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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2010 Divisional College
Football Hall of Fame Class Announced
Four Players and Two Coaches Slated for July Enshrinement
DALLAS, May 11, 2010 - Archie Manning, chairman of The
National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), announced
today the 2010 Divisional Hall of Fame Class, which considers
players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision
(formerly I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA (National
Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) for induction.
This year's class will be inducted into the College Football Hall of
Fame during the Enshrinement Festival, July 16-17, in South Bend,
Ind. The class includes:
2010 DIVISIONAL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
PLAYERS:
-
EMERSON BOOZER
- Maryland Eastern Shore, HB (1962-65)
-
TROY BROWN -
Marshall, WR (1991-92)
-
BRIAN KELLEY -
California Lutheran, LB (1969- 72)
-
MILT MORIN -
Massachusetts, TE (1963- 65)
COACHES:
-
WILLIE JEFFRIES*
- 179-132-6 (.574); Howard (1984- 88), Wichita State (1979-83),
South Carolina State (1973-78, 1989-2001)
-
TED KESSINGER
- 219-57-1 (.792); Bethany (Kan.) (1976-2003)
* Selection from the Divisional Veterans Committee
"The 2010 Divisional Hall of Fame Class consists of players and
coaches who have defined excellence in our sport," said Manning, a
1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Ole Miss. "We share the pride felt
by their families, friends and schools and look forward to
immortalizing their achievements in college football's ultimate
shrine."
The NFF launched its Divisional Hall of Fame program in 1996 during
its annual enshrinement festival. A total of 124 players and
coaches, counting this year's class, have been inducted from the
divisional ranks, including Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech), Walter
Payton (Jackson State), John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Jerry
Rice (Mississippi Valley State), and coach Eddie Robinson (Grambling
State). Of the 4.72 million who have played college football since
1869, the newest class of inductees joins only 866 players and 186
coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.
CRITERIA
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 Veterans Committees, which examine unique cases.
INDUCTEE
BIOGRAPHIES
EMERSON BOOZER
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Halfback, 1962-65
A four-year letterman and storied halfback under legendary coach
Vernon "Skip" McKain at Maryland Eastern Shore (formerly Maryland
State College), Emerson Boozer ran over opposing defenses to secure
a spot in the 2010 College Football Hall of Fame Class.
A two-time First Team All-America by the Pittsburgh Courier,
Boozer amassed 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns during his career. He
averaged a remarkable 6.78 yards per carry and was named a Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) All- Conference pick in
1964 and '65. He was also inducted into the University of Maryland
Eastern Shore Hall of Fame in 1982.
The New York Jets selected Boozer in the sixth round of the draft,
and he played with the franchise for 10 seasons. He was named the
1966 Pittsburgh Courier AFL Rookie of the Year and was twice
named a Pro Bowl selection. He also helped the Jets defeat the
heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
After his time in the pros, Boozer worked with CBS as an NFL
analyst. He has been inducted into the State of Georgia and Suffolk
Sports halls of fame. Now retired, he lives in Huntington Station,
N.Y.
TROY BROWN
Marshall University
Wide Receiver, 1991-92
Considered the single-most dangerous scoring threat in all of
Division I-AA during his two seasons in Huntington, few can match
the heralded career of Marshall's record-breaking wide receiver Troy
Brown.
A dual threat on the playing field, Brown's elusive nature as a
receiver and kick returner led the Thundering Herd to back-to-back
trips to the Division I- AA (now FCS) National Championship game,
garnering the NCAA title in 1992. He caught 139 receptions for 2,746
yards and 24 touchdowns in his career en route to earning First Team
All-America honors his senior year. Additionally, he boasted 1,825
return yards and four touchdowns on special teams.
Brown went on to play 14 years in the NFL with the New England
Patriots, where he became the franchise's all-time leading receiver
and won three Super Bowls with the team. A 2001 Pro Bowl selection,
he served as the Pats' team captain for five seasons.
Brown now serves as an NFL analyst on Comcast SportsNet and annually
holds a youth football camp with former college teammate Mike
Bartrum. He was inducted into the Marshall Hall of Fame in 2002 and
resides in Huntington, W.Va.
BRIAN KELLEY
California Lutheran University
Linebacker, 1969-72
A team leader and ferocious hitter, Brian Kelley becomes California
Lutheran University's first-ever College Football Hall of Fame
inductee.
After leading the Kingsmen to the 1971 NAIA Division II National
Championship and earning MVP honors in the victory, Kelley followed
up his impressive junior campaign by being named an NAIA First Team
All- America selection in 1972. The team co-captain and MVP was also
selected to the NAIA District III Defensive First Team and the
All-Lutheran College Defensive First Team as a senior. He finished
his career with 17 interceptions, then a school record, and also
contributed as a punter, averaging 34.6 yards per punt. He was also
named the 1970 NAIA District III heavyweight wrestling champion.
Playing for the New York Giants from 1973-83, Kelley became a member
of one of the most renowned linebacker corps in NFL history - the
"Crunch Bunch" - with Lawrence Taylor and fellow College Football
Hall of Famers Brad Van Pelt and Harry Carson. The California native
was the club's leading tackler from 1974-76.
Kelley was inducted into the CLU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. He
now works as a financial advisor and resides in New Jersey.
MILT MORIN
University of Massachusetts
Tight End, 1963-65
A three-sport standout at the University of Massachusetts, Milt
Morin's gridiron prowess led the Minutemen to an undefeated season
in 1963 and its first-ever postseason appearance in the 1964
Tangerine Bowl.
Twice named an All-American, Morin received first team laurels in
1964 and was selected as a second team choice the following season.
A member of two Yankee Conference championship teams, he was named
an all-conference selection three times. Morin was chosen as a First
Team All-East and First Team All-New England player in consecutive
seasons. Even though he also played defense and served as the team's
placekicker his senior year, Morin still finished his collegiate
career with a then-school record 1,151 career receiving yards. He
also earned a combined seven varsity letters in football, wrestling
and lacrosse.
The first-ever UMass player to be selected as a first- round draft
pick, Morin played ten years for the Cleveland Browns. He was named
to the Pro Bowl three times and ranked in the franchise's top ten in
receiving yards (4,208) and receptions (271) upon retirement.
A charter member of the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame, Morin served as
a corrections officer following his NFL career. He resides in
Massachusetts.
WILLIE JEFFRIES*
Howard University, Wichita State University, South Carolina State
University
Head Coach, 179-132-6
The first African-American to be hired as a head coach at a
Division-I school (Wichita State), Willie Jeffries finished his
career as the winningest coach in South Carolina State and MEAC
history.
A three-time Black National Championship winner, Jeffries is
credited with inventing the "Freeze Option" offense and is the only
person in history to coach against College Football Hall of Famers
Paul "Bear" Bryant and Eddie Robinson. Jeffries won the MEAC
conference title seven times, six with SCSU and one with Howard. He
has also coached College Football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and
Donnie Shell.
Named coach of the year on eight different occasions, he was given
the lifetime achievement award by the Black Coaches Association in
2002. An inductee of both the MEAC Hall of Fame and SCSU Athletic
Hall of Fame, Jeffries was awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent
in 2001, South Carolina's highest honor for Outstanding Community
Service.
Jeffries was recently named head coach emeritus at South Carolina
State and will serve as a liaison between the university, its alumni
and other constituents. He currently resides in Elloree, S.C.
* Selection from the Divisional Veterans Committee
TED KESSINGER
Bethany College (Kan.)
Head Coach, 219-57-1
Boasting a near 80 percent all-time winning percentage, the Bethany
College football program never had a losing season with coach Ted
Kessinger at the helm, making him one of the most successful coaches
ever in NAIA history.
In 28 seasons at Bethany, Kessinger won at least a share of the
Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) title 16 times and took
home 11 conference coach of the year honors. Nearly 400 of his
players were named All-KCAC. Coaching 43 NAIA All- Americans and 49
NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes, his teams ranked in the final
NAIA top 25 poll 20 times in his 28 seasons. Kessinger led his teams
to 13 national championship playoff appearances and was the NAIA's
winningest active coach in both percentage of victories and total
wins before retiring in 2003.
Kessinger was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2003 as well as
the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. A lay minister, he is active
in the community with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Kiwanis Club
and has been honored by the Kansas branch of the Fellowship of
Christian Athletes.
The KCAC Character of Champions Award has been named in his honor,
and he is a lifetime member of the American Football Coaches
Association. Serving as a special consultant to Bethany College
president, Kessinger resides in Lindsborg, Kan.
Click here for a web version of this story.
Marshall's Troy
Brown led the Thundering Herd to consecutive trips to the Division
I-AA National Championship game, taking the title home to Huntington
in 1992.
About The National Football Foundation: Founded in 1947
with leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach
Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The
National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit
educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of
amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic
achievement in young people. With 121 chapters and 12,000 members
nationwide, NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame,
the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, and scholarships of over $1 million
for college and high school scholar-athletes. The NFF presents the
MacArthur Bowl, the Campbell Trophy, endowed by HealthSouth, and
releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings.
For more information, please visit us on the web at
www.footballfoundation.org
Media Contact: Philip Marwill
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