The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Issue 6

The Haggar Gold Jacket Report is a weekly update on recent news surrounding the very select group of men who’ve earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Last week the MARSHALL FAULK Foundation, San Diego State University Athletics and renowned black and white sports artist Dave Hobrecht unveiled "The Grand Marshall." The giclee print on canvas created by Hobrecht was revealed at the San Diego State Aztec men's basketball game on Feb. 15, 2012. The classic masterpiece was created to celebrate Faulk’s Hall of Fame career as the greatest Aztec running back of all-time.

There are only 100 Large Limited Edition pieces that have been personally autographed by Marshall and signed and numbered by Hobrecht. While only 250 Medium Limited Edition “The Grand Marshall” canvases are available for purchase. A portion of all proceeds from this one-of-a-kind piece of artwork go to benefit the Marshall Faulk Foundation.

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The University of Georgia announced Monday that it will honor Hall of Famer and former Bulldog star CHARLEY TRIPPI by naming a new annual football team award which will be given to the team’s most versatile player.

Trippi was a regular on offense and defense, while also punting and returning kicks. He earned the Maxwell Award in 1946 as the nation's top player after leading Georgia to an 11-0 record, an SEC title and Sugar Bowl victory over North Carolina.

Trippi led the Chicago Cardinals to an NFL title as a rookie in 1947. During his nine years with the Cardinals, he played halfback for five years, quarterback for two and two years on the defensive side of the ball as well. Trippi was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.

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Two former Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame quarterbacks paid a visit to the Children's Medical Center in Texas on Monday Feb. 20. ROGER STAUBACH and TROY AIKMAN were there as part of a photo shoot for a calendar which showcased 21 youngsters being treated at the hospital.

The final result of Monday’s visit will be a photo book which will be unveiled at a luncheon and fashion show in May. Staubach and Aikman are honorary co-chairmen for the event.

"The community doesn't know totally about Children’s Cancer Fund, and so Roger has helped us a great deal in letting folks know," said Dr. George Buchanan of UT Southwestern Medical Center.

"There have been results," Staubach said. "The odds of making it now are so much greater now. For me, it's the thrill to see the progress that's been made."

Aikman noted, "It's a special event, it's an impactful event. Very emotional. Some of the kids that are here today, unfortunately, won't even make it to the luncheon."

Staubach brought Aikman on board a decade or so ago to help with the younger crowd.

"Yeah, that was the case at the time, and now I’m starting to feel like I need to put pressure on [Cowboys quarterback Tony] Romo — they need another young face," Aikman added. "The first time I came, I said as long they keep asking me to come, I’m going to keep coming. It's a wonderful event. It's the best thing I do all year."

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Over the past two days Hall of Fame teammates of the Kansas City Chiefs BOBBY BELL and LEN DAWSON joined students both at the Hall of Fame and via videoconference for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s annual Black History Program. For two sessions on each day Dawson, a Class of 1987 Enshrinee and Bell, who was inducted in 1983 talked about their experiences of living through the turbulent times that were the 1960s in America. The Chiefs received notoriety during that era as the first pro football team to fill more than half of its roster with African American players.

“The objective was to celebrate the successes of racial equality in our country and to think about how we can improve upon it.” said Joe Horrigan, vice president of communications/exhibits at the Hall.

And while the program’s main theme was centered on racial equality the importance of education never seemed to be too far from the forefront.

“The decisions you are making now are going to be very important,” Dawson said. “There were no silver spoons in our mouths. We had to work for everything.”

Bell added, “Get your education. Me and Lenny, we had to work. I worked full-time at General Motors during football season. Football was a second job and I treated it as such.”
 

Links related to this story:

HOF Bios: Troy Aikman, Bobby Bell, Len Dawson, Marshall Faulk, Roger Staubach, Charley Trippi
More: Talking football with Len Dawson.
History: African American pioneers in pro football

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Issue 5 (Feb. 17) | Issue 4 (Feb. 10) | Issue 3 (Feb. 3) |  Issue 2 (Jan. 27) | Issue 1 (Jan. 20)