By Staff
We are so very fortunate to live just a short distance away from the College Football Hall of Fame.
Each year we get an opportunity to meet some of college football's greatest players.
What's so nice about it is that you don't have to spend a great deal of money or drive a great distance. And with gas prices the way they are, that's a good thing.
You only need to head across the state line to South Bend, Ind.
This weekend, the Class of 2008 will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
As usual, the list of inductees is an impressive one.
Scheduled to be inducted are Tom Brahaney (Oklahoma), Jeff Davis (Clemson), Doug Flutie (Boston College), Johnnie Johnson (Texas), Rex Kern (Ohio State), Ahmad Rashad (Oregon), Anthony Thompson (Indiana), Reggie Williams (Dartmouth), Richard Wood (USC) and Chris Zorich (Notre Dame).
The late Dave Brown (Michigan) and Wilson Whitley (Houston) will also be inducted in the Bowl Subdivision Class.
The coaches are Herb Deromedi (Central Michigan) and Joe Paterno (Penn State).
The Divisional Class will consists of Jim Ballard (Mount Union), Ronald McKinnon (North Alabama), John Randle (Texas A&M-Kingsville) and Brad Rowland (McMurry College),
The coaches are W.C. Gorden (Jackson State) and Doug Porter (Mississippi Valley State, Howard and Fort Valley State).
For some of these players, they continued their careers in the National Football League, where they also achieved great success.
What makes this weekend so special is the access that fans have to these players and coaches.
Today there is a golf tournament at Blackthorn Golf Club, a ladies brunch and fashion show at LaSalle Grille and the newly added concert at the Morris Performing Arts Center featuring Travis Tritt.
Saturday's festivities kick off with the Hall of Fame parade at 9:30 a.m., to be followed by Fan Fest at the Hall of Fame.
The annual flag football game is something everyone should get a chance to see because you get a glimpse of just how good these guys really were. It is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
It only costs $5 per person to get into FanFest and that includes admission to the Hall of Fame itself.
There is a youth football clinic at 12:30 p.m., which is free with a FanFest ticket and then the autograph session in the Hall of Fame's Press Box beginning at 1:45 p.m.
The cost is $60 per person with tickets going on sale at 8 a.m. at the Hall of Fame ticket counter.
So get in the car this weekend and head south to the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival, you won't regret it.