Rodgers Selected into College Football Hall of Fame

South Bend, Ind. - Former Nebraska wingback and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers headlines a list of 14 inductees (12 players and two coaches) into the College Football Hall of Fame. The class will be honored at a banquet in New York in December and then enshrined at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., next August.

Rodgers won the 1972 Heisman Trophy to cap a career that saw him set schools records for receiving and punt returns that still stand. He played on two national championship teams, in 1970 and 1971, as the Huskers compiled a 32-2-2 record in his three seasons.

"I'd like to thank all my old teammates of mine, wherever they might be," Rodgers said at a press conference at the Hall of Fame on Tuesday. "You don't win a Heisman Trophy by yourself. You don't win a national championship by yourself. And you don't go into the Hall of Fame by what you did yourself.

"I appreciate their accomplishments and help."

Rodgers will become the second player from Nebraska's first two national championship teams to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining Rich Glover, who was inducted in 1995. Rodgers becomes the 12th Nebraska player to join the Hall of Fame, while six Husker coaches are members of the Hall of Fame, including Tom Osborne and Bob Devaney.

Players inducted into the hall must have received major first-team All-America recognition and played their last collegiate game 10 years before selection but no more than 50 years. A player's post-football record is also considered.

Rodgers joins a star-studded class that includes Heisman trophy winner Marcus Allen, two-time NFL Super Bowl champion John Elway and NFL Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf. Elway was the Stanford quarterback who eventually led the Denver Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances and two championships. Allen was one of the most prolific running backs in college football history, capping off his career at Southern California by winning the 1981 Heisman Trophy. He later played in the NFL and was named a Super Bowl MVP. Dierdorf was a Michigan tackle who played for Hall of Fame coach Bo Schembechler. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971 and named the NFL's outstanding lineman from 1976 to 1978. Another inductee, Arkansas defensive end Billie Ray Smith, dominated the Southwest Conference in the early 1980s. Smith still holds the Arkansas record for career tackles for loss with 63. Also inducted was Alabama halfback Johnny Musso, who twice led the Southeastern Conference in rushing and still ranks second in school history with 34 career rushing touchdowns.

Other honorees were: Kurt Burris, a center at Oklahoma from 1951 to 1954; Michael Haynes, a defensive back for Arizona State from 1972 to 1975; Terry Hoage, a defensive back at Georgia from 1980 to 1983; Stan Jones, a tackle for Maryland from 1951 to 1953; Joe Schmidt, a linebacker and fullback at Pittsburgh from 1950 to 1952; Harley Sewell, a guard at Texas from 1950 to 1952; and the late Eddie Talboom, a South Bend native and tailback at Wyoming from 1948 to 1950.

In additon, former UCLA coach Terry Donahue and former Iowa coach Forest Evashevski were also honored. The Hall of Fame's Honor Committee -- which reviews players who played more than 50 years ago -- also voted to induct Bob Dove, a three-year starter for Notre Dame from 1940-42.

Rodgers Bio
Johnny Rodgers, the 1972 Heisman Trophy winner, came to the University of Nebraska from Omaha Tech, and became one of the most exciting players to ever wear the Cornhusker Scarlet and Cream.

Earning All-Big Eight honors as a sophomore slotback and wide receiver, Rodgers blossomed as a national star in 1971 as he helped lead Nebraska to its second successive national championship.

It was Rodgers' sensational 72-yard punt return for the first touchdown that ignited the Huskers' thrilling 35-31 victory over Oklahoma in the Game of the Century in 1971. His 77-yard punt return touchdown against Alabama helped trigger the 38-6 Orange Bowl victory that sewed up Nebraska's second national title.

Capping a tremendous career with a fantastic final game and performance, Rodgers devastated Notre Dame in the 1973 Orange Bowl. In the most sensational finale ever for a Heisman winner, Rodgers moved into the I-back spot and blitzed the Irish with four touchdowns, runs of 8, 4 and 5 yards, and a 50-yard pass from quarterback Dave Humm, and passed for another, a 52-yard strike to Frosty Anderson. His point total set an Orange Bowl record and left little doubt that he was the best football player in the country that season.

The top pass receiver and kick return man in Big Eight history, Rodgers finished his career with 19 school records, seven conference records and four NCAA records. He was named ABC-Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year in 1972 and received a $5,000 scholarship.

Few players in NCAA history have shown the versatility as Rodgers. During his three-year career, during which Nebraska posted a 32-2-2 record, Rodgers gained a then-NCAA-record 5,487 all-purpose yards with a total of 6,059 including bowl games. His 13.8 average was a national record for yards per touch.

Rodgers still ranks as Nebraska's all-time leading pass receiver with 143 catches for 2,479 yards and is tied for third in career points with 270 on 45 touchdowns in his career. He still holds or shares 16 school records and shares two NCAA records.

NCAA Records

• Punt Return Touchdowns, Career- 8
• Kick Return Touchdowns, Career - 9

School Records

• Pass Receptions, Season - 58
• Pass Receptions, Career - 143
• Pass Reception Yards, Season - 1,013
• Pass Reception Yards, Career - 2,779
• Touchdown Pass Receptions, Game - 3
• Touchdown Pass Receptions, Season - 11
• Touchdown Pass Receptions, Career - 27
• Punt Return Yards, Game - 170
• Punt Return Yards, Season - 684
• Punt Return Yards, Career - 1,651
• Punt Return Touchdowns, Season - 4
• Punt Return Touchdowns, Career - 8
• Kick Return Touchdowns, Season - 5
• Kick Return Touchdowns, Career - 9
• All-Purpose Yards, Career - 6,059

Kick Returns

Year	PR	Yds	Avg.	TDs	KOR	Yds	Avg.	TDs
1970	26	349	13.4	2	17	359	21.1	0
1971	33	548	16.6	3	10	304	30.4	1
1972	39	618	15.8	2	8	184	23.0	0
Totals	98	1,515	15.5	7	8	847	24.2	1

Rushing/Receiving

Year	Att.	Net	Avg.	TDs	Rec.	Yds	Avg.	TDs
1970	36	219	6.1	2	35	665	19.0	7
1971	36	259	7.2	2	53	872	16.5	11
1972	58	308	4.6	7	55	942	17.1	8
Totals	130	786	6.0	11	143	2,479	17.3	26