Kearney, Neb. – The National Football Foundation announced today the names on the 2017 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and former Nebraska-Kearney/Kearney State head coach Allen Zikmund is on the list.
Overall, 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I) are on the list as well as 95 players and 29 coaches from NCAA I-AA, II and III.
For coaches to be eligible for the ballot, the must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60 percent of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years.
If a coach is retired and over the age of 70, there is no waiting period. If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. In both cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
"Zik" won 79% of his games (121-32-3) as Loper head coach, establishing the school as an NAIA powerhouse. His teams won 11 league titles and made postseason appearances in 1955 and 1963 with 67 players earning all-league honors and nine Lopers earning first or second-team NAIA All-Americans honors.
The Ord native, a member of Nebraska's 1941 Rose Bowl team, also coached four NFL draft picks, including linemen Randy Rasmussen, who went on to play 15 years with the New York Jets.
Zikmund is a member of the UNK Athletic and the NAIA Helms Football Halls of Fame and he was twice tabbed the state's Coach of the Year by both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World Herald.
The ballot was mailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which deliberates and selects the class.
The FBS Honors Court, chaired by Hall of Famer Archie Griffin from Ohio State, and the Divisional Honors Court, chaired by former Marshall head coach, longtime athletics director and NFF Board Member Jack Lengyel, include an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletic administrators, Hall of Famers and members of the media.
The announcement of the 2017 Class will be made Friday, January 6th, 2017, in Tampa. The city is serving as the host for the CFP National Championship, which will be played January 9th at Raymond James Stadium.
The January 6th announcement will be televised live, and specific viewing information will be available as the date draws near. Inductees will also participate in the pregame festivities and the coin toss on January 9th.
