Irish Greats Headline Nominee List for College Football Hall of Fame

The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names of 75 players and eight coaches who comprise the 2008 Football Bowl Subdivision Ballot (formerly Division I-A) for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The list of who’s who had some Irish flavor with three greats from way back and one of the best coaches ever to grace Notre Dame.

Among the 75 player candidates were offensive greats, Tim Brown (1984-87), Dave Casper (1971-73), and Jim Seymour (1966-68), while Lou Holtz (1986-96) was one of the eight nominees for the Hall of Fame coaches.

The FBS Hall of Fame Class will be announced live on ESPNEWS at a press conference in New York City's prestigious Waldorf Astoria on May 1 and inducted at The National Football Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on December 9, 2008 also at the Waldorf Astoria. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend in the summer of 2009.

Notre Dame was one of eight schools to have three players nominated for the Hall of Fame, while Arizona State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue, Tennessee, Southern California, and UCLA, round out the other.

Tim Brown, Notre Dame-Wide Receiver-Two- time First Team All-America (1986-87) - unanimous in 1987 and won 1987 Heisman Trophy... 1987 Walter Camp Player of the Year... Set 19 school records during his four-year career.

Dave Casper, Notre Dame-Tight End-Named 1973 consensus First Team All-America... Played on 1973 National Championship Team... 1973 ND Offensive MVP and recorded 21 receptions for 335 yards and four touchdowns in career .

Jim Seymour, Notre Dame-Wide Receiver- Two-time First Team All-America selection (1967- 68)... Led the team in receiving from 1966-68... Holds Notre Dame's receiving record for pass receptions in a game (13) and receiving yards in a game (276).

Lou Holtz- William & Mary (1969-71), NC State (1972-75), Arkansas (1977-83), Minnesota (1984-85), Notre Dame (1986-96), South Carolina (1999-2004) -Ranked eighth among all-time coaches in career wins (249)... Only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to bowl games and four different programs to final Top 20 rankings... Led Notre Dame to 1988 national championship.