Like its Pro Football counterpart, the College Football Hall of Fame is the pinnacle achievement for players. But there is more to the Hall than meets the eye. It’s a place that aims to educate, inspire, entertain, and connect fans to the sport they love.
The College Football Hall of Fame’s History
The National Football Foundation (NFF) founded the Hall in 1951, but it has taken many forms over the last seven decades. The plan was to build the Hall in the birthplace of college football: Rutgers University. Unfortunately, an investigation into why the National Football Foundation had collected donations but never opened a facility and 11 years later, the College Football Hall of Fame had to find a new home
Kings Mill, Ohio, received the honor, but after disappointing financial figures, a new facility was opened in South Bend, Indiana, in 1995. Yet, it seemed the location wasn’t the issue, as it never attracted the estimated 150,000 people per year. In fact, after its opening, the Hall averaged just 60,000 visits per year.
Then came a savior. Archie Manning, chairman of the NFF and the father of Peyton and Eli Manning, announced Hall would be moved to Atlanta, Georgia. There, the Hall was surrounded by several visitor attractions and was a short drive from Georgia Tech and Georgia State.
The Hall’s new home cost $68.5 million and came with three floors, five themed galleries, and 50+ interactive exhibits. It also features a 47-yard football field and a three-story wall of over 750 college football helmets. In addition to standard entry, the Hall also hosts parties, corporate events, and educational field trips for schools.
Who Is in the College Football Hall of Fame?
According to the College Football Hall of Fame website, only 0.02% of coaches and players enter the Hall. Of the over five million who have played or coached the game, only 1,304 are current members.
In 2023, 18 players and four coaches were immortalized in the Hall. Those included Florida QB Tim Tebow, USC RB Reggie Bush, DE Dwight Freeny, and Boston College LB Luke Keuchly.
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In order to be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, players must be 10 years removed from their college career (but within the last 50 years at the time of the ballot) and have earned first-team All-American honors from at least one of the outlets that comprise “consensus” in the eyes of the NCAA.
Meanwhile, coaches become eligible three years after retirement unless they are over 70 at the time, in which case they would be immediately eligible. Furthermore, active coaches aged 75+ are also eligible. To be considered, coaches have to have coached for over 10 years and have a record of over .600 during their career.
College Football Hall of Fame’s goal to educate and entertain can be seen on the inductees section of the website. It’s not a simple list of names. There’s a rolling timeline of who the players are and where they suited up, and with just one click of a button, key information, stats, and much more appear for your viewing pleasure.
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