UT Vols: Peyton Manning 'very humbled' to join dad Archie Manning in College Football Hall of Fame

Peyton Manning remembers his first time wearing a tuxedo. He was 13 years old, and he was in New York.

Manning's mother, Olivia, let him and his two brothers skip school to watch their father, Archie, get inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

"First time wearing a tuxedo. First time being in New York," Manning said at a news conference Tuesday in New York, recalling that day. "So that was a big deal."

So was Tuesday, when it was Peyton's turn for enshrinement. He joins Archie as the first father-son duo to enter the College Football Hall of Fame as players.

Manning passed for 11,201 yards and 89 touchdowns during his Tennessee career from 1994-97. He helped lead the Vols to an SEC title in 1997.

“I had a great experience during my four years in Knoxville," Manning said.

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Manning was the Heisman runner-up his senior season, when he threw for 3,819 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was a consensus first-team All-American and won the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, Johnny Unitas and Sullivan awards, along with the Campbell Trophy, also known as the "Academic Heisman."

Manning went on to spend 18 years in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. He was named MVP five times and won two Super Bowls.

Other members of the 2017 induction class are players Bob Crable (Notre Dame), Marshall Faulk (San Diego State), Kirk Gibson (Michigan State), Matt Leinart (Southern California), Bob McKay (Texas), Dat Nguyen (Texas A&M), Adrian Peterson (Georgia Southern), Mike Ruth (Boston College), Brian Urlacher (New Mexico) and coaches Danny Ford (Clemson, Arkansas), Larry Kehres (Mount Union) and Steve Spurrier (Duke, Florida, South Carolina).

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Manning was regarded by many as the top quarterback prospect in the nation when he signed with Tennessee in 1994. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year his senior season at Newman High School in New Orleans. Manning chose Tennessee over Mississippi, Florida and Michigan, among others.

"I could have been happy with any of them, but Tennessee was strong in my mind and my heart," Manning said at the time of his commitment. "I had a gut feeling about Tennessee."

Ole Miss was the alma mater of Archie Manning, who also played quarterback. The elder Manning was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

"I can remember what a big deal it was to my dad, that honor," Manning said. "A lot of Ole Miss people were here. It's kind of surreal thinking I'm getting to experience that same moment tonight. I'm honored to be selected into the College Football Hall of Fame, especially with all these great players and coaches. But to join my dad, it's quite a unique honor, and I'm very humbled by it."

He even let his kids skip school to be there to see it.

"I thought that was appropriate," he said.