IRVING, Texas (Dec. 21, 2017) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame remembered today those who passed away in 2017 and played a role in improving the game of college football for future generations.
“It is always important at this time of year to reflect on those who have left us,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “Part of the mission of the National Football Foundation is to shine a light on the good in the game and to preserve its history. We lost some great ones in 2017, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and universities. We will work hard to ensure that their contributions are not forgotten.”
Click here to view this year’s In Memoriam video that ran during the 60th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, which features all of those who passed between Dec. 6, 2016 and Dec. 3, 2017.
Ted Bredehoft
Athletics Director
Wichita State University
- 1933 – May 20, 2017
* Frank Broyles
1983 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
2000 NFF John L. Toner Award
Head Football Coach, Athletics Director
Missouri, Arkansas
Dec. 26, 1924 – Aug. 14, 2017
* J.C. Caroline
1980 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
University of Illinois
Jan. 17, 1933 – Nov. 17, 2017
* Ray Christensen
2000 NFF Chris Schenkel Award
Voice of the Minnesota Golden Gophers
University of Minnesota
May 6, 1924 – Feb. 5, 2017
* Don Coleman
1975 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Michigan State University
May 4, 1928 – Jan. 30, 2017
Ken Cooper
Head Football Coach
University of Mississippi
Oct. 12, 1936 – May 30, 2017
Bob DeMoss
Head Football Coach
Purdue University
Jan. 27, 1927 – July 23, 2017
Wayne Duke
Commissioner
Big Eight Conference, Big Ten Conference
University of Iowa
Nov. 9, 1928 – March 29, 2017
Spike Dykes
Head Football Coach
Texas Tech University
March 14, 1938 – April 10, 2017
* LaVell Edwards
2004 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Head Football Coach
Brigham Young University
Oct. 11, 1930 – Dec. 29, 2016
* Bob Elliott
1975 NFF National Scholar-Athlete
University of Iowa
May 6, 1953 – July 8, 2017
* Bill Fischer
1983 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
University of Notre Dame
March 10, 1927 – Jan. 20, 2017
* Joe Fortunato
2004 NFF Chapter Leadership Award
Miss-Lou Chapter
Mississippi State University
March 28, 1930 – Nov. 6, 2017
* Jack Grinold
1996 NFF Chapter Leadership Award
Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter
Northeastern University Sports Information Director
Bowdoin College (Maine)
Aug. 30, 1935 – April 21, 2017
* Ralph Guglielmi
2001 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
University of Notre Dame
June 26, 1933 – Jan. 23, 2017
* Wayne Hardin
2013 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Head Football Coach
Navy, Temple
March 23, 1926 – April 12, 2017
Jeff Jeffers
Sports Broadcaster
University of Notre Dame
Jan. 23, 1953 – March 26, 2017
* Robert Johnston
1961 NFF National Scholar-Athlete
Rice University
Sept. 11, 1940 – Sept. 20, 2017
*Frank Kush
1995 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Head Football Coach
Arizona State University
1992 NFF Chapter Leadership Award
Valley of the Sun (Ariz.) Chapter
Jan. 20, 1929 – June 22, 2017
* Richard Lewis
2015 NFF Chapter Leadership Award
Joseph Mewhiney/Central Mass. Chapter
University of Massachusetts
Aug. 27, 1942 – Feb. 3, 2017
* Dick MacPherson
2009 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Head Football Coach
Massachusetts, Syracuse
Nov. 4, 1930 – Aug. 8, 2017
Ron Meyer
Head Football Coach
UNLV, Southern Methodist
Feb. 17, 1941 – Dec. 5, 2017
Fred Miller
Athletics Director
Long Beach State, Arizona State, San Diego State
- 1931 – Oct. 22, 2017
* Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J.
1996 NFF Distinguished American Award
24th President of Boston College
Dec. 31, 1924 – March 18, 2017
Bob Murphy
Athletics Director, Broadcaster
San Jose State, Stanford
August 6, 1931 – Aug. 22, 2017
* Tommy Nobis
1981 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
University of Texas
Sept. 20, 1943 – Dec. 13, 2017
* Babe Parilli
1982 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
University of Kentucky
May 7, 1930 – July 15, 2017
* Ara Parseghian
1980 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Head Football Coach
Miami (Ohio), Northwestern, Notre Dame
May 21, 1923 – Aug. 2, 2017
Bob Patterson
Athletics Director
University of Memphis
May 19, 1932 – May 15, 2017
Bill Peck
Head Football Coach
Middle Tennessee State University
Nov. 26, 1926 – April 22, 2017
Edwin Pope
2001 FWAA Bert McGrane Award
Miami Herald Sports Writer
University of Georgia
April 11, 1928 – Jan. 19, 2017
Sonny Randle
Head Football Coach
East Carolina, Virginia, Marshall
Jan. 6, 1936 – May 24, 2017
* Tubby Raymond
2003 College Football Hall of Fame Inductee
Head Football Coach
University of Delaware
Nov. 14, 1926 – Dec. 8, 2017
Larry Reisbig
Head Football Coach
Long Beach State
Dec. 6, 1939 – April 10, 2017
Lyle Smith
Head Football Coach, Athletics Director
Boise State University
March 17, 1916 – July 26, 2017
Lynn Snyder
Athletics Director
Marshall, Oregon State
March 6, 1942 – May 15, 2017
Joe Tiller
Head Football Coach
Wyoming, Purdue
Early NFF Wyoming and NFF Joe Tiller/Northwest Indiana Leader
Dec. 7, 1942 – Sept. 30, 2017
* Ed Watto
2007 NFF Chapter Leadership Award
Lehigh Valley (Pa.) Chapter
East Stroudsburg University (Pa.)
- 1934 – Oct. 2, 2017
“Asterisk denotes a College Football Hall of Fame inductee or NFF Award recipient”