Texas Tech Red Raiders in the College Football Hall of Fame

The College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend, Indiana, was founded in 1951 by the National Football Foundation.

Since its inception, some 829 players and 178 coaches have been enshrined in the Hall.

Criteria for players includes selection as a first team All-American, the passage of a minimum of ten years since playing college ball, and a certain demonstration of good citizenship, Additionally, the player's subsequent NFL career must have ended.

Of the countless athletes who have represented Texas Tech on the football field since 1925, four Red Raiders have been inducted, thus far, into the College Football Hall of Fame.

With the current progress of the Tech football program, it is reasonable, nay, probable to assume many more Red Raiders will grace the Hall of Fame with their presence in future years.

But for now, let’s take a brief look at the four outstanding gentlemen who represent Texas Tech University in the College Football Hall of Fame (which, as a side note, is expected to move to Atlanta, Georgia in 2011).

DAVE PARKS: 1961- 1963

Inducted: 2008

Position: Wide Receiver/End

Birthplace: Muenster, Texas

High School: Abilene High School, Abilene TX

Height/Weight: 6-2, 193

Dave Parks holds the honor of being the first Red Raider to ever be selected for the AP All-America First Team and to receive all Southwest Conference honors twice.

Joining Parks on the 1963 All American team were Roger Staubach, Dick Butkus, and Gayle Sayers.

Parks also received consensus honors in 1963 as a split end by The Sporting News, Boston Recorder-American, Sports Extra, American Football Coaches, Time Magazine, and Football Weekly.

Additionally, Parks was selected to play in many of the post season all star games and, while representing the West in the East-West Shrine game, blocked a game winning extra point attempted by the East.

He also caught the game winning touchdown in the Senior Bowl, aiding the South in besting the North 20-12.

Dave Parks did it all at Tech. Not only did he establish receiving records at Tech (132 receiving yards in a single game, 499 receiving yards in a single season, 80 career receptions, and 1090 career receiving yards), but he also was a defensive starter and recorded the longest pass interception in Tech history (a 98-yard dash that sealed a 13-12 win over Colorado in 1963).

Jim Trinkle of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote about a Parks reception during a game against A&M: “Two Aggies were running side-by-side with the brilliant Parks, but he made a diving catch across the goal, did a somersault, and leaped up with the ball over his head.”

A TCU scout purportedly called the catch one of the greatest he had ever witnessed.

Notably, Parks is the one and only Red Raider to be selected number one overall in the NFL Draft. After being drafted in 1964, he went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL with the 49ers, Saints, and the Houston Oilers.

During his NFL career Parks was selected to play in three straight Pro Bowls from 1964 to 1947.

Dave Parks now resides in Dallas, Texas.

E.J. HOLUB: 1958 – 1960

Inducted: 1986

Position: Center

Birthplace: Schulenburg, Texas

High School: Lubbock High School, Lubbock TX

Height/Weight: 6-4, 215

E.J. Holub was a two-time All-American center at Tech in 1959 and 1960.

His career highlights include making 15 unassisted tackles and assisting on eight others in a 1960 game against Baylor that earned him the Sports Illustrated Lineman of the Week honors. During that same season against Arkansas, Holub racked up 18 unassisted tackles and 10 assists tacking on a 40-yard interception for a touchdown.

Holub also holds the honor of being the first Texas Tech Red Raider ever to have his jersey number (#55) retired.

Holub went on to be drafted sixth overall in the 1961 AFL draft by the Dallas Texans (he also was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys). E.J., over his 11 year pro career, started for both the Texans and then the Kansas Chiefs at linebacker and then center.

E.J. Holub was a five time AFL All-Star and was the only AFL player to start two Super Bowls at different positions; starting in Super Bowl I as a linebacker in a loss to the Packers and starting at center in Super Bowl IV aiding the Chiefs in their victory over the Vikings.

HUB BECHTOL: 1944

Inducted: 1991

Position: End

Birthplace: Amarillo, Texas

High School: Lubbock High School, Lubbock TX

Height/Weight: 6-2, 201

Hub “Big Boy” Bechtol played but one season for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. After lettering in football in 1943 at Tech, Hub enlisted in the Navy V-12 program and was transferred to the University of Texas.

Bechtol went on to an illustrious college career with the Longhorns, earning several All-American selections and setting a school record for touchdown passes that stood until 1982.

He was drafted fifth overall in the 1947 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played for the Baltimore Colts for three seasons.

Hub Bechtol was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and is enshrined as both a Texas Tech Red Raider and a Texas Longhorn.

Bechtol died peacefully on October 23, 2004 in Austin, Texas.

DONNY ANDERSON: 1963 - 1965

Inducted: 1989

Position: Halfback/Punter

Birthplace: Borger, Texas

High School: Stinnett High School, Stinnett TX

Height/Weight: 6-3, 210

Donny “The Golden Palomino” Anderson was a three-time all-Southwest Conference and two-time All-American halfback during his career at Texas Tech.

Highlights during his senior year include a kickoff return for 100 yards against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 10 pass receptions against Arkansas, and 17 touchdowns on the season.

Anderson racked up a record 5,111 all purpose yards at Tech, these yards were earned by rushing, receiving, kick returns, and interception returns.

Anderson shared the Sporting News Player of the Year Award in 1965 with co-winner Jim Grabowski of Illinois. Additionally, he finished fourth in the 1965 Heisman Trophy race.

Anderson was the seventh pick overall in the 1965 NFL draft and was awarded a $600,000 contract, which at the time, was the highest in NFL history. Among the notable players selected in the 1965 draft were Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Joe Namath, and Fred Biletnikoff.

Donny Anderson played six seasons for the Packers (1966 – 1971) where he is credited for coming up with the concept of punt hang time. Prior to this, NFL punters strove for distance only allowing a longer actual punt, but ultimately a longer return.

Packer’s legendary coach Vince Lombardi was subsequently asked why he didn’t get a better punter than Anderson, who averaged only 36.6 yards per punt in 1967. He explained the concept of hang time and showed that average return yards had been slashed from an average of five yards to 1/3 yard per punt.

The rest of the NFL soon followed the quest for hang time, but eventually the NFL amended its coverage rules to re-allow return men the ability to return punts. Donny Anderson’s concept of hang time lives on at all levels.

Anderson played his final three NFL seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Along with his 1989 induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, Red Raider Anderson was also honored with an induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

2008 and 2009 Red Raider Teams Honored at Hall of Fame

Texas Tech’s 2009 gridiron squad is currently honored in the entrance to the Hall of Fame with the other Top 25 finishers of the 2009 football season.

Tech’s helmet and pennant are proudly displayed in the HOF foyer for the enjoyment of football enthusiasts nationwide.

Additionally, highlights of the 2008 Texas Tech vs. Texas game (named the 2008 College Football Game of the Year) are available for fans to review in the “Game of the Year” kiosk located as an interactive exhibit within the Hall of Fame.

Tech finished the 2009 season ranked 23rd overall with a 9 – 4 record and a victory in the Alamo Bowl over Michigan State.