April 25, 2000
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame announced the selection of 14 players and two coaches for induction into College Football's ultimate shrine. Each honoree will be officially inducted at The National Football Foundation's 43rd Annual Awards Dinner December 12, 2000, in New York City.
"Heading into the new millennium, the Honors Court selected one of the largest classes ever, which embodies the spirit and tradition of college football," commented Jon F. Hanson, chairman of The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. "With the transition from the 20th to the 21st Century, the Class was expanded to represent the evolution of football from the days of the Single Wing of the 40's and 50's, to the I-Formation of the 60's and 70's, to the passing attacks of the modern day."
2000 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
Players
| Name | School | Position | Years |
| Marcus Allen | USC | RB | 1978-81 |
| Kurt Burris | Oklahoma | C | 1951-54 |
| Dan Dierdorf | Michigan | OT | 1968-70 |
| Bob Dove | Notre Dame | E | 1940-42 |
| John Elway | Stanford | QB | 1979-82 |
| Michael Haynes | Arizona State | DB | 1972-75 |
| Terry Hoage | Georgia | DB | 1980-83 |
| Stan Jones | Maryland | O/DT | 1951-53 |
| Johnny Musso | Alabama | HB | 1969-71 |
| Johnny Rodgers | Nebraska | WB | 1970-72 |
| Joe Schmidt | Pittsburgh | LB/FB | 1950-52 |
| Harley Sewell | Texas | OG/MG | 1950-52 |
| Billy Ray Smith | Arkansas | DE | 1979-82 |
| Eddie Talboom | Wyoming | TB | 1948-50 |
Coaches
| Name | School (Years) | Record | Winning % |
| Terry Donahue | UCLA (1976-95) | 151-74-8 | .665 |
| Forest Evashevski | HAMILTON (1941)
WASHINGTON STATE (1950-51) IOWA (1952-60) | 68-35-6 | .651 |
|
Michael Haynes
A first team All-America defensive back in 1975, Michael Haynes had remarkable success at Arizona State earning three varsity letters and helping lead the Sun Devils to an undefeated season in 1975, three Fiesta Bowls, and an impressive 40-8 record
Under Hall of Fame Coach Frank Kush, Haynes controlled the Sun Devil defensive backfield and was a three-time all-conference selection from 1973-75. As a junior, he led the nation with 11 interceptions in 12 games and also was an exceptional kick returner, fielding a school record 46 punts in 1974 and scoring twice off punt returns in 1975. After his senior year, he played in the 1975 East-West Shrine Game, Hula Bowl, and Japan Bowl, where he was named the Outstanding Defensive Player. At the end of a dominating career at Arizona State, he held the school record for career interceptions with 17 and was later inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame.
Haynes enjoyed great success at the professional level playing with the Patriots and Raiders from 1976-89. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls and voted to the NFL's 75th All-Anniversary Team. He is a member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame and currently runs the Mike Haynes Golf Classic, in which proceeds benefit minority college students. He resides in Del Mar, California.
Marcus Allen
One of the most prolific running backs in college football history, Marcus Allen capped off a superb career by winning the 1981 Heisman Trophy. His coach, John Robinson, called Allen "the greatest player I've ever seen." He was a unanimous All-America selection in 1981, the year he became the first in college football history to surpass the 2,000-yard season rushing plateau, rushing for 2,342 yards.
Allen began his career at fullback blocking for Heisman Trophy winner Charles White. After switching to tailback in 1980, he led the Trojans in receiving in both his junior and senior seasons earning all-conference honors both years. He was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1981 when he set or tied 16 NCAA records and led the nation in rushing with 219.9 yards per game, all-purpose running with 232.6 yards per game, and scoring with 12.5 points per game. In addition to his many accolades and 4,810 career rushing yards, he won the Walter Camp and Pop Warner Awards in 1981.
Southern California retired his #33 jersey and inducted him into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a first round draft choice of the Raiders where he played from 1982-92 and then with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1993-97. He was named Super Bowl XVII MVP and appeared in six Pro Bowls. He concluded his career as the NFL's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns with 123. He is currently a television broadcaster for CBS and lives in California.
Kurt Burris
Known for his outstanding blocking and bone crushing tackling, Kurt Burris finished an astounding second with 838 votes in the 1954 Heisman Trophy balloting. This feat was unimaginable for a lineman in the early years of the Heisman. His superior play that year earned Burris consensus All-America selection.
Burris was a two-time All-Big Seven selection, garnering the honors in 1953 and 1954. His presence on the offensive line and as a linebacker on a stellar defense played a big part in the Sooners' undefeated season in 1954. That year, Oklahoma finished seventh in the nation in total offense and fifth in total defense, largely due to the fact of Burris' play. He was named Player of the Year by the Helms and Citizen Savings Athletic Foundations, and after his senior season, the Philadelphia Sports Writers named Burris Lineman of the Year. He also played in the North-South Shrine game being named the co-captain of the South squad.
After college Burris was the fourth player taken in the 1955 draft by the Cleveland Browns. He later went into the oil and gas industry and is presently the president of Cardinal Drilling Company. He resides in Billings, Montana.
Dan Dierdorf
One of the finest tackles ever to play for Michigan and Hall of Fame Coach Bo Schembechler, Dan Dierdorf combined strength and speed to become a key blocker as the Wolverines set a series of rushing records. In his stellar senior season, Dierdorf earned consensus All-America honors and captured all-conference recognition for the second consecutive year.
As a sophomore in 1968, he was named second team All-Big Ten finishing third on the offense in minutes played with 226. In 1969 he helped lead Michigan to the Big Ten Championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl. That year he led the team in minutes played with 299:54, while also being named honorable mention All-America by the Associated Press and United Press International. At the conclusion of his career, Dierdorf was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game, Chicago All-Star Game, and the Hula Bowl.
Dierdorf was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 43rd pick in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft and went on to become one of the most successful offensive linemen in NFL history. He was named All-Pro five times and was honored as the NFL's Outstanding Lineman three straight years 1976-78. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
He is currently a television broadcaster residing in St. Louis, Missouri.
Bob Dove
A consensus All-America selection in both 1941 and 1942, Bob Dove becomes the first player chosen for induction by the Honors Review Committee, which reviews players who played more than 50 years ago.
A standout on Hall of Fame coach Frank Leahy's first two teams at Notre Dame, Dove was a three-year starter for the Irish and the first sophomore to start at Notre Dame in 11 years. He was the Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy recipient in 1942 as the nation's most outstanding college lineman and following his senior season of 1942, Dove was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game. His spectacular play over three years earned him a spot as a second team selection on Street & Smith's All-Time Dream Team for the first 50 years of the publication from 1941-90.
After graduation, Dove was drafted in the third round by the Washington Redskins, but was summoned into military service where he served for three years. After Marine Corps duty and three years of playing on service teams, he saw action on several professional teams for the next nine years. He enjoyed the distinction of playing in the first Pro Bowl Game in 1951.
After his playing career, Dove entered the coaching ranks as an assistant coach for the University of Detroit. He later coached for the Detroit Lions, the Buffalo Bills, and Youngstown State University, a position he held from 1969-86. He is currently retired and residing in Canfield, Ohio.
John Elway
In four years of calling signals at Stanford, John Elway completed 774 passes for 9,349 yards and 77 touchdowns. These prodigious numbers marked Elway as one of the most successful quarterbacks in college football history.
He was a first team All-Pacific-10 selection in 1980 and 1982, earning conference player of the year honors as well both times. Leading the Cardinal offense as a senior in 1982, he was a unanimous All-America selection, as he rewrote the Stanford and Pac-10 career record book and captured a slew of awards including the Pop Warner Award as the top senior on the West Coast. He set Stanford records for touchdown passes in a season with 27, in a game with 6 and in a career with 77. His impressive season earned him selection to play in the 1983 East-West Shrine Game and placed him second to Herschel Walker in the Heisman Trophy voting.
A true-athlete, Elway also excelled in baseball playing two seasons at Stanford before signing with the New York Yankees. After college, he was the number one pick of the Baltimore Colts in the 1983 NFL Draft. He went on to play for the Denver Broncos from 1983-98 leading them to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships. He is currently retired and residing in Englewood, Colorado.
Terry Hoage
A two-time consensus All-America selection, Terry Hoage had a natural instinct that made him one of the best defensive backs of all-time. His ability to get to the quarterback, break up passes and intercept the ball, led Georgia to four major bowl games and an impressive 43-4-1 record over his career.
His first Bulldog team won the 1980 national championship, and in 1982 and 1983, he was named All-Southeastern Conference. In 1982 he led the nation with 12 interceptions and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He finished fifth in the 1983 Heisman Trophy voting and was named to the 25-year All-SEC Team (1961-85). His career totals show 223 total tackles, 10 sacks, and 14 interceptions.
Hoage was just as successful in the classroom as he was on the playing field. He was a two-time Academic All-America selection, a three-time academic all-conference selection, an NCAA postgraduate scholarship winner, and capped off his accolades being named a prestigious National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete.
He had a successful 13-year professional career in the NFL playing for the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Houston Oilers, and Arizona Cardinals. He is currently living in Paradise Alley, Arizona.
Stan Jones
A two-way player and throwback to the game, Stan Jones was one of the toughest football players ever to wear a Maryland jersey. He was an honorable mention All-America selection in 1952 as an offensive tackle and was unanimous All-America playing on both sides of the ball in 1953.
Jones came to Maryland as an offensive tackle, a position he would play primarily until his senior season. In 1952 he was an All-Southern Conference selection. In his senior season of 1953, it was decided to play Jones on both offense and defense, a move that helped him earn all-conference honors, while playing on an Atlantic Coast Conference championship team. The University of Maryland football coaches honored him his senior year by awarding him the Anthony C. Nardo Memorial Trophy as the team's best lineman. He was elected to the State of Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and named to the 1977 Atlantic Coast Conference 25-year All-Star team.
After his collegiate career, the Chicago Bears drafted Jones in the fifth round where he played from 1954-65 before moving to the Washington Redskins in 1966. He was an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills from 1967-77 and after his professional career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is currently retired and living in Colorado.
Johnny Musso
In the classroom and on the football field, Johnny Musso was an All-American. He was named first team All-America as a junior and consensus All-America as a senior. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1971 and was named Player of the Year by Football News, the Touchdown Club of Atlanta, and the Miami Touchdown Club.
Nobody could touch Musso in the Southeastern Conference as he twice led the conference in rushing, gaining 1,137 yards in 1970 and 1,088 yards in 1971. He was an all-conference selection in 1970 and 1971 and led the conference in scoring in 1971 with 100 points. He was awarded the American Football Coaches Association Ernie Davis Award in 1972. Musso currently ranks second in Alabama school history with 34 career rushing touchdowns and third with 2,741 yards rushing. He held the touchdown mark for 27 years before Shaun Alexander broke it last season. He is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Academically, Musso was named all-conference three times and All-America twice and, after his senior season, he was honored as a National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete. He went on to play professional football in Canada and later with the Chicago Bears. Currently the owner and president of Schreiner-Musso Trading Company, Musso resides in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Johnny Rodgers
Known for his electrifying punt returns and ability to catch the ball and score, Johnny Rodgers captured the Heisman Trophy in 1972, consensus All-America honors in 1971, and unanimous All-America recognition in 1972.
Undoubtedly, Rodgers' his talent and ability to perform are responsible for the Cornhuskers' great success. During his career, he led his teams to national championships in 1970 and 1971, three Big Eight championships from 1970-72, and a stunning 32-2-2 record. Rodgers earned all-conference selection three times and in 1972 he was named the ABC Offensive Player of the Year. Rodgers is still Nebraska's all-time leading pass receiver with 143 catches for 2,479 yards and is tied for third in career points with 270 on 45 touchdowns. He capped a great senior season with an unbelievable Orange Bowl performance against Notre Dame, in which NU won 40-6 and Rodgers scored four touchdowns and threw for a fifth. He set a national record for yards per touch of the football with 13.8 and his career totals show 5,487 yards while rushing, receiving, and kick returning.
After his collegiate career, he played for Montreal in the Canadian Football League from 1973-76 and with the NFL's San Diego Chargers from 1977-78. He is currently involved in public relations, works with many charitable organizations, and resides in Omaha, Nebraska.
Joe Schmidt
Joe Schmidt starred for the Pittsburgh Panthers from 1950-52, and played for four different head coaches. After starting his career as a fullback and guard, Schmidt moved to linebacker where he earned All-America honors in 1952 and established himself as a prototype for years to come.
At Pittsburgh, he displayed the skills of anticipation, split second defensive instincts and deadly tackling that made him a force on the football field. Schmidt, who was named team captain in 1952, often played hurt, going through many rib, knee, and shoulder injuries. At he end of his senior season he played in the 1952 North-South Game and the 1953 College All-Star Game and Senior Bowl. More recently the University of Pittsburgh retired his jersey #65 and named him to the Panther All-Time Team.
After college, Schmidt went on to the NFL, where he enjoyed a brilliant 13-year career as a member of the Detroit Lions, who won two NFL championships during that period. He was named All-Pro eight times and was the first Pittsburgh player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He later went on to be head coach of the Lions from 1967-72. He currently is living in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Harley Sewell
Considered one of the best linemen in Texas football history, Harley Sewell was a tough nosed competitor who garnered first team All-America recognition in 1952, after leading the Longhorns to a 9-2 season.
He was a first team All-Southwest Conference selection in 1951 and 1952 and helped propel the Longhorns to two SWC championships in 1950 and 1952. He starred in the 1953 Cotton Bowl, leading the hard-charging Texas defense that limited the Tennessee Volunteers to six first downs and an amazing total of minus 14 yards rushing. His dominating performance in the game earned him Defensive Most Valuable Player honors. After the Cotton Bowl, Sewell went on to play in the 1953 Hula Bowl and now is a member of the Texas Hall of Honor.
The Detroit Lions drafted Sewell in 1953 with the 13th pick overall. He went on to play from for the Lions 1953-62 and then for the Los Angeles Rams in 1963. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and earned championship rings in 1953 and 1957. He is currently a college scout for the St. Louis Rams and resides in Arlington, Texas.
Billy Ray Smith
A two-time unanimous All-America selection, Billy Ray Smith dominated the Southwest Conference and made his mark as one of Arkansas' most formidable defensive linemen.
In 1980 Smith led a stingy Arkansas defense to a win in the Hall of Fame Bowl. For his outstanding play, Smith was honored with Defensive Player of the Game honors. He was a two-time all-conference selection, earning the honors in 1981 and 1982. In 1982 he served as team captain, leading Arkansas to a 9-2-1 record and a victory over Florida in the Bluebonnet Bowl. He finished his career with 299 total tackles and still holds the Arkansas record for career tackles for loss with 63. He was a member of the Arkansas All-Decade Team and in 1993 he was voted onto the Arkansas All-Century Team. Later, he was inducted into both the Arkansas State Hall of Fame and the Razorback Hall of Honor.
Subsequent to his collegiate career, Smith was a first round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers. A ten-year career ensued with the Chargers before becoming the sports director of KGTV in San Diego, a position he currently holds while residing in the San Diego Area.
Eddie Talboom
In 1950 Eddie Talboom was named the University of Wyoming's first All-America selection and now will become the school's first player inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. A prolific scorer, Talboom still ranks fifth on the NCAA all-time career points per game list with a 10.2 average.
Talboom was a three-time first team all-conference selection and led the Skyline Conference in scoring three consecutive years. In 1949 he scored 29 points in a game against Colorado State and in 1950 he broke the Wyoming school record with 130 points. Talboom guided Wyoming to an undefeated 10-0 season including a win over Washington & Lee in the 1951 Gator Bowl where he was named the game's Most Valuable Player. A versatile player, he completed 57 of 100 passes for 920 yards and eight touchdowns out of the single wing offense and also handled the punting and placekicking duties. In his career, Talboom scored 34 touchdowns and converted on 99 extra point attempts in 28 games. He was selected to play in the 1951 Senior Bowl and in 1994 was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame.
Talboom, a native of South Bend, Indiana, and World War II veteran, became a coach and educator after college. He passed away in Florida, in May of 1999.
Coach Terry Donahue
The winningest coach in Pac-10 and UCLA history, Terry Donahue firmly established himself as one of the top coaches in the game, leading his alma mater to 13 post-season bowl games including four Rose Bowls and five Pacific-10 Conference championships.
In 20 seasons under Donahue, the Bruins finished in the Top 20 twelve times, five of which were in the Top 10. Named Conference Coach of the Year twice, he currently holds the record for career conference wins with 98, and his 151 wins are the most in UCLA history. At one point in his career, Donahue led UCLA to eight consecutive bowl games, winning them all. He coached 34 first team All-Americans and over 100 of his players were selected in the NFL Draft. Donahue made six appearances in the Rose Bowl, one as a player, one as an assistant coach, and added an impressive 3-1 record as a head coach. In 1997 he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
After the announcement of his retirement, Donahue joined CBS television as a color analyst and is currently the director of player personnel for the San Francisco 49ers.
Forest Evashevski
Forest Evashevski retired from the coaching ranks at the young age of 42, after building the University of Iowa football program into one of college football's powerhouses.
Evashevski began his coaching career at Hamilton College in 1941 where he remained for one season, posting a 5-2-0 record. He left coaching to serve in the Navy from 1942 to 1945 and then returned to coaching at Washington State in 1950 where he staked a mark of 11-6-2. In 1952 he took on the challenge of rebuilding a sagging Iowa program and developed teams that won two Big Ten titles outright, tied for another, and won two Rose Bowls. The Hawkeyes finished in the nation's top ten five of his nine years at Iowa and were 37-8-2 in his last four seasons. Under Evashevski's leadership, the Iowa football program was transformed to one of the most explosive and exciting teams in college football history. At the time of his retirement, Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes called him "the best offensive coach in the nation."
After his coaching career, Evashevski stayed at Iowa where he served as the school's athletic director until 1970. He is currently retired and residing in Petoskey, Michigan.