UMES' Boozer named to College Football's Hall of Fame

PRINCESS ANNE, MD -- Emerson Boozer, who has garnered various honors for his abilities on the gridiron, can now add another accolade to his resume -- College Football Hall of Famer.

The former NFL running back and University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduate will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., the weekend of July 16-17. Boozer will be the third UMES football representative inducted, following legendary coach Vernon "Skip" McCain in 2006 and Roger Brown last year.

"I was at home and my wife was on the computer and she says, 'Come here for a minute and read this,' " Boozer said. "Then I read about being accepted in the College Football Hall of Fame and being enshrined in July. I had to read it a couple of times to make sure that I had read what I had read."

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EMERSON BOOZER, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Halfback (1962-65)

A four-year letterman and storied halfback under legendary coach Vernon "Skip" McCain at Maryland Eastern Shore (formerly Maryland State College), Emerson Boozer ran over opposing defenses to secure a spot in the 2010 College Football Hall of Fame Class.

A two-time First Team All-America by the Pittsburgh Courier, Boozer amassed 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns during his career. He averaged a remarkable 6.78 yards per carry and was named a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) All- Conference pick in 1964 and '65. He was also inducted into the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hall of Fame in 1982.

The New York Jets selected Boozer in the sixth round of the draft, and he played with the franchise for 10 seasons. He was named the 1966 Pittsburgh Courier AFL Rookie of the Year and was twice named a Pro Bowl selection. He also helped the Jets defeat the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

After his time in the pros, Boozer worked with CBS as an NFL analyst. He has been inducted into the State of Georgia and Suffolk Sports halls of fame. Now retired, he lives in Huntington Station, N.Y.

LINK: http://www.collegefootball.org/

A Legacy of Excellence: UMES Emerson Boozer to College Football Hall of Fame

Emerson Boozer, a University of Maryland Eastern Shore star half-back will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in July. Boozer was a star in Super Bowl III with the World Champions New York Jets (1968).

Video:

America's Game - 1968 New York Jets - Boozer ...

Long before there was a University of Maryland Eastern Shore, there was a black college football powerhouse in Princess Anne playing under the banner of "Maryland State College" coached by a nearly forgotten legendary coach, Vernon "Skip" McCain.

On Tuesday, the National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame announced the induction of "Maryland State College" half-back Emerson Boozer, who will join two other Hawks presently in the Hall--Detroit Lions/Los Angeles Rams "Fearsome Foursome" massive tackle Roger Brown (inducted in 2009) and Coach "Skip" McCain (inducted in 2006).

Prior to coming North to play for the Hawks, Boozer was a 5-11/190 star half-back at Lucy Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia. Boozer, who was a running back for UMES between 1962-65, was a four-year letterman, compiling 2,537 yards and 22 touchdowns during his Hawks career. He averaged a robust 6.78 yards per carry playing for Coach McCain and later, Coach R. "Sandy" Gilliam.

Skip McCain compiled a career record of 102 wins, 17 defeats and 4 ties (82.9%) with four perfect undefeated seasons and four Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championships. More importantly, Coach McCain and the powerhouse Hawks defeated Grambling State and the legendary Eddie Robinson in all four games played between the Hawks and Tigers, outscoring Grambling 87-20. This was achieved while McCain served as the head football coach, head basketball coach and athletic director.

During the period of 1946-1960, Maryland State College produced five undefeated football teams and a combined won-loss record of 139 wins, 36 losses and 7 ties.

Boozer graduated and went on to star for the New York Jets for 10 seasons as both a feature running back with speed and tremendous power, and later in his career, as a powerful blocking half-back. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore holds the distinction with Florida State for producing the most alumni (five each) appearing in a single Super Bowl game (Super Bowl III, 1968). Boozer, along with Hawks Earl Christy, Johnny Sample, Charlie Stukes and James Duncan holds this record that may never be broken. UMES discontinued their football program in 1979 due to the rising costs of Division I football.

Boozer was drafted by both the NFL and upstart AFL in 1966. He was selected in the Round 7/Pick 98 by the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and Round 6/Pick 46 by the AFL's New York Jets. Emerson became a Jets starter in 1967 and displayed talents that drew comparison to the Chicago Bears star running back Gale Sayers. Boozer was noted for his work ethic and his blocking and past catching abilities soon became legendary around the league. With quarterback Joe Namath, full back Matt Snell, and numerous support players like future college football hall of famer, Coach William "Billy Joe" (Cheney State, Florida A&M, Miles College), the Jets won Super Bowl III by an improbable 16-7 over the Johnny Unitas led Baltimore Colts.

Boozer scored 52 touchdowns and gained 5,135 yards in his 10 year NFL career. Emerson Boozer will forever be in the NFL record books for scoring the first regular-season over-time ("sudden death") touchdown in NFL history on a short pass from Joe Namath in 1974 to beat the cross-town rival New York Giants.

The UMES Hawks are not done yet--with former NFL stars and notable alumni -- NFL Coach Art Shell, Johnny Sample, Sherman Plunkett, Carl Hairston, Billy Thompson, Charlie Stukes, Earl Christy, Mack Alston Jr., and James Duncan are awaiting their names to be called for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Not bad for a Hawks program that fielded it last football team 31 years ago.