UH still waiting for first College Football Hall of Fame inductee

DALLAS » With 15 inductees Friday, the College Football Hall of Fame said it has 963 players and 209 coaches representing 302 schools.

Largely absent is the University of Hawaii.

One who played against Hawaii, Texas running back Ricky Williams, was in the 63rd induction class announced at the site of the College Football Playoff festivities, but no UH players.

The closest UH has to an honoree is a coach, Clark Shaughnessy, and that is tenuous.

Shaughnessy coached at seven schools (Tulane, Chicago, Stanford, Loyola of New Orleans, Maryland, Pittsburgh and UH) but spent only one year, 1965, in Manoa.

He was 1-8-1.

Requirements for nomination include All-American status as a player and a minimum 60 percent winning percentage for coaches.

Among the most notable omissions for UH are running back Tommy Kaulukukui, UH’s first All-American in 1935; Al Noga, a 1986 All-American; and kicker Jason Elam, a 1992 All-American.

The state of Hawaii has a representative in "Squirmin’" Herman Wedemeyer, a Saint Louis School graduate who played for St. Mary’s (1943 and 45-47). He was inducted in 1979.

The only candidate with Hawaii ties to appear on this year’s ballot was Leilehua graduate Al Harris, a defensive end for Arizona State who was a unanimous first-team All-American and Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy finalist in 1978.

Derek Inouchi, UH’s sports information director, said the school has nominated several candidates over the years without success.

Other players selected by the National Football Foundation to the Hall of Fame on Friday were: Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, ex-Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth, Nebraska linebacker Trev Alberts, Arizona State linebacker Bob Breunig, Millsaps defensive end Sean Brewer from Division III, Pittsburgh offensive tackle Ruben Brown, Florida split end Wes Chandler, Notre Dame split end Thom Gatewood, Yale running back Dick Jauron, Michigan State halfback Clinton Jones, Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, Michigan running back Rob Lytle, Marshall quarterback Michael Payton, Texas Tech linebacker Zach Thomas and Kentucky defensive lineman Art Still.