Blackshirts Blanket 2011 Hall of Fame Class

The 2011 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame class has a distinct defensive flavor. Among the seven former collegiate players being inducted this year, all five Huskers carry Nebraska's Blackshirt heritage with them to the Hall of Fame.

Headlining the former Huskers are a pair of All-America defensive backs who put the Brown in Blackshirt from 1996 to 1999. All-America rover Mike Brown and All-America cornerback Ralph Brown, who joined forces to help the Huskers to a 1997 national championship and a pair of Big 12 Conference titles, each spent a decade in the NFL. A third former Blackshirt, linebacker Bob Terrio, helped power Bob Devaney's Big Red to a pair of national championships in 1971.

Middle guard Lawrence Pete earned All-Big Eight honors while helping Coach Tom Osborne's Huskers to the 1988 Big Eight crown. Pete went on to spend six seasons in the NFL. Defensive tackle Carel Stith rounds out the Blackshirts' 2011 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame contingent. Stith helped power Devaney's Huskers to three straight Big Eight crowns from 1964 to 1966, while earning all-conference accolades as a senior.

From the state college ranks, Nebraska-Omaha's Jimmy Jones and Midland Lutheran's Dave Meyer will join the former Husker inductees in 2011. Dana College Coach Leo McKillip will also be enshrined. The Hall will also recognize Jay and Kim Noddle of Omaha with its Clarence E. Swanson Meritorious Service Award. Bruce and Darla Evertson of Kimball will be honored with the Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award.

The Nebraska Football Hall of Fame 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.

2011 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Inductees

Mike Brown - A senior co-captain, Mike Brown was an All-American both on the field and in the classroom as a rover in the Nebraska defensive backfield. A four-year letterman, the 5-10, 205-pounder from Scottsdale, Ariz., started 38 consecutive games in his final three seasons at NU. After seeing action in 11 games as a freshman in 1996, Brown started and led Coach Tom Osborne's 1997 national championship team with 77 total tackles. He led Coach Frank Solich's 1998 squad with 102 tackles - a school record among defensive backs. He led the Blackshirts again with 96 stops in 1999, becoming just the third player in NU history to lead the team in tackles three straight season, and the only defensive back to ever accomplish the feat. He ranks third all-time in tackles at NU with 273, while his nine career interceptions rank just outside the top 10. He grabbed five interceptions as a senior on his way to first-team All-America honors on the field and in the classroom. He was also the choice of Husker fans for Nebraska's All-Century Team. The three-time academic All-Big 12 selection closed his career as the Defensive Player of the Game in NUs 31-21 Fiesta Bowl win over Tennessee, after notching seven tackles and an interception. He earned NU's Guy Chamberlin Award, before being chosen in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He spent nine seasons with the Bears from 2000 to 2008, earning recognition as an All-Pro in 2000 and 2005, while also making a Pro Bowl appearance in 2005. He also played in Super Bowl XLI with the Bears. He played his last of 10 professional seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009. Brown closed his NFL career with 518 total tackles.

Ralph Brown - A fixture in the Blackshirt defensive backfield for four seasons, Ralph Brown started a school-record 52 consecutive games at cornerback from 1996 to 1999. The 5-10, 180-pounder from Hacienda Heights, Calif., earned Freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News in 1996, when he was also named the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year. He capped his career with first-team All-America accolades in 1999. A team co-captain along with fellow senior Mike Brown in 1999, Ralph was a three-time All-Big 12 selection from 1997 to 1999, and a Thorpe Award semifinalist as a senior. Brown owns the Nebraska career record with 50 pass breakups and is tied for fourth with 11 career interceptions. His 253 career interception return yards are also a school record, while his 83-yard return for a touchdown against Oklahoma in 1996 ranks as the 10th-longest in Husker history. Following his Husker career, Brown was a fifth-round pick of the New York Giants in the 2000 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Giants (2000-03), two seasons with Minnesota (2004-05) one in Cleveland (2006) and closed his career with three years in Arizona (2007-09), including a Super Bowl appearance with the Cardinals in 2009.

Lawrence Pete - A first-team All-Big Eight selection at middle guard for the Blackshirts in 1988, Lawrence Pete helped Coach Tom Osborne's Huskers to four bowl appearances and the 1988 Big Eight title. The 6-1, 270-pounder from Wichita, Kan., started 10 games as a senior, recording 55 tackles, including seven for loss, for a unit that led the league in total, rushing and passing defense. Following his NU career, Pete was a fifth-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 1989 NFL Draft. He spent six seasons with Detroit from 1989 to 1994.

Carel Stith - A 1966 All-Big Eight selection as a defensive tackle, Carel Stith helped Bob Devaney's team to three straight Big Eight championships from 1964 to 1966. The 6-4, 261-pound graduate of Lincoln Southeast High School, led all of NU's defensive linemen with 82 total tackles as a senior, including 42 solo stops. He also recovered a pair of fumbles for a team that finished 9-2. Playing behind All-American Walt Barnes as a junior in 1965, Stith helped Devaney's Huskers to a 10-1 record with their lone blemish coming to Bear Bryant's Alabama club in the Orange Bowl. He also aided NU's 9-2 season in 1964. The Blackshirts led the Big Eight in total defense in all three of Stith's varsity seasons. Stith was a fourth-round pick as an offensive tackle by the Houston Oilers in the 1967 NFL Draft. He played for the Oilers from 1967 to 1969 until an injury ended his career. A two-time letterman in football, Stith was also a three-time letterwinner for the Nebraska wrestling team.

Bob Terrio - A two-time All-Big Eight linebacker for Coach Bob Devaney's 1970 and 1971 Nebraska national championship teams, Bob Terrio helped lead the Huskers to a pair of unbeaten seasons. A junior college transfer from Fullerton, Calif., the 6-2, 209-pound Terrio was a rock-solid, hard-hitting defender who notched 73 tackles as a junior. He also intercepted an LSU pass in the closing seconds of Nebraska's 17-12 victory in the Orange Bowl to help seal the Huskers' first national title. As a senior, he led the Huskers with 96 total tackles. Terrio also recovered an Alabama fumble in the closing minutes of Nebraska's 38-6 victory over the Crimson Tide in the Orangle Bowl to seal NU's 1971 crown. His five interceptions from the linebacker spot in 1971 are also a school position record. He closed his two-year Blackshirt career with 169 total tackles, which ranks as the second-highest total by a junior college player in school history.

2011 Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Inductees from State Colleges

Jimmy Jones (Nebraska-Omaha) - A four-year letterman at then-Omaha University under Coach Al Caniglia, Jimmy Jones helped the Indians to four Central Intercollegiate Conference titles as an offensive/defensive end from 1962 to 1965. He also competed in track and field and wrestling at Omaha U. The 6-2, 255-pound Jones was an All-CIC performer on both the offensive and defensive sides of the football as a senior in 1965. He earned second-team All-CIC honors as a sophomore in 1963. Following his college career, the Morristown, N.J., native was a ninth-round pick of the AFL's New York Jets and an 18th-round selection of the Green Bay Packers in the 1966 NFL Draft. As a heavyweight wrestler, he competed in the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials, and he threw the shot put, discus and javelin as a competitor for Lloyd Cardwell's track and field team. He was inducted into the UNO Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

Dave Meyer (Midland Lutheran) - An All-American as an offensive guard as a senior at Midland Lutheran College in 1975, Dave Meyer was a four-year letterman for the Warriors. Meyer was a leader for Midland's 1974 squad that posted a perfect 11-0 record, including a 32-6 victory over Friends (Kan.) University in the Mineral Water Bowl. As an All-Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference selection in 1975, Meyer helped the Warriors to a 9-2 record and a return trip to the Mineral Water Bowl, where they suffered a 21-20 setback to Texas Lutheran. As a senior, the 6-2, 237-pound Meyer helped power a Midland offense that churned out 367 total yards per game, including 260 rushing yards per contest. Following his senior season, Meyer earned Midland Lutheran's prestigious Petrow Trophy for his athletic and academic achievements. The Scribner, Neb., native was inducted into the Midland Lutheran College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

Coach Leo McKillip (Dana) - A successful coach at the college, professional and high school ranks, Leo McKillip, Ph.D., led the 1987 Dana College Vikings to their first and only trip to the NAIA finals. McKillip was named the Omaha World-Herald College Coach of the Year in 1987, after guiding Dana to an 8-3 record that included a championship game setback to Baker University, 37-35. McKillip spent eight years as Dana's head coach, compiling a 35-43-1 record, which represents the best mark in school history. McKillip inherited a Dana program that had suffered through 13 consecutive losing seasons from 1972 to 1984, before his Vikings produced the first of four straight winning campaigns from 1986 through 1989. McKillip also served as Dana's athletic director. He arrived at Dana in 1985, after serving as a coach with the Washington Federals in the USFL. He also coached in the CFL with Edmonton and Winnipeg, after coaching at both Idaho State and Saint Mary's (Calif.). He also coached at Kimball High School and was inducted into the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame in 1996, before joining the Dana College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000. McKillip starred at McCook High School as a player, before lettering at Notre Dame under Coach Frank Leahy.

Clarence E. Swanson Meritorious Service Award

Jay and Kim Noddle (Omaha) - Jay and Kim Noddle have been strong supporters of the Nebraska Athletic Department, Husker football and the community for many years. Born and raised in Omaha, Jay is the President and CEO of Noddle Companies, a Midwestern-based commercial real estate development firm that has been a national leader in the industry for more than three decades.

He has also served as the Chairman and CEO of Grubb and Ellis/Pacific Realty in Omaha and Lincoln. In May of 2011, Pacific Realty announced an affiliation change to Colliers International. Jay participates as a director on the boards of several local organizations and foundations, including the Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Jewish Federation Foundation. Jay's wife, Kim, serves on the board of directors for the Westside Community Schools Foundation, is a past-president of the Omaha Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, and volunteers extensively throughout the community.

The couple has generously supported Nebraska Athletics as long-time donors, contributing to the Directors Club and the West Stadium Improvement Project. They have also donated to various booster clubs and capital campaigns to help Nebraska remain among the nation's best in facilities and sport development. They are also dedicated to creating opportunities for children. In 1994, they established the Pacific Pals Foundation, which is a mentoring group for at-Nebraska youth that utilized Husker student-athletes as summer mentors for their camps.

Pacific Realty, under Jay's direction, has sponsored play equipment for the Husker Nation Pavilion, a feature enjoyed by thousands of Husker fans every game day. The Noddles have also supported several local philanthropic organizations, including the Exchange Club's efforts to fight child abuse, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Senior Service Center, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, Hearltand Family Services and the NIJ Foundation, among others.

Jay and Kim are the proud parents of three children, Rebecca, 19, and sons Sam, 17, and Aaron, 12.

Inaugurated by the Nebraska Chapter in 1972, the Clarence E. Swanson Meritorious Service Award is given annually to honor a person or family "for outstanding contributions to the University of Nebraska and the Husker athletic department through personal service, personal support of athletic department programs and dedication to the Husker football program and intercollegiate athletics."

Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award

Bruce and Darla Evertson (Kimball) - Bruce and Darla Evertson have generously contributed to Nebraska Athletics both financially and with the use of their plane for coaches to recruit the nation's best student-athletes to Nebraska.

Both native Nebraskans, the Evertsons have been major donors to Nebraska's football program as well as to the athletic department in general. They are members of the Platinum Club and have supported the West Stadium Improvement Project and the Husker Nation Championship Drive. They are also members of the Airplane Club, providing several trips each year to Husker coaches for recruiting and special or urgent-need travel for administrators.

Bruce is the CEO of Evertson Companies, based out of Kimball. He started the company in 1974, which has expanded to become the largest oil producer in Nebraska and ranks among the 50 largest oil producers in the Rocky Mountain region. He has branched out internationally with a rig fleet in South America. He is also the owner of Castronics, a local Kimball company that provides pipe threading for companies nationwide.

Darla works at FirsTier Bank in Kimball.

Inaugurated by the Nebraska Chapter in 1974, the Lyell Bremser Special Merit Award was created to honor a person "with a background of interest in and support of intercollegiate football, who has made a sizeable contribution to society through public service and/or self sacrifice."