University of Houston Athletics
Former UH Heisman Trophy Winner Joins Hall of Fame
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 6, 2004
HOUSTON, Texas - For the second day in a row a former University of Houston athlete is honored with an induction into his sport's hall of fame, as 1989 Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware today was announced as a member of the 2004 College Football Hall of Fame class. Former UH basketball star Clyde Drexler was introduced yesterday in San Antonio as a Class of 2004 inductee in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Ware joins his former coach Bill Yeoman, a member of the Class of 2001, as the only two former Cougars to be enshrined in the prestigious hall located in South Bend, Indiana.
Ware is one of 12 players and two coaches to enter college football ultimate shrine. Joining Ware in this class are former players Bob P. Anderson (Army), Tony Casillas (Oklahoma), Frank Emanuel (Tennessee), Ray Guy (Southern Miss), Wayne Harris (Arkansas), Joe Kapp (California), James Mandich (Michigan), Lydell Mitchell (Penn State), Tracy Rocker (Auburn), Jack Tatum (Ohio State) and Charles Young (USC). The two coaches in this year's class are BYU's LaVell Edwards and George Welsh, who coached at both Navy and Virginia.
"Due to the dedicated efforts of our Honors Court and its chairman Gene Corrigan, we have another outstanding class of college football legends to induct this December," said Chairman Jon F. Hanson. "We are proud to be accepting these outstanding players and coaches into college football's ultimate shrine, the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana."
The year 1989 saw one of the greatest seasons in NCAA history by a quarterback. Houston's Andre Ware compiled unprecedented numbers while setting 26 NCAA and 15 Southwest Conference records. His performance did not go unnoticed and Ware became one of the most decorated players ever.
In addition to his consensus First Team All-America selection in 1989, Ware became the 54th recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Winner of the Davey O'Brien Award, he was Named UPI National Player of the Year, Chevrolet Offensive Player of the Year and Southwest Conference Player of the Year.
Despite playing in only slightly more than the first half of most games because of the Cougar's high scores and team dominance, Ware set NCAA records with 4,661 passing yards and 46 touchdowns in 1989. Averaging 427 passing yards per game, he guided Houston to a 9-2 record and a #14 national ranking. In three years, Ware threw for 8,202 yards and 75 touchdowns.
A first round NFL Draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1990, Ware played four seasons in both the NFL and CFL. Following his professional playing career, he returned to Houston to earn his bachelor's degree in Marketing, an accomplishment Ware said, "ranks right up there with winning the Heisman." Currently, Ware is the color commentator for Houston Texans football broadcasts after spending four years in the radio booth for Cougar Football.
The 2004 College Football Hall of Fame class will be inducted at the 47th Annual Awards Dinner on December 7, 2004, at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. They will be officially enshrined at the Hall in South Bend during ceremonies in August of 2005.
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