By the Numbers
HBCUs produced 30 Pro Football Hall of Fame members…There are seven NBA members and 3 coaches in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame…the National Track & Field Hall has 12 members and seven coaches…only three members reached the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame….Canadian Football League – 10…Olympics- 20 men and 29 women…and counting. Here are three of the standard beares
Jerry "All World" Rice
Walter "Sweetness" Payton
"Bullet" Bob Hayes
Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State…NCAA All-time record holder: 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns (1981-84)
Pro career: 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards-197 touchdowns…still holds the all-time pass receiving records in the NFL
…the Mississippi Valley State grad is considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. Inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Walter Payton, Jackson State… rushed for more than 3,600 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry… set school record for career rushing touchdowns -65 and a school record 24 rushing touchdowns in 1974…held NFL records for career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, yards from scrimmage, all-purpose yards, and more… prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is named in his honor. Inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bob Hayes, Florida A&M is inducted into three Halls of Fame – the Pro Football Hall of Fame, National Track & Field and the Olympic Hall of Fame.
Dubbed ‘World’s fastest human‘ as the first man to break ten seconds for the 100 meters in the semi-finals of the 1964 Olympics…2-time Gold medalist…
3× Pro Bowl…2× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1965-66)…Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor…Super Bowl champion (VI).