Friesz joins Rice in stellar class
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Former University of Idaho Vandals quarterback John Friesz and former Mississippi Valley State wide receiver Jerry Rice were among 20 players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Friesz played at Idaho from 1986-88 and led the nation as a senior in total offense with 350 yards per game. He was second in the nation in 1988 in passing efficiency, completing 260 of 425 passes for 4,041 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Friesz was a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation’s top passer. He ranked fifth when he finished school on the all-time NCAA list with 10,697 yards. He held five collegiate, 18 conference and 24 school records.
Rice, the NFL’s all-time leading receiver in catches, yards and touchdowns, took some ribbing because he had just two catches in the afternoon’s flag football game.
“They were trying to shut me down,” he said.
Rice said his college days seem like a blur.
“It went by so fast. You’re so focused,” Rice said. “I wish I could go back and do it all over again.”
That was a common feeling among the men being enshrined. Former Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett, former Pittsburgh offensive tackle Mark May and Oklahoma running back Joe Washington all said they would love to live those days again.
Even fullback Roosevelt Leaks, who faced some obstacles in becoming the first black All-America football player at Texas, said he would gladly do it again, even if it might have been a little more difficult for him.
“We all travel different roads,” Leaks said. “Whether it was a tougher road or not, there are always obstacles on the road. You keep moving forward. The things that deter you, they usually make you better.”
May, a college football analyst for ESPN, said the thing he remembers best from college is the friendships.
“The camaraderie you built with your teammates was special. The relationships you build then stick with you the rest of your life,” he said.
Others being inducted into the hall included Southern California tailback Anthony Davis, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback John Huarte of Notre Dame, Stanford defensive tackle Paul Wiggin and Michigan defensive back Tom Curtis, along with former Auburn coach Pat Dye and former West Virginia coach Don Nehlen.
Much of the talk Saturday centered on how special college was. Player after player talked about how much fun it was compared to the businesslike NFL.
Rice said not everything in college was fun and games. Going to a small school like Mississippi Valley State forced him to work harder to reach his goals.
“It molded me into the player I became,” he said.
Rice, generally regarded as the greatest receiver of all time, retired from the NFL with 38 records and three Super Bowl titles. He said he’s happy his induction into the hall is bringing some attention to Mississippi Valley State.
“It’s the icing on the cake,” he said.