Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees

In 2016, Tulsa became the first team in NCAA history to have a 3,000-yard passer (Dane Evans) two 1,000-yard rushers (D’Angelo Brewer and James Flanders) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Josh Atkinson and Keevan Lucas) in the same season.

Bob St . Clair, who was a tackle for The University of Tulsa in 1952, was a 1990 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio . St . Clair played professional football for the San Francisco 49ers from 195363 . In 11 seasons, he was a five-time starter in the Pro Bowl . He played both ways for the 49ers and also starred on the special teams . St . Clair is one of Tulsa’s greatest defensive tackles . He came to Tulsa for the 1952 season after transferring from San Francisco . He played on Tulsa’s 1952 Gator Bowl team .

Jim Finks was an outstanding quarterback at The University of Tulsa from 1946-48 . He played seven seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted in the 12th round . Following his playing career, he went on to an illustrious career as a team administrator, serving as chief executive officer with the Minnesota Vikings (1964-73), Chicago Bears (1974-82) and the New Orleans Saints (1986-93) . At Tulsa, he threw for 2,796 yards and 18 touchdowns and was selected all-conference in 1947 and ’48 . He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame posthumously in 1995 .

Steve Largent played at The University of Tulsa from 1972-75 and then went on to a 14-year career with the Seattle Seahawks . Largent ended his career in the NFL with league career records for receptions (819), yards (13,089), touchdowns (100), consecutive games with a reception (177), 50-catch seasons (10) and 1,000-yard seasons (8) . He was selected to play in the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game seven times . Largent was originally drafted on the fourth round in 1976 by the Houston Oilers, was waived by the Oilers, recalled, and traded to the Seahawks that same year . At Tulsa, Largent was a two-time first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference pick and was a second-team All-American in 1975 . He caught 136 passes for 2,385 yards and 32 TDs at Tulsa . He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995 .

Keeling played quarterback at The University of Tulsa and was an all-Missouri Valley Conference performer in 1959 and 1960 . He starred for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League as a defensive back, and was selected to the all-CFL team three times . Keeling played on two Grey Cup winning teams .

Vaughan was an outstanding tackle at The University of Tulsa from 1950-52 and in the Canadian Football League for 12 seasons . He was selected to the CFL’s Eastern Conference all-star team 10 times while playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders .

WILSON HOLLOWAY

The University of Tulsa’s Wilson Holloway was the 2008 winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award . Holloway, a red-shirt freshman offensive lineman, battled cancer when a softball-sized mass was discovered in his chest in the spring of 2008 . Holloway was presented with the award at the BCS Championship Game on January 8, 2009 in Miami, Florida . He was also honored that day at the Football Writers Association of America’s (FWAA) annual awards breakfast . A select group of writers from the FWAA vote on the winner Courage Award winner each year . The requirements for nomination include displaying courage on or off the field, including overcoming an injury or physical handicap, preventing a disaster or living through hardship .(Note: Wilson Holloway passed away on February 16, 2011) .

In 2007, senior quarterback Paul Smith had a recordsetting year, establishing himself as Tulsa’s all-time passing leader . He was also presented with the Third Annual Wuerffel Trophy . The prestigious Wuerffel Trophy, named after former University of Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, is given to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement .

PAUL SMITH