SOUTH BEND, Ind. ? Former Georgia Southern All-America quarterback Tracy Ham will officially take his place among College Football's elite this weekend. As announced in May, Ham will join the College Football Hall of Fame, one of six inducted at the Divisional level.
Festivities will begin Friday (July 20) and include: Celebrity Golf Scramble, Beach Party and Outdoor Concert and an Autograph Session. Saturday's events consist of: an Enshrinement Fanfest, Grand Parade through downtown South Bend, Flag Football Game, Youth Football Clinic, Autograph Session and the weekend will be highlighted by the Enshrinement Dinner.
To say that being a member of the Hall of Fame is a distinct honor would be an understatement. Of the 4.7 million student-athletes who have played college football just more than 800 have earned the Hall of Fame honor. Ham becomes the first member of the Georgia Southern Football program to receive the distinction.
Ham will share in the weekend festivities with his wife Valerie, sons Tracy II and Caleb. In fact, a contingent from Georgia Southern University will make up just part of the group that is in attendance to share the moment. According to Ham, enjoying the weekend with family is just one of the things he is looking forward to.
“I'm looking forward to enjoying the weekend with my family. My brothers and sisters, other family members and friends are coming in. People from the High Springs (his hometown in Florida) and Statesboro communities will be here as well. It's great to be able to share this with members from all the communities that helped make and mold me,” said Ham.
Ham, who arrived in South Bend on Thursday afternoon, said the moment hasn't quite sunk in yet.
“We just arrived (today) and the moment is starting to sink in. I already met Charlie Ward (Bowl Division inductee), and I rode on the plane with Jesse Tuggle and Billy Joe (fellow Division inductees). So I am starting to meet all the fellow inductees,” said Ham. “The volunteers and staff for the Hall of Fame have all been great... Everything has been really upbeat. I'm trying to embrace the moment. It has been a lot of fun so far and we are just getting started.”
Ham began his Georgia Southern playing career in 1983, just one year after the Eagles restarted the program with the legendary Erk Russell as head coach. The amazing feats that occurred during Ham's four-year career as starting quarterback helped build the foundation for future success.
After just missing out on a playoffs berth in 1984, the following year Ham led the Eagles to the first of two consecutive NCAA Division I FCS National Championships. What makes the feat even more impressive is considering the championships were won in just the second and third year Georgia Southern officially became a FCS member.
He earned First Team All-America honors his senior year in 1986. Ham still holds more than 20 game, season and career records at Georgia Southern and owns 21 playoff game records. Over his four-year career Ham led the Eagles to a 40-12 record in that span, including an undefeated 8-0 mark in postseason action.
Ham currently stands sixth all-time among the Georgia Southern leaders in rushing yards (3,212), first in passing yards (5,757), first in total offense (8,969) and first in career passing TDs (34).
During his All-America senior season, Ham's incredible athleticism landed him in the nation's ?Top 20' in passing efficiency, scoring, total offense and rushing. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1987 NFL Draft and went on to play 13 successful seasons in the Canadian Football League. During his stellar professional career he won two Grey Cups and league MVP laurels in 1989.
Always active in the community, Ham has served as a deacon at Whitesville Baptist Church since 1998 and worked with various organizations including: First Southern Bank (Statesboro, Ga.) Board of Directors; Statesboro (Ga.) Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee member; Athletes in Action team ministry; Spokesman for the United Way; Spokesman for Prostate Cancer Awareness; the Boys and Girls Club of Statesboro; and Committee member for Bethesda Home for Boys.
“I am honored to help continue passing along the Georgia Southern legacy. Georgia Southern has always been on the map, now when fans from all around the country come to visit the Hall of Fame they will get the opportunity to learn more about the Eagles. To see Georgia Southern get recognition in the Hall of Fame is a great feeling, not only for myself but for the entire Georgia Southern community.”
According to Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Sam Baker, “Tracy has always meant a great deal to the Georgia Southern Football program. He is an outstanding ambassador of not only the Football program, but the entire University. Looking back on all of Tracy's honors and what he accomplished both on and off the football field, one can understand how deserving he is of this prestigious award. As the National Football Foundation stated, 4.7 million student-athletes have played collegiate football and now Tracy joins an elite group that will forever be remembered.”
The National Football Foundation announced the 2007 Hall of Fame Divisional Class in May, which consists of four players and two coaches. The Divisional Class considers players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions II and III and the NAIA for induction.
The 2007 Divisional Induction Class includes: Tracy Ham; Joe Kendall (QB at Kentucky State from 1934-36); Frank Sheptock (Linebacker from Bloomsburg {Pa.} from 1982-85); Jessie Tuggle (Linebacker from Valdosta State from 1983-86); Jim Christopherson (coach from Concordia College {Minn.} from 1969-2000); and William ?Billy' Joe (coach at Florida A&M from 1994-2004, Central State {Ohio} from 1981-93 and Cheyney {Pa.} from 1972-78).
Members of the 2007 Football Bowl Subdivision Enshrinement Class include: Bobby Anderson (QB/RB, Colorado from 1967-69); Bennie Blades (DB, Miami, FL from 1985-87); Carl Eller (OT, Minnesota from 1961-63); Steve Emtman (DL, Washington from 1989-91); Thomas Everett (FS, Baylor from 1983-86); Chad Hennings (DT, Air Force from 1984-87); Chip Kell (OG, Tennessee from 1968-70); Mike Phipps (QB, Purdue from 1967-69); Mike Rozier (RB, Nebraska from 1981-83); Jeff Siemon (LB, Stanford from 1968-71); Bruce Smith (DT, Virginia Tech from 1981-84); Emmitt Smith (RB, Florida from 1987-89); Charlie Ward (QB, Florida State from 1989, 1991-93); and Bobby Bowden (head coach at Samford from 1959-62, West Virginia from 1970-75 and Florida State from 1976-Present).
With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, a non-profit educational organization, runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. The NFF presents the MacArthur Trophy, the Draddy Trophy, presented by HealthSouth, and releases the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Standings. NFF programs include the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., Play It Smart, and annual scholarships of over $1 million for college and high school scholar-athletes. Learn more at www.footballfoundation.org.
