The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
English Set for Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute
10.25.2011 | Football
Oct. 25, 2011
DALLAS, Oct. 25, 2011 - The University of Texas and The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor former Longhorn defensive tackle Doug English with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute on Oct. 29 during the game between the Longhorns and Kansas. Coverage of the game will start at 6:00 p.m. CDT on the Longhorn Network and Jayhawk TV.
"What greater validation is there for your history, your past, your heritage," English said after the 2011 class was announced in May. "It's something that every single college athlete strives to do, and be, and hope that their play and their example will maybe put them in consideration one day. It's a tremendous feeling of elation, and gratitude, and humility, and that they chose me even to consider, in light of the tremendous athletes, and people, and character that run throughout this game. It's just the best."
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.
"This means that I have an opportunity to represent the University of Texas, and I will be carrying the pride of everybody that's ever flashed a "Hook 'em" or worn the Longhorn on the side of their helmet," English said. "And that I want to represent this school, this place, with the character that it deserves, and I'm going to do my best to do that.
"I can certainly think of a lot of Texas players that I admired as players, that I admired as men - and they had a huge impact on the sport and on the program here - that I think could have very easily gone in before I do. And so it's certainly something that I always would have been honored to get a chance to do, but I wouldn't have minded waiting my turn in line a little longer. I owe such a debt of gratitude to Coach Royal and the staff and to my teammates and to the people that made us feel good on gameday. I really feel like I [will] carry all those people with me when I go to New York in December."
"Doug English had a spectacular career at Texas," said NFF President and CEO Steve Hatchell. "He was a dominant defensive tackle at the time when the Southwest Conference was a dominant conference, and the Longhorns were the dominant team. We're extremely proud to highlight his accomplishments. It will be a thrill to honor him in front of the Longhorn fans on Oct. 29."
A two-time All-Southwest Conference defensive tackle, English aided Texas to two SWC titles, and despite playing a low-profile spot on the defensive line, he managed to average 10 tackles per game during his career from 1972-74. During his run in Austin, the Longhorns posted three top 20 finishes, including a 10-1 mark and No. 3 final AP ranking in 1972. The 1972 season concluded with a Cotton Bowl triumph over No. 4 Alabama. English accumulated 260 career tackles and four forced fumbles, including 105 tackles in his senior season. Named a First Team All-American and team captain as a senior, English received UT's George "Hook" McCullough Outstanding Football Player Award and the D. Harold Byrd Leadership Award. He was elected to the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1986.
A second-round selection in the 1975 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, English enjoyed a 10-year career in which he played in four Pro Bowls and was named a First Team All-Pro in 1982 and a Second Team All-Pro the following season. He started 98-of-131 career contests, recorded 25 total sacks and recorded a career-best 13 sacks in 1983. English holds the NFL career record with four safeties.
A resident of Austin, Texas, English is the owner of a supplier logistics company. He is also the founder and president of Lone Star Paralysis Foundation, which has raised $2.4 million dedicated to research paralysis from spinal cord injuries. The foundation has hosted the Lone Star Classic, a celebrity golf tournament, for 25 years. English and his wife, Claire, have two children.
English becomes the 16th former Texas player to be selected for the College Football Hall of Fame, joining (with year of induction) Bobby Layne (1968), Bud Sprague (1970), Malcolm Kutner (1974), Harrison Stafford (1975), Tommy Nobis (1981), Bud McFadin (1983), Earl Campbell (1990), Hub Bechtol (1991), James Saxton (1996), Chris Gilbert (1999), Harley Sewell (2000), Jerry Sisemore (2002), Roosevelt Leaks (2005), Johnnie Johnson (2007), and Steve McMichael (2009). Hall of Fame coaches who headed the program in Austin include Darrell Royal (1983) and Dana Bible (1951).
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.
