The 2013 class of the College Football Hall of Fame was officially announced today and it includes some of the most dominant players the game has ever seen. QBs Vinny Testaverde, Danny Wuerffel, and Tommy Frazier were a combined 101-12-1 in their college careers. Ron Dayne rushed for over 7000 yards including bowl games, but even his NCAA official number of 6,397 is the best of all time. The class also features the great Tedy Bruschi.
But easily the most illustrious member of the 2013 class is our own Orlando Pace, the man who redefined offensive line play and launched the greatest Heisman campaign known to man:
In addition to his gridiron, acting and kitchen skills, Pace also played some hoops in high school. You already know how well-decorated he was in his college career, but let’s review anyway: two-time first team All-American, two-time Lombardi trophy winner (still the only player to win twice), 1996 Heisman finalist as an offensive lineman (which is probably impossible today) and did not allow a sack in his final two years as a Buckeye.
I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic when I say that one day there should be a national trophy named for this man, as dominant as a player could possibly be at a crucial but thankless position. When you can get the enormous fanbase of a traditional powerhouse loaded with skill position talent to cheer for line play, then you are indeed a special kind of player.
Congrats, Mr. Pace. No one deserves this more.
Yes, there absolutely should be an Orlando Pace trophy, and it absolutely should be a bronze stack of pancakes.
If they could retroactively go back and vote for the Heisman, based on success after the fact, Pace wins hands down.