Dickerson on NFF Hall of Fame ballot

[PonyPride]

The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame 2006 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot Announced

77 Players, 7 Coaches Vie for College Football's Ultimate Honor

MORRISTOWN, N.J., March 9, 2006 - The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names of 77 players and 7 coaches who comprise the 2006 Division I-A Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Names appearing on the ballot for the first time include Eric Dickerson (Southern Methodist University), Randall Cunningham (UNLV), Chad Hennings (Air Force), Ahmad Rashad (Oregon), Bruce Smith (Virginia Tech), and Emmitt Smith (Florida).

"Selecting the greatest players and coaches in the history of the game for
induction into the Hall of Fame is an awesome responsibility," said NFF
President Steven J. Hatchell. "It's our honor to preserve their legacies as
an inspiration for future generations of players and fans."

Of the 4.4 million individuals who have played college football, only 796
players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. From
the coaching ranks, 170 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.

The ballot mailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members 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. A complete list is available at http://www.collegefootball.org/famerhonors.php.

The Hall of Fame Class will be announced at a press conference in New York City at the Marriott Marquis on May 16 and inducted at The National Football Foundation's 49th Awards Dinner on December 5, 2006 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind. in the summer of 2007.

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 be retired from 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. 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.

Division I-A Player Candidates

CANDIDATE; SCHOOL; POSITION(S); YEARS PLAYED

1. Billy Ray Adams; Mississippi; Fullback; 1959-61
2. Troy Aikman; Oklahoma / UCLA; Quarterback; 1984-85, 1987-88
3. Trev Alberts; Nebraska; Linebacker; 1990-93
4. Bobby C. Anderson; Colorado; Running Back; 1967-69
5. Otis Armstrong; Purdue; Running Back; 1970-72
6. Steve Bartkowski; California; Quarterback; 1972-74
7. Bob Berry; Oregon; Quarterback; 1962-64
8. Benny Blades Miami (Fla.); Defensive Back; 1985-87
9. Tom Brahaney; Oklahoma; Center; 1970-72
10. Dave Brown; Michigan; Defensive Back; 1972-74
11. Ronnie Caveness; Arkansas; Center; 1962-64
12. Jim Crawford; Wyoming; Running Back; 1954-56
13. Randall Cunningham; UNLV; Punter / Quarterback; 1982-84
14. Jeff Davis; Clemson; Linebacker; 1978-81
15. Rich Diana; Yale; Running Back; 1979-81
16. Eric Dickerson; Southern Methodist; Running Back; 1979-82
17. Don Dufek; Michigan; Defensive Back; 1973-75
18. Ed Dyas; Auburn; Fullback; 1958-60
19. Carl Eller; Minnesota; Tackle; 1961-63
20. Steve Emtman; Washington; Defensive Lineman; 1989-91
21. Bill Enyart; Oregon State; Fullback; 1966-68
22. Thomas Everett; Baylor; Free Safety; 1983-86
23. Dave Gallagher; Michigan; Defensive Tackle; 1970-73
24. Kirk Gibson; Michigan State; Wide Receiver; 1975-78
25. Charley Gogolak; Princeton; Place Kicker; 1963-65
26. Bob Golic; Notre Dame; Linebacker; 1976-78
27. Terrence Hanratty; Notre Dame; Quarterback; 1966-68
28. Al Harris; Arizona State; Defensive End; 1975-78
29. Major Harris; West Virginia; Quarterback; 1987-89
30. Chad Hennings; Air Force; Defensive Tackle; 1984-87
31. Mark Herrmann; Purdue; Quarterback; 1977-80
32. [deleted] Jauron; Yale; Running Back; 1970-72
33. Johnnie Johnson; Texas; Safety; 1976-79
34. Chip Kell; Tennessee; Offensive Guard; 1968-70
35. Rex Kern; Ohio State; Quarterback; 1968-70
36. Jess Lewis; Oregon State; Defensive Tackle; 1966-67, 1969
37. Robert Lytle; Michigan; Running Back; 1974-76
38. Rueben Mayes; Washington State; Running Back; 1982-85
39. Pat McInally; Harvard; Tight End; 1972-74
40. Marlin McKeever; Southern California; End; 1958-60
41. Art Monk; Syracuse; Wide Receiver; 1976-79
42. Paul Naumoff; Tennessee; Linebacker; 1964-66
43. Bob Novogratz; Army; Guard; 1957-58
44. Tom Nowatzke; Indiana; Fullback; 1961-64
45. Phillip Olsen; Utah State; Defensive End; 1967-69
46. Jim Otis; Ohio State; Fullback; 1967-69
47. Dave Parks; Texas Tech; End; 1961-63
48. Mike Phipps; Purdue; Quarterback; 1967-69
49. Ahmad Rashad (Bobby Moore); Oregon; Running Back; 1969-71
50. Ron Rivera; California; Linebacker; 1980-83
51. Mike Rozier; Nebraska; Running Back; 1981-83
52. Lucius Sanford; Georgia Tech; Linebacker; 1974-77
53. Jim Seymour; Notre Dame; End; 1966-68
54. Sterling Sharpe; South Carolina; Wide Receiver; 1984-87
55. Jeff Siemon; Stanford; Linebacker; 1968-71
56. Ron Simmons; Florida State; Noseguard; 1977-80
57. Bruce Smith; Virginia Tech; Defensive Tackle; 1981-84
58. Emmitt Smith; Florida; Running Back; 1987-89
59. Chris Spielman; Ohio State; Linebacker; 1984-87
60. Larry Station; Iowa; Linebacker; 1982-85
61. Don Stephenson; Georgia Tech; Center; 1955-57
62. Pat Swilling; Georgia Tech; Defensive End; 1982-85
63. Darryl Talley; West Virginia; Linebacker; 1979-82
64. Jim Taylor; Louisiana State; Fullback; 1956-57
65. Lawrence Taylor; North Carolina; Linebacker; 1977-80
66. Clendon Thomas; Oklahoma; Running Back; 1955-57
67. Thurman Thomas; Oklahoma State; Running Back; 1984-87
68. Anthony Thompson; Indiana; Running Back; 1986-89
69. Gino Torretta Miami (Fla.); Quarterback; 1989-92
70. Don Trull; Baylor; Quarterback; 1961-63
71. Charlie Ward; Florida State; Quarterback; 1989, 1991-93
72. Wilson Whitley; Houston; Defensive Tackle; 1973-76
73. Clarence Williams; Washington State; Running Back; 1972-74
74. Reggie Williams; Dartmouth; Linebacker; 1973-75
75. Scott Woerner; Georgia; Defensive Back; 1977-80
76. Richard Wood; Southern California; Linebacker; 1972-74
77. Chris Zorich; Notre Dame; Defensive Tackle; 1987-90

[Dubbya]

Congratulations to one of our greatest -- maybe THE greates -- ever.
He should be a slam dunk enshrinee.

[MrMustang1965]

Congratulations to one of our greatest -- maybe THE greates -- ever.
He should be a slam dunk enshrinee.

He was great. But not THE greatest ever...that was and always will be Doak Walker. Heisman Trophy.

Best wishes to ED on getting into the Hall, though. Nominations are now open for who should introduce him once he's selected.

I say Craig James.

And here's another GREAT marketing opportunity for SMU to get people out to a football game. Invite ED and Aikman to come out TOGETHER...a chance for fans to meet TWO Pro Football HofF inductees. Aikman lives in Dallas...owns a Ford dealership about five miles north of the campus...have him donate a new Mustang for some kind of drawing/contest...he and ED hand over the keys to the winner! Pack Ford Stadium with folks who want to own a new car. Drawing is held at the END of the game...not pre-game or half-time.

[BleedingRed+Blue]

Pretty good idea. But why would Aikman (who actually lives in Plano) go for it? Good PR, and a tax break for his dealership (hmmmm .... maybe I just answered my own question) .... but has he ever shown any interest in SMU? He has loyalty to Oklahoma (I assume) and certainly UCLA, but has he ever shown an interest in SMU in any way? I saw Alex Rodriguez at an SMU game, and it would be great to pull Aikman into a similar (or bigger) role.

[Stallion]

without question Eric Dickerson was the greatest player ever to play at SMU.

[Corso]

Neither of us saw Doak Walker, of course, but I'd have to agree with you, Stallion. I find it hard to believe anyone could be better than Dickerson was.

[MrMustang1965]

without question Eric Dickerson was the greatest player ever to play at SMU.

With respect, just because you say it's so doesn't mean that it's necessarily true.

ED doesn't have a Heisman sitting on his shelf. Yeah, different eras of football. But DW played a different - and TOUGHER! - game than ED.

You're entitled to your opinion. I'm entitlted to mine. Agree to disagree.

Oh, yeah...where is Eric Dickerson Plaza at SMU?

[HixsontoLeVias]

Saw Mike Roziers name on the list......after our big juicy W in Memphis on Wednesday afternoon, ended up in Dan McGinnis' Irish Pub..guy at the bar was a FedEx pilot, Air Force grad, played football for Hatfield / DeBerry....ANYWAY, we got talking, telling stories...he knows Mike Rozier, knew him "when", so to speak...according to this guy, Rozier told him that he was paid thousands and thousands of $$$$$ while at Nebraska...too bad there wasn't Nebraska Tech, or Nebraska Methodist, or Lincoln State to turn that "one man show" in during those years and now.....after hearing about Ohio States wrist slap todayand hearing these type stories, a fella really can start getting pissed, again!!!

[PK]

Saw Mike Roziers name on the list......after our big juicy W in Memphis on Wednesday afternoon, ended up in Dan McGinnis' Irish Pub..guy at the bar was a FedEx pilot, Air Force grad, played football for Hatfield / DeBerry....ANYWAY, we got talking, telling stories...he knows Mike Rozier, knew him "when", so to speak...according to this guy, Rozier told him that he was paid thousands and thousands of $$$$$ while at Nebraska...too bad there wasn't Nebraska Tech, or Nebraska Methodist, or Lincoln State to turn that "one man show" in during those years and now.....after hearing about Ohio States wrist slap todayand hearing these type stories, a fella really can start getting pissed, again!!!

Hixs, sounds like you had a great couple of days at the tourney. Wish I could have been there...would love to toss a few drinks down with you.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Doak and ED were both great in their own rights. By far the two greatest football players in SMU history. If Dickerson doesn't make this HOF the whole thing is a freaking joke.

Congratulations Eric!

Go Ponies!