SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Michigan Heisman trophy winner Desmond Howard was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame Saturday in front of a crowd of Wolverines fans, but standing out from the crowd was Howard’s family.

His wife and children, parents and brothers were all front and center to cheer him on.

“I’m glad that my family is here, the people that have helped make this moment possible. My Michigan family is here and you know this is a great day for Michigan football. I just look at it that way. I’m so proud to be able to put another Michigan football to the College Football Hall of Fame,” Howard said.

Two of his three brothers were there wearing Michigan jerseys and hats with Howard’s twin boys on their shoulders. His mother and father were beaming with pride as wife Rebkah was taking pictures.

Howard met his wife nearly 20 years ago on a blind date in Washington D.C., while he was playing for the Redskins.

“We met on a half-blind date Desmond likes to say,” Rebkah Howard joked. “Because, he says I knew what he looked like but he didn’t know what I looked like.”

The couple now has three children, 19-year-old Sydney and 5-year-old twin boys, Desmond, Jr. and Dhmair.

“It’s really amazing just to share this with our children and my in-laws. It’s just such a special moment and they have really done a great job for making it special for all of the honorees and families. They have just done fantastic,” Rebkah said.

“My children are here and… my wife. It’s just something that obviously, my older daughter, she understands it and she appreciates it. But my sons, they’re five and I think when they get a lot older, they are really going to appreciate this a lot more,” Howard said of sharing the experience with his kids.

“We’re just so excited to be here,” Sydney Wade said of her dad. “It’s a great honor for him and we’re so happy that we can be here to support him.”

Howard’s love for the University of Michigan runs deep, but that connection has grown even stronger since Sydney enrolled at his beloved alma mater.

“I chose Michigan because it’s a great place to be and I just love Ann Arbor. I grew up watching Michigan football so there’s just really no other choice,” she said. “I love being in Michigan. My dad loves visiting me so it’s a great experience to be there.”

Howard could not be happier with his daughter’s choice.

“It’s great, because, obviously I have a lot of love in my heart for the University of Michigan. I know she is getting the quality education and there (are) a lot of people there who look out for her because I don’t live in the state of Michigan so that’s always important, too. I just think it’s great to see that she will be an extension of our Michigan family.”

As the jacket ceremony wrapped up on the gridiron of the Hall of Fame Saturday, Howard could be seen waving and blowing kisses to his family.  Howard graciously posed for pictures for fans, but there was one pose he would not do.

Some fans were disappointed when Howard refused to strike the Heisman pose he so famously did after his 93-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ohio State in 1991, but his twin sons were happy to oblige. Desmond, Jr. and Dhmair looked just like their Hall of Fame daddy as they tucked their mini football and outstretched their arms.

Howard was not surprised.

“You know, out of all of the trophies in my house, that’s their favorite one,” he laughed. “If you say, ‘what’s your favorite statue?’ They will do that pose. They like that one… they love the Heisman pose.”

Maybe the twins are foreshadowing for the future?

“Football is really fun,” Dhmair said.  “Go blue!” Desmond, Jr. cheered.

Allison Hayes is a sports anchor for FOX 28.