NEW YORK -- Barry Switzer, who coached Oklahoma to
national prominence during a 16-year period from 1973-88, was
among a group of 18 former players and coaches named Thursday to
the College Football Hall of Fame.
Switzer joined Grant Teaff and Bill Yeoman as coaching electees.
Teaff coached at McMurry and Angelo State but achieved his
greatest fame at Baylor from 1972-92. Yeoman coached at Houston
for 25 years (1962-86).
Quarterback Steve Young of Brigham Young (1981-83), wide
receiver Anthony Carter of Michigan (1979-82) and tackle John
Hicks of Ohio State (1970, 1972-73) were the most well-known
players elected.
Young, who enjoyed a standout pro career with the San Francisco
49ers, ranks as one of the greatest collegiate quarterbacks in
history. He set 13 NCAA records during his three years at BYU
and finished his career with a .652 completion percentage and 56
touchdown passes.
Carter holds most of Michigan's all-time pass receiving records.
He holds school records for touchdown receptions (37), career
receptions (161) and receiving yards (3,076). He, too, enjoyed
a successful professional career, most of it with the Minnesota
Vikings.
Hicks made the Ohio State starting lineup at offensive tackle as
a freshman then missed his sophomore year with a knee injury. He
returned to have two more outstanding years and won the Lombardi
Trophy as the nation's most outstanding lineman and the Outland
Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman in his senior
season.
Other players selected include halfback Jon Arnett of Southern
California (1954-56), kicker Kevin Butler of Georgia (1981-84),
end Dick Duden (1943-45) of Navy, defensive tackle Tim Green of
Syracuse (1983-85), quarterback Ralph Guglielmi of Notre Dame
(1951-54) and tight end Keith Jackson of Oklahoma (1984-87).
Also, defensive back Terry Kinard of Clemson (1979-82),
linebacker D.D. Lewis of Mississippi State (1965-67), running
back Donald McCauley of North Carolina (1968-70), tackle John
Outland of Kansas and Pennsylvania (1895, 1897-99), lineman
Glenn Ressler of Penn State (1962-64) and defensive back Brad
Van Pelt of Michigan State (1981-83).
Outland is the most perplexing selection. The Outland Trophy,
given to the nation's most outstanding interior lineman, is
named after him yet the National Football Foundation committee
waited until 54 years after his death to put him in the Hall of
Fame.
Switzer's career at Oklahoma was stormy at times but he built
the program into a national power after succeeding Chuck
Fairbanks as coach in 1973. He is the winningest coach in
Oklahoma history (157-29-4) and his .837 winning percentage
ranks fourth best in NCAA Division I-A history. His teams
posted winning streaks of 28 and 37 games.
In 1994, Switzer was hired as coach of the Dallas Cowboys and
led them to the Super Bowl XXX championship.
Teaff ranks as Baylor's all-time winningest coach (128
victories) and Yeoman holds the same honor at Houston (160
victories).
Copyright 2001 SportsTicker Enterprises, L.P.
Switzer finally gets due recognition from Hall