An idea whose time has come at TSU

Few main stream sports fans know that Super Bowl Champion Michael Strahan All-American smile was developed on the playing fields of Texas Southern University, where he ruled the SWAC, recording 41.5 career sacks. The NFL's all-time sack leader and future hall of famer is a native of Houston, Texas and played 15 NFL seasons for the New York Giants.

You know the saying about not remembering history and our being condemned to repeat it? Well, Texas Southern University hopes that remembering some of its glorious football history might help it relive it. Tigers greats will gather tonight to celebrate the inaugural class of the Texas Southern Football Hall of Fame. The idea, pushed by TSU coach Johnnie Cole, a TSU legend and almost certain future inductee, is long overdue.

TSU All-American defensive tackle, the late Ernie Holmes, a two-time Super Bowl winner and an anchor of Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense, pose with Super Bowl trophy and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Chuck Noll. The two-time All Pro played for the Steelers from 1972-77, and spent part of the 1978 season with New England before retiring. Holmes, an ordained minister, lived on a ranch in Wiergate, Texas and died at age 59 in a car crash in January 2008. As part of a famous front four that included "Mean" Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood and the late Dwight White, "Ernie was one of the toughest players to ever wear a Steelers uniform," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said in a statement. "At his best, he was an intimidating player who even the toughest of opponents did not want to play against."

“This is something I've dreamed about for years,” said Cole, who played quarterback at TSU from 1982-86 and returned as coach in 2008. “Over the years, a lot of former athletes had said they felt that the school had forgotten about them, and I always felt this would be one way to pay tribute.

“There are so many wonderful people, so many great football players, who have done so much for the university and so much in life that needed to be acknowledged. Before you know where you're going, you got to know where you come from.” Local sports fans are not as familiar with the grand history of TSU football as we should be. Any university would be proud to honor such a distinguished group as this first class. All 15 of the players who will be celebrated tonight at the Westin Galleria were All-Americans. The group spans five decades of TSU football.

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