Slocum on 2012 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Posted: 3:24 PM Feb 28, 2012
Reporter: Texas A&M Sports Information
Courtesy of KBTX.com

DALLAS, Texas—Former Texas A&M head football coach R.C. Slocum, the winningest football coach in school history, is on the 2012 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names of 76 players and eight coaches who comprise the 2012 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Slocum, who has been inducted into both the Texas A&M Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, finished his A&M coaching career with an overall record of 123-47-2 in his 14 years. The 123 wins in his first 14 years ranked eighth all-time at the close of his career joining the likes of Barry Switzer (137), Tom Osborne (137), Steve Spurrier (132), Joe Paterno (131), LaVell Edwards (129), Amos Alonzo Stagg (128) and Bud Wilkinson (124). The 14 years tied Homer Norton, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, for the longest head coaching tenure in A&M history and Slocum’s combined 30 years (16 years as an assistant) is the longest football coaching tenure in school history. During the decade of the 1990’s, he compiled 94 victories, the most by any Division I football program in the state of Texas at that time.

Along the way, Slocum won six championships (three SWC, one Big 12 Championship and two Big 12 South titles) and had the best record in the league another season (1994). He was the league Coach of the Year four times and was up for National Coach of the Year honors in 1994. The Aggies played in 11 bowl games and five of those were New Year’s Day bowl games. The Aggies finished the season in the Associated Press Top 25 on 10 occasions, and three times finished among the nation’s Top 10. The Aggies were especially tough to beat at home winning 85 percent of the games played at Kyle Field accumulating a 67-11-1 (.854) home record. During Slocum’s tenure, the Aggies compiled a 29-game unbeaten streak (1990-95) and a 22-game unbeaten streak (1996-2000) at Kyle Field. Slocum posted a 30-1 record against non-conference foes at Kyle Field.

As Texas A&M closed out the Southwest Conference football era, Slocum’s SWC winning percentage of .865 (44-6-2) was tops in the league’s history beating the .797 (109-27-2) percentage set by the legendary Darrell Royal of Texas.

Slocum was honored by his alma mater of McNeese State as a Distinguished Alumnus and a presentation was made prior to the 2001 Texas A&M vs. McNeese State football game at Kyle Field.
"Having a ballot and a voice in the selection of the inductees is one of the most cherished NFF member benefits," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Ole Miss. "There is no group more knowledgeable or passionate about college football than our membership, and the tradition of the ballot helps us engage them in the lofty responsibility of selecting those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in our sport."

The ballot was mailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which deliberates and selects the class. Chaired by Gene Corrigan, a former ACC Commissioner and NCAA president, the 14-member NFF Honors Court includes an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletics directors, conference commissioners, Hall of Famers and members of the media.

"It's an enormous honor to just be on the ballot when you think that more than 4.86 million people have played college football," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "The Hall's requirement of being a First Team All-American creates a much smaller pool of only 1,900 individuals who are even eligible to be on the ballot, so being in today's group of 76 names means an individual is truly among the greatest to ever have played the game, and we are proud to announce their names today."

The FBS Hall of Fame Class will be announced live in New York City during a noon press conference on May 15 and inducted at the 55th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 4, 2012 at the landmark Waldorf=Astoria Hotel in New York City.

To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a First Team All-America by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least ten years prior; played within the last 50 years and cannot be currently playing professional football. Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60% of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years. If a coach is retired and over the age of 70, there is no waiting period. If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. In both cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.

Once nominated for consideration, all player candidates are submitted to one of eight District Screening Committees, depending on their school's geographic location, which conducts a vote to determine who will appear on the ballot and represent their respective districts. Each year, approximately 15 candidates, who are not selected for the Hall of Fame, will be named automatic holdovers and will bypass the district screening process and automatically appear on the ballot the following year. Additionally, the Veterans Committee may make recommendations to Honors Court for exceptions that allow for the induction of players who played more than 50 years ago.

Of the 4.86 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on November 6, 1869, only 900 players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, or less than .0002 percent of those who have played the game during the past 143 years. From the coaching ranks, 194 individuals have achieved Hall of Fame distinction.