The NCAA News - News & Features

Revised criteria create new Hall of Fame class

All 10 players inducted August 17 in South Bend, Indiana, previously have been ineligible for enshrinement because of a long-standing requirement that hall of fame members must be first-team members of a "major" all-America team.

However, new criteria permit consideration of players honored as first-team members of recognized all-America teams in Divisions I-AA, II and III and the NAIA.

The new inductees are quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who played at Louisiana Tech University; offensive and defensive lineman Buck Buchanan, Grambling State University; defensive end Vern Den Herder, Central College (Iowa); running back Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Widener College; quarterback Neil Lomax, Portland State University; offensive guard Tyrone McGriff, Florida A&M University; running back Wilbert Montgomery, Abilene Christian University; running back Walter Payton, Jackson State University; linebacker Gary Reasons, Northwestern State University; and linebacker Jim Youngblood, Tennessee Technological University.

Four coaches also were inducted. They are Harold Burry of Westminster College (Pennsylvania), Edgar Sherman of Muskingum College, Gilbert Steinke of Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University-Kingsville) and Lee Tressel of Baldwin-Wallace College.

During media interviews before the induction ceremonies, Pro Football Hall of Fame member Payton expressed gratitude for this latest honor but also expressed regret that players from smaller schools have gone unrecognized for so long.

"I'm happy to be selected into (the hall of fame), I'm happy to get any award," Payton told The Associated Press. "But also, when I look back, I have to look at it with a degree of sadness as well. For so many years, (smaller schools) have been neglected.... Just because you went to a bigger school doesn't mean you're a better ballplayer."

Payton, the all-time leading rusher in the National Football League, hopes the expanded selection process will help smaller schools escape the shadow of larger universities.

"I applaud the (NFFHF) selection committee on making that bold step because it's got to start somewhere," he said. "But I'm kind of unsettled that it's taken so long."

The NFFHF has formed honor courts for each NCAA football division and for the NAIA. Honor court members include athletics directors, sports information directors, writers, conference commissioners and coaches.