Former Alabama Center Sylvester Croom Selected to 2022 College Football Hall of Fame Class
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Alabama center and assistant coach Sylvester Croom was selected as a member of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame class, the National Football Foundation announced on Monday afternoon.
An Alabama program legend is now joining the ranks of college football's all-time greats. Croom played center under coach Paul 'Bear' Bryant from 1972-74 and was named All-American for his efforts in the 1974 season. He also won the SEC Blocking Trophy the same season.
After his time as a player, Croom played the 1975 season with the New Orleans Saints before returning to Tuscaloosa to join Bryant's coaching staff. Croom coached at Alabama from 1976-86 under Bryant and Ray Perkins before heading to the NFL.
In 2004, Croom was hired by Mississippi State, becoming the SEC’s first Black head coach. He oversaw the Bulldogs’ program from 2004-08, winning SEC Coach of the Year in 2007.
After spending five seasons with the Bulldogs, Croom returned to finish out his coaching days in the NFL before retiring in 2017.
The Class:
PLAYERS:
- LaVar Arrington – LB, Penn State (1997-99)
- Champ Bailey – DB, Georgia (1996-98)
- Michael Crabtree – WR, Texas Tech (2007-08)
- Sylvester Croom – C, Alabama (1972-74)
- Mike Doss – S, Ohio State (1999-2002)
- Chuck Ealey – QB, Toledo (1969-71)
- Kevin Faulk – AP/RB, LSU (1995-98)
- Moe Gardner – DT, Illinois (1987-90)
- Boomer Grigsby – LB, Illinois State (2001-04)
- Mike Hass – WR, Oregon State (2002-05)
- Marvin Jones – LB, Florida State (1990-92)
- Andrew Luck – QB, Stanford (2009-11)
- Mark Messner – DT, Michigan (1985-88)
- Terry Miller – RB, Oklahoma State (1974-77)
- Rashaan Salaam – RB, Colorado (1992-94)
- Dennis Thomas – C, Alcorn State (1971-73)
- Zach Wiegert – OT, Nebraska (1991-94)
- Roy Williams – DB, Oklahoma (1999-2001)
COACHES:
- John Luckhardt – 225-70-2 (76.1%); Washington & Jefferson [PA] (1982-98), California [PA] (2002-11)
- Billy Jack Murphy – 91-44-1 (67.3%); Memphis (1958-71)
- Gary Pinkel – 191-110-3 (63.3%); Toledo (1991-2000), Missouri (2001-15)
Here is the full press release issued by Alabama Athletics:
Former Alabama Standout Sylvester Croom Selected to 2022 College Football Hall of Fame
An All-American for the Crimson Tide, Croom is one of 18 players and three coaches in the newest class
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Alabama center and assistant coach Sylvester Croom was selected as part of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame class, the National Football Foundation announced on Monday afternoon.
An All-American for the Crimson Tide in 1974, Croom is one of 18 players and three coaches that make up the 2022 list of inductees. He is also the 22nd Alabama player in program history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Sylvester Croom
Center (1972-74)
- A native of Tuscaloosa, Croom was a standout center for the Crimson Tide from 1972-74
- Helped the Crimson Tide to an impressive 32-4 record during his time at the Capstone, a run that included three consecutive conference titles, three top-10 finishes in the polls and the 1973 UPI national championship
- Selected as a first team All-SEC and All-America honoree in 1974 while also winning the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the conference’s top offensive lineman that year
- Spent the 1975 season with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints before returning to Tuscaloosa to begin his storied coaching career
- Served on the UA staff from 1976-86 under Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and Ray Perkins before moving on to coaching in the NFL from 1987-2003
- Made history as the SEC’s first African-American head football coach when he was hired at Mississippi State in 2004 and would go on to be named the SEC Coach of the Year in 2007
- Following five seasons at MSU, Croom returned to the NFL as an assistant coach before retiring following the 2017 season
- Also inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2020 while having the Crimson Tide’s spring ‘Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award’ named in his honor
The 2022 class will officially be inducted during the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6, 2022. The inductees will also be recognized at their respective collegiate institutions with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes during the fall. Their accomplishments will forever be immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
