Oct. 23, 2014
ARLINGTON, Texas - UT Arlington Hall of Honor member Bruce Collie on the 2015 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, as announced by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Collie played offensive tackle for UT Arlington from 1981-84, earning first-team All-American honors as a senior. He helped lead the Mavericks to the 1981 Southland Conference title and was a three-time All-SLC selection.
The San Antonio native was drafted in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by San Francisco. Collie played for the 49ers from 1985-89, winning Super Bowls the last two seasons. He also played for Philadelphia Eagles (1990-91).
The 2015 ballot includes 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, and 87 players and 25 coaches from the divisional ranks.
The announcement of the 2015 class, including the players and coaches from both the Football Bowl Division and the divisional ranks, will be made Jan. 9 at the media hotel in close proximity to AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the site of the Jan. 12 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game. Several of the inductees will be on site to represent the class, sharing their thoughts on induction and also participating in the Jan. 12 pre-game festivities. The Jan. 9 announcement will be carried live on www.footballfoundation.org.
"Having a ballot and a voice in the selection of the inductees is one of the most cherished NFF member benefits," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Ole Miss. "There is no group more knowledgeable or passionate about college football than our membership, and the tradition of the ballot helps us engage them in the lofty responsibility of selecting those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in our sport."
"We would like to thank CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock and his staff for the opportunity to announce our Hall of Fame Class in conjunction with the Championship Game," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We believe the presence of the national media at the title game will significantly raise the profile of the announcement, allowing us to shine a much brighter light on the accomplishments of our game's greatest legends."
To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a First Team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 years prior; played within the last 50 years and cannot be currently playing professional football. Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60 percent of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years. If a coach is retired and over the age of 70, there is no waiting period. If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. In both cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
Once nominated for consideration, all player candidates are submitted to one of eight District Screening Committees, depending on their school's geographic location, which conducts a vote to determine who will appear on the ballot and represent their respective districts. Each year, approximately 15 candidates, who are not selected for the Hall of Fame, will be named automatic holdovers and will bypass the district screening process and automatically appear on the ballot the following year. Additionally, the Veterans Committee may make recommendations to the Honors Court for exceptions that allow for the induction of players who played more than 50 years ago.
