Texas H.S. Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017...
Sunday, 16th October 2016 - 11:01AM
I'm a proud member of the board of the Texas HSFB Hall of Fame and also proud two former East Texans (Lovie Smith, Reggie McNeal) and a Central Texans (Joe Greene), among the others are being honored next year.
Smoaky
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2017
Presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance:
1950’s and before Tommy Joe Crutcher – McKinney High School
1960’s Joe Greene – Temple Dunbar High School
1970’s Lovie Smith – Big Sandy High School
1980’s Johnny Walker – San Antonio Holmes High School
1990’s Dat Nguyen – Rockport High School
2000’s Reggie McNeal – Lufkin High School
Eddie Joseph Coach Category – Steve Lineweaver – Euless Trinity High School
Eddie Joseph Coach Category – Eddy Peach – Arlington Lamar High School
Dave Campbell Contributor to the Game – Frank Arnold – Converse Judson
Please join us in welcoming the class of 2017 into the Hall of Fame May 6 at 6 p.m. at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center. Tickets cost $45 for adults and $15 for students. To order tickets, contact Tiffany Wilkins at [email protected] or (210) 290-8570.
Members of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame are selected by a statewide committee made up of sportswriters, high school football coaches and members of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees. The banquet will include presentations to the 2016 state championship coaches. The Gordon Wood Award will be presented to a deserving high school. The Texas High School Coaches Association will present the 2017 Tom Landry Award to an outstanding coach.
1950s AND BEFORE
TOMMY JOE CRUTCHER – McKinney High School
Speedy fullback and linebacker at McKinney High School rushed for 1,070 yards in 13 games, leading Lions to 1958 Class 3A semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Breckenridge. A year later, earned 3A all-state and all-American honors when he rushed for 850 yards on 143 carries despite missing 3 games with a shoulder injury. Became 3-year starter at TCU, leading Frogs in rushing each season to finish his career with 1,583 yards and 10 TDs. First-team all-American as a senior fullback in 1963. Drafted by Green Bay in 1964 as a linebacker, he spent 8 seasons in the NFL and was part of the last team to win three straight titles, including the first two Super Bowls, in 1965-67.
1960s
JOE GREENE – Temple Dunbar High School
Played linebacker at Temple Dunbar High School where he was recruited by North Texas. Greene boosted North Texas to one of the most successful periods in program history as the Mean Green went 23-5-1 during Greene’s three varsity seasons. Greene was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He went on to win four Super Bowl rings as a cornerstone of the Steelers’ “Steel Curtain Defense.” Greene was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
1970s
LOVIE SMITH – Big Sandy High School
Played a vital role on one of the great defenses in the history of Texas high school football when he helped Big Sandy win three consecutive state championships in 1973, 1974 and 1975. Smith, Big Sandy’s middle linebacker, and the Wildcats surrendered just 15 points during the 1975 campaign when they went 14-0 and defeated Groom 26-2 for the Class B state title. His bio on the Illinois athletics website states that Smith was an All-State selection at defensive end and linebacker and that he twice earned All-American honors at Tulsa during his college career. After his college playing career, Smith returned to Big Sandy as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator. That began a prestigious coaching career that is still going. Smith coached defense in college from 1983 to 1995. Then he left Ohio State as the defensive backs coach to join the staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He eventually became the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams and head coach of the Chicago Bears and Buccaneers before returning to college football as head coach at Illinois in 2016.
1980s
JOHNNY WALKER – San Antonio Holmes High School
State’s top-rated wideout was first option on perhaps best receiving corps in Texas history (with twins Keith, Kerry Cash). Named to 1986 Texas Football Super Team, 5A all-state first team as Huskies went 24-3 overall with 5 playoff wins his last 2 years. Signed with Texas, where he finished No. 2 on all-time receptions list (114), earned all-SWC honors in 1989-90. Taken by Atlanta in third round of 1990 MLB draft, by Green Bay in eighth of ’91 NFL draft.
1990s
DAT NGUYEN – Rockport High School
Helped lift Rockport-Fulton to a 9-1-2 season and its first district championship in 20 years as a junior in 1992. He had key game-changing tackles, causing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a district win over Taft, and another big hit that shifted momentum in a pivotal district tie versus Sinton. The Pirates posted a 17-4-2 record during Nguyen’s junior and senior seasons. Nguyen drew the attention of college recruiters and came close to signing with Michigan before Texas A&M wooed him and he signed with the Aggies. Nguyen thrived at Texas A&M, earning first-team All-Big 12 three times and capturing the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in 1998. He also won the Chuck Bednarik Award and earned All-American honors in 1998. He made the Big 12 10th Anniversary Team in 2005 and the Associated Press All-Time Big 12 Team in 2010. Nguyen finished his Texas A&M career with 517 tackles and an Aggie-record 51 straight starts. During a seven-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, Nguyen made the all-rookie team in 1999, was named second-team All-Pro in 2003 and finished with 389 career tackles.
2000s
Reggie McNeal – Lufkin High School
Multi-sport star led Panthers to Class 5A (now 6A) Div. II state title in 2001, running for 159 yards and passing for 223 to rally Lufkin from a 21-3 deficit to beat Austin Westlake, 38-24. Finished season with 2,385 yards passing (134 of 307) for 24 TDs, 856 yards and 10 TDs rushing, plus 7 interceptions as a crunch-time DB to earn all-state honors for second straight season and East Texas Player of Year honors. Three-year-starter led Lufkin to 33-8 mark (9-2 in playoffs), with 5,935 yards passing and 64 TDs. Named Offensive Player of Year and all-American by SuperPrep, which ranked him No. 3 QB recruit in nation. Signed with Texas A&M. Three-year starter for Aggies finished atop A&M’s career list for passing yards (6,992), total offense (8,876). Chosen by Cincinnati in 2006 NFL Draft, spent parts of 7 seasons in NFL and CFL.
COACHES CATEGORY HONORING EDDIE JOSEPH
STEVE LINEWEAVER – Euless Trinity High School
In 22 seasons at Commerce (1993-99) and Euless Trinity (2000-14), Lineweaver posted a 257-43-2 mark (.851), with 17 district titles and 5 runnerup finishes. Record at Trinity was 176-29, including 43-12 in the playoffs. He led the Trojans to 6A state titles in 2005-07-09, reached the finals in 2010, and made 5 other trips to the semis or quarterfinals. He was 81-14-2 at Commerce, winning a 3A state title with a 16-0 team in 1999 and could have won a co-championship in ’95 with an extra point but went for a two-point conversion late in a 21-20 loss to Sealy. Lineweaver also served as offensive coordinator for Southlake Carroll teams that won two titles and 72 straight regular-season games under Bob Ledbetter. Emphasis on team bonding at Trinity was manifested in pregame dances, the Haka and Sipi Tau, that saluted the Tongan heritage of several players and hav e become trademark of the program.
COACHES CATEGORY HONORING EDDIE JOSEPH
EDDY PEACH – Arlington Lamar High School
Coached at Arlington Lamar for 39 seasons — from the day the school opened in 1970 to his retirement in 2010 — and is first coach in Texas history to win 300 games at the state‘s highest level. His 309-124-6 record puts him seventh on Texas’ all-time wins list. Teams won 16 district titles in 39 years, went 13 seasons (1988-2000) without missing playoffs. Led Lamar to 5A Division II championship game in 1990, losing to Aldine, and to semifinals in 2000 and 2003. All-American baseball player at Oklahoma, got first varsity coaching job with Arlington baseball team. When Lamar opened, hired as first football coach, and coached first varsity football game in 1971.
DAVE CAMPBELL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GAME
FRANK ARNOLD – Converse Judson
Served as athletic director at Converse Judson for 21 years, following a 20-year teaching and coaching career in the San Antonio area. Became the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Judson in 1980 and led the Rockets to the 5A state championship in 1983. Named the Texas Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year in 2003. Became Judson’s AD in 1984 and appointed assistant coach D.W. Rutledge as the Rockets’ head football coach. Rutledge won four state championships while guiding the Rockets. When Rutledge moved on to lead the THSCA in 2001, Arnold hired Jim Rackley, who took the Rockets to the state title in 2002. However, Arnold was known and respected by Judson coaches for leading the entire athletic department and helping all Rockets sports flourish. Arnold has been inducted into the THSCA Hall of Honor, the THSCA Athletic Director s Hall of Honor and the San Antonio Sports Foundation Hall of Fame among others. The Judson athletic facilities were renamed the “Frank Arnold Athletic Center” in 2006.
Smoaky
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2017
Presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance:
1950’s and before Tommy Joe Crutcher – McKinney High School
1960’s Joe Greene – Temple Dunbar High School
1970’s Lovie Smith – Big Sandy High School
1980’s Johnny Walker – San Antonio Holmes High School
1990’s Dat Nguyen – Rockport High School
2000’s Reggie McNeal – Lufkin High School
Eddie Joseph Coach Category – Steve Lineweaver – Euless Trinity High School
Eddie Joseph Coach Category – Eddy Peach – Arlington Lamar High School
Dave Campbell Contributor to the Game – Frank Arnold – Converse Judson
Please join us in welcoming the class of 2017 into the Hall of Fame May 6 at 6 p.m. at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center. Tickets cost $45 for adults and $15 for students. To order tickets, contact Tiffany Wilkins at [email protected] or (210) 290-8570.
Members of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame are selected by a statewide committee made up of sportswriters, high school football coaches and members of the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Board of Trustees. The banquet will include presentations to the 2016 state championship coaches. The Gordon Wood Award will be presented to a deserving high school. The Texas High School Coaches Association will present the 2017 Tom Landry Award to an outstanding coach.
1950s AND BEFORE
TOMMY JOE CRUTCHER – McKinney High School
Speedy fullback and linebacker at McKinney High School rushed for 1,070 yards in 13 games, leading Lions to 1958 Class 3A semifinals, where they lost to eventual state champion Breckenridge. A year later, earned 3A all-state and all-American honors when he rushed for 850 yards on 143 carries despite missing 3 games with a shoulder injury. Became 3-year starter at TCU, leading Frogs in rushing each season to finish his career with 1,583 yards and 10 TDs. First-team all-American as a senior fullback in 1963. Drafted by Green Bay in 1964 as a linebacker, he spent 8 seasons in the NFL and was part of the last team to win three straight titles, including the first two Super Bowls, in 1965-67.
1960s
JOE GREENE – Temple Dunbar High School
Played linebacker at Temple Dunbar High School where he was recruited by North Texas. Greene boosted North Texas to one of the most successful periods in program history as the Mean Green went 23-5-1 during Greene’s three varsity seasons. Greene was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He went on to win four Super Bowl rings as a cornerstone of the Steelers’ “Steel Curtain Defense.” Greene was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
1970s
LOVIE SMITH – Big Sandy High School
Played a vital role on one of the great defenses in the history of Texas high school football when he helped Big Sandy win three consecutive state championships in 1973, 1974 and 1975. Smith, Big Sandy’s middle linebacker, and the Wildcats surrendered just 15 points during the 1975 campaign when they went 14-0 and defeated Groom 26-2 for the Class B state title. His bio on the Illinois athletics website states that Smith was an All-State selection at defensive end and linebacker and that he twice earned All-American honors at Tulsa during his college career. After his college playing career, Smith returned to Big Sandy as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator. That began a prestigious coaching career that is still going. Smith coached defense in college from 1983 to 1995. Then he left Ohio State as the defensive backs coach to join the staff of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He eventually became the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams and head coach of the Chicago Bears and Buccaneers before returning to college football as head coach at Illinois in 2016.
1980s
JOHNNY WALKER – San Antonio Holmes High School
State’s top-rated wideout was first option on perhaps best receiving corps in Texas history (with twins Keith, Kerry Cash). Named to 1986 Texas Football Super Team, 5A all-state first team as Huskies went 24-3 overall with 5 playoff wins his last 2 years. Signed with Texas, where he finished No. 2 on all-time receptions list (114), earned all-SWC honors in 1989-90. Taken by Atlanta in third round of 1990 MLB draft, by Green Bay in eighth of ’91 NFL draft.
1990s
DAT NGUYEN – Rockport High School
Helped lift Rockport-Fulton to a 9-1-2 season and its first district championship in 20 years as a junior in 1992. He had key game-changing tackles, causing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in a district win over Taft, and another big hit that shifted momentum in a pivotal district tie versus Sinton. The Pirates posted a 17-4-2 record during Nguyen’s junior and senior seasons. Nguyen drew the attention of college recruiters and came close to signing with Michigan before Texas A&M wooed him and he signed with the Aggies. Nguyen thrived at Texas A&M, earning first-team All-Big 12 three times and capturing the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in 1998. He also won the Chuck Bednarik Award and earned All-American honors in 1998. He made the Big 12 10th Anniversary Team in 2005 and the Associated Press All-Time Big 12 Team in 2010. Nguyen finished his Texas A&M career with 517 tackles and an Aggie-record 51 straight starts. During a seven-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys, Nguyen made the all-rookie team in 1999, was named second-team All-Pro in 2003 and finished with 389 career tackles.
2000s
Reggie McNeal – Lufkin High School
Multi-sport star led Panthers to Class 5A (now 6A) Div. II state title in 2001, running for 159 yards and passing for 223 to rally Lufkin from a 21-3 deficit to beat Austin Westlake, 38-24. Finished season with 2,385 yards passing (134 of 307) for 24 TDs, 856 yards and 10 TDs rushing, plus 7 interceptions as a crunch-time DB to earn all-state honors for second straight season and East Texas Player of Year honors. Three-year-starter led Lufkin to 33-8 mark (9-2 in playoffs), with 5,935 yards passing and 64 TDs. Named Offensive Player of Year and all-American by SuperPrep, which ranked him No. 3 QB recruit in nation. Signed with Texas A&M. Three-year starter for Aggies finished atop A&M’s career list for passing yards (6,992), total offense (8,876). Chosen by Cincinnati in 2006 NFL Draft, spent parts of 7 seasons in NFL and CFL.
COACHES CATEGORY HONORING EDDIE JOSEPH
STEVE LINEWEAVER – Euless Trinity High School
In 22 seasons at Commerce (1993-99) and Euless Trinity (2000-14), Lineweaver posted a 257-43-2 mark (.851), with 17 district titles and 5 runnerup finishes. Record at Trinity was 176-29, including 43-12 in the playoffs. He led the Trojans to 6A state titles in 2005-07-09, reached the finals in 2010, and made 5 other trips to the semis or quarterfinals. He was 81-14-2 at Commerce, winning a 3A state title with a 16-0 team in 1999 and could have won a co-championship in ’95 with an extra point but went for a two-point conversion late in a 21-20 loss to Sealy. Lineweaver also served as offensive coordinator for Southlake Carroll teams that won two titles and 72 straight regular-season games under Bob Ledbetter. Emphasis on team bonding at Trinity was manifested in pregame dances, the Haka and Sipi Tau, that saluted the Tongan heritage of several players and hav e become trademark of the program.
COACHES CATEGORY HONORING EDDIE JOSEPH
EDDY PEACH – Arlington Lamar High School
Coached at Arlington Lamar for 39 seasons — from the day the school opened in 1970 to his retirement in 2010 — and is first coach in Texas history to win 300 games at the state‘s highest level. His 309-124-6 record puts him seventh on Texas’ all-time wins list. Teams won 16 district titles in 39 years, went 13 seasons (1988-2000) without missing playoffs. Led Lamar to 5A Division II championship game in 1990, losing to Aldine, and to semifinals in 2000 and 2003. All-American baseball player at Oklahoma, got first varsity coaching job with Arlington baseball team. When Lamar opened, hired as first football coach, and coached first varsity football game in 1971.
DAVE CAMPBELL CONTRIBUTOR TO THE GAME
FRANK ARNOLD – Converse Judson
Served as athletic director at Converse Judson for 21 years, following a 20-year teaching and coaching career in the San Antonio area. Became the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Judson in 1980 and led the Rockets to the 5A state championship in 1983. Named the Texas Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year in 2003. Became Judson’s AD in 1984 and appointed assistant coach D.W. Rutledge as the Rockets’ head football coach. Rutledge won four state championships while guiding the Rockets. When Rutledge moved on to lead the THSCA in 2001, Arnold hired Jim Rackley, who took the Rockets to the state title in 2002. However, Arnold was known and respected by Judson coaches for leading the entire athletic department and helping all Rockets sports flourish. Arnold has been inducted into the THSCA Hall of Honor, the THSCA Athletic Director s Hall of Honor and the San Antonio Sports Foundation Hall of Fame among others. The Judson athletic facilities were renamed the “Frank Arnold Athletic Center” in 2006.
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