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Will Shields received his hall call last year.
Now, will another former Husker join him when the College Football Hall of Fame is announced Tuesday?
Among the 76 players on the ballot this year, three are Husker names: linebacker Trev Alberts (1990-93), and quarterbacks Tommie Frazer (92-95) and Eric Crouch (98-01).
It’s Crouch’s first time on the ballot. The 2001 Heisman Trophy winner says he’s honored to be on the list. But he isn’t as worried about himself as he is seeing if the votes fall the right way for some others who have waited longer — including Frazier.
“If I'm voting, I'm voting for him,” Crouch said. “He's had a great career at Nebraska, won national championships, lost very few games and to me is probably the best quarterback to ever come out of Nebraska.”
Though last year was just Frazier’s first time on the ballot, there were people both locally and nationally who were surprised, some even a little miffed, that he was not inducted right away considering he helped guide Nebraska to two national championships and a 33-3 record as a starter.
"So if Tommie Frazier is not an immediate, unquestionable first-ballot Hall of Famer in this sport, then what is the point of having a College Football Hall of Fame?" wrote one national columnist for CBS Sports.
Frazier was an MVP of both those national championship wins and was named a first-team All-American by eight organizations after his senior year in 1995.
He also finished runner-up in the Heisman that year behind Ohio State running back Eddie George, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
“He's highly decorated,” Crouch said of Frazier. “I've got to know him over the years and he's a great friend, and I hope it happens for him. I think he probably feels similar to the way I do in that we're fortunate to be nominated, and if we end up getting the award we'll just be very grateful for that opportunity.”
As for being on the ballot himself, Crouch said it’s not something he ever expected when he started playing this game.
“If it does happen, I’d be honored and humbled that that’s happened,” Crouch said. “I’d be very, I guess, stunned again for another reward in my life. I never expected any award that’s ever come to me. I just really loved the game. I was very competitive. I loved to win. I loved playing football.”
Last year, the former offensive lineman Shields — an Outland Trophy winner and All-American — became the 15th Husker player inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Even those like Shields who have accomplished much in the game consider making the College Football Hall of Fame among their most crowning achievements.
"As Coach Osborne would say, it is one of those indelible ink moments,” Shields told the Journal Star last year after hearing the news. “Once you are selected into the Hall of Fame, your name will be listed there forever, regardless of what else may happen from this moment.”
Will Shields received his hall call last year.
Now, will another former Husker join him when the College Football Hall of Fame is announced Tuesday?
Among the 76 players on the ballot this year, three are Husker names: linebacker Trev Alberts (1990-93), and quarterbacks Tommie Frazer (92-95) and Eric Crouch (98-01).
It’s Crouch’s first time on the ballot. The 2001 Heisman Trophy winner says he’s honored to be on the list. But he isn’t as worried about himself as he is seeing if the votes fall the right way for some others who have waited longer — including Frazier.
“If I'm voting, I'm voting for him,” Crouch said. “He's had a great career at Nebraska, won national championships, lost very few games and to me is probably the best quarterback to ever come out of Nebraska.”
Though last year was just Frazier’s first time on the ballot, there were people both locally and nationally who were surprised, some even a little miffed, that he was not inducted right away considering he helped guide Nebraska to two national championships and a 33-3 record as a starter.
"So if Tommie Frazier is not an immediate, unquestionable first-ballot Hall of Famer in this sport, then what is the point of having a College Football Hall of Fame?" wrote one national columnist for CBS Sports.
Frazier was an MVP of both those national championship wins and was named a first-team All-American by eight organizations after his senior year in 1995.
He also finished runner-up in the Heisman that year behind Ohio State running back Eddie George, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year.
“He's highly decorated,” Crouch said of Frazier. “I've got to know him over the years and he's a great friend, and I hope it happens for him. I think he probably feels similar to the way I do in that we're fortunate to be nominated, and if we end up getting the award we'll just be very grateful for that opportunity.”
As for being on the ballot himself, Crouch said it’s not something he ever expected when he started playing this game.
“If it does happen, I’d be honored and humbled that that’s happened,” Crouch said. “I’d be very, I guess, stunned again for another reward in my life. I never expected any award that’s ever come to me. I just really loved the game. I was very competitive. I loved to win. I loved playing football.”
Last year, the former offensive lineman Shields — an Outland Trophy winner and All-American — became the 15th Husker player inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Even those like Shields who have accomplished much in the game consider making the College Football Hall of Fame among their most crowning achievements.
"As Coach Osborne would say, it is one of those indelible ink moments,” Shields told the Journal Star last year after hearing the news. “Once you are selected into the Hall of Fame, your name will be listed there forever, regardless of what else may happen from this moment.”
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