Spani to be Inducted to College Football Hall of Fame
May 07, 2002 | Football
May 7, 2002
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Gary Spani, who played linebacker for Kansas State from 1974 to 1977, was announced Tuesday as part of the College Football Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2002.
The announcement was part of a news release from the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame in Morristown, N.J.
Spani will become the first Kansas State player to be inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame. He joins a 2002 induction class that includes Ronnie Lott (USC), Dan Marino (Pittsburgh), Reggie White (Tennessee) and Kellen Winslow (Missouri).
Two former Wildcat coaches, Charles Bachman (1920-27) and Lynn "Pappy" Waldorf (1934), are already in the Hall, which is located in South Bend, Ind.
Spani, also a member of the Kansas State Sports Hall of Fame, will be honored in a ceremony in December in New York City. Plans for an on-campus ceremony during the 2002 Wildcat season will be announced at a later time.
Named Kansas State's first-ever consensus All-America in 1977, Spani played in several postseason all-star games including the East-West Shrine Game and the Japan Bowl in 1978. A three-time All-Big-8 Conference selection, he was named Defensive Player of the Week four times.
In three seasons, he was the Wildcats' leader in tackles and was twice named team Most Valuable Player. Spani continues to dominate the Kansas State career record books as the team's all-time leader in career tackles (543), career assists (343) and assists in a season (110). Recording at least 20 tackles in a single game four times, Spani is also ranked first, fifth and sixth on the Wildcats' list for most tackles in a single season.
Following graduation in 1978, Spani was chosen in the third round of the National Football League draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played all nine years of his career and led the team in tackles four straight seasons.
Spani, who still works for the Chiefs organization, was named to Sports Illustrated's 50 Greatest Players of the 20th Century from the state of Kansas.
SPANI'S KANSAS STATE STATS
YearUTATTotal
1974303161
197552101*153
197650101*151
197768110*178
Total200343543
* - led team in tackles
2002 COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS
Terry Beasley,Auburn,Split End,1969-71
George "Sonny" Franck,Minnesota,Tailback,1938-40
Cosmo Iacavazzi,Princeton,Running Back,1962-64
John Jefferson,Arizona State,Wide Receiver,1974-77
Ronnie Lott,Southern California,Safety,1977-80
Dan Marino,Pittsburgh,Quarterback,1979-82
Napoleon McCallum,Navy,Tailback,1983-85
Reggie McKenzie,Michigan,Offensive Guard,1969-71
Randy Rhino,Georgia Tech,Defensive Back,1972-74
Jerry Sisemore,Texas,Offensive Tackle,1970-72
Gary Spani,Kansas State,Linebacker,1974-77
Reggie White,Tennessee,Defensive Tackle,1980-83
Kellen Winslow,Missouri,Tight End,1976-78
COACHES Earle Bruce, Tampa, Iowa State, Ohio State, Northern Iowa, Colorado State - 1972-92 - 154-90-2 Carmen Cozza, Yale - 1965-96 - 179-119-5
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