University of Minnesota Athletics
Sandy Stephens To Be Honored Saturday
11/9/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 9, 2011
Minnesota and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor the late Sandy Stephens with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute Saturday during the game between the Gophers and Wisconsin. Coverage of the game will start at 2:30 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network. Stephens, who passed away on June 6, 2000 at age 59, will be represented by his son Sandy Stephens III, his siblings – Barbara Stephens Foster, Ray Stephens and Joyce (Stephens) Bell – his nephew Lee Stephens, his niece Sharla Foster and long-time friend Otis Courtney.
“Sandy Stephens was a true leader who had ability to inspire those around him to reach their fullest potential,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “The first African-American quarterback named to an All-American team, he broke barriers that paved the way for future generations. He is most deserving of this recognition, and we are thrilled that his contributions will forever be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.”
The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program is a hallowed tradition that began with the inaugural class in 1951, and to this day the salutes remain the first of numerous activities in each inductee’s Hall of Fame experience. During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each inductee returns to his alma mater to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will remain on permanent display at the institution. The events take place on the field during a home game, and many inductees cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them one more chance to take the field and hear the crowd roar their name.
Playing for the Gophers from 1959 to 1961, Stephens became college football’s first African-American quarterback to be named an All-American as he earned consensus First Team All-American accolades in 1961. That year, he finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting; claimed the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player; and set a school record for single-season quarterback rushing with 534 yards.
He led the Golden Gophers to their last national championship in 1960 and back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances. Following the 1961 season, he directed the club to its only Rose Bowl victory, a 21-3 victory over No. 16 UCLA, and his performance earned him the Most Valuable Player Award in the game. During his career, he completed 101 passes for 1,475 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 791 yards and 18 scores. The versatile star also registered nine career interceptions as a defensive back and returned 42 punts for 254 yards.
Stephens continued his playing career in the Canadian Football League, where he played for the Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts. Stephens remained active in football after his playing career was complete, participating in the NFL Alumni Association, the University of Minnesota “M” Club and the Sports Legends program.
A member of Minnesota’s All-Century Team, Stephens is one of just five Golden Gophers to have his jersey retired by the university. Uniontown, Pa., native is a member of the University of Minnesota Sports Hall of Fame, the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.
Stephens becomes the 18th player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Other Gopher inductees include (with year of induction) Bronko Nagurski (1951), Bert Baston (1954), Herb Joesting (1954), Ed Widseth (1954), Dick Wildung (1957), Pug Lund (1958), John McGovern (1966), Eddie Rogers (1968), Bobby Marshall (1971), Bruce Smith (1972), Paul Giel (1975), Leo Nomellini (1977), Clayton Tonnemaker (1980), Bobby Bell (1991), George Franck (2002), Tom Brown (2003), and Carl Eller (2006). Hall of Fame coaches who headed the program in Minneapolis include Henry Williams (1951), Fritz Crisler (1954), Bernie Bierman (1955), and Lou Holtz (2008).
Including the 2011 FBS class, only 900 players and 194 coaches have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly five million people who have played or coached the game over the past 143 years. In other words, less than .0002 percent of those who have set foot on the gridiron have earned the distinction. For a complete list of players and coaches in the hall, please visit www.collegefootball.org.
This year’s class includes: Carlos Alvarez (Florida), Doug English (Texas), Bill Enyart (Oregon State), Eddie George (Ohio State), Marty Lyons (Alabama), Russell Maryland (Miami, Fla.), Deion Sanders (Florida State), Jake Scott (Georgia), Will Shields (Nebraska), Sandy Stephens (Minnesota), Darryl Talley (West Virginia), Clendon Thomas (Oklahoma), Rob Waldrop (Arizona), Gene Washington (Michigan State), coach Lloyd Carr (Michigan), and coach Fisher DeBerry (Air Force).
The 2011 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted at the 54th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, held at New York City’s historic Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, December 6. For tickets, please contact Will Rudd at wrudd@footballfoundation.com or by calling 972-556-1000.
-UM-