By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
IRVING, Texas – In the history of Tennessee Tech football, there haven't been many players like Larry Schreiber.
As the College Football Hall of Fame released its 2019 ballot on Monday morning, the former Golden Eagle was among 100 players and 32 coaches from the divisional ranks (Football Championship Subdivision, Division II and Division III), as well as 76 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision seeking entry into the next inducted class.
Voters must be an active member of the National Football Foundation. Information on how to join can be found here.
Schreiber has three of the top 10 rushing seasons in Tennessee Tech history, rushing for 1,522 yards in 1969, 1,251 in in 1968 and 1,069 in 1967. He had four 200-plus yardage games, rushing for 255 against Northwest Louisiana in 1969, 219 against Austin Peay in 1969, 215 against Murray State in 1969 and 203 against Chattanooga in 1969.
Schreiber ranks fifth all-time in career total offense (4,421 yards), first in career rushing (4,421 yards), first in career all-purpose yards (5,925 yards), and sixth in career scoring (192 points). He also has the most career touchdowns with 32. He also set an NCAA record for 877 career rushes and set six Ohio Valley Conference records. He remains second in the league's all-time rushing list.
His 78 points in 1969 rank as the third-best scoring season by a Golden Eagle, tied with Michael Penix in 1995, trailing Dontey Gay and Larry Shipp with 90 in 2011 and 2007.
Schreiber was named an Associated Press All-American in 1969, was named to the all-Ohio Valley Conference team three times and was the OVC Player of the Year in 1969. He also won Tech football's highest honor, the Robert Hill Johnson Award, three times – with only Larry Shipp (2005-2007) and Tim Benford (2008, 2010-11) duplicating the feat.
He continued his career in the National Football League as he played with the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears in a six-season career, where he rushed for 1.749 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 117 passes for 982 yards and four touchdowns.
The ballot was released to more than 12,000 National Football Foundation members and current Hall of Famers who will vote on the class and submit to the NFF's Honors Courts, which will select the class. The Divisional Honors Court is chaired by former Marshall head coach, longtime athletics director and NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel.
The announcement of the 2019 class will be made on Jan. 7, 2019, with the induction scheduled for Dec. 10, 2019.
Criteria for the College Football Hall of Fame include First-Team All-America recognition from an organization recognized by the NCAA; 10 years since their final year of intercollegiate football; post-football record and must have played within the last 50 years. This would be the final year of eligibility for Schreiber, who played at Tech from 1966 to 1969.
Former OVC players on the ballot include: Joe Campbell (Middle Tennessee, 1988-91), Peter Catan (Eastern Illinois, 1978-80), Don Griffin (Middle Tennessee, 1982-85), John Jurkovic (Eastern Illinois, 1985-86, 1988-89), Steve McAdoo (Middle Tennessee, 1989-92), Ted Peterson (Eastern Illinois, 1973-76), Harold Roberts (Austin Peay, 1967-70) and Markus Thomas (Eastern Kentucky, 1989-92).
Former OVC coaches Jim Feix (Western Kentucky, 1968-83) and Charles Murphy (Middle Tennessee, 1947-68) are also on the ballot.
The voting deadline is June 22.
