Football Hall Ballot Include Indiana Greats
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSeveral standouts from universities in the state are included on this year's College Football Hall of Fame ballot. They include former University of Notre Dame wide receiver “Rocket” Ismail, former Purdue University defensive back Rod Woodson and former Indiana University quarterback Antwaan Randle El. The Indiana players on the 2016 Football Bowl Subdivision Player List are:
-Larry Burton, Purdue-Split End-First Team All-American and Outstanding College Athlete of America in 1974 and a First Team All-Big Ten selection…Led the team in receiving in both 1973 and 1974…Named team captain and team MVP in 1974.
-Bob Crable, Notre Dame-Linebacker-Two-time consensus First Team All-American in 1980 and 1981… Set ND records for most career tackles (521), most tackles in a season (187), most tackles in a game (26)… Played in 1981 Hula Bowl.
-Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame-Wide Receiver-Two-time First Team All-American earning consensus honors in 1989 and unanimous laurels in 1990…Walter Camp Player of the Year and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1990…Led ND to national championship at the Fiesta Bowl and two Orange Bowls.
-Todd Lyght, Notre Dame-Cornerback-Two-time First Team All-American, earning unanimous honors in 1989 and consensus laurels in 1990…Led Irish to 1988 National Championship and perfect 12-0 season as well as national title game appearance in 1991 Orange Bowl…Thorpe Award finalist who posted 11 career interceptions.
-Antwaan Randle El, Indiana-Quarterback-2001 First Team consensus All-American…First player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in career…Rushed for more yards than any QB in FBS history upon conclusion of career.
-Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue-Wide Receiver-2004 consensus First Team All-American who set the NCAA record for career receptions (316)…Two-time All-Big Ten selection who led conference in receptions for three consecutive seasons from 2002-04…2004 Biletnikoff finalist who set Sun Bowl record with 196 receiving yards in 2001.
-Rod Woodson, Purdue-Defensive Back-1986 consensus First Team All-American and runner-up for the Jim Thorpe Award…Three-time First Team All-Big Ten performer who returned three interceptions for touchdowns in career…Started 45 games and left Purdue as career leader in solo tackles (320) and interceptions (11) among others.
The Indiana players on the 2016 Divisional Player List are:
Tom Collins, Indianapolis (Ind.)-Defensive Back-Named First Team All-American in 1985…All-time college football leader in career interceptions (37), representing all levels of the NCAA.
Gary Puetz, Valparaiso-Offensive Tackle-Two-time First Team All-America selection (1971-72)…Three-time First Team All-Conference selection…Made first team All-Conference as a placekicker as well in 1972…Earned team’s MVP award.
Terry Schmidt, Ball State-Defensive Back-Named First Team All-American in 1973 when he set a single-season school record with 13 interceptions…Team MVP as a senior…Played in the Coaches All-America Game and the East-West Shrine Game.
June 2, 2015
News Release
IRVING, Tex. – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2016 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 76 players and five coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 92 players and 27 coaches from the divisional ranks.
“Having a ballot and a voice in the selection of the inductees is one of the most cherished NFF member benefits,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Mississippi. “There is no group more knowledgeable or passionate about college football than our membership, and the tradition of the ballot helps us engage them in the lofty responsibility of selecting those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in our sport.”
The NFF is continuing with its electronic voting system for balloting that it unveiled last year. The ballot was emailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Courts, which deliberate and select the class. The FBS Honors Court, chaired by former ACC Commissioner and NCAA president and NFF Director Emeritus Gene Corrigan, and the Divisional Honors Court, chaired by former Marshall head coach, longtime athletics director and NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel, include an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media.
“It’s an enormous honor to just be on the ballot when you think that more than 5.06 million people have played college football,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The Hall’s requirement of being a First-Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of only 1,500 individuals who are even eligible to be on the ballot, so being in today’s elite group means an individual is truly among the greatest to ever have played the game, and we are proud to announce their names. We look forward to announcing the 2016 Hall of Fame Class on the Friday before the College Football Playoff National Championship.”
The announcement of the 2016 Class will be made Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Ariz. The hotel is serving as the official media hotel for the College Football Playoff National Championship, which will be played Jan. 11 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Several of the inductees will be on site at the press conference to represent the class and share their thoughts on the announcement. The Jan. 8 event will be televised live, and more information will be available as the date draws near. Inductees will also participate in the pregame festivities and the coin toss on Jan. 11.
“We cannot thank CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock and his staff enough for the opportunity to continue this new tradition of announcing our Hall of Fame Class in conjunction with the Championship Game,” said Hatchell. “The presence of the national media at the title game significantly raises the profile of the announcement, allowing us to shine a much brighter light on the accomplishments of our game’s greatest legends. The Announcement of the 2015 Class in Dallas this past January drew a packed house of the national media, and we anticipate the event will garner more attention in the coming years as it becomes a signature part of the Championship weekend.”
The tradition of announcing the College Football Hall of Fame inductees on the Friday before the national title game does not have an impact on the induction ceremonies, which continue to take place during the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria, and the 2016 Class will be inducted on Dec. 6, 2016.
To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a First Team All-American 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 10 years prior; played within the last 50 years and cannot be currently playing professional football. Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60 percent of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years. If a coach is retired and over the age of 70, there is no waiting period. If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. 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 school’s geographic location, which conducts a vote to determine who will appear on the ballot and represent their respective districts. Each year, approximately 15 candidates, who are not selected for the Hall of Fame, will be named automatic holdovers and will bypass the district s