The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the members of the College Football Hall of Fame 2012 Divisional Class. The Divisional College Football Hall of Fame considers players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) for induction.

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This year’s class will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during the Enshrinement Festival, July 20-21, in South Bend, Ind. The class includes:

2012 DIVISIONAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS

PLAYERS:
CHRIS BISAILLON - Illinois Wesleyan, WR (1989-92)
JIM HOLDER* - Oklahoma Panhandle State, RB (1961-63)
RICHARD McGEORGE - Elon, TE (1966-69)
REX MIRICH - Northern Arizona, OT/DG (1960-63)

COACHES:
GENE CARPENTER* - Adams State [Colo.] (1968), Millersville [Pa.] (1970-2000); 220-96-6 (69.3%)
WILLIAM “LONE STAR” DIETZ* - Washington State (1915-17), Purdue (1921), Louisiana Tech (1922-23), Wyoming (1924-26), Haskell Indian Institute [Kan.] (1929-32), Albright [Pa.] (1937-42); 96-62-7 (60.3%)
RON HARMS - Concordia [Neb.] (1962-69), Adams State [Colo.] (1970-73), Texas A&M - Kingsville (1979-99); 218-117-4 (64.9%)
* Deceased

“This year’s class of Divisional College Football Hall of Fame inductees represents a wide range of competitors across our great sport,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, a 1989 Hall of Fame inductee from Ole Miss. “They have all achieved a great deal of success, and they should be applauded for their induction into college football’s ultimate shrine. We look forward to celebrating with them and their families this summer.”

The NFF launched its Divisional Hall of Fame program in 1996 during its annual enshrinement festival. A total of 137 players and coaches, counting this year’s class, have been inducted from the divisional ranks, including Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech), Walter Payton (Jackson State), John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), and coach Eddie Robinson (Grambling State). Of the 4.79 million who have played college football since 1869, the newest class of inductees joins only 914 players and 197 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.

RICHARD McGEORGE
Elon University
Tight End, 1966-69

The personification of the term “student-athlete", Richard McGeorge was named a two-time First Team All-American and an Academic All-American during his collegiate career. He is Elon’s first player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.

McGeorge rewrote Elon’s receiving records book, setting school career records by accumulating 224 receptions for 3,486 yards and 31 touchdowns. The conference MVP also set single-season marks with 65 grabs for 1,061 yards, and single-game records with 15 catches, 285 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He helped Elon earn a 24-8-1 overall record while on campus.

Chosen with the 16th overall pick of the 1970 NFL Draft, McGeorge enjoyed a nine-year career with the Green Bay Packers, earning the team’s Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1973. He also served as the state chairperson for the muscular dystrophy society of Wisconsin from 1975-78. McGeorge is also a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard.

McGeorge was inducted into the Elon University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1980.

REX MIRICH
Northern Arizona University
Offensive Tackle/Defensive Guard, 1960-63

One of the rarest two-time First Team All-Americans, Rex Mirich was honored as a defensive guard in 1962 and repeated the honor as an offensive tackle the following season. Mirich is the first Northern Arizona player to be chosen to the College Football Hall of Fame.

A four-year letterman for the Lumberjacks, Mirich was voted a team captain by his teammates for his senior season. Mirich aided the squad to a 20-15-4 overall mark while in Flagstaff, and was a key cog in a Northern Arizona defense that limited opponents to 109.1 yards per game over a six-game span.

Mirich was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings in the 16th round of the 1963 NFL Draft and the Oakland Raiders in the 20th round of the 1963 AFL Draft. He played on the defensive line for the Raiders, the Denver Broncos and the Boston Patriots for a total of seven seasons.

Mirich earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona in 1966. He was inducted into the NAU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006.

By The National Football Foundation