunity to submit their votes.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame class of 2013 will be announced on Oct. 17, 2012. They will be honored at the fourth annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony, presented by Atlanta Falcons. The event will take place at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta on Feb. 16, 2013 in conjunction with Black History Month.
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October 2009 to honor the greatest football players and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The 2013 Finalists are listed below as well as the first three induction classes.
2013 Black College Football Hall of Fame Finalists
PLAYERS
- Elvin Bethea (OLB, NC A&T, 1959-1962)
- Emerson Boozer (RB, Maryland Eastern Shore, 1962-1965)
- Charles Brackins (QB, Prairie View A&M, 1951-1954)
- Robert Brazile (LB, Jackson State University, 1971-1975)
- Roger Brown (OL, Maryland Eastern Shore, 1956-1959)
- Harold Carmichael (WR, Southern, 1967-1970)
- Richard Dent (DE, Tennessee State University, 1979-1982)
- Joe Gilliam, Jr. (QB, Tennessee State University, 1966-1969)
- LC Greenwood (DE, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 1965-1968)
- Ken Houston (DB, Prairie View A&M, 1964-1967)
- Charlie Joiner (WR, Grambling State University, 1965-1968)
- Ed "Too Tall" Jones (DL, Tennessee State University, 1970-1973)
- Leroy Kelly (RB, Morgan State University, 1960-1963)
- Ernie "Big Cat" Ladd (DL, Grambling State University, 1957-1960)
- Larry Little (OL, Bethune-Cookman University, 1963-1966)
- Jethro Pugh (DE, Elizabeth City State University, 1961-1964)
- Shannon Sharpe (TE, Savannah State University, 1986-1989)
- Donnie Shell (DB, South Carolina State University, 1970-1973)
- Jackie Slater (OL, Jackson State University, 1973-1976)
- John Stallworth (WR, Alabama A&M, 1970-1973)
- Michael Strahan (DE, Texas Southern, 1989-1992)
- Willie "Satellite" Totten (QB, Mississippi Valley State University, 1982-1985)
- Emmitt Thomas (QB/DB, Bishop College, 1962-1965)
- Everson Walls (DB, Grambling State University, 1977-1980)
- Doug Wilkerson (OL, North Carolina Central, 1966-1969)
COACHES
- Marino "The Godfather" Casem (Head Coach, Alcorn State, 1963-1992)
- William "Billy" Joe (Head Coach, Central State, 1981-1993, Florida A&M 1994-2004)
- W.C. Gorden (Head Coach, Jackson State, 1976-1991)
- John "Big John" Merritt (Head Coach, Tennessee State, 1953-1983)
- Arnett "Ace" Mumford (Head Coach, Southern, 1927-1961)
CONTRIBUTORS
- Joe Gilliam, Sr. (Tennessee State University Defensive Coordinator)
- Ralph Waldo Emerson "Prez" Jones (President, Grambling State, 1936-1977)
- Hornsby Howell (Football Operations, NC A&T University)
- Charlie Neal (Long time commentator for Black College Football)
- Lloyd C.A. "Judge" Wells (Pro Football Scout for Kansas City Chiefs)
The Black College Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by The Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
For more information, visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.
BCFHOF Class of 2012
- Willie Brown (DB, Grambling State University, 1959-1963)
- Harry Carson (DE, South Carolina State University, 1972-1975)
- Eldridge Dickey (QB, Tennessee State University, 1964-1967)
- James "Shack" Harris (QB, Grambling State University, 1965-1968)
- Claude Humphrey (DE, Tennessee State University, 1964-1967)
- Steve McNair (QB, Alcorn State University, 1991-1994)
- Willie "Wonderful Willie" Richardson (WR, Jackson State University, 1959-1962)
- Johnny Sample (DB/RB, Maryland Eastern Shore, 1954-1958)
- Rayfield "Big Cat" Wright (OL, Fort Valley State, 1963-1966)
- Cleve Abbott (Head Coach, Tuskegee, 1923-1954)
- Jackie Graves (Former NFL Scout, former Director of Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles)
BCFHOF Class of 2011
- Lem Barney (DB, Jackson State University, 1963-1966)
- Mel Blount (DB, Southern University, 1966-1970)
- Roosevelt Brown (OL, Morgan State University, 1949-1952)
- Willie Davis (DL, Grambling State University, 1952-1956)
- "Bullet" Bob Hayes (WR/RB/KR, Florida A&M University, 1960-1964)
- Joe Kendall (QB, Kentucky State, 1934-1936)
- Art Shell (OL, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, 1964-1967)
- Doug Williams (QB, Grambling State University, 1974-1977)
- Earl Banks (Head Coach, Morgan State University, 1960-1973)
- Willie Jeffries (Head Coach, South Carolina State University, 1973-2001)
- Collie J. Nicholson (Sports Information Director, Grambling State University)
BCFHOF Class of 2010
- Buck Buchanan (DE, Grambling State University, 1959-1963)
- Willie "Gallopin' Gal" Galimore (RB, Florida A&M University, 1953-1956)
- David "Deacon" Jones (DE, S.C. State & Mississippi Valley State, 1958-1960)
- Willie "Honey Bear" Lanier (LB, Morgan State University, 1963-1967)
- Walter "Sweetness" Payton (RB, Jackson State University, 1971-1974)
- Jerry Rice (WR, Mississippi Valley State University, 1981-1984)
- Ben "Big Ben" Stevenson (RB, Tuskegee University, 1923-1930)
- Paul "Tank" Younger (RB/DB, Grambling State University, 1945-1948)
- Alonzo "Jake" Gaither (Head Coach, Florida A&M University, 1945-1969)
- Eddie G. Robinson (Head Coach, Grambling State University, 1941-1997)
- Bill Nunn, Jr. (Pittsburgh Courier Journalist and NFL Scout)
