The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced its seven newest members today. The Class of 2014 includes six players and one coach. The inductees were selected from a list of 25 finalists who had been determined earlier by the Black College Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee is comprised of black college football sports writers, analysts and commentators Roscoe Nance (Chairman), Donald Hunt, Ty Miller, Charlie Neal and Lloyd Vance; former NFL General Managers Ernie Accorsi and Gil Brandt; long-time NFL scouts Charles Bailey and Charles Garcia; director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture Lonnie Bunch; and historian Michael Hurd.
The Class of 2014 includes player inductees Robert Brazile (Jackson State University), Leroy Kelly (Morgan State University), John Stallworth (Alabama A&M University), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern University), Willie Totten (Mississippi Valley State University), Doug Wilkerson (North Carolina Central University), and coach inductee Marino Casem (Alcorn State University).
These men will be honored at the Fifth Annual Enshrinement Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons on March 1, 2014. The event will take place at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta in conjunction with Black College Football weekend.
"The history of Black College Football is compelling and must be shared," said Atlanta Falcons Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank. "We are proud to support the Black College Football Hall of Fame, and we congratulate the Class of 2014."
ROBERT BRAZILE (PLAYER)
Linebacker … Jackson State University (1971-1974) … Inducted into SWAC Hall of Fame (1995) … Inducted into Jackson State Hall of Fame (2003) … Houston Oilers (1975-1984) … 10 seasons … Selected by Oilers in 1st round 6th player overall (1975 NFL Draft) … 1975 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year … Elected to seven Pro Bowls … Named All-Pro six times … Named to 1970s NFL All-Decade Team … Retired with 1,281 tackles which ranks 2nd All-Time in Oilers/Titans record book … Born February 7, 1953 in Mobile, AL.
LEROY KELLY (PLAYER)
Running Back … Morgan State University (1960-1963) … MSU Bears won the 1962 CIAA Championship with Kelly leading team in rushing, scoring and punting … Cleveland Browns (1964-1973) … 10 seasons … Selected by Browns in 8th round, 110th player overall (1964 NFL Draft) … 1964 NFL Champion with Browns … NFL Rushing Champ in 1967 and 1968 … Led NFL in touchdowns from 1966-1968 … Elected to six Pro Bowls … Named All-Pro five times … Named to 1960s NFL All-Decade Team … Won Burt Bell Award (1968) … Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame (1994) … Born May 20, 1942 in Philadelphia, PA.
JOHN STALLWORTH (PLAYER)
Wide Receiver … Alabama A&M University (1970-1973) … Two-time All-SIAC performer (1972-1973) … Pittsburgh Steelers (1974-1987) … 14 seasons … Selected by Steelers in 4th round, 82nd player overall (1974 NFL Draft) … Played in six AFC Championships and won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII and XIV) … Elected to three Pro Bowls and was twice the Steelers MVP … Scored a touchdown in eight straight playoff games (NFL record) … NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1984) … Named to Steelers All-Time Team and 50th Season All-Time Team … Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame (2002) … Born July 15, 1952 in Tuscaloosa, AL.
MICHAEL STRAHAN (PLAYER)
Defensive End … Texas Southern University (1989-1992) … Two time 1st Team All-SWAC and SWAC Defensive Player of the Year … Black College Defensive Player of the Year (1992) … Holds TSU Record with 41.5 career sacks … New York Giants (1993-2007) … 15 seasons … Selected by Giants in 2nd round, 40th pick overall (1993 NFL Draft) … Elected to seven Pro Bowls … Named All-Pro six times … NFL record for sacks in a season (22.5) … NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001) … Super Bowl XLII Champion … Named to 2000s NFL All-Decade Team … Retired with 141.5 career sacks … Named to Giants Ring of Honor … Born November 21, 1971 in Houston, TX.
WILLIE "Satellite" TOTTEN (PLAYER)
Quarterback … Mississippi Valley State University (1982-1985) … First Team All-American in 1984 … Set more than 50 Division I-AA passing records … Team averaged 59 points per game … Threw for a record 58 touchdowns in one year … Division I-AA's all-time leader and ranks second in career passing yards (12,711) and single-season passing yards (4,557 in 1984) … Twice led the nation in passing efficiency … Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame (2005) … Buffalo Bills (1987) … One season … Played a season in CFL (Toronto Argonauts), and three seasons in Arena Football League (1988-1989, 1991) … Born July 4, 1962 in Leflore County, MS.
DOUG WILKERSON (PLAYER)
Guard … North Carolina Central University (1966-1969) … Three time All-CIAA honoree … Kodak All-American (1969) … #63 retired by North Carolina Central University (1970) … Inducted into North Carolina Central University Hall of Fame (1984) … One of fastest lineman to play the game (9.8sec 100yd dash) … Houston Oilers (1970), San Diego Chargers (1971-1984) … Selected by Oilers in 1st round, 14th pick overall (1970 NFL Draft) … Elected to three Pro Bowls (1981-1983) … Inducted into San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame (2000) … Named to Chargers 40th and 50th Anniversary Teams … Born March 27, 1947 in Fayetteville, NC.
MARINO "The Godfather" CASEM (COACH)
Coach … Alabama State University (1963-1964), Alcorn State University (1964-1985), Southern University (1987, 1988, 1992) … Won seven SWAC Championships at Alcorn State. Four time Black College National Champion (1968, 1969, 1974, 1984) … 1984 team finished as Number One team in all of Division I-AA football, the first ever for a HBCU … Resigned from Alcorn to become Athletic Director at Southern … Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (2003) … Career coaching record is 159 wins, against 93 losses with 8 ties … Born June 23, 1934 in Memphis, TN.
