January 24, 2012
Press Release
Media Contact:
Marques Fitch
(877) 598-0406
Marques@CoachingCharities.com
Black College Football Hall of Fame Weekend at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis - February 17th & 18th
Priority Payment Systems Third Annual Enshrinement Ceremony will be held on February 18th, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia
January 24, 2012 (Atlanta, GA) - The Black College Football Hall of Fame weekend will take place on February 17th & 18th in Atlanta, Georgia at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. On Friday night, the Black College Football Hall of Fame is partnering with Sheridan Broadcast Network to recognize three outstanding individuals from the 2011 Black College Football Season and to crown the 2011 Black College Football National Championship Team. The student-athletes and coaches will be honored at a private reception. The award recipients are listed below.
- Casey Therriault, Jackson State University: "SBN/ Doug Williams Offensive Player of the Year"
- Cliff Exama, Grambling State University: "SBN/ Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year"
- Connell Maynor, Winston-Salem State University: "SBN/ Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year"
- Winston-Salem State University: 2011 Black College Football National Champions
Over the course of the weekend, the Black College Football Hall of Fame will recognize the current stars from Historically Black Colleges & Universities and the legends that have come before them. It will be a great tribute to past and present football stars, as they represent their schools at this prestigious event. Over $50,000 in scholarships will be given back to the colleges & universities over these two days. The purposes of these scholarships are to help continue the tradition of academic and athletic excellence of these institutions.
On Saturday February 18th, 11 new members will be inducted into the elite class of the Black College Football Hall of Fame at the Third Annual Priority Payment Systems Enshrinement Ceremony. The Class of 2012 is listed below. All living inductees will be present at this year's ceremony; including Willie Brown, Harry Carson, James Harris, Claude Humphrey, Willie Richardson, and Rayfield Wright.
Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2012
- Willie Brown (DB, Grambling State University, 1959-1963)
- Harry Carson (DE, South Carolina State University, 1972-1975)
- Eldridge "The Lord's Prayer" Dickey (QB, Tennessee State University, 1964-1967)
- James "Shack" Harris (QB, Grambling State University, 1965-1968)
- Claude Humphrey (DE, Tennessee State University, 1964-1967)
- Steve "Air" McNair (QB, Alcorn State University, 1991-1994)
- "Wonderful" Willie Richardson (WR, Jackson State University, 1959-1962)
- Johnny "Red Ball" Sample (DB/RB, Maryland Eastern Shore, 1954-1958)
- Rayfield "Big Cat" Wright (OL, Fort Valley State, 1963-1966)
- Cleve Abbott (Head Coach, Tuskegee, 1923-1954)
- Jackie Graves (Former NFL Scout, former director of personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles)
The National Football League, Southern Company and Georgia Power, the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, State Farm Insurance and KEF Media are all Platinum Sponsors of the Black College Football Hall of Fame. For the third consecutive year, the event has received an enormous amount of support from the Atlanta business community and beyond.
"Priority is honored to once again sponsor the Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony," says John V. Priore, President/CEO of Alpharetta, GA - based Priority Payment Systems. "We are proud to support this organization, which recognizes players, coaches and contributors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and their successes on and off the field."
With this event taking place in conjunction with Black History Month, it is a living history lesson that many fans of Football History, Black History and American History can appreciate and enjoy.
For more information on how to attend the Third Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Priority Payment Systems Enshrinement Ceremony, please visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org
About the Black College Football Hall of Fame
The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established in October 2009 to honor the greatest football players and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's). The Black College Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by The Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation, a 501©(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.
