University of Tennessee Athletics
White Enshrined in College Football Hall of Fame
August 12, 2003 | Football
Aug. 10, 2003
 |
VOLS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL |
Gene
McEver (inducted 1954) |
It is indicative of Reggie White's impact that one of his fellow enshrines at the College Football Hall of Fame, quarterback Brad Calip of East Central Oklahoma State University, had this to say when he was notified of his own enshrinement: "The College Football Hall of Fame is emblematic of people like Reggie White and Dan Marino."
White, who played at Tennessee from 1980-83 and was captain of the 1983 9-3 Citrus Bowl champions, remembered the good days at Tennessee and in his hometown of Chattanooga.
"It was an honor for me to play close to home and run through the `T,'" he said at the Aug. 9 enshrinement banquet in South Bend, Ind. "Larry Marmie rescued my career when I was a senior. My high school coach, Robert Pulliam, taught me what toughness was all about."
"It's an extreme honor for me to be inducted. There are only about 900 players so honored and it reflects the work, dedication and heart all of us have put into the game of football."
In his remarks to the attendees at the South Bend Civic Center, White paid tribute to those who preceded him in the game. "I pay tribute to Marion Motley, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Curt Flood, Bill Russell, John Mackey and Reggie McKenzie, who sacrificed themselves, who went through the things I couldn't. They helped give men like me a chance."
Also enshrined were split end Terry Beasley of Auburn (1969-71), tailback George "Sonny" Franck of Minnesota (1938-40), running back Cosmo Iacavazzi of Princeton (1962-64), wide receiver John Jefferson of Arizona State (1974-77), safety Ronnie Lott of Southern California (1977-80), quarterback Dan Marino of Pittsburgh (1979-82), running back Napoleon McCallum of Navy (1983-85), offensive guard Reggie McKenzie of Michigan (1969-71), defensive back Randy Rhino of Georgia Tech (1972-74), offensive tackle Jerry Sisemore of Texas (1970-72), linebacker Gary Spani of Kansas State (1974-77), and tight end Kellen Winslow of Missouri (1976-78). Coaches are Earle Bruce (1972-92 at Tampa, Iowa State, Ohio State, Northern Iowa, and Colorado State) and Carmen Cozza (1965-96 at Yale).
It was McCallum who remembered trying to block Reggie in a long-ago Pro Bowl. "Anthony Munoz and I were double-teaming him and Anthony went to block the linebacker," the former Navy running back said. "Reggie threw me aside like I wasn't there and sacked the quarterback. He could really bring it."
With former head coach and Athletics Director Doug Dickey being inducted this year, Tennessee will have 20 former players and coaches in the College Hall of Fame, two which, Bobby Dodd and Bowden Wyatt, earned the honor as both a player and head coach.
?
