Black College Football Hall of Fame
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Established | 2009 in Atlanta |
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Location | Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio |
Type | Hall of fame |
Founder | James "Shack" Harris & Doug Williams |
Website | www |
The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF)[1] is an American hall of fame for college football players, coaches and contributors from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). It was founded in 2009 in Atlanta, centrally located to many of the country's black universities.[2] Its museum is located within the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.[3] Players are eligible for induction if they played at least two seasons at an HBCU and finished their college career at an HBCU. They can be nominated five years after their last college season. Any current or former head coach of an HBCU is eligible. Anyone can be nominated as a contributor.[4]
History[]
The BCFHOF was co-founded by James Harris and Doug Williams, former quarterbacks who both played football at the historically black university Grambling State University before playing professionally.[5][6][7] As a rookie with the Buffalo Bills in 1969, Harris become the first black quarterback to be the starter in a season opener in either the American Football League or the National Football League (NFL). Williams was the first black quarterback to play in a Super Bowl, starting for the Washington Redskins and winning Super Bowl XXII while being named the Super Bowl MVP.[6]
At its inception in 2009, the BCFHOF did not have a building.[2] Its induction ceremonies and educational programs were held at various hotels in Atlanta.[8] In 2016, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that it was providing a permanent home for the BCFHOF.[9] The exhibit officially opened in 2019, held on the same weekend as the inaugural Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.[1][8][10] The BCFHOF continues to run independently with its board of directors and choosing its inductees.[11]
In 2021, the BCFHOF partnered with the NFL, Pro Football Hall of Fame and Tulane University to establish the HBCU Legacy Bowl, a postseason all-star game for NFL Draft-eligible players from HBCUs.[12][13]
Name | Role | Year |
---|---|---|
Cleveland Abbott | Coach | 2012 |
Coy Bacon | Player | 2021* |
Willard Bailey | Coach | 2021* |
Earl Banks | Coach | 2011 |
Lem Barney | Player | 2011 |
Elvin Bethea | Player | 2013 |
Mel Blount | Player | 2011 |
Emerson Boozer | Player | 2019 |
Charlie Brackins | Player | 2013 |
Robert Brazile | Player | 2014 |
Roger Brown | Player | 2015 |
Rosey Brown | Player | 2011 |
Willie Brown | Player | 2012 |
Buck Buchanan | Player | 2010 |
Ken Burrough | Player | 2016 |
Harold Carmichael | Player | 2018 |
Harry Carson | Player | 2012 |
Marino Casem | Player | 2014 |
Raymond Chester | Player | 2018 |
Greg Coleman | Player | 2021* |
Willie Davis | Player | 2011 |
Richard Dent | Player | 2015 |
Eldridge Dickey | Player | 2012 |
Parnell Dickinson | Player | 2017 |
Hugh Douglas | Player | 2019 |
Jake Gaither | Coach | 2010 |
Willie Galimore | Player | 2010 |
Jimmie Giles | Player | 2021* |
Joe Gilliam | Player | 2013 |
W. C. Gorden | Coach | 2015 |
Contributor[a] | 2012 | |
L. C. Greenwood | Player | 2015 |
James "Shack" Harris | Player | 2012 |
Player[b] | 2020 | |
Bill Hayes | Coach | 2018 |
Bob Hayes | Coach | 2011 |
Thomas Henderson | Player | 2018 |
Winston Hill | Player | 2021* |
Ken Houston | Player | 2013 |
Claude Humphrey | Player | 2012 |
James Hunter | Player | 2020 |
Harold Jackson | Player | 2017 |
Rich Jackson | Player | 2019 |
Willie Jeffries | Coach | 2011 |
Billy Joe | Coach | 2017 |
Gary "Big Hands" Johnson | Player | 2017 |
Charlie Joiner | Player | 2013 |
Deacon Jones | Player | 2010 |
Ed "Too Tall" Jones | Player | 2013 |
Leroy Kelly | Player | 2014 |
Joe Kendall | Player | 2011 |
Ernie Ladd | Player | 2015 |
Willie Lanier | Player | 2010 |
Frank Lewis | Player | 2019 |
Leo Lewis | Player | 2018 |
Larry Little | Player | 2013 |
Greg Lloyd | Player | 2018 |
Robert Mathis | Player | 2020 |
Steve McNair | Player | 2012 |
John Merritt | Coach | 2013 |
Ace Mumford | Coach | 2019 |
Contributor[c] | 2013 | |
Timmy Newsome | Player | 2019 |
Contributor[d] | 2011 | |
Bill Nunn | Contributor | 2010 |
Walter Payton | Player | 2010 |
Robert Porcher | Player | 2017 |
Jethro Pugh | Player | 2016 |
Jerry Rice | Player | 2010 |
Willie Richardson | Player | 2012 |
Ken Riley | Player | 2015 |
Isiah Robertson | Player | 2017 |
Eddie Robinson | Coach | 2010 |
Johnny Sample | Player | 2012 |
Shannon Sharpe | Player | 2013 |
Art Shell | Player | 2011 |
Donnie Shell | Player | 2015 |
Jackie Slater | Player | 2013 |
John Stallworth | Player | 2014 |
Ben Stevenson | Player | 2010 |
Michael Strahan | Player | 2014 |
Joe Taylor | Coach | 2020 |
John Taylor | Player | 2019 |
Otis Taylor | Player | 2016 |
Contributor[e] | 2020 | |
Emmitt Thomas | Player | 2016 |
Willie Totten | Player | 2014 |
Everson Walls | Player | 2018 |
Lloyd C. A. Wells | Contributor | 2016 |
Doug Wilkerson | Player | 2014 |
Aeneas Williams | Player | 2016 |
Doug Williams | Player | 2011 |
Erik Williams | Player | 2020 |
Rayfield Wright | Player | 2012 |
Roynell Young | Player | 2021* |
Paul "Tank" Younger | Player | 2010 |
* Induction scheduled for June 19, 2021[15]
See also[]
Notes[]
- ^ Director of personnel and scout for the Philadelphia Eagles
- ^ Quarterback at North Carolina Central University (1985–1988)
- ^ Broadcaster and commentator for Black college football
- ^ Sports information director at Grambling State University
- ^ Commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; athletic director at Hampton University
References[]
- ^ a b "Black College Football Hall of Fame". ProFootballHOF.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Stafford, Leon (August 11, 2012). "Black football hall to honor unsung stars". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Tomasson, Chris (November 20, 2020). "Ex-Vikings punter and 'pioneer' Greg Coleman humbled by selection to Black College Football Hall of Fame". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "Selection Crieria". BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Balint, Ed (August 29, 2019). "Football pioneer honors history of black colleges". CantonRep.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ a b Brady, Erik (August 28, 2019). "The QB and the ball boy: A Hall of Fame friendship forged with the Bills". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020.
- ^ Clay, Gregory (May 27, 2016). "Black College Football Hall of Fame gets permanent home". The Undefeated. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ a b Strickland, Ray (September 1, 2019). "Pro Football Hall of Fame unveils exhibit honoring historically black college & university legends". WKYC.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "Black College Football Hall to find home in Canton, Ohio". Pittsburg Courier. May 20, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Bona, Marc (August 31, 2019). "Why is the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic important?". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ Doerschuk, Steve (May 12, 2016). "Black College Football Hall of Fame moving to Canton, Hall of Fame Village". The Columbus Dispatch.
- ^ "HBCU Legacy Bowl debuts in Louisiana next year". WBRZ.com. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ "Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces Establishment of the HBCU Legacy Bowl" (Press release). Black College Football Hall of Fame. March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ "All Inductees". BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
- ^ "Black College Football Hall of Fame announces six inductees for 2021 class". NFL.com. November 19, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
External links[]
- African Americans and sport
- American football museums and halls of fame
- College football awards
- College sports halls of fame in the United States
- Sports and historically black universities and colleges in the United States
- Sports organizations established in 2009