SMU's Jerry LeVias and Hayden Fry

[MrMustang1965]

Both are up for a vote this weekend to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. (Hadn't seen anything about this on the site.) Here's an excellent article by the Houston Chronicle's Mikey Herskowitz about Fry and LeVias from today. Once again, the Dallas Morning News snubs SMU!

<A HREF="http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/herskowitz/1795247" TARGET=_blank>http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/herskowitz/1795247</A>

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[Pony4Life]

DMN snubs SMU? What a surprise.

[SoCal_Pony]

Jerry LeVias’ selection into the College Football Hall of Fame would provide the perfect opportunity to honor him next season at Ford.

[EP Pony Fan]

Good idea. What number did he wear with the Ponies?
Seems like a prime candidate for a jersey retirement.

[MrMustang1965]

Here's a complete list along with the official news release about the voting for the College Football Hall of Fame balloting this weekend.

<A HREF="http://footballfoundation.ocsn.com/genrel/021303aaa.html" TARGET=_blank>http://footballfoundation.ocsn.com/genrel/021303aaa.html</A>

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[This message has been edited by MrMustang1965 (edited 02-26-2003).]

[No Quarter]

What Gives?

The article from the Houston paper clearly states that Hayden Fry has been nominated, but I can't find his name on the ballot.

[MrMustang1965]

I just spoke with Rick Walls, director of public relations for the College Football Hall of Fame, and he's clarified this.

From Mickey Herskowitz's column in today's Houston Chronicle: "In the kind of occasional coincidence that makes you believe in the charm and worthiness of college football, the coach and the athlete, Hayden Fry and Jerry LeVias, are on the ballot this week for the college football Hall of Fame."

Hayden Fry is under 'review' by the Honors Committee of the CFHoF. Therefore, he is NOT on this year's ballot. (Sorry, Mr. Herskowitz.) His qualifications for consideration as a future nominee are currently being reviewed.

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[This message has been edited by MrMustang1965 (edited 02-26-2003).]

[This message has been edited by MrMustang1965 (edited 02-26-2003).]

[Stallion]

LeVias was No. 23 as was the BB Star of the day Gene Phillips-always been my favorite number ever since.

[MrMustang1965]

EP Pony Fan: Too bad you didn't read Herskowitz's column. The answer to your question (LeVias' jersey number) was at the end of it.

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[Sic_em]

Levias was a great player and is definitely worthy of enshrinement into the HOF. However, Herskowitz seems to imply that Levias was the first black player in the SWC which is not true.

John Westbrook of Baylor was the first black player to play in the SWC. He played in the Baylor-Syracuse game which took place one week before SMU's season opener.

The distinction between Westbrook and Levias was that Westbrook was initally a walk-on player while Levias came to SMU on scholarship. After his first season, BU Coach John Bridgers placed Westbrook on scholarship.

So, John Westbrook was the first black player to play in the SWC, while Levias was the first scholarship black player to play in the SWC.

[MrMustang1965]

Herskowitz does make it clear that it was on a 'scholarship'. Both Westbrook and LeVias were groundbreakers in the SWC for race relations. However, I'm not sure if Westbrook faced as much adversity at Baylor as LeVias did at SMU. I've never really seen any stories that give an indication of that. Both men are worthy of inclusion in the HoF. LeVias is already enshrined at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco. Is Westbrook?

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"Winning ain't everything...but it's a lot more fun than the alternative!" S.M.U. SPIRIT: IT STARTS NOW!

[dandyfan]

stallion, i was there the night he scored 50+ on the longhorns at gregory gym.