Battling the band Thursday, December 9, 2021
2020 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
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Courtesy of National Football Foundation
band member countless times. âAt that point in time, I decided that for me to be better, I need to figure out what is the best way for me to play,â OâNeal said. The quirky practice technique Dean Ruhl paid off for OâNeal. He finished the game with 20 tackles. The Cowboys Sports Editor ended up losing to the Huskers 14-10, but OâNeal had a career game, kickLeslie OâNeal didnât expect to starting an OSU career full of accopractice against someone in the band. lades. On a brisk October afternoon, His play against Nebraska OâNeal, then an Oklahoma State earned him Big 8 Defensive Player defensive tackle, lined up against a of the Week and is just a fragment of 300-pound band member in preparaOâNealâs decorated collegiate career, tion for the Cowboysâ game against which was enshrined in the College No. 1 Nebraska later that week. Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. How then coach Jimmy Johnson For OâNeal, who went on to had found the mammoth of a man is accrue six Pro Bowl appearances and unknown, but OâNeal spent the week an NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year getting acquainted with the unique award, the Hall of Fame honor shows teammate. By the time Saturday arthe hard work paid off. rived, and OâNeal had crashed into the âIt makes you feel good that
Lomas Brown - OT, Florida (1981Keith Byars - RB, Ohio State (1982Eric Crouch - QB, Nebraska (1998-
Eric Dickerson - RB, Southern Methodist (1979-1982) Glenn Dorsey - DT, LSU (2004-2007) John Elliott - OT, Michigan (19841987) Jason Hanson - PK, Washington State (1988-1991) E.J. Henderson - LB, Maryland (19992002) E.J. Junior - DE, Alabama (1977-1980) Steve McNair - QB, Alcorn State (19911994) Cade McNown - QB, UCLA (19951998) Leslie OâNeal - DT, Oklahoma State (1982-1985)
you made the right choices, that you played hard and people respected you,â OâNeal said. OâNeal is a member of the hallâs 2020 class but wasnât celebrated until this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. His induction makes him the sixth OSU representative in the College Hall of Fame. He joins coach Lynn âPappyâ Waldorf (1966), Bob Fenimore (1972), Barry Sanders (2003), Thurman Thomas (2008), Jimmy Johnson (2012) and now OâNeal (2020). OâNeal said he arrived in Stillwater because they gave him a chance to play. An Arkansas native, OâNeal traveled across the border to play for an all-star staff at OSU. Johnson. Butch Davis. Dave Wannstedt. Houston Nutt. George Walstad. âThey had a phenomenal staff,â OâNeal said.
After originally arriving as a tight end, OâNeal transitioned to defensive end, and soon defensive tackle at OSU. He was awarded First Team AllAmerican status in 1984, followed by an unanimous All-American selection in 1985. OâNeal accumulated 34 sacks during his time at OSU, a school record still standing despite OâNeal not playing for the Cowboys in 36 years. He also anchored an OSU defense which allowed only 34 touchdowns during the 1984 and 1985 seasons, the lowest mark in school history. He was drafted No. 8 overall in the 1986 NFL draft, playing 13 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
Whoâs next sports.ed@ocolly.com
Off-the-cuff possibilities for OSUâs next defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, USC defensive coordinator The coach who hired Orlando is gone, and the new coach brought his own staff. Orlando has had strong defenses and could Chris Becker be looking for a new job. Assistant Gary Patterson, Sports Editor former TCU head coach A defensive guru who doesnât have a new Jim Knowles is out. job. Patterson and Gundy Coach Mike Gundy are good friends. Itâs a is now tasked with not long shot, but itâs not imonly preparing for the Fi- possible. esta Bowl but also searchElijah Robinson, ing for a new defensive Texas A&M defensive coordinator. line coach Hereâs an off-theRobinson has cuff look at some potential coached in the Big 12 becandidates. fore and is a rising star on Staying in house the Aggie coaching staff. Joe Bob Clements, Heâs turned down NFL opOSU defensive line coach portunities in the past, but Clements is a solid defensive coordinator jobs candidate for the job. He have weight. knows the system and has Travaris Robinson, been with OSU for nine Miami defensive backs years. OSUâs defensive coach line was one of the best in With Manny Diaz the country in 2021. out at Miami and a new Garry Gibbs- OSU regime coming in, Robindefensive analyst son could be on the move. Gibbs has a high Heâs a Florida guy and a level pedigree in coaching strong, young recruiter including head coaching who could help OSU tap experience. The strong into a talented Florida defensive mind raises just circuit. one question, would he do it? Power Five options See Next on 8
Chris Becker