CLU's Kelley to be Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

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Brian Kelley was the MVP of the 1971 NAIA Division II Championship game and went on to play 11 season with the New York Giants in the NFL.

DALLAS, Texas. - Cal Lutheran football standout Brian Kelley who led the Kingsmen to the 1971 NAIA Division III National Championship was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday morning and will be inducted during the Enshrinement Festival on July 16 and 17 at the hall of fame in South Bend, Indiana.

Official Release: 2010 Divisional College Football Hall of Fame Class Announced

Archie Manning, chairman of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF), announced today the 2010 Divisional Hall of Fame Class, which considers players and coaches from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA), Divisions II, III, and the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) for induction.

The NFF launched its Divisional Hall of Fame program in 1996 during its annual enshrinement festival. A total of 124 players and coaches, counting this year’s class, have been inducted from the divisional ranks, including Terry Bradshaw (Louisiana Tech), Walter Payton (Jackson State), John Randle (Texas A&MKingsville), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State), and coach Eddie Robinson (Grambling State). Of the 4.72 million who have played college football since 1869, the newest class of inductees joins only 866 players and 186 coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Kelley was a key member of the football and wrestling programs in his career at California Lutheran College.

In 1971 he helped lead the Kingsmen to the NAIA Football Championship and was named the most valuable player of the championship game.

In 1972 he was selected to the NAIA All-America First Team as well as the NAIA District 3 Defensive First Team and the All-Lutheran College Defensive First Team.

Adding to his senior season honors, the defensive playmaker was named the team MVP and a Kodak College All-American.

Kelley currently holds the Cal Lutheran record for interceptions in a career with 17.

The dual sport athlete made a name for himself in the wrestling world as well by becoming the NAIA District 3 heavyweight champion in 1970.

After leaving Cal Lutheran, he went on to play for 11 seasons as a starting linebacker for the New York Giants of the NFL.

Playing for the New York Giants from 1973-83, Kelley became a member of one of the most renowned linebacker corps in NFL history - the "Crunch Bunch" - with Lawrence Taylor and fellow College Football Hall of Famers Brad Van Pelt and Harry Carson. The California native was the club's leading tackler from 1974-76.

Kelley was inducted into the CLU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. He now works as a financial advisor and resides in New Jersey.

Joining Kelley in the 2010 class being inducted in July are Marshall wide receiver Troy Brown, Maryland Eastern Shore halfback Emerson Boozer, UMass tight end Milt Morin and coaches Willie Jeffries (Howard, Wichita State and South Carolina State) and Ted Kessinger (Bethany, Kan.).

Kelley is the first Cal Lutheran player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.