Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces Selection Criteria and Open Call for Nominations

Press Release

Contact: Jeff McKenzie

646-246-2480

Black College Football Hall of Fame Announces
Selection Criteria and Open Call for Nominations

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Priority Payment Systems Joins as Title Sponsor for
Inaugural Enshrinement Ceremony in February

October 26, 2009 (Atlanta, GA) – The Black College Football Hall of Fame, which will honor the greatest football players and coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), today announced an open call for nominations for its inaugural class of inductees, as well as the Selection Criteria for eligibility.

Nominations can be made online at www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org and may be submitted by coaches, college administrators, sports information directors, players or any member of the general public.

The Selection Committee, comprised of prominent journalists and football executives, established the following Selection Criteria for nomination and induction:

Players will be eligible for nomination no earlier than five years after their last season of intercollegiate football.

Players must have finished their intercollegiate playing careers at a Historically Black College or University. Exceptions may be made if it is determined by an 80% vote of the Selection Committee that a player is widely identified with an HBCU.

Players must have played at least two seasons at an HBCU. Judging will be based on a nominee’s collegiate HBCU playing career.

Any former or current Head Football Coach of an HBCU is eligible for nomination.

Any individual is eligible for nomination to the Hall of Fame as a “Contributor.” Judging will be based on his/her impact on the advancement of HBCU football.

“The Selection Committee is very excited and honored to be involved with this project,” said Roscoe Nance, former USA Today sports writer and Selection Committee Chairman. “We look forward to a thorough review and discussion on what is sure to be a fantastic field of nominees.”

The Black College Football Hall of Fame also announced that Alpharetta, Georgia-basedPriority Payment Systems, one of the fastest growing bankcard processors in the United States, has joined as the Title Sponsor for the Inaugural Enshrinement Ceremony. The event will be held on February 20, 2010, in conjunction with Black History Month.

“Priority Payment Systems is extremely proud to play an important role in the first ever class of inductees for the Black College Football Hall of Fame,” said John Priore, President & CEO of Priority Payment Systems. “Players and Coaches from Historically Black Colleges and Universities have played a significant role in the history of college football and we think it is essential that their accomplishments are properly recognized.”

ESPN Monday Night Football Analyst Jon Gruden will serve as Master of Ceremonies and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Statesman Andrew Young will serve as an Honorary Chairman for the Enshrinement Ceremony at The Four Seasons Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia (75 Fourteenth St. NE), from 6:00 – 9:30 p.m. The Four Seasons Hotel also has joined as a Platinum Sponsor for the event. Sponsorship and ticket information is available atwww.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org.

The Black College Football Hall of Fame was established earlier this month by black college football and NFL pioneer quarterbacks Pro Bowl MVP James "Shack" Harris and Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, and is sponsored and administered by The Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization.