Thirteen Members to be Inducted into Nebraska Football Hall of Fame

Lincoln -- Playing football in Nebraska is special, whether it's in Lincoln or Wayne, Omaha or Kearney. Around the state, fans enjoy the gridiron battles on all levels, with bragging rights being worth the same in every program.

The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame, based on the principle that recognition is not determined on the size of the school or how many fans it has, but on the athletic accomplishments the individuals achieved while helping their teams succeed, is sponsored by the Nebraska Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. The College Football Hall of Fame opened in South Bend, Ind., in 1995.

Thirteen new members in all, including nine former Huskers, three former state college standouts and former Kearney State Head Coach Charlie Foster, will be inducted in the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame at a special reception Friday night and will be introduced to the public as part of pregame festivities for the Nebraska-Utah State football game on Saturday

In addition to honoring 12 players and one coach, the Nebraska Chapter presented its Clarence Swanson Memorial Award to Gates Minnick of Lincoln, Neb., and its Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award to Dr. Barbara Hibner of Lincoln. Minnick is chairman of the DuTeau Chevrolet Company, and is a longtime supporter of the University of Nebraska. He was the first president of the Husker Athletics Fund in 1999. Hibner has served the NU athletic department for 25 year as associate athletic director and senior woman administrator.

The 2003 Husker inductees include:
Marvin Crenshaw
An All-American and All-Big Eight offensive tackle for the Huskers in 1974, Crenshaw helped Nebraska to the Big Eight title in 1972. The Toledo, Ohio, native lettered for NU in 1972, 1973 and 1974, helping the Huskers to Orange, Cotton and Sugar Bowl bids. He also played in the final Coaches All-America Game in 1975. Crenshaw was a sixth-round draft pick of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975.

Mike Croel
A four-year letterwinner and an All-Big Eight outside linebacker, Croel helped lead a Blackshirt defense that pushed NU to the Big Eight title in 1988. The Sudbury, Mass., native amassed 142 total tackles, including 25 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his career, lettering from 1987 to 1990. He helped NU to a pair of Fiesta Bowl bids, and trips to the Orange and Citrus bowls. He was chosen in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft as the fourth overall pick of the Denver Broncos. Croel spent four seasons with the Broncos (1991-94), and played for the New York Giants (1995), Baltimore Ravens (1996) and Seattle Seahawks (1998).

Tom Davis
The fifth of 12 Husker All-America centers, Davis captured national and All-Big Eight honors as a senior in 1977. The Omaha native helped the Huskers to a Big Eight title in 1975 and trips to Fiesta, Astro-Bluebonnet and Liberty bowls. He lettered in 1975, 1976 and 1977, serving as NU's starting center his final two seasons. He was chosen in the sixth round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played five professional seasons, including two in the CFL and three seasons with the Denver Gold of the USFL.

Harry Grimminger
The third of nine Husker All-America offensive guards, Grimminger helped Nebraska to three Big Eight titles and three Orange Bowl bids during his career. The Grand Island native started 25 straight games at left guard in his final two seasons. He lettered in 1982, 1983 and 1984, earning All-America and All-Big Eight honors in 1984. He signed a free agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Rod Horn
An academic All-American as a defensive tackle in 1979, Horn was a two-time All-Big Eight selection on and off the field during his junior and senior seasons. The Fresno, Calif., native still ranks among NU's top-50 career tacklers with 147 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss. He lettered for the Huskers in 1977, 1978 and 1979, helping NU to a Big Eight title and trips to the Liberty, Orange and Cotton bowls. He spent the 1980 and 1981 seasons in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Ernest Kroger
A halfback and linebacker who lettered for the Huskers in 1907 and 1908, Kroger played against Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indians in 1908. Kroger was part of the first father-son letterwinner combination at NU, as his son Roscoe also lettered for the Huskers in 1929 and 1930. Ernest graduated from the NU Law School and in 1934 was named district judge for 11 counties north of Grand Island. He died in 1973.

Bill Lewis
The eighth of 12 Husker All-America centers, Lewis was an All-American and All-Big Eight selection in 1985. The native of Sioux City, Iowa, was also a co-captain as a senior. He lettered in 1983, 1984 and 1985, helping the Huskers to a pair of Big Eight titles and trips to the Orange, Sugar and Fiesta bowls. Lewis was chosen in the seventh round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Raiders. He spent four seasons with the Raiders (1986-89), three with the Phoenix Cardinals (1990-92) and one season with the New England Patriots (1993).

Clete Pillen
An All-Big Eight linebacker and co-captain for the Huskers in 1976, Pillen helped NU to a conference title and trips to the Sugar, Fiesta and Astro-Bluebonnet bowls during his career. A second-team All-American, Pillen was the UPI Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year in 1976. A walk-on from Monroe, Neb., Pillen ranks fourth on NU's all-time list with 273 total tackles, including 124 solos. He also owns the top two single-game tackle efforts in school history with 30 tackles in the 1976 win over Oklahoma State, and 27 tackles against Oklahoma in 1975. He lettered for the Huskers in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Jamie Williams
One of 20 Huskers to play 10 or more seasons in the NFL, Williams was a two-time All-Big Eight tight end for NU in 1981 and 1982. A four-year letterwinner from 1979 to 1982, Williams helped the Huskers to a pair of Big Eight titles and two Orange Bowl berths, along with trips to the Cotton and Sun bowls. The Davenport, Iowa, native was chosen by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He spent the 1983 season with the St. Louis Cardinals, five seasons with the Houston Oilers (1984-88), five more seasons with San Francisco 49ers (1989-93) and a season with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1994.

The new Nebraska Football Hall of Famers from the state college ranks include:

Scott Engelhardt
An offensive lineman at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Engelhardt lettered in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980. He was an All-State College pick and a Kodak All-American in 1979.

Charlie Foster
The head coach at Kearney State College from 1945 to 1952, Foster produced a record of 42-24-3 during his eight seasons with the Lopers. He led Kearney State to winning records in seven of his eight seasons, including a 6-1 mark in his first season in 1945. UNK's home field ? Foster Field ? is named in his honor.

Brian Muschall
A halfback at Dana College in Blair who lettered in 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, Muschall was an All-American and led the nation in rushing in 1987.

Gary Seevers
A four-time all-conference and honorable-mention All-American as a back at Concordia College in Seward, Seevers lettered in 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957.