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Swilling, Sanford, Stephenson on Hall of Fame ballot

March 9, 2006

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Former Georgia Tech all-Americas Pat Swilling, Lucius Sanford and Don Stephenson are among the 77 players and seven coaches who comprise the National Football Foundation (NFF) 2006 Division I-A Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“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.

The Hall of Fame Class will be announced 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.

Lucius Sanford, Georgia Tech-Linebacker: Named First Team All-America in 1977…A three-time First Team All-Southeastern Independent selection, he led Georgia Tech in tackles in 1975 (121) and 1976 (117)…Named to the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame and their All-Time Team in 1991.

Don Stephenson, Georgia Tech-Center: Two-time First Team All-America selection (1956-57). Two-time First Team All-Conference pick…Led the team in tackles for two years…Member of the Georgia Tech Football Hall of Fame…Played in the Hula Bowl.

Pat Swilling, Georgia Tech-Defensive End: Named First Team All-America, All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 1985 . . . Set an NCAA single-game record with seven sacks vs. NC State in 1985 . . . Broke four GT records and led the school to their first bowl victory in 13 years . . . Went on to a standout career in the National Football League.

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. Dick 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

Division I-A Coach Candidates

CANDIDATE: RECORD (PERCENTAGE) SCHOOLS (YEARS COACHED)

1. John Cooper: 193-83-6 (.695) Tulsa (1977-84) Arizona State (1985-87) Ohio State (1988-2000)

2. Herb Deromedi: 110-55-10 (.657) Central Michigan (1978-93)

3. William Dietz: 96-62-7 (.603) Washington State (1915-17) Purdue (1921) Louisiana Tech (1922-23) Wyoming (1924-26) Haskell Indian Institute (1929-32) Albright (1937-42)

4. Wayne Hardin: 118-74-5 (.612) Navy (1959-64) Temple (1970-82)

5. Dick MacPherson: 111-73-5 (.601) Massachusetts (1971-77) Syracuse (1981-90)

6. Billy Jack Murphy: 91-44-1 (.673) Memphis State (1958-71)

7. Darryl Rogers: 129-84-7 (.602) Cal State-Hayward (1965) Fresno State (1966-72) San Jose State (1973-75) Michigan State (1976-79) Arizona State (1980-84)

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