Six individuals who helped shape the tradition of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and college football history were inducted today into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame during enshrinement ceremonies at AT&T Stadium.

The honorees in the 11th Hall of Fame Class included Texas A&M linebacker Quentin Coryatt, Arkansas/Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt, USC head coach John Robinson, Penn State halfback/linebacker Wallace Triplett, Texas running back Ricky Williams, and Oklahoma strong safety Roy Williams. Mr. Triplett was represented by his daughter, Alison Triplett, and granddaughter Ayanna McConnell.

Each member of the Hall of Fame Class received a personalized bronze statue in the likeness of a 1930s football player, the era in which the Classic was founded.

“This wonderful spring time event showcases the rich tradition of college football in North Texas and provides future generations with a greater appreciation of our game’s history,” said Carl Ice, Chairman of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association. “Honoring those who have played such a vital role in the success of the Goodyear

Cotton Bowl is important to all of us.

"It gives me great pleasure to welcome The Class of 2018 into this prestigious fraternity.” Brad Sham, the Voice of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and the Dallas Cowboys, served as Master of Ceremonies for the enshrinement activities.

A judging committee comprised of media representatives and athletic administrators voted from a ballot consisting of 60 nominees that included former

players, coaches, bowl administrators and others who have made special contributions to the Classic.

Selection criteria for the Hall of Fame include the following:

•Voting is based solely upon an individual’s performance in – or contribution to – the Classic rather than on the person’s overall college or professional career.

•An individual is eligible five years after their final Classic appearance.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2018

The Class of 2018 features a distinguished group of former players and coaches. Texas A&M linebacker Quentin Coryatt was fast, a fierce hitter, and one of the most respected defenders in the Southwest Conference. His sack of Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon for a safety in the 1992 Classic was sensational. The Seminoles may have won the game, 10-2, but it was Coryatt’s safety and 10 unassisted tackles that had everyone talking.

Coach Houston Nutt became the fourth of only six head coaches to guide two universities to the Cotton Bowl Classic. He led Arkansas to a 27-6 victory over rival Texas in the 2000 game, and then directed Ole Miss to back-to-back victories over Texas Tech in 2009 and Oklahoma State in 2010. In four Classic appearances, his teams were 3-1.

Coach John Robinson’s USC Trojans left their mark on the 1995 Cotton Bowl Classic with a decisive 55-14 victory over Texas Tech. USC rolled up 578 yards in total offense and erased five offensive records that day. Defensively, the Trojans were just as dominating. Under Robinson’s direction, USC recorded one of the most incredible team performances ever in the Classic.

Penn State halfback/linebacker Wallace Triplett made history in the 1948 Classic in more ways than one. He and teammate Dennie Hoggard broke down racial barriers in the state of Texas. And, on the football field, Triplett was spectacular. He reeled in a six-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter to tie SMU, 13-13.

Texas running back Ricky Williams rushed for 203 yards in the 1999 game to spark the Longhorns to a 38-11 victory over Mississippi State. The Heisman winner’s first touchdown came early in the second half when he broke loose up the middle and sailed 37 yards for the score. As he crossed the goal line, Williams struck the Heisman pose and the floodgates sprang open for Texas.

Oklahoma strong safety Roy Williams was dominating in the Sooners’ 10-3 victory over Arkansas in 2002. Williams’ collected six tackles for the game, five of them were unassisted. He made three tackles for -17 yards in losses, including two sacks for minus-eight yards. It was easy to see why Williams’ teammates called him Superman.

With the induction of The Class of 2018, the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame expands to 71 men and women who have enriched the legacy of the Classic. The first class was enshrined in the spring of 1998 and since then the event has become a spring-time tradition at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Since its first game in 1937, the Classic has hosted:

•139College Football Hall of Famers

•9 Heisman Trophy winners

•27 Pro Football Hall of Famers

•7 Maxwell Award winners

•7 Walter Camp Award winners

•6 Outland Trophy Award winners

•4 Davey O’Brien Award winners

•4 Lombardi Award winners

•4 Johnny Unitas Award winners

•3 Doak Walker Award winners

THE CLASS OF 2018

QUENTIN CORYATT, TEXAS A&M, LINEBACKER

1992 Classic: Florida State 10, Texas A&M 2

Defensive Statistics: 15 tackles, 10 unassisted

Tackles For Loss: 3 tackles for -12 yards

Safeties: 1 safety for -2 yards

Quentin Coryatt always arrived at the football in a hurry. The Texas A&M linebacker could pack

a punch, too. Coryatt’s sack of Florida State quarterback Casey Weldon in the 1992 Classic has become legend. Following an Aggie turnover that gave the Seminoles the ball just outside of the goal line, Weldon rolled to his right. With jet speed, Coryatt closed swiftly and trapped the Seminole quarterback in the end zone, sacking the Heisman runner-up for a safety to give Texas A&M the first score of the game. It was a spectacular play and was one of 10 solo tackles for Coryatt. The Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year ended the day with 15 stops, three of them resulting in -12 yards in losses. In a word...Quentin Coryatt was sensational.

COACH HOUSTON NUTT, ARKANSAS / OLE MISS

2000 Classic: Arkansas 27, Texas 6

2002 Classic: Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3

2009 Classic: Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34

2010 Classic: Ole Miss 21, Oklahoma State 7

Classic Coaching Record: 3-1

Coach Houston Nutt knew the route to the Cotton Bowl Classic better than almost anyone. He is one of six head coaches to guide more than one university to the bowl, and is one of only three to carry home a victory for both institutions. It all started in 2000, the Classic’s “Turn of the Century” game, when Arkansas defeated Texas 27-6. The Razorbacks held the Longhorns to -27 yards on the ground to become the first team to hold Texas to negative rushing yards in a bowl game. More success followed as head coach at Ole Miss. His Rebels went toe-to-toe with Texas Tech in 2009 before pulling out a record-setting 47-34 victory. A year later, Ole Miss knocked off Oklahoma State 21-7 to win back-to-back Classics and the first in AT&T Stadium. In four appearances, his teams were 3-1.

COACH JOHN ROBINSON, USC

1995 Classic: USC 55, Texas Tech 14

Classic Coaching Record: 1-0

When John Robinson served as head coach at USC, the Trojans were in a class by themselves. His record of 104-35-4 is an amazing resume. Under Robinson, USC won nearly 75 percent of its games. One memorable victory took place in the 1995 Cotton Bowl Classic when USC handed Texas Tech a decisive 55-14 defeat. The Trojans were simply unstoppable. USC set records for total offense, passing yards, total points, points in one quarter and points in one half. The Men of Troy rolled up 578 yards in offense. Defensively, they stymied Tech at every turn. It was a classic display of an explosive offense joining forces with a dominating defense. Robinson and his Trojans logged one of the most incredible performances ever in the Classic.

WALLACE TRIPLETT, PENN STATE, HALFBACK / LINEBACKER

1948 Classic: Penn State 13, SMU 13

Receiving: 1-6, 1 TD (Additional Statistics Not Available)

Wallace Triplett made history at Penn State. A heralded offensive threat at halfback and a hard-hitting linebacker on defense, he was the Nittany Lions’ first African

-American football star. In the 1948 Cotton Bowl, Triplett and fellow teammate Dennie Hoggard did more than play football. They broke down racial barriers in Texas. When asked to consider leaving the team’s two black players at home, their teammates’ quick response was one of solidarity...“We are Penn State, there will be no meetings.” Triplett played as advertised against SMU and reeled in the game-tying touchdown with a six-yard catch in the third quarter. The game ended in a 13-13 tie. The final score aside, Triplett, Hoggard and Penn State had taken a stand that New Year’s Day, one for a more just society.

RICKY WILLIAMS, TEXAS, RUNNING BACK

1999 Classic: Texas 38, Mississippi State 11

Rushing: 30 attempts, 203 yards, 2 TD

Receiving: 5 receptions, 45 yards

Ricky Williams was precision in motion. The explosive Texas running back with hydraulic thighs and blazing speed was the buzz of college football as the landslide winner of the Heisman Trophy during his senior season. All eyes turned toward Dallas for his career finale against Mississippi State in the 1999 Classic. Three plays into the second half, the decorated Longhorn running back broke loose up the middle and sailed 37 yards for his first score of the day. As he

crossed the goal line, Williams pulled up and struck the classic Heisman pose and sparked a celebration of major proportions. Powered by Williams’ 203 rushing yards, Texas cruised to a 38-11 decision over the Bulldogs and its first New Year’s Day bowl victory in 17 years.

ROY WILLIAMS, OKLAHOMA, STRONG SAFETY

2002 Classic: Oklahoma 10, Arkansas 3

Defensive Statistics: 6 tackles, 5 unassisted

Tackles For Loss: 3 tackles for -17 yards

Quarterback Sacks: 2 sacks for -8 yards

They called him Superman, and it was easy to see why. Oklahoma safety Roy Williams dominated Arkansas in the 2002 Classic. No matter where the Hogs tried to run, Williams stood in their way. He was equally as effective on deep pass routes as he was at the line of scrimmage. Williams recorded six tackles, five of them unassisted, including three tackles for -17 yards in losses and two sacks for minus-eight yards. A sure tackler, when Williams got his hands on a

ball carrier, that player went down at the point of contact. His Sooners held Arkansas to 50 yards in offense, two pass completions, and collected nine sacks to win 10-3. No wonder he became the first player to win the Bronko Nagurski and Jim Thorpe awards in the same season. Versatile was his middle name.