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MEDIA: Ron Simmons inducted into College Football Hall of Fame (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Posted on 5/01/108 by Mike Informer

Simmons inducted into College Football Hall of Fame
Ex-FSU star, '59 Heisman winner Cannon among 12 inductees

By TONY BARNHART
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 05/01/08

Shortly after Bobby Bowden became coach at Florida State in 1976 he heard from Bill Franklin, one of his former players at South Georgia College in Douglas.

"Bill had settled in Warner Robins and he told me about a player that he really wanted me to see," Bowden said in an interview last summer. "We were really just getting started (at Florida State) so I went."

That player was Ron Simmons, an All-State defensive lineman from Warner Robins High. Simmons would sign with Florida State where he would become a two-time All-American.

On Thursday Simmons, who now lives in Marietta, was one of 13 players named to the College Football Hall of Fame.

"This has to be one of the greatest honors that I have ever received and I can't tell you how thrilled I am," Simmons told the AJC on Thursday. "When I look at all of the great players who are in the Hall of Fame, I can't believe I'm on that list. This a tribute that I share with all of those guys who got things started at Florida State."

Simmons was one of the first big-time recruits signed by Bowden at Florida State. Bowden, who turns 79 on Nov. 8, is set to begin his 33rd season in Tallahassee as college football's all-time winner (373 victories) in Division I-A.

"Back then it wasn't a popular choice to go to Florida State but coach Bowden sold us on the dream," Simmons said. "I grew up in central Georgia and that was Bulldog country. It was not a popular choice around my house."

Florida State was 39-8 in Simmons' four years and he led the Seminoles to the Orange Bowl as a junior and a senior. He was eventually inducted into the Orange Bowl Hall of Fame.

Simmons finished ninth in the Heisman Trophy balloting as a junior in 1979. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and also played in the USFL and CFL.

After his playing days Simmons became a professional wrestler.

"There are so many people who help you get to a place like this," said Simmons, who turns 50 on May 15. "I don't know that I can thank them all but I am going to try."

There were two coaches named to the Hall of Fame, one was Lou Holtz. The formal induction ceremonies for this class will be held on Dec. 9 in New York.



Original article/Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I actually saw this on Mike and Mike on ESPN this morning and noticed Simmons was on there.

Keep in mind that there have only ever been two people to have their numbers retired at Florida State. Deion Sanders and Ron Simmons.

:lol: My daughter can't stand Sanders. We saw him not play at a Cowboys/Chiefs game in KC. He was out injured or something but he showed up to strut up and down the sidelines.

I'd like to find a film clip of Simmons playing football. I bet he was a tough opponent.

This says a lot, but Simmons was easily the best linebacker that FSU ever had. They've had a shitload of good ones too.

You a fan of Mike and Mike? I love listening to it in the background when I get ready for work in the morning or watching it on my day's off. Something about the show just starts my day off better...

Yeah, I usually catch a little in the morning before work and then listen to it on the drive there on ESPN radio. It's not great, but it's an easy way to get caught up on the sports you miss.

By no means are they the greatest or anything, but like you said Greeny ad Golic do an excellent job on catching you up to speed on pretty much everything in the sports spectrum... Not to mention the Golic played for Notre Dame, one of my favorite college football teams. By the way, is it me or does Greenberg sometimes (and this is by no means to put down or offend anybody who might be Jewish) come off as a very stereotypical Jew as they are often portrayed in TV shows like Seinfeld? Maybe he does it on purpose, and it's part of his schtick but I just think it's really amusing (not necssarily because of his sense of humor) sometimes.



On a side note, I'm terribley sorry for steering this off-topic, it's just only a hand full of my close friends that I see most often watch Mike and Mike in the Morning. I guess I always get a little over excited for some dumb reason when I talk to and find somebody else who watches them.

It's all good, we're not Nazi's here.

I notice that too with Greeny, but I think that plays into his girly man routine that he has going against Golic and his manly man ordeal.