Legendary JSU football coach W.C. Gorden has been inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Seven inductees were selected from a list of 25 finalists who had been determined earlier by the BCFHOF Selection Committee, according to Executive Director Marques Fitch.
In addition to Gorden, the class includes Roger Brown (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), Richard Dent (Tennessee State University), L.C. Greenwood (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) Ernie “Big Cat” Ladd (Grambling State University), Ken Riley (Florida A&M University), and Donnie Shell (South Carolina State University).
Inductees will be honored at the Sixth Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony presented by the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on Feb. 28, 2015.
Gorden was JSU’s winningest football coach. He was named head coach in 1977 and served until 1991. Over a period of four years (1985-1988) JSU won 28 straight Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) football games. The Tigers compiled an overall record of 119-48-5 and claimed eight SWAC championships between 1980 and 1990.
His athletes also excelled in the classroom. In 1980-81, the NCAA issued its first comprehensive graduation rate scorecard and JSU led the state with a 61.9 percent.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
During JSU’s Founders Week last month, Gorden reminisced about his days as a JSU coach. He credited his success both on and off the field to “teaching, studying, reading books.” Coaches in former times, he said, taught classes as well as coached football, and he said that a focus on learning allows a broader, more creative approach to life, and football. He urged students to “read books.”
Black people, he said, in times past, were discouraged from reading books and learning, as that is a clear path for achievement and success. He urged students to put aside other pursuits since “the time now is to read.”
Gorden played college football at Tennessee State University (1948-1952). His career coaching record is 118 wins, against 47 losses with 5 ties. He was born June 30, 1930 in Nashville, Tenn.
For more information about the Hall of Fame, see www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.