The College Football Hall of Fameannounced its latest inductees late last week, and the Memorial Day weekend gave us time to think about who isn't in the Hall but should be.
And, truth be told, we think the majority of the guys on our list deserved the honor more than six or seven of this year's inductees.
We freely admit that a couple of players on our list -- Brian Bosworth, Eric Dickerson and Ricky Williams -- have some possible issues (Bosworth because of a steroid suspension and his frequent battles with the NCAA -- which he called the "National Communist Athletic Association," Dickerson because of SMU's admitted paying of players and Williams because of his marijuana use). And perhaps that is why those players aren't in the Hall. Interesting to note that the National Football Foundation includes this line when it sends out its annual ballot: "The candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed." But the issues with Bosworth, Dickerson and Williams cropped up while they were playing, not in their "post-football" careers.
Anyway, here is our list of the 10 biggest college hall of fame snubs (and this list easily could have been 30 or 35 deep). And forget the success or non-success of their NFL careers; this is the College Football Hall of Fame.
LB Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma
Career: 1984-86.
The case: He was a two-time consensus All-American selection and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 1985 and '86; he also was an important part of the Sooners' 1986 championship team. His "The Boz" persona rubbed some people (OK, a lot of people) the wrong way, but he remains one of the best college linebackers of the past four decades. He was a first-round pick in the 1987 NFL supplemental draft, going to the Seattle Seahawks.
S Mark Carrier, USC
Career: 1987-89.
The case: He won the 1989 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back -- when he led the Pac-10 with seven interceptions -- and was a two-time first-team All-American. He was a first-round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft.
LB Tom Cousineau, Ohio State
Career: 1975-78.
Buzz: He was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a two-time consensus All-American. He still holds six school records and his 572 career tackles ranks second on the Buckeyes' career list. He was the first overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft.
LB Bob Crable, Notre Dame
Career: 1979-81.
The case: He was a two-time consensus All-American, and holds Notre Dame records for most career tackles (521) and most tackles in a season (187). He was a first-round pick in the 1982 NFL Draft.
RB Troy Davis, Iowa State
Career: 1994-96.
The case: He is the only two-time 2,000-yard rusher in NCAA history (2,010 yards in 1995 and 2,185 in '96), which you would think would be enough to get him into the Hall. And given that he basically was the Cyclones' entire offense -- and defenses knew it -- his production was even more incredible. He was the 1996 Big 12 player of the year and a two-time All-American and Heisman finalist.
RB Eric Dickerson, SMU
Career: 1979-82.
The case: He was part of the famed "Pony Express" backfield at SMU and was a two-time first-team All-American. He was third in the Heisman balloting in 1982 -- when he ran for 1,617 yards and 17 TDs -- and twice was named Southwest Conference player of the year. He remains the leading rusher in SMU history (4,450 yards). He was a first-round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft.
OT Jumbo Elliott, Michigan
Career: 1984-87.
The case: Elliott, whose given first name is "John," was a two-time All-American for the Wolverines and also a two-time All-Big Ten selection. He graduated as Michigan's all-time leader in games played among offensive linemen.
WR Raghib Ismail, Notre Dame
Career: 1988-90.
Buzz: "Rocket" was one of the most electrifying players in the nation as a receiver and return man during his college career. He was the Heisman runner-up in 1990 and a two-time first-team All-American. He was a big part of the 1988 national title team at Notre Dame and won the Walter Camp player of the year award in 1990.
LB Simeon Rice, Illinois
Career: 1992-95.
The case: He was a two-time All-American and a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. He holds the Big Ten record for career sacks (44.5). He had 16 sacks as a junior in 1994. Rice was a first-round pick in the 1996 NFL Draft.
RB Ricky Williams, Texas
Career: 1995-98.
The case: He won the Heisman in 1998, when he rushed for 2,124 yards and 27 TDs. He rushed for 6,279 yards in his career, which was the highest career total in the NCAA at that time and now ranks second on the list, to Wisconsin's Ron Dayne. Williams led the nation in rushing in 1997 (1,893 yards) and '98. Williams was a first-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. (Williams was one of three Heisman winners on this year's ballot who didn't get in. The others were Nebraska's Eric Crouch and Colorado's Rashaan Salaam.)
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
