Goodyear Blimp will be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

The Goodyear Blimp is flying into rarefied air.

As a nod to its influence and legacy to the game, the iconic airship is being inducted into Atlanta’s College Football Hall of Fame as an honorary member — the first non-player or coach to be inducted. The latest class of 13 players and two coaches was scheduled to be announced later Monday.

» More: Former Atlanta Falcons on College Hall ballot

The blimp’s flight to fame began during the telecast for the 1955 Rose Bowl Game and has led to it being an eye in the sky at over 2,000 games, hovering above stadiums from coast to coast.

Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning said the blimp’s presence “is intrinsically known and tied to the traditions that make college football so great.” Manning is the National Football Foundation chairman.

The Goodyear Blimp was the first to provide aerial coverage of a major sports event and first to deliver high definition live video to a national game.

About the Author

The Associated Press

Three takeaways from the Dream’s statement win

It’s Bo time: Blanchard runs away with 104th Georgia Amateur

Father’s Day brings memories of baseball trips with my son, with a goal in mind

AJC Senior Sports Editor Rod Beard and his son Jonathan have been to 19 of the 30 Major League Baseball parks, a tradition they started years ago.

The Latest

Credit: Mike Stewart/AP

OPINION

Sports Daily: Braves begin a crucial stretch

Atlanta TV sports listings

OPINION

Sports Daily: The deal with this soccer thing

Featured

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com

Today’s primary could help determine how much you pay for electricity

It’s the first time Georgia’s approximately 8.4 million registered voters have had the opportunity to vote in a Public Service Commission primary election in three years.

Atlanta finally has new tree protection rules. Some say it’s not enough.

Several Atlanta City Council members said they believe more needs to be done to protect trees in the “city in the forest."

Feds say Georgia tax preparer’s fraud likely cost the U.S. millions

Years of fraud by a Georgia tax return preparer has likely cost the IRS millions of dollars, the Justice Department says in a lawsuit seeking to put her out of business.