NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Tuesday 20 inductees, including two teams, to the inaugural XULA Athletic Hall of Fame.

Inductees will be honored Nov. 3 during a 6 p.m. CDT banquet in the third-floor ballroom of XULA’s University Center. Inductees also will be recognized during XULA’s homecoming basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center the afternoon of Nov. 5.

Inductees or their survivors must contact Nathan Cochran — XULA’s executive director of athletics and recreation — at (504) 520-7329 or ncochran@xula.edu to confirm their participation in the November events.

The inductees are:
•  Marino Casem (football)
•  Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (men’s basketball)
•  Cassee Davis (women’s basketball)
•  Herb Douglas (men’s track and field)
•  Alvin “Bo” Dukes (men’s basketball)
•  Sister Grace Mary Flickinger (administrator)
•  Dr. Norman C. Francis (administrator)
•  Bernard Griffith (men’s basketball)
•  Janice Joseph-Richard (women’s basketball)
•  Kenny Loyd (men’s basketball)
•  Jimmie McDaniel (men’s tennis)
•  Henrietta Mitchell (women’s basketball)
•  Alfred Priestley (football coach)
•  Anthony Rachal (administrator)
•  Bruce Seals (men’s basketball)
•  Team, 1940-41 men’s basketball
— Joseph Connor
— Frank Crozier
— Leonidas Epps
— Oscar Green
— James Hall
— Henry Harris
— Wince King
— Ben Mourning
— Charles Perkins
— Edgar Reeves
— Eugene Saffold
— Allen Summers
— Lucius Thomas
— Eldridge Williams
— Oliver Williams
— Coach Giles Wright
•  Team, 1942 men’s track and field 440-yard relay
— Herb Douglas
— William Morton
— Clarence Doak
— Howard Mitchell
•  Otis Washington (football, baseball)
•  Donald “Slick” Watts (men’s basketball)
•  Kay Williams (women’s basketball)

A committee selected the inductees based on XULA and post-XULA accomplishments.
Future nominees can be submitted in two ways:
•  Online by clicking here
•  A letter of nomination emphasizing a candidate’s qualifications sent to Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, Box 92, New Orleans, LA 70125

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Four former Florida A&M University (FAMU) football players and one former coach were among the 25 finalists named for the 2021 Black College Football Hall of Fame. 

Punter Greg Coleman (1972-75), offensive lineman Henry Lawrence (1970-73), offensive lineman, Tyrone McGriff (1976-79) and offensive lineman Nate Newton (1979-82) were among the 22 players selected as finalists. Rudy Hubbard, who guided the Rattlers to its only NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship in 1978, was named one of three coaching finalists. 

The finalists were selected from a field of more than 150 nominees by an 11-member selection committee comprised of prominent journalists, commentators, historians, former NFL general managers and football executives. 

“Being named a finalist for the Black College Football Hall of Fame should be celebrated. The list of 25 highlights the amount of talent to come from historically Black colleges and universities,” Black College Football Co-Founder and 2012 inductee James “Shack” Harris said. 

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was founded in 2009 by Harris and former Grambling State University quarterback Doug Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest football players, coaches and contributors from HBCUs.  

FAMU has placed six members into the Black College Football Hall of Fame – coach Jake Gaither (2010), running back Willie Galimore (2010), wide receiver “Bullet” Bob Hayes (2011), quarterback Ken Riley (2015), coach Billy Joe (2017) and coach Joe Taylor (2020). 

This year’s inductees will be announced on Nov. 19 and will be honored during the Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Feb. 20, 2021 in Atlanta. 

“As chairman of the selection committee, I’m extremely proud of the work and effort the committee has put in to come up with the finalists who are being considered for induction. It’s not an easy task, because every name on the list is deserving to be in the Black College Football Hall of Fame,” Committee Chairman Charlie Neal said. 

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | Legendary Florida A&M University head football coach Rudy Hubbard was among the candidates announced on the 2021 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, announced this week by the National Football Foundation (NFF).

The ballot was sent to more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF’s Honors Courts, which will deliberate and select the class.

Hubbard, a native of Hubbard, Ohio, lettered as a running back at Ohio State from 1965 to 1967. Following his graduation from Ohio State, Hubbard remained with the Buckeyes for six seasons as an assistant coach under Woody Hayes. 

Hubbard’s legendary journey as a head coach began in 1974 at Florida A&M. The Rattlers went 6-5 that first season and 9-2 the following year. In 1976, FAMU went 6-3-2, then began a stretch from 1977 to 1979 where the Rattlers compiled a 30-5 record, including an unbeaten 11-0 mark and a Black College Football National Championship in 1977.

In 1978, Hubbard guided Florida A&M to a 12-1 record and wrapped up the season winning the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship as the Rattlers defeated UMass, 35-28. With that championship win, Florida A&M remains the only HBCU to have won the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship (now called FCS National Championship).

One year after winning a national title, Hubbard’s Rattlers claimed another monumental victory as FAMU defeated the University of Miami (Fla.), 16-13.

During his 12 seasons at Florida A&M, Hubbard compiled an 83-48-3 overall record, the third most wins in school history behind fellow FAMU coaches Jake Gaither (203) and Billy Joe (86). 

Hubbard ended his collegiate coaching career in 1985, but returned to the sidelines as head coach at James S. Rickards High School from 2008-2011.

The announcement of the 2021 CFHOF class will be made in early 2021, with specific details to be announced in the future. The 2021 CFHOF class will be officially inducted during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 7, 2021, at the New York Hilton Midtown. They will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2021 season.
 
Click here to view the full criteria and candidates for the CFHOF.

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