Joe and Kendall enter College Football Hall of Fame
July 22, 2007
Former Florida A&M head football coach William "Billy" Joe and former Kentucky State star quarterback Joe Kendall were formally inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, during enshrinement ceremonies, July 19-21, in South Bend, Indiana. Joe and Kendall, who was honored posthumously, were among six honorees in this year's the Hall of Fame Divisional Class for 2007
Joe Kendall
Billy Joe
Nicknamed “Tarzan” for his athletic prowess, Kendall dominated black college football in the 1930s while leading Kentucky State to a national championship in 1934. He led the Thorobreds to a 1935 Orange Blossom Classic victory over Florida A&M en route to an impressive 29-7-3 overall record during his playing years.
A three-time First Team All-America selection from 1934-36 by the Pittsburgh Courier, Kendall is the first person in KSU history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Kentucky State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975. Following his player career, Kendall served as a coach, teacher and school principal. As a result of his significant contributions as a recreational director in Owensboro, Ky., a park was named in his honor.
Few coaches can match the unparalleled gridiron success of Joe’s storied career. Having captured seven National Black College Football Championships and two NAIA national titles, he enterd the College Football Hall of Fame as one of the most highly decorated black college football coaches in history.
Joe’s 237 career victories place him fourth on the Football Championship Subdivision’s all-time winningest coaches ranks and position him second only to the legendary Eddie Robinson in the black college football standings.
At Florida A&M, he led the Rattlers to an unprecedented five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles, while garnering three of the conference’s Coach of the Year accolades. He also spent ten consecutive seasons in the NAIA playoffs while at Central State.
Throughout his 31 years as a head coach, Joe compiled 26 winning seasons and coached five Black College National Players of the Year. Highly respected among his peers, he served as vice president of the American Football Coaches Association in 1993 and was elected president of the organization in 1995.
The 2007 class includes:
PLAYERS
Tracy Ham - QB, Georgia Southern, 1983- 86
Joe Kendall - QB, Kentucky State, 1934- 36
Frank Sheptock - LB, Bloomsburg (Pa.), 1982-85
Jessie Tuggle - LB, Valdosta State (Ga.), 1983-86
COACHES
Jim Christopherson - Concordia College (Minn.) (1969-2000), 218-101-7
William "Billy" Joe - Florida A&M (1994-2004), Central State (Ohio) (1981-93), Cheyney (Pa.) (1972-78), 237-108-4
Pictured:
William " Billy" Joe
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Monday, July 30th 2007 at 4:18AM
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