Source: The National Football Foundation
NFF Announces 2009 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame Class
16 Players and Two Coaches to Enter College Football's Ultimate Shrine
NEW YORK, April 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From the national ballot of 76 candidates and a pool of hundreds of eligible nominees, Archie Manning, chairman of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, announced the 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) Class, which includes the names of 16 First Team All-America players and two legendary coaches.
2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
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Players
-- PERVIS ATKINS - HB, New Mexico State (1958-60)
-- TIM BROWN - WR, Notre Dame (1984-87)
-- CHUCK CECIL - DB, Arizona (1984-87)
-- ED DYAS - FB, Auburn (1958-60)
-- MAJOR HARRIS - QB, West Virginia (1987-89)
-- GORDON HUDSON - TE, Brigham Young (1980-83)
-- WILLIAM LEWIS* - C, Harvard (1892-93)
-- WOODROW LOWE - LB, Alabama (1972-75)
-- KEN MARGERUM - WR, Stanford (1977-80)
-- STEVE McMICHAEL - DT, Texas (1976-79)
-- CHRIS SPIELMAN - LB, Ohio State (1984-87)
-- LARRY STATION - LB, Iowa (1982-85)
-- PAT SWILLING - DE, Georgia Tech (1982-85)
-- GINO TORRETTA - QB, Miami (Fla.) (1989-92)
-- CURT WARNER - RB, Penn State (1979-82)
-- GRANT WISTROM - DE, Nebraska (1994-97)
* Selection from the FBS Veterans Committee, deceased
Coaches
-- DICK MacPHERSON - 111-73-5 (.601) - Massachusetts
(1971-77), Syracuse (1981-90)
-- JOHN ROBINSON - 132-77-4 (.629) - Southern
California (1976-82, 1993-97), Nevada-Las Vegas
(1999-2004)
"The NFF Honors Court and its Chairman Gene Corrigan did an exceptional job in selecting the 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Class," said Manning, a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Ole Miss. "This year's class represents two centuries of outstanding football players who have reached the pinnacle of success in the collegiate ranks, and we are happy to preserve their legacies in the Hall of Fame."
The 2009 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Class will be inducted at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 8, 2009, at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during ceremonies in the summer of 2010.
2009 College Football Hall of Fame
Football Bowl Subdivision Class Notes
PLAYERS:
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* Two Heisman Trophy winners (Brown, Torretta)
* Seven unanimous First Team All-Americans
(Brown, Hudson, McMichael, Spielman, Station, Torretta, Wistrom)
* Five consensus First Team All-Americans
(Cecil, Lowe, Margerum, Spielman, Station)
* Seven multiple-year First Team All-America honorees
(Brown - 2, Hudson - 2, Lowe - 3, Margerum - 2, Spielman - 2,
Station - 2, Wistrom - 2)
* One Maxwell Award winner (Torretta)
* Two Walter Camp Players of the Year (Brown, Torretta)
* One Davey O'Brien Award winner (Torretta)
* Two Lombardi Award winners (Spielman, Wistrom)
* Two NFF National Scholar-Athletes (Dyas, Wistrom)
* Five Academic All-Americans (Cecil, Dyas, Margerum, Station,
Wistrom)
* Four members of National Championship teams (Lowe, Torretta,
Warner, Wistrom)
* Eight members of conference championship teams
(Atkins, Hudson, Lowe, McMichael, Spielman, Station,
Torretta, Wistrom)
* Six decades and two centuries represented: 1890s (1) - Lewis;
1950s (2) - Atkins, Dyas; 1960s (2) - Atkins, Dyas; 1970s
(4) - Lowe, Margerum, McMichael, Warner; 1980s (10) - Brown,
Cecil, Harris, Hudson, Margerum, Spielman, Station, Swilling,
Torretta, Warner; 1990s (2) - Torretta, Wistrom
COACHES:
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* Nine Conference Championships (MacPherson - 4, Robinson - 5)
* 15 Bowl berths (MacPherson - 6, Robinson - 9)
* 32 First Team All-Americas coached (MacPherson - 14,
Robinson - 18)
* Seven NFF National Scholar-Athletes Coached (MacPherson - 2,
Robinson - 5)
CRITERIA
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1. First and Foremost, a player must have received First Team All-America recognition by a selector organization that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise their consensus All-America teams.
2. A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation's Honors Courts ten years after his final year of intercollegiate football played.
3. While each nominee's football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community and his fellow man with love of his country. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether or not the candidate earned a college degree.
4. Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years*. For example, to be eligible for the 2008 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1958 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.
5. A coach becomes eligible three years after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage*.
* Players that do not comply with the 50-year rule and coaches that
have not won 60% of their games may still be eligible for
consideration by the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly
Division I-A) and Divisional Honors Review Committees, which
examine unique cases.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
South Bend, Indiana
Did You Know?
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* Only 846 players and 182 coaches have been inducted into the
College Football Hall of Fame from the more than 4.65 million
who have played the game over the past 140 years.
* Founded in 1947, The National Football Foundation & College Hall
of Fame inducted its first class of inductees in 1951. The first
class included 32 players and 19 coaches, including Illinois' Red
Grange, Notre Dame's Knute Rockne, Amos Alonzo Stagg and
Carlisle's Jim Thorpe.
* 276 schools are represented with at least one College Football
Hall of Famer.
* In South Bend, Ind., the current building was built in 1995 as
a $17 million state-of-the-art interactive facility for fans of
all ages. It attracts over 60,000 people each year to more than
200 events.
* Induction for this class of Hall of Famers will take place
December 8, 2009 in New York City
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PERVIS ATKINS
New Mexico State University
Running Back, 1958-60
The only First Team All-America selection (1960) in New Mexico State football history, Pervis Atkins led the Aggies to a perfect 11-0 season and a Border Conference title in 1960. Atkins twice topped the nation in all-purpose yards (1959-60) and holds the New Mexico State single season record with 1,800 all-purpose yards in 1960. During the 1959 season, he led the nation in rushing (971) and punt return yards (241). A two-time all conference selection, he caught touchdown passes in each of two Sun Bowl victories (1959-60). Atkins graduated with a B.A. in Sociology in 1962.
Atkins was drafted in the third round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He played seven seasons in the NFL, including stints with the Washington Redskins and Oakland Raiders. He finished his career with 3,300 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.
Upon retiring from football, Atkins became part of a television sports show and eventually took a job with the Ashley-Famous Talent Agency. The running back turned actor then landed an executive position with ABC and later founded his own talent agency, Atkins and Associates.
Atkins and his wife have four children and five grandchildren, and they currently reside in Los Angeles, California.
TIM BROWN
University of Notre Dame
Wide Receiver, 1984-87
The first wide receiver to be awarded the Heisman Trophy, Tim Brown set 19 school records during his career at Notre Dame giving him the name "Touchdown Timmy."
The two-time All-American (1986, 1987-unanimous) set a freshman record with 28 receptions his first year on campus. The following season he tallied 25 catches and three touchdowns while starting all 10 games. During his junior season, Brown was named an All-American after setting a Notre Dame single season record with 1,937 all-purpose yards. His senior year, Brown hauled in 39 catches and three touchdowns while being named a consensus All-American, the Walter Camp Award winner and the Heisman Trophy winner.
Selected sixth overall in the 1988 draft by the Los Angeles Raiders, Brown holds the NFL rookie record for most combined yards gained (2,317). A member of the NFL 1990's All-Decade team, he was named to nine Pro Bowls and hauled in an NFL record 75 receptions in 10 straight seasons.
Brown is the national chairman of Athletes & Entertainers for Kids and currently resides in DeSoto, Texas.
CHUCK CECIL
University of Arizona
Defensive Back, 1984-87
A two-time First Team Academic All-America selection (1986-87), Chuck Cecil becomes only the second Arizona player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
A consensus All-American in 1987, Cecil was the Aloha Bowl MVP and a two-time All-Conference selection. He was named Pac-10 Defensive Back of the Year in 1987 and Pac-10 Player of the Week on three occasions. He is a recipient of the NCAA Top Six Award, the Pac-10 Conference Medal and a three-time Golden Eagle Award (3.0 GPA or better) honoree. The defensive back set school records for career passes defended (38), interceptions in a single game (four) and career interceptions (21).
Drafted in the fourth round of the 1988 draft by the Green Bay Packers, Cecil spent seven seasons in the NFL with the Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Oilers. Cecil is currently the assistant coach for safeties and nickel backs for the Tennessee Titans.
Cecil has served as co-chair of the University of Arizona Medical Center Foundation campaign for UMC Trauma Center with his wife and founded the Chuck Cecil Scholarship Golf Classic benefitting University of Arizona scholarships.
ED DYAS
Auburn University
Fullback, 1958-60
A legend in the SEC on both sides of the ball, Ed Dyas led Auburn in rushing and scoring, was named the SEC's Most Outstanding Back and First-Team All-Conference in 1960.
Dyas played fullback, linebacker and handled all kicking duties during his four years at Auburn. As a freshman, Dyas started at fullback for Auburn's 1958 undefeated team. A First Team All-America selection in 1960 at fullback, Dyas set an NCAA record for field goals in a season with 13. Dyas was also selected an NFF National Scholar-Athlete. He was a Phi Kappa Phi All-America team member, a three-time Academic All Conference pick, received the Bill Streit Award for highest senior GPA and won the Cliff Hare Award, the highest honor an Auburn athlete can receive for academic, athletic and leadership achievement. Dyas received his Bachelor of Science in pre-med and earned his master's from Tulane.
Currently an orthopedic surgeon in Mobile, Ala., he has served on the committee, board and staff of the Mobile Infirmary Hospital for 19 years and the Providence Hospital Foundation Board for six years. He is head of physicians for the Senior Bowl and has served on the Senior Bowl Committee for 26 years.
Dyas is an Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.
MAJOR HARRIS
West Virginia University
Quarterback, 1987-89
A three-year starter at quarterback, Major Harris became the first player in NCAA history to rush for more than 2,000 and pass for more than 5,000 yards in a career.
As a freshman, Harris led the Mountaineers to the 1987 Sun Bowl. The following season, the quarterback led West Virginia to an undefeated season and a match-up versus Notre Dame for the national championship in the 1988 Fiesta Bowl. He accounted for 20 touchdowns that season while earning ECAC Player of the Year honors and finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. During his junior campaign, Harris threw for 17 touchdowns and ran for six while setting school records for most total offense and quarterback rushing yards. He was voted a First Team All-America, named the ECAC Player of the Year and finished third in Heisman voting.
Drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1990s, Harris spent several seasons playing in the Canadian Football League, Arena Football League and other semi-pro leagues.
In 1989 he was inducted into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pa.
GORDON HUDSON
Brigham Young University
Tight End, 1980-83
A two-time unanimous All-American (1982-83), Gordon Hudson holds the NCAA records for most passes caught per game by a tight end (5.4), most career yards per game by a tight end (75.3) and most yards in a game by a tight end (259 vs. Utah).
As a sophomore, Hudson started at tight end and received All-WAC Second Team Honors as well as honorable mention All-America. He tied the NCAA record for receptions by a tight end in a season with 67. His junior season, the tight end was the only unanimous All-WAC selection, also earning unanimous All-America status. As a senior, he teamed with Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young to haul in an NCAA record 44 catches and six touchdowns in an injury-shortened season. And for the second straight year, Hudson earned All-WAC First Team and First-Team All-America honors.
Upon graduation he played two seasons in the USFL with the LA Express and one season in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks.
Named to the WAC All-Decade team, Hudson is currently a real estate officer for Fairbanks Capital in Murray, Utah.
WILLIAM LEWIS*
Harvard University
Center, 1892-93
The first ever African-American to earn First Team All-America honors and a selection from the NFF's FBS Veterans Committee, William Lewis helped Harvard compile a daunting 22-2 record during his career with the Crimson.
Born in Virginia, Lewis started college when he was 15 at Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (now Virginia State University), the state's first college for African-Americans. He then transferred to Amherst College where he played three seasons before attending Harvard Law. Named Harvard's first African-American team captain, he became an All-American center even though he weighed only 175 pounds.
After his playing career, Lewis coached at Harvard for 12 years. During that time he proposed the "neutral zone" rule that is still used today to lessen the brutality of the game at the line of scrimmage before the snap. Elected to the legislature in 1901 and named assistant U.S. attorney general for Boston in 1903, U.S. President William Howard Taft later appointed him as an assistant U.S. attorney general. He passed away in 1949.
* Deceased
WOODROW LOWE
University of Alabama
Linebacker, 1972-75
The second player in Alabama history to be a three-time First Team All-American (1973, 1974-consensus, 1975), Woodrow Lowe led the Crimson Tide to the 1973 national title.
The 1973 Churchman's National Defensive Sophomore of the Year, Lowe set an Alabama single season record with 134 tackles. That season the Crimson Tide played in the Sugar Bowl, claiming the national championship. His junior year, Lowe earned consensus All-America honors and led the Crimson Tide to a third straight SEC title and a birth in the Orange Bowl. In his final season, the linebacker again earned First Team All America honors and served as team captain as the Crimson Tide wrapped up their fourth straight SEC title and a trip to the Sugar Bowl. Following his senior season, Lowe played in the 1976 Senior Bowl and entered the NFL Draft.
Taken in the fifth round by the San Diego Chargers in 1976, Lowe missed only one game in 11 seasons with the Chargers and tallied 21 interceptions. He returned four of those for touchdowns.
Following his career with the Chargers, Lowe served as an assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He is currently an assistant coach at Jackson-Olin High School (Ala.).
Named to Alabama's First Team All-Decade Team and a Second Team All-Century selection, Lowe was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
KEN MARGERUM
Stanford University
Wide Receiver, 1977-80
A two-time consensus All-American (1979-80), Ken Margerum graduated Stanford, after a stellar career that established him as the Cardinal all-time leading receiver with 141 receptions for 2,430 yards and 30 touchdowns.
A three-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, Margerum led Stanford to back-to-back postseason berths in the 1977 Sun and 1978 Bluebonnet bowls as well as top 20 national rankings in 1977 and '78. The 1980 Second Team Academic All-American shares the conference record for most touchdown receptions in a game (four) and holds three of the top five spots on the school's all-time single-season list for touchdown receptions. He also ranks fifth in receiving yards at Stanford (2,430) and sixth in yards per catch (17.2). He claimed the 1980 Pop Warner Memorial Trophy, given annually to the most valuable senior player on the West Coast.
Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1981, he played in the pros for seven years with the Bears and the San Francisco 49ers, earning a Super Bowl ring with Chicago in 1985.
A Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Margerum currently coaches the wide receivers at San Jose State University.
STEVE McMICHAEL
University of Texas
Defensive Tackle, 1976-79
Selected a unanimous first-team All-American, Steve McMichael led a Longhorn defense that allowed less than nine points per game in 1979.
A four-year letterman at Texas, McMichael was a member of the 1977 Southwest Conference Championship team. Twice selected All-Southwest Conference (1978-79), he graduated as the school's all-time leader in career tackles (369) and sacks (30). A finalist for the Lombardi and Outland Awards in 1979, McMichael claimed team and Hula Bowl MVP honors. During tenure at Texas, the Longhorns posted an impressive 34-12-1 record.
Drafted in the third round by the New England Patriots in the 1980 draft and picked up by the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 1981. He spent 13 seasons with the Bears, including six Central Division Championships and a victory in Super Bowl XX. McMichael retired as a five-time All-Pro selection and holds the Chicago Bears record for most consecutive games played (191).
Following his playing career, McMichael became a pro wrestler. He is currently the head coach of the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League.
CHRIS SPIELMAN
Ohio State University
Linebacker, 1984-87
The 1987 Lombardi Award winner, Chris Spielman earned back-to-back First Team All-America honors (unanimous in 1987 and consensus in 1986) en route to leading Ohio State to three consecutive bowl games and establishing himself as one of the all-time greats in a storied Buckeye program.
A three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, Spielman was named the top defensive player in the 1987 Cotton Bowl. He was also a member of two Big Ten championship teams (1984, '86). He twice led the Buckeyes in tackles and graduated as the school's all-time leader in solo tackles (283). Spielman finished his prolific defensive career at OSU with 546 tackles, eight sacks and 11 interceptions.
After graduating in 1988, Spielman was drafted by Detroit in the second round of the NFL Draft, playing with the franchise for eight seasons and becoming the first Lion ever to register 1,000 career tackles. He spent two seasons with the Buffalo Bills and was named to the Pro Bowl six times.
Spielman currently works as an ESPN college football color commentator and with several local sports talk radio shows in Columbus, Ohio. He also is a visible participant for increasing resources for breast cancer research.
LARRY STATION
University of Iowa
Linebacker, 1982-85
Equally impressive on the college gridiron and in the classroom, Larry Station twice earned First Team All-America (1984, '85) honors while leading the Hawkeyes to four consecutive bowl games and a Big Ten championship in 1985.
A four-year starter, Station remains the only player in Iowa history to lead the team in tackles for four years, finishing his career with 492 tackles. The team captain and team MVP in 1985, he was a finalist for the Lombardi and Butkus awards. A three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, he led Iowa to a 35-13-1 record during his career. In the classroom, he twice earned First Team Academic All-America honors and First Team academic honors from the conference.
Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1986, Station returned to Iowa to receive his B.A. in Business in 1987. He later returned to school again, earning his M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1990.
Station is a member of Iowa's All-Time Team and was inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame in 2000. He was selected as the 38th greatest sports figure in the history of the state of Nebraska (by Sports Illustrated) in 1999. Station currently owns several businesses in Omaha, Neb.
PAT SWILLING
Georgia Tech
Defensive End, 1982-85
Rebuilding a program on the brink of collapse, Pat Swilling became a four-year letterman, leading the vaunted Georgia Tech "Black Watch" defense that allowed only 10.7 points per game during his final campaign in 1985.
Named to Georgia Tech's All-Time Team (1892-1991), Swilling set the NCAA record for sacks in a game (seven against North Carolina State in 1985) while setting the Georgia Tech mark for sacks in a season (15). Voted First-Team All-America by the Football Writers Association and First Team All-ACC in 1985, Swilling was named to Georgia Tech's All-Time Team (1892-1991) and inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He graduated as Georgia Tech's all-time leader in sacks (23) and tackles for loss (37), currently ranking fourth in both categories.
Selected in the third round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints, Swilling was named to five Pro Bowls. Named the 1989 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, he recorded 17 sacks that season, and his 107.5 career sacks place him in the Top 20 in NFL history. Traded to the Detroit Lions in 1993, he played two seasons for the Lions before finishing his career with the Oakland Raiders. Swilling was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2000.
Following his football career, Swilling was elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives in 2001 and served one two-year term. He is currently a real estate developer in New Orleans.
GINO TORRETTA
University of Miami
Quarterback, 1989-92
A key factor in many of Miami's national championship-contending teams, Gino Torretta became one of the most decorated players in college football history, claiming unanimous First Team All-America honors, the Heisman Trophy, Davey O'Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards in 1992.
As a freshman on the 1989 National Championship team, Torretta posted a 3-1 record as a starter while filling in for injured quarterback Craig Erickson. As a junior, Torretta led the Hurricanes to the 1991 National Championship game and was named the Big East Player of the Year. During his senior season in 1992, Torretta once again led Miami to the National Championship game and a Big East Championship. Torretta again took home Big East Player of the Year as well as the 1992 Tanqueray World Amateur Athlete of the Year. He currently holds the conference record for lowest career percentage of interceptions (1.94), passing yards in a single-game (485) and longest passing play (99) yards, also an NCAA record. Torretta led Miami to a 26-2 record as a starter and was part of Miami's NCAA record 58-game home winning streak.
Torretta was drafted in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. The quarterback played five seasons in the NFL and spent time with the Vikings, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts.
Founder, President and CEO of Touchdown Radio Productions, Torretta currently resides in the Miami area. He is also the vice president for Institutional Sales with Gabelli Asset Management.
CURT WARNER
Penn State University
Running Back, 1979-82
An All-America selection in 1981, Curt Warner finished his career at Penn State with 11 season, 14 bowl and 42 school records. Equally impressive, the Nittany Lions posted an 18-0 record when Warner rushed for 100 yards or more.
A four-year letterman at Penn State, Warner played in four bowl games, including two Fiesta Bowls (1980-82) and a Sugar Bowl (1983). Named Most Outstanding Offensive Player in both Fiesta Bowls, he led the Nittany Lions to the 1982 National Championship with their Sugar Bowl triumph. That season, in spite of Penn State's record-setting pass offense, Warner contributed 1,041 yards and eight touchdowns. While at Penn State, he set records for career rushing yardage (3,398), career all-purpose yardage (4,982) and 100-yard rushing games (18). Warner is also second all-time in career kick-off return average (28.8 yards), tallying 922 yards and three touchdowns on 32 returns.
The third overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, Warner spent seven seasons in the league. During his career in the NFL, Warner was a four-time All-Pro selection.
The owner of Curt Warner Chevrolet, Warner currently resides in Vancouver, Washington. He is also the founder and president of the Curt Warner Autism Foundation.
GRANT WISTROM
University of Nebraska
Defensive End, 1994-97
During Grant Wistrom's time in Nebraska, the Cornhuskers posted a 49-2 record and collected three National Championships behind the pivotal play of the two-time unanimous All-American selection (1996-97).
As a freshman on the 1994 National Championship team, Wistrom notched 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks en route to being named the Big Eight Newcomer of the Year. During his sophomore season, he recorded 44 tackles, including a team leading 15 tackles for loss while be named First Team All-Big Eight as the Huskers won their second straight national title. In 1996, Wistrom helped the Husker defensive unit to a Top 10 national ranking in all four major defensive categories. As a senior, Wistrom won the Lombardi Award; earned a finalist spot for the Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Award; and claimed an NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award. In 1997, he again stood in the forefront as the Cornhuskers notched another national title and he took home a second-straight Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year title.
Drafted in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Wistrom earned the Ram's Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Wistrom played in three Super Bowls during his six-season career, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams. He retired as a player with the Seattle Seahawks after the 2006 season.
Following his NFL career, Wistrom started the Grant Wistrom Foundation, which funds efforts to help pediatric cancer patients. Wistrom currently resides in Kirkland, Washington, along with his wife Melissa and their son Wyatt.
DICK MacPHERSON
University of Massachusetts, Syracuse University
Head Coach, 111-73-5
Named NCAA National Coach of the Year in 1987, Coach Dick MacPherson led the Orange to an 11-0-1 record and the fourth spot in the final Associated Press ranking.
Named head coach at Massachusetts in 1971, MacPherson led the Minutemen to four Yankee Conference titles in seven years. During that span, he twice claimed New England Football Coach of the Year honors. His 45 victories at Massachusetts rank him third all-time in school history, and his 28-8-1 mark in Yankee Conference games notches a .778 winning percentage, which places him fifth in league history. The first UMass coach to win eight or more games in three different seasons, his nine-win campaign in 1972 tied the school record for single-season victories first set in 1901.
After his success with the Minutemen, Syracuse gave him their head job in 1981. MacPherson ranks third all-time at Syracuse for wins (66) and most seasons coached (10). During his tenure as head coach he led the Orange to five bowl games while posting a 3-1-1 record in post-season play. In 1987, the Orange posted an 11-0-1 record, playing Auburn to a 16-16 tie in the Sugar Bowl and finishing fourth in the national polls. He coached two College Football Hall of Fame players, Tim Greene and Don McPherson, eight All-Americans, and two NFF National Scholar-Athletes during his 10 years at Syracuse.
MacPherson currently works as a color commentator for Syracuse Football radio broadcasts, splitting his time between Palm Bay, Fla., Princeton, Maine and Jamesville, N.Y.
JOHN ROBINSON
University of Southern California, University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Head Coach, 132-77-4
In 1978, Coach John Robinson led Southern California to a 12-1 record and the UPI National Championship after winning the Rose Bowl.
After becoming the Trojan head coach in 1976, Robinson led Southern California to five Pac-10 titles during two separate coaching stints (1976-82; 1993-97). His Trojans made eight bowl appearances, posting a 7-1 record with three Rose Bowl victories. His overall bowl record of 8-1 ranks first all-time in bowl winning percentage (.888). He received National Coach of the Year honors in 1979 and was twice named Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1976, 1978). During his time at Southern California, he coached two Heisman Trophy winners (Charles White and Marcus Allen), a Lombardi Award winner Brad Budde and 18 First Team All-Americans.
Hired by UNLV in 1999, Robinson posted a 28-42 record in six seasons. His 28 wins rank him second in all-time wins by a Rebel coach. In 2000, he claimed WAC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Rebels to a Las Vegas Bowl victory.
Robinson currently works as a football analyst for the Sports USA Radio Network and resides in Carlsbad, Calif.
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