Tracy Ham
Georgia Southern University
Quarterback, 1983-86
A consummate leader, quarterback Tracy Ham led Georgia Southern to two consecutive Division 1 AA national titles in 1985 and 1986.  He was such an important part of the Georgia Southern team that the offense was known as the Ham-Bone I. He currently holds 20 game, season and career records and 21 playoff game records, ranks first in all-time career passing yards and total offense at the school.

A host of major schools wanted Ham as a defensive back when he came out of high school. But Tracy opted for Georgia Southern where he could play quarterback and was a four-year starter for the Eagles. A dual-threat, Ham was equally adept at either running or passing. When his career ended he was the only collegiate player to have ever run for 3,000 yards and passed for 5,000 yards. The Georgia Southern program was just in its second year of football  in his freshman season, but he helped the Eagles new heights as they won back-to-back national championships in Ham’s junior and senior years. In the 1985 national title game he rallied the Eagles back from a 22-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Furman 44-42. That game he had 509 yards of total offense, completing five touchdown passes with the game-winner coming with 10 seconds left to play. He was named First Team All-America in 1986 and his incredible athleticism landed him in the nation’s ‘Top 20’ in passing efficiency, scoring, total offense and rushing that year.

After his GSU playing days were over his #8 jersey was retired and he was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1987 NFL Draft.  He went on to play in the CFL for 13 seasons appearing in two Grey Cups. In 1989, he won league MVP honors after leading the Baltimore Stallions to the Grey Cup.

He was head coach at Clark Atlanta from 2002-2004 and he is now active in the community and serves as a deacon at Whitesville Baptist Church and acts as a spokesperson for numerous charities.

Joe “Tarzan” Kendall*
Kentucky State University
Quarterback, 1934-36
Probably the most unsung pioneer of HBCU football, who will finally gets his due.  When I talk with older African American coaches and fans they always point to Joe Kendall as one of the greatest passers ever.  He was known as the HBCU’s version of Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, because he could throw the ball with the precision of a surgeon at a time when running the ball was the focal point of the game. Nicknamed “Tarzan” for his athletic prowess and he dominated black college football in the 1930s. 

He led Kentucky State to a national black college championship in 1934 and led the KSU Thorobreds to a 1935 Orange Blossom Classic victory over Florida A&M.  He had an impressive 29-7-3 overall record during his years at KSU and he was a three-time First Team All-America selection from 1934-36 by the Pittsburgh Courier.  Kendall is the first person from Kentucky State University to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Kentucky State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975. Following his player career, Kendall served as a coach, teacher and school principal and he was rewarded for his contributions as a recreational director in Owensboro, Ky by having a park named in his honor.  He passed away on Thanksgiving Day 1965 from injuries related to a broken leg suffered in a car accident.

* Deceased

Charlie Ward
Florida State
Quarterback, 1989, 1991-93
A truly amazing athlete, Charlie Ward is one of the finest all-around performers in the Hall of Fame roster. In his freshman season, Ward played little quarterback, as he was the Florida State punter. He then sat out the 1990 season while he became the starting point guard on the FSU basketball team. As a sophomore, he was still experiencing more success on the basketball court. As a quarterback he only attempted nine passes and his athletic skills were even used at wide receiver. In 1992, Ward finally received an opportunity at quarterback. He led the Seminoles to an ACC title, Orange Bowl win and was named as the Conference Player of the Year. He became a second team All-America, was a finalist for the O’Brien Award, and finished sixth in the Heisman voting. His senior year saw Ward lead FSU to its first national championship as he captured the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell, Camp and O’Brien awards. At the time, his victory margin in the Heisman vote was the largest ever. In that 1993 season he threw 27 scoring passes with only four being intercepted. While highly desired by the pros, he cast his lot with basketball enjoying an 11season career in the National Basketball Association. Ward was such a complete athlete that he was also drafted in the major league baseball draft even though he did not play college baseball. While at FSU he served as student body vice president.