Ron McDole’s professional football career got off to a slow start as the former Nebraska Cornhusker did not accomplish much in 1961 as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals.  1962 was worse, as he migrated to the Houston Oilers of the American Football League and played even less.

After weeks of staggered announcements, the University of Nebraska’s Athletic Hall of Fame has finished unveiling the six names who will comprise their Class of 2000.

The Class comprises:

Amanda Burgoyne, Bowling:  Burgoyne helped Nebraska win the National Title in 2004 and 2005, and in the latter championship, she was named the Most Outstanding Player. 

Eric Crouch, Football:  This is a special year for the former Cornhuskers Quarterback, as this year he was also named to the College Football Hall of Fame.  In 2001, Crouch won the Davey O’Brien Award, Walter Camp Award, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and the Heisman.  Over his four years at Nebraska, he threw for 4,481 Yards, 29 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,434 Yards and 59 TDs.  Crouch had a 55-9 record as a starting Quarterback.

Sam Francis, Football and Men’s Track:  In 1936, Francis was a Consensus First Team All-American and was the runner-up for the Heisman.  Francis would enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 1977.  In terms of Track, he won the NCAA Shotput Title in ’37, and he finished fourth in that discipline in the 1936 Olympics.  

Maurtice Ivy, Women’s Basketball:  Ivy was the 1988 Big Eight Player of the Year, and she was the first player to score 2,000 Points in school history.  She would bring the Huskers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Jordan Larson, Women’s Volleyball:  Larson’s tenure at Nebraska saw the team go 127-8 winning four Big 12 Conference Titles. The Cornhuskers would to go three Semi-Finals, and was the runner-up in 2005, winning the title in 2006.  Larson was a three-time All0American, and was the 2008 Big 12 Player of the Year.

Terry Pettit, Coach:  Pettit led the Cornhuskers to 21 Conference Titles, six NCAA Semi-Finals, and a National Championship in 1995.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the impending members of the Nebraska Athletics Hall of Fame. a

Out of the University of Nebraska, Glenn Presnell first played for the semi-pro Ironton Yanks in 1929.  The Yanks were not part of the NFL but would have games against NFL teams where they would sometimes emerge as the victor.  Presnell would sing with the NFL's Portsmouth Spartans, where he would be a bona fide triple threat in terms of passing, running and kicking and would be an All-Pro in 1933.  Presnell would then join the Detroit Lions and was a key member of their 1935 Championship Team. 

Charley Brock played all of his nine of his NFL seasons (1939-47) with the Green Bay Packers after having a phenomenal career at the University of Nebraska.  Brock was usually at Center but was also used as a Halfback and Fullback, and on the defensive side of the ball, he had 20 Interceptions.  Brock helped Green Bay win the 1939 and 1944 NFL Championship and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.

Pat Fischer was not a tall man, standing at only 5' 9", which was likely why the multi-talented star at Nebraska fell to the 17^th Round.  It was the St. Louis Cardinals who chose him, and after initially using him as a Returner, he would force his way to become a starting Cornerback and would be named to the Pro Bowl in 1964 and 1965.  The certified ballhawk would later sign with the Washington Redskins and brought a veteran presence to their secondary and was a large part of their appearance in their Super Bowl VII appearance.  Fischer would play until 1977 and would accumulate 56 Interceptions.

One of the early stars of the Green Bay Packers, Verne Lewellen, was an all-purpose Back who did it all for Green Bay.  The product of Nebraska (the state and the University) would be named to four straight First Team All-Pro squads (1926 to 1929) and was a large part of their three consecutive NFL Championships (1929 to 1931). 

The University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame has announced their seven member class for their Class of 2018 which will consist of five former student athletes and two very well known coaches.

The class consists of:

Darin Erstad: Baseball 1993-95 & Football 1994. The future two-time MLB All-Star would be a Finalist for the Golden Spikes Award in his senior year where he batted .410 and would become the first Cornhusker to be named the Conference Player of the Year. Erstad would also notably be the Punter on the 1994 Championship Football Team.

Peaches James: Softball 2001-04. James was the first four time first team All-Conference selection and was also a former finalist for the National Player of the Year.

Sarah Pavan: Volleyball 2004-07. From Canada, Pavan is a two time National Academic All-American of the Year, to date the only one to accomplish such a feat.

Mike Rozier: Football 1981-83. The two time Pro Bowl Running Back would win the coveted Heisman Trophy in 1983. The Cornhuskers would lose by one point in the 1984 Orange Bowl in the defacto Championship Game.

Tom Schlesinger: Gymnastics 1985-88. Schlesinger would become the first Nebraska gymnast to be an Academic All-American. He would also become an Olympian.

Bob Devaney: Head Football Coach 1962-72 & Athletic Director 1967-92. Devaney was the Head Coach for the Huskers from 1962 to 1972 and he would win the National Championship back-to-back in 1970 and 1971. He would also win eight Big Eight Titles. He served as the AD from 1967 to 1992.

Tom Osborne: Head Football Coach 1973-97 & Athletic Director 2007-13.   Osborne was an Assistant Coach for Nebraska from 1964 to 1968 and would later be the Offensive Coordinator from 1969 to 1972. He would than be hired by Devaney to replace him as the new Head Coach and he would take the Cornhuskers to three National Championships (1994, 1995 & 1997). Like Devaney he would become the Athletic Director in 2007 after being the Assistant AD for over a decade.

Devaney and Osborne become the first coaches to enter the Hall.

This group becomes the fourth class to the Hall.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame.

The University of Nebraska Football Hall of Fame has announced four former players to their institution.

The new class consists of:

Donnie McGhee: Playing on the Offensive Line from 1968 to 1970, McGhee was a one time First Team Big Eight Selection.

Randy Theiss:  Another Offensive Lineman, Theiss played for the Sooners from 1980 to 1982.  He would be named a Third Team All-American in ’82 and was also named a First Team Big Eight Selection that year.

Chad Kelsay:  A member of two National Championship Teams (1995 & 1997), Kelsay was a powerful Defensive End who was a one time Second Team Big Twelve Selection.

Zac Taylor:  A Quarterback for Nebraska in 2005 & 2006, Taylor was named a First Team Big 12 Selection in his final year as a Cornhusker.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the latest Hall of Fame Class from the University of Nebraska football team.

It is difficult to understand why Roger Craig had to wait for ten years to be nominated for the Football Hall of Fame, given his strong credentials. Craig was an essential player in every offensive play during his prime. Although he began his career as a fullback, it soon became apparent that he was equally skilled at carrying the ball and blocking for others. In 1986, he made history by becoming the first football player to both rush and catch for 1,000 yards each. Opposing defences were intimidated by his high-knee running style and had to keep a close eye on him during every play.

Craig played a significant role in three Super Bowl Championship teams. Despite his innovative style, he is often overlooked due to the fact that he played alongside some of the most high-prolific offensive stars in football. Critics have suggested that he was merely a beneficiary of the great performances of his teammates, such as Montana and Rice. Nevertheless, Roger Craig was a valuable weapon for the 49ers' offence, and although there may be some debate around his place in the Hall of Fame, he undoubtedly deserved more consideration than he received, although the 2020 Blue Ribbon Finalist spot is a promising sign.

Very few players could be viewed as the total athletic package. Neil Smith may have been one of those rare exceptions as scouts felt with his skills there was little he couldn’t do on the football field.  Those scouts would be right.

Neil Smith was a multi-faceted Defensive End who was equally adept at stuffing the run as defending against the pass.  His true gift may have been sacking the Quarterback as he led the NFL in that category in 1993.  Smith was a six-time Pro Bowler and though his skills were slightly diminished in the second half of his career, he was able to aid the Denver Broncos in their two consecutive Super Bowl wins in the late 90’s.

As the first overall pick in 1984, many expected Irving Fryar to be great right away.  He wasn’t, but his career showcased a slow climb to being one of the elite receivers in football, and a lot of times hearing his number called by broadcasters on Sunday afternoons.