Museum curator Kent Stephens describes five can’t-miss items at the College Football Hall of Fame:
Engraved eye-glass case
The case was given to John Heisman by his 1916 Georgia Tech team. Tech was the first southern school to win a national title (1917). Heisman coached at Tech from 1904-19. He also coached basketball and baseball at the school. He went on to coach at Penn, Washington and Jefferson and Rice.
Heisman helmet
Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago was the first winner in 1935 of what would become known as the Heisman Trophy. Because of an injury he had a “home-made” face mask. He was often called the “Man in the Iron Mask.” In 1936, he became the first player selected in the first NFL draft.
Red’s jersey
Red Grange of Illinois was to college football what Babe Ruth was to baseball. In the dedication game of Illinois Memorial Stadium (vs. Michigan on Oct. 28, 1924), he scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes on runs of 95, 67, 56 and 44 yards.
Trombone and case
Gary Tyrrell of the Stanford band was an unassuming bystander in the end zone (in a game against California) when on the final play of the game Cal used five laterals to score the game-winning touchdown. Kevin Moen, the man who threw the first lateral, caught the final toss and crashed into Tyrrell after weaving his way through the Stanford band on Nov. 20, 1982.
Bear Bryant football
In beating Auburn 28-17 in a 1981 game, Alabama coach Bear Bryant won his 315th game to move ahead of Amos Alonzo Stagg on the all-time win list to become the game’s all-time leader in coaching wins. However, later research showed that Pop Warner had 319 wins, so in reality Bryant did not become the all-time leader that day. The research became mute as Bryant finished his career with 323 wins.
About the Author
