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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
College football alters Hall of Fame criteria, opens Kirk Ferentz door
College football alters Hall of Fame criteria, opens Kirk Ferentz door The National Football Foundation, in consultation with the American Football Coaches Association, NFF Honors Court, and NFF Awards Committee, has adjusted the eligibility criteria for coaches entering the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. Beginning with the Class of 2027,… — National Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) May 29, 2025 The National Football Foundation announced an adjustment to its NFF College Football Hall of Fame criteria on Thursday. The NFF College Football Hall of Fame lowered its minimum career winning percentage threshold for coaching eligibility from .600 to .595. This change will go into effect beginning with the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot. It's a notable development in Iowa City, too. Longtime Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has sat just below the .600 minimum career winning percentage threshold for some time. After last season's 8-5 (6-3 Big Ten) finish, Ferentz's coaching mark at Iowa across 26 seasons sits at 204-124 (128-88 Big Ten). That's a .622 winning percentage with the Hawkeyes. There's just one problem. Ferentz's three-year mark in his first head coaching stint at Maine was 12-21 from 1990-92. Those three seasons bring Ferentz's overall collegiate head coaching record to 216-145. Or, a .598 winning percentage. With this adjustment, Ferentz would now be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame upon retirement. It's exciting news for the all-time winningest Hawkeye that his runway to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame has been cleared for takeoff. The adjustment also presents some interesting questions for Iowa, too. Does this alter Ferentz's retirement timeline in any way, shape or form? With the NFF College Football Hall of Fame roadblock now cleared, could Ferentz retire after the 2025 season? An Iowa finish of 7-6 or better in the 2025 season would keep Ferentz above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .595 for coaching eligibility. If Iowa rips off a particularly successful 2025 season or pair of seasons in 2025 and 2026, does that free Ferentz up to coach out the remainder of his contract through the 2029 season without the looming fear of dipping below that Hall of Fame threshold? It's interesting to consider. All of the other eligibility requirements remain unchanged. To be considered for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, coaches must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 10 seasons and must have coached at least 100 games. Coaches become eligible for consideration three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement if they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible upon reaching the age of 75. Beyond Ferentz, late Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is now eligible for the Hall of Fame. Former Oklahoma State, LSU and Kansas head coach Les Miles and former Pitt, Texas A&M and Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill are now eligible as well. "It's the only sane thing to do," Leach's mentor, Hal Mumme, told ESPN. "Why is 60% the magic number? I mean, not everybody gets to coach at Notre Dame or Texas or something. Throw the rule out and vote people in on merit." Among other active head coaches, West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez owns a .596 winning percentage. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
Reuters
4 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Rule change makes Mike Leach eligible for Hall of Fame
May 29 - A rule change announced on Thursday makes the late Mike Leach eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame. The National Football Foundation dropped the minimum required winning percentage for coaches from .600 to .595, a change that goes into effect with the 2027 ballot. Leach, who died on Dec. 12, 2022 at 61, compiled a .596 winning percentage (158-107 record) over 21 seasons at Texas Tech (2000-09), Washington State (2012-19) and Mississippi State (2020-22). All other eligibility requirements for coaches remain unchanged, including minimums of 10 seasons and 100 games. Coaches become eligible for consideration three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement if they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible upon reaching the age of 75. "The NFF is committed to preserving the integrity and prestige of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame," NFF president and CEO Steve Hatchell said in a news release. "This adjustment reflects thoughtful dialog with leaders across the sport and allows us to better recognize coaches whose contributions to the game extend beyond a narrow statistical threshold." Leach was named the Big 12 Coach of the Year in 2008 and the Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018. He led his teams to 17 bowl games. Leach passed away following complications related to a heart condition. Three weeks later, interim coach Zach Arnett guided Mississippi State to a 19-10 win against Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl. --Field Level Media
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Former linebacker Steve Kiner dies at the age of 77 just hours before NFL Draft
Former NFL linebacker Steve Kiner died at the age of 77 Thursday, the National Football Foundation announced just hours before the 2025 Draft. Kiner was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee. 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Steve Kiner, a true legend of our game,' NFF chairman Archie Manning said in a news release. No cause of death was given. 'Steve's remarkable career at Tennessee was defined by toughness, leadership and excellence, and he leaves behind a legacy that extends well beyond the football field,' Manning continued. 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire Volunteer community.' Kiner was a consensus All-American as a junior in 1968 and a unanimous All-American in 1969 when he was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He intercepted five passes that season and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy balloting. Kiner was a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1970 and played eight NFL seasons. He had 19 sacks and 10 interceptions in 114 games (99 starts) with the Cowboys (1970), New England Patriots (1971, 1973) and Houston Oilers (1974-78). Kiner was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. Following his career on the field, Kiner earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1994. He later established a mental health therapy practice in Carrollton, Georgia. The news of Kiner's death broke just hours before the NFL Draft began in Green Bay Thursday. During the event, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell paid tribute to another late football legend. Chicago Bears Super Bowl winner Steve McKinnon died Wednesday at the age of 67 following a battle with ALS.
Reuters
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
College Football Hall of Famer, Tennessee great Steve Kiner dies
April 24 - College Football Hall of Famer Steve Kiner, a two-time All-American linebacker at Tennessee, died Thursday. He was 77. The National Football Foundation and Tennessee announced his death. No cause of death was revealed. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Steve Kiner, a true legend of our game," NFF chairman Archie Manning said in a news release. "Steve's remarkable career at Tennessee was defined by toughness, leadership and excellence, and he leaves behind a legacy that extends well beyond the football field. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire Volunteer community." Kiner was a consensus All-American as a junior in 1968 and a unanimous All-American in 1969 when he was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He intercepted five passes that season and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy balloting. Kiner was a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1970 and played eight NFL seasons. He had 19 sacks and 10 interceptions in 114 games (99 starts) with the Cowboys (1970), New England Patriots (1971, 1973) and Houston Oilers (1974-78). Kiner was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
Associated Press
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Former Texas standout, NFL No. 1 overall pick Kenneth Sims has died at 65
Kenneth Sims, a standout at Texas who became the No. 1 overall draft pick in the NFL draft in 1982, has died. He was 65. The University of Texas said Sims died on March 21 at his home. Sims' death came after a brief illness, according to the National Football Foundation, but no further information was provided. He became a National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Famer in 2021. A Kosse, Texas, native, Sims shined as a defensive tackle for Texas from 1978 to 1981 and was an AP All-American selection in 1980 and 1981. He was an unanimous All-American pick in 1981, the same season that the Longhorns finished 10-1-1, beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and finished ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll. Over his final two college seasons Sims totaled 241 tackles, 21 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. His efforts helped him become the first Longhorns player to receive the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's best collegiate lineman, in 1981. Sims was selected with the top pick in the 1982 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. He was selected to the 1982 all-rookie team and spent his entire career in New England, but had trouble duplicating the production he had at the collegiate level. His best NFL season was in 1985 when he had 5 1/2 sacks in 13 games, helping the Patriots reach Super Bowl 20, where they lost to the Chicago Bears. But Sims didn't play in that game after suffering a broken leg in the regular season. A funeral service will be held on April 5 in Kosse, Texas. ___
