Players

Jim Ballard

Quarterback

Mount Union, 1990-1993

Led Mount Union to NCAA Division III title in 1993 with a 14-0 record, setting a playoff record with eight TD passes in a semifinal win over St. John’s of Minnesota. . ... Won the Gagliardi Trophy as the top player in Division III in 1993. ... Finished career with 17 Division III records.



Tom Brahaney

Center

Oklahoma, 1971-72

All-America pick in 1971 and ’72. ... Helped Sooners lead the nation in rushing, scoring and total offense in 1971. ... Finalist for the Lombardi Award in 1972. ... All-conference pick in 1971 and ’72.



Dave Brown

Safety

Michigan, 1972-74

Member of Michigan’s all-century team. ... Three-time All-Big Ten selection . ... Wolverines went 30-2-1 during his three years, tied for three Big Ten conference titles, never went to a bowl game. ... In 33 games, Wolverines had 11 shutouts and surrendered more than 10 points only five times. ... Died in 2006.



Jeff Davis

Linebacker

Clemson, 1978-81

Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year in 1981, when Tigers began year unranked and went 12-0 to win the national championship. ... Started 35 games, making at least 10 tackles in 30 of those. ... Selected to ACC’s 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002.



Doug Flutie

Quarterback

Boston College, 1981-84

Heisman Trophy winner in 1984. ... First player to pass for more than 10,000 career yards. ... Led Eagles to three straight bowl games, the school’s first bowl games in 40 years. ... Best known for his last-second, game-winning touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan in a 47-45 win over Miami.



Johnnie Johnson

Defensive back

Texas, 1976-79

Two-time All-America and three-time All-Southwest Conference pick. ... Selected as nation’s top defensive back by Downtown Athletic Club in 1978. ... Set school records for most punt return yardage in a game (131), most punt return yardage in a season (538) and most punt return yardage in a career (1,004).



Rex Kern

Quarterback

Ohio State, 1968-70

A leader of Ohio State’s Super Sophomores that led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season and national championship in 1968. ... During his three years as a starter, Ohio State went 27-2, won two Big Ten titles and played in two Rose Bowls.



Ronald McKinnon

Linebacker

North Alabama, 1992-95

Only defensive player to win Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II player of the year. ... Led the nation’ top rated defense in 1995. ... First-team all-conference pick four straight seasons. ... Led Lions to three consecutive conference championships. ... Selected as conference’s player of the quarter century (1971-95).



John Randle

Defensive end

Texas A&I, 1988-89

Member of Associated Press Little All-America first team in 1988 and second team in 1989. ... In 20 regular-season games as a junior and senior, had 34 sacks. ... Led Texas A&I to a 20-4 record, a pair of Lone Star Conference titles and two trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs.



Brad Rowland

Halfback

McMurry, 1947-50

Led Texas Conference in rushing all four years. ... Set 16 school records, including career rushing yards (4,437), single-season rushing yards (1,249) and career total offense (5,200). ... First small-college player to start in the East-West Shrine game in 1951.



































Anthony Thompson

Running back

Indiana, 1986-89

Won Maxwell Award as most outstanding college football player in 1989. ... Lost to Andre Ware in a close Heisman Trophy race that year. ... Broke NCAA single-game rushing record with 377 yards against Wisconsin, which still ranks fifth all-time. ... Rushed for a then-NCAA record 65 touchdowns.



Wilson Whitley Defensive tackle

Houston, 1973-76

Won Lombardi Award in 1976. ... Anchored a defense that led Houston to the Cotton Bowl in 1976, its first year in the Southwest Conference. ... Team’s MVP in 1975 and ’76. ... Despite playing only one year in the SWC, picked as conference defensive player of the decade. ... Died in 1992.



Reggie Williams

Linebacker

Dartmouth, 1973-75

Three-time All-Ivy League selection. ... Went to Dartmouth after Michigan coach Bo Schembechler said he wasn’t good enough to play for Wolverines. ... Still holds Dartmouth’s record in career unassisted tackles (243) and ranks second in total tackles with 370.



Richard Wood

Linebacker

USC, 1972-74

Played on two national championship teams. ... USC’s first three-time All-America. ... Trojans went 31-2-2 during his career. ... Three time All-Pacific 10 Conference first-team selection. ... Led USC in tackles in 1972 and ’73.



Chris Zorich

Nose tackle

Notre Dame, 1988-90

Won Lombardi Award in 1990 and was a finalist for Outland Trophy despite playing last four games with bad knee. ... First-team All-America selection in 1989-90. ... Part of Notre Dame’s best winning streak with 23 straight victories.



Coaches

Herb Deromedi

Central Michigan, 1978-93

Winningest Mid-American Conference coach with career record of 110-55-1. ... Led Chippewas to MAC titles in 1979, 1980 and 1990. ... MAC coach of the year in 1980 and 1990. ... Guided Chippewas to two of the biggest wins in school history: a 20-3 win over No. 18 Michigan State in 1991 and a 24-20 win over the Spartans again the next year.



W.C. Gorden

Jackson State, 1976-91

Winningest coach in Jackson State history with a record of 119-45-5. ... Took Jackson State to the Southwest Athletic Conference championship eight times and to Division I-AA playoffs nine times. ... His teams won SWAC-record 28 straight conference games 1985-89. ... Conference coach of the year six times.



Joe Paterno

Penn State, 1966-Present

Preparing to start 43rd season at Penn State. ... Second among major college coaches in career wins with 372, one victory behind Florida State’s Bobby Bowden. ... Career record is 372-125-3. ... No. 3 in winning percentage among active coaches, trailing Tennessee’s Phil Fulmer (147-45, 76.5) and Bowden (75.6). ... All-time leader among coaches in bowl appearances (34) and postseason victories (23).



Doug Porter

Mississippi Valley State 1961-65, Howard 1974-78, Fort Valley State 1979-85, 1987-96

Career record of 166-107-5. ... At Mississippi State, turned around a program that had not had a winning season in five years. ... Served as Eddie Robinson’s assistant at Grambling State for nine seasons. ... Led Fort Valley State to six Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and two NCAA playoff appearances. ... Seven-time SIAC coach of the year.