Best of Yesterday and Today finale

General Published on : 5/24/2004

The 2004 Best of Yesterday and Today, presented by Riddell, wraps up on Saturday (May 29). Appearing in the autograph series finale are Hall of Famers Mel Renfro and Lee Roy Selmon, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Anthony McFarland.

The group will be on hand in the Hall's NFL Films Theater to sign autographs from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Best of Yesterday and Today autograph sessions are offered to Hall of Fame visitors at no additional charge.

 

More on Best of Yesterday and Today
 Barney, Youngblood kickoff 2004 Best of Yesterday and Today
 Hundreds welcome Bethea, Doss, and Peterson
Huge crowd greets DeLamielleure, Garcia, and Shaw

Billy Shaw

Jeff Garcia

 

MEL RENFRO
CORNERBACK/SAFETY

1964-1977 Dallas Cowboys
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1996

Mel Renfro, the second round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1964, starred for 14 seasons in the National Football League. He began his career at safety before switching to the cornerback position in his fifth season. An instant star on the pro level, Renfro earned a Pro Bowl berth after each of his first 10 seasons.

Fast Fact: Mel's interception set up the Cowboys' winning touchdown in a 17-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the 1970 NFC Championship Game that gave Dallas its first Super Bowl berth.

Renfro recorded 52 interceptions which he returned for 626 yards during his stellar career. He also excelled as a return man early in his career and accumulated 842 yards on punt returns and 2,246 yards on kickoff returns.

In all, he scored six touchdowns – three on interceptions, one on a punt return, and two on kickoff runbacks. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1969, and punt and kickoff returns during his rookie season. Renfro was named All-Pro five times and all-conference seven times.

LEE ROY SELMON
DEFENSIVE END
1976-1984 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1995

Lee Roy Selmon was the first ever draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and also became the first member of the Buccaneers franchise to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tampa Bay selected Selmon, the winner of both the Lombardi and Outland trophies as the outstanding college lineman in 1975, as the first player overall in the 1976 National Football League Draft.

Fast Fact: Lee Roy was joined by his brother Dewey on the first Tampa Bay team. Dewey, a year older, was a second-round draft pick of the Buccaneers. A defensive tackle/linebacker, he played in Tampa Bay until 1980.

Over the next nine seasons, he became widely recognized as one of the elite defensive players in the league. He had extraordinary talent for rushing the passer. He amassed 78½ sacks, 380 quarterback pressures, and forced 28½ fumbles during his career. Selmon was named All-Pro in 1979, 1980, and 1982. He was also selected All-NFC five times, elected to six Pro Bowls, and named NFL Defensive Lineman of the Year in 1979.


ANTHONY McFARLAND
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1999-present Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A former first-team All-America at LSU, Anthony McFarland was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, of the 1999 National Football League Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was the first defensive lineman selected in that year's draft.

Fast Fact: Anthony, who still answers to his childhood nickname, "Booger," recorded his first career interception when he picked off a batted Donovan McNabb pass during Tampa Bay's 17-0 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2003 season opener.

After playing in 14 games as a rookie, he became the starting nose tackle for the Bucs in his second season. In just his third NFL start, he recorded four tackles and registered a career-high 2.5 sacks. Known for his athleticism and speed, the 6'0", 300-pound McFarland recorded 6.5 sacks during his first year as a starter.

The following season, he totaled 59 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two passes defensed in 14 starts. Two major injuries limited his playing time in 2002. But, he rebounded last season and has become a dominant force on the Bucs' defensive front line.

 Autograph Policy
When you enter the Hall you will receive a ticket that entitles you to one autograph from each of the football personalities present.  This ticket is good only on the day it is issued.  Although every effort will be made to accommodate all ticket holders, the autograph sessions will end promptly at the time designated.

You may bring any item to be autographed but those items that resemble artifacts on display in the Hall may not be taken into the exhibition areas or the museum store.  If you have items of that nature and they have been autographed, you must take them back to your vehichle. You will be permitted to re-enter the Hall through the front entrance.