Black College Football Hall of Fame Inaugural Inductees Announced

The following news release was issued today, announcing the 11 Inaugural Inductees to the Black College Football Hall of Fame. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to arrange for interviews with Doug Williams, James Harris or Selection Committee Chairman Roscoe Nance.

Press Release

Contact: Jeff McKenzie

646-246-2480

Jeff@CoachingCharities.com



Inaugural Inductees Announced for Black College Football Hall of Fame

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Eight Players, Two Coaches and One Contributor to be Honored February 20 during Priority Payment Systems Inaugural Enshrinement Ceremony

January 15, 2010 (Atlanta, GA) – Eight players, two coaches and one contributor were announced today as the Inaugural Class of Inductees for The Black College Football Hall of Fame. Established in 2009 by football pioneer quarterbacks Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, the Hall of Fame is based in Atlanta, Georgia, and will honor the greatest football players and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

The Priority Payment Systems Inaugural Enshrinement Ceremony will be held February 20, 2010, in conjunction with Black History Month, from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta. For more information, visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org. The members of the Inaugural Class of Inductees are:

·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)


ESPN Monday Night Football Analyst Jon Gruden will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Enshrinement Ceremony. Atlanta Falcons Owner and President of AMB Group Arthur Blank and Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Mayor of Atlanta Andrew Young will serve as an Honorary Chairmen of the event. Priority Payment Systems is Title Sponsor, King & Spalding LLP is Presenting Sponsor and The Four Seasons Hotel is a Platinum Sponsor.

A Selection Committee comprised of prominent journalists and football executives chose 35 finalists, from a field of more than 260 nominees, before naming the 11 Inaugural Inductees.

About the Player Inductees

Junious “Buck” Buchanan, as a defensive end for Grambling State University from 1959 to 1963, was an NAIA All-American and a three-time Black College All-America. Buchanan could bat down passes with either hand, play the run and rush the passer. The first of the prototypical defensive lineman, combing size, speed, and strength, he was the first black college player taken as the No. 1 overall pick in an NFL Draft, when the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in 1963. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and the College Football Hall of in 1996.



Willie “Gallopin’ Gal” Galimore, as a running back at Florida A&M University from 1953 to 1956, was all-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference choice four times and was named a Black College All-America by the Pittsburgh Courier three times. The Rattlers won four conference championships while Galimore was at FAMU and one Black College National Championship. He played for the Chicago Bears from 1957 to 1963, before passing away tragically at the age of 29 in an auto accident in Rensselaer, Indiana, on July 27, 1964. As FAMU’s all-time leading rusher, Galimore averaged 94 yards per game and was the Rattler’s first 1,000-yard runner (1,203 yards in 1954).


David “Deacon” Jones played defensive end for South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University from 1958 to 1960. Blessed with speed, agility, and quickness, the “Deacon” became one of the finest pass rushers in the business. Yet had it not been for the chance observation of two Rams scouts viewing films of an opponent, he might never have had a chance to play pro football. When the scouts noted that the 6-4, 272-pound tackle was outrunning the backs they were scouting, they recommended Jones as a sleeper pick. He went on to unanimous all-league honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970 and was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.



Willie “Honey Bear” Lanier played Linebacker and Offensive Guard at Morgan State University from 1963 to 1967. He earned first team All-America honors his junior year and led the Bears to bowl games in 1965 and 1966, winning both and holding opponents to 0 total yards offense in the 1965 game. His teams won three conference championships and at one point had a 32-game winning streak. Lanier went on to play in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl and five times being named as an All-Pro Middle Linebacker. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000.


Walter “Sweetness” Payton, as a Running Back at Jackson State University from 1971 to 1974. made every All-American team picked for college division or division 1-AA teams. In both years Payton was voted Black College Player of the Year. A tough back, who ran harder than his size (5’10, 200), Payton was a complete football player -- one who could run the ball, block, tackle, pass, catch passes, and kick. It was in college that Payton picked up his nickname "Sweetness" because of the smooth way he ran. He moved on to a legendary career with the Chicago Bears, which included a Super Bowl Ring in 1985, nine Pro Bowls and two NFL Player of the Year Awards. Payton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.


Jerry Rice, a wide receiver for Mississippi Valley State University from 1981 to 1984, is widely regarded as one of the greatest receivers in history at any level. He was named first-team Division I-AA All-America and finished ninth in the 1984 Heisman Trophy voting. His 27 touchdown receptions that season set the NCAA mark for all divisions. Rice was named the 1984 SWAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year for the State of Mississippi. In addition to being named first-team Division I-AA All-American, the NEA and Football Writers’ Association of America both named Rice to their first-team Division I-A All-America squads. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 16th overall selection in the 1985 NFL Draft and became arguably the greatest player in NFL history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and is a 2010 Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.


Ben “Big Ben” Stevenson spent his first years at Tuskegee University as a prep-schooler, which at the time allowed him to play eight seasons in all for the Golden Tigers, from 1923 to 1930. During that span, the team amazingly suffered only two defeats. Stevenson combined speed (9.8 100-yard dash), strength and durability. Scoring on a combination of long runs and drop kicks, he also played defensive back, earning a reputation as one of the top pass thieves in the conference. Stevenson was named to seven consecutive Black College All-America teams, numerous Negro all-time All-America teams and was voted as the game's greatest all-around player.



Paul "Tank" Younger had a record-setting career at running back and linebacker at Grambling State University from 1945 to 1948. He was named to the 1948 Pittsburgh Courier All-America team and was the Tigers’ leader on offense and defense. Younger totaled 60 touchdowns during his career at Grambling, which at the time was a collegiate record. After his senior season, he was named black college football's Player of the Year. Younger went on to a very successful NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers, earning Pro Bowl status five times. He became the first black player to play in an NFL All-Star Game, and after his playing days, went on to become the league's first black assistant general manager in 1975.

About the Coach Inductees

Coach Alonzo “Jake” Gaither spent 24 years at Florida A&M University, from 1945 to 1969, amassing an overall record of 203-36-4. His teams won 18 Conference Championships and were Black College National Champions six times. From 1953 to 1962, his teams went 87-7-1. Gaither’s “split line T” offense was adopted by several major college programs. He retired in 1969 with a .844 winning percentage, the best ever among all NCAA coaches. Gaither was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.



Coach Eddie G. Robinson spent 56 years at Grambling State University, from 1941-1997. He put together an overall record of 408-165-15 and sent more than 80 players to the NFL and AFL. Robinson led the Tigers to a streak of 27 consecutive winning seasons from 1960 to 1986, as well as 17 SWAC Championships and nine Black College National Championships, more than any other HBCU. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and received more awards than any other coach in history.



About Contributor Inductee Bill Nunn

Legendary journalist and NFL Scout Bill Nunn, Jr. entered the newspaper business as a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Courier, where he later rose to sports editor and managing editor. After elevating the Courier’s Black College All-American team to new heights, Nunn joined the Pittsburgh Steelers' scouting staff part time in 1967 and then full time in 1969. A true innovator, he constructed a bridge between the Steelers and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Five Super Bowl Rings later, Nunn is among the most legendary NFL scouts of all time.



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.



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Jeffrey S. McKenzie
Director of Development
Black College Football Hall of Fame
Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation
p: (646) 246-2480
f: (203) 505-6199