Former University of Tennessee standouts Willie Gault, Paul Naumoff and Bobby Majors are eligible for election to the College Football Hall of Fame.
The National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame released the ballot Tuesday listing 75 players and eight coaches.
Gault was a star receiver for the Vols from 1979-82. He was a First Team All-America in 1982. He set six conference and 12 school punt/kickoff return records. Gault also tied the NCAA record for most touchdowns by kick return in a single season (3) in 1980.
Naumoff, a linebacker from 1964-66, was named First Team All-America and All-SEC in 1966.
Majors, was a defensive back from 1969-71 and was unanimous First Team All-America in 1971. He holds school records for punt returns in a career (117 for 1163 yards, 4 TDs) and season (42 for 457 yards, 2 TDs).
Against Penn State in 1971, Majors returned two punts for 82 yards - one for a touchdown - and two kickoffs for 113 yards.
John Cooper, who grew up in Heiskell and attended Powell High School, is again a finalist among coaches.
Cooper was a coach at Tulsa (1977-84), Arizona State (1985-87) and Ohio State (1988-2000) and led his teams to at least a share of nine conference championships and 14 bowl-game appearances, including two Rose Bowls.
He led Ohio State to an Top 25 finish in 12 of 13 seasons and coached 21 First Team All-Americas.
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Comments » 11
ThurmondEppy writes:
first
rootin4volz writes:
Willie! Willie! Willie!
FWBVol writes:
Congrats to all. Naumoff and Bobby Majors are long overdue for the HOF. I think Willie Gault also is deserving, but not before Larry Seviers. That said, I hope all three are elected.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Willie, we bacame known for a while as Wide Receivre U because of you. Love ya -- best of luck.
JWilly writes:
The '71 UT v. Penn State game did a lot towards putting modern UT football on the national radar screen. I don't think I have seen a better individual performance than Bobby Majors' on that day. That game flat-out embarrassed JoPa. Paul Naumoff was an EXCELLENT LB; one of the best UT ever had. Hope they get their recognition.
knoxtenor writes:
In my years of watching UT football, two players spring to mind as being the most exciting every time they touched the ball (in a good way for UT fans, in a bad way for UT opponents): Condredge Holloway and Willie Gault. I know they don't figure pro careers in the balloting, but having your name up in the top five of several NFL records has got to count for something. Go Willie!
orangebloodgmc writes:
All these are worthy nominees. I can still hear John Ward: "Willie ... GAULT!"
bigsig writes:
I agree that Larry Seivers should absolutely be in the CF HOF.
dgarland1#214014 writes:
That this is the first time Bobby Majors has been on the ballot for the CFHOF is a travesty. There are so many lesser DBs that are already in from other schools that were no where near Majors level of performance is obscene. Majors and Gault should go in first ballot.
leedsvol2007 writes:
All three of these guys should be in the hall of fame.
In the 60's and early 70's Tennessee was known as linebacker U and Naumoff was considered to be the best of them including Steve Kiner and Jack Reynolds. His stop of Larry Csonka in the Bluebonnet Bowl was a classic.
Bobby Majors I believe was one of the top 100 college players period. He was a step slow in professional football but in college had no peer as a safety and punt returner. He was part of the secondary that set a record of 36 interceptions.
The arguments for Gault have already been fully made.
All three are highly deserving.
GoVols!
mdvol31#660955 writes:
Saw Willie Gault against Bama in '82 hotter than white lava!!Paul Naumoff was very good with the Lions in his day but missed Bobby Majors at his time but read about him enough.These 3 are long overdue to go to the CFHOF
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