Rozier Chosen for College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that former Nebraska All-American and 1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier is among 13 former college greats who are part of the 2006 Division I-A Hall of Fame Class.

 

The 2006 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A Class, which also includes legendary coaches Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno, will be inducted at the 49th Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 5, 2006, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.  They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during ceremonies in the summer of 2007.

 

Rozier will become the 13th former Husker great in the College Football Hall of Fame, and Nebraska’s first inductee since fellow Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers was part of the 2000 class. Nebraska is also well-represented by coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame with six former Husker coaches in the Hall of Fame, most recently Tom Osborne in 1998.

 

“I am honored to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame,” Rozier said.  “It is such a great honor to be mentioned with the other Hall of Fame members who have gone before me and those who are in this class. I was fortunate that God gave me the talent to play the game I love. I loved my time at Nebraska and appreciate everything that my family, my coaches, the University and my teammates have done for me.”

 

Rozier captured the Heisman Trophy in 1983, following a record-setting senior campaign. Rozier rushed for 2,148 yards on 275 carries and scored a school-record 29 touchdowns. Rozier averaged 179 yards per game, while rushing for more than 100 yards in 11 straight games, including a career-best 285 yards against Kansas. His 2,148 yards as a senior is the fifth-highest total in NCAA history, and he was the second rusher in NCAA history to surpass 2,000 yards in a season.

 

The Camden, N.J., native totaled a Nebraska record 4,780 rushing yards in his three-year Husker career. As a junior, Rozier rushed for 1,689 yards, the fourth-best single-season total in Nebraska history. As a junior, Rozier was the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-American, while finishing 10th in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. He began his Nebraska career with 943 yards rushing as a sophomore, earning All-Big Eight honors while sharing time in the backfield with junior Roger Craig.

 

Overall, Rozier captured Big Eight player-of-the-week honors six times in his Husker career and his 49 career rushing touchdowns and 312 points trail only fellow Heisman winner Eric Crouch among position players in the Husker record book.

 

Osborne said Rozier possessed all the skills of the great running backs and is deserving of his selection to the Hall of Fame.

 

“Mike was one of the greatest running backs I’ve seen,” Osborne said.  “He had great ability to make people miss while continuing up-field, without much deviation in his path.  He had great balance and always had a great deal of fun playing the game and was enjoyable to be around. I congratulate Mike and his family.”

 

Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson was on the football staff during Rozier’s Husker playing career and said Rozier’s personality was as important as his on-field contributions.

 

“Mike was not only a great football player and a terrific competitor, but he also brought a spirit of fun to the game that made him special,” Pederson said. “His love for Nebraska is evident by the way he has stayed so involved here over the years.”

 

Rozier spent eight years in professional football, including seven seasons in the NFL.  He spent six seasons with the Houston Oilers from 1985 to 1990, before closing his career with the Atlanta Falcons in 1990 and 1991. He began his pro career with the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL in 1984, and he played with the USFL's Jacksonville Bulls in 1985.

 

Rozier and his wife Rochelle live in Sicklerville, N.J. and have a three-year old son Michael.  Mike’s other two children, son JaMichael and daughter Amer, live in Houston.

 

In addition to Rozier, the following players are part of the 2006 Division I-A Hall of Fame Class: Bobby Anderson, RB, Colorado (1967-69); Bennie Blades, DB, Miami (1985-87); Carl Eller, T, Minnesota (1961-63); Steve Emtman, DL, Washington (1989-91); Thomas Everett, FS, Baylor (1983-86); Chad Hennings, DT, Air Force (1984-87); Chip Kell, OG, Tennessee (1968-70); Mike Phipps, QB, Purdue (1967-69); Jeff Siemon, LB, Stanford (1968-71); Bruce Smith, DT, Virginia Tech (1981-84); Emmitt Smith, RB, Florida (1987-89); Charlie Ward, QB, Florida State (1989-93).

 

Nebraska Players in the College Football Hall of Fame

Player, Position                       Yrs at NU        Year of Induction

Ed Weir, Tackle                         1923-25           1951

George Sauer, Fullback              1931-33           1954

Guy Chamberlin, End                 1913-15            1962

Clarence Swanson, End             1918-21            1973

Sam Francis, Fullback               1934-36            1977

Bobby Reynolds, Halfback          1950-52            1984

Forrest Behm, Tackle                 1938-40            1988

Wayne Meylan, Middle Guard     1965-67            1991

Bob Brown, Guard                      1961-63            1993

Rich Glover, Middle Guard          1970-72             1995

Dave Rimington, Center              1979-82             1997

Johnny Rodgers, Wingback        1970-72              2000

Mike Rozier, I-Back                    1981-83             2006

 

Nebraska Coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame

Coach                          Yrs. at NU        Year of Induction

Fielding Yost                 1898                 1951

Dana X. Bible                 1929-36            1951

Lawrence “Biff” Jones     1937-41             1954

E.N. Robinson               1896-97             1955

Bob Devaney                 1962-72             1981

Tom Osborne                 1973-97             1998