68 Inside sports QB camp by Terry Shea

Former Nebraska greats Trev Alberts, Will Shields and Grant Wistrom are among 76 players who comprise the 2009 Football Bowl Subdivision Ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Alberts lettered for the Huskers from 1990 to 1993 as an outside linebacker and captured the Butkus Award in 1993, honoring the nation's top linebacker. Alberts finished his career with a Nebraska record 29.5 sacks, including 15 in 1993. Alberts was a first-team All-American and first-team Academic All-American in 1993 and was a two-time All-Big Eight pick. Alberts is currently a college football analyst for CBS College Sports.

Shields was one of the most dominant offensive lineman in Nebraska history during his career from 1989 to 1992. In his senior season, Shields was a unanimous All-America pick and captured the Outland Trophy, while also earning votes for Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year. He earned first-team All-Big Eight honors three times in his career and helped Nebraska to three NCAA rushing titles. Shields went on to play 14 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection before retiring following the 2006 season. He was also named the NFL's Man of the Year in 2003 for his remarkable work with charitable and community organizations.

Wistrom was a key part of three Nebraska national championship teams during his career from 1994 to 1997. A two-time All-American and two-time Academic All-American, Wistrom captured the 1997 Lombardi Award and was a winner of the NCAA Top Eight Award. His play helped Nebraska amass a 49-2 record during his career. Wistrom holds the Nebraska school record for tackles for loss with 58.5 and ranks second at NU with 26.5 sacks. Wistrom was a first-round pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and played nine seasons in the pro ranks. He helped the St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowl appearances, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV, and also helped Seattle to a Super Bowl appearance.

To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been a First-Team All-America selection by a major/national selector as recognized and utlitized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 years prior; played within the last 50 years and not currently be playing professionally.

The Hall of Fame Class will be announced on Thursday, April 30 and inducted at the National Football Foundation's Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 8, 2009, in New York City. 

Nebraska is represented in the College Football Hall of Fame by 13 former players and six former coaches. Mike Rozier was the most recent Husker to be added to the list when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

G WILL SHIELDS INDUCTED INTO THE MISSOURI SPORTS HALL OF FAME

FEB 09, 2009, 1:13:27 PM

Former Kansas City Chiefs G Will Shields was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009 on Saturday, February 7th in Springfield, Missouri. He is the 16th Chiefs player to be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

During his 14 year NFL career, Shields set the benchmark for excellence at the guard position. A 12-time Pro Bowler, Shields’ steady presence and dominating form paced the Red and Gold for 224 consecutive games throughout his career. One of the finest players in the illustrious history of the Chiefs franchise, Shields was selected in the third round (74th overall) of the ‘93 NFL Draft following a standout career at the University of Nebraska. He went on to start a franchise-record 223 consecutive contests.

Throughout the course of his career, his quiet presence helped him rewrite the record books. By the time he retired following the 2006 season, no Chiefs member had played in as many games (224) and QB Brett Favre was the only player in the league with a longer active starting streak. No player in NFL history has been selected to more Pro Bowls than Shields, a mark tied by G Randall McDaniel, who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. No modern-era guards currently enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame played in more games than Shields.

Off the field, Shields cast just as formidable of a shadow. Establishing the “Will to Succeed Foundation” in ‘93, more than 100,000 individuals have benefitted from its innovative programs. The 2003 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner, Shields became the fourth member of the Chiefs to take home the illustrious Gladiator statue for the combination of on-field excellence and off-the-field outreach. He has also received Pro Football Weekly’s Arthur S. Arkush Humanitarian of the Year Award, The Sporting News’ NFL Good Guy of the Year, the Ed Block Courage Award and the Kansas City Council on Philanthropy’s Philanthropist of the Year accolades.

Thirteen individuals and three teams joined Shields in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. They include:

• Bobby L. Brown – Former high school basketball coach
• Steve Hancock – High school football coach
• Larry Holley – William Jewell College basketball coach
• Stan Kroenke – Professional Sports Owner
• Danny LaRose – Former University of Missouri and NFL player
• Thomas Lombardo – Former college football star and Korean War hero
• John Mayberry – Former Major League Baseball player
• Reba Smith – Former Missouri State University coach
• Bill & Vince Tobin – Former NFL Executives
• Al Trost – Former soccer star
• Grant Wistrom – Former NFL player
• Todd Worrell – Former Major League Baseball player
• The St. Louis University Soccer Program
• The ‘59 Parkview Tastmark American Legion Baseball Team
• Coach Robert Taylor and the ‘59 St. Agnes High School Basketball Team