Aug 23, 2018 3 min read

Brandt, Bowlen nominated for HOF

Gil Brandt and Pat Bowlen have been nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame as contributors to the game.

Currently a consultant to the NFL and one of the key figures in the staging of the draft, Brandt was one of the key contributors to the building of the Dallas Cowboys. As vice president of player personnel from 1960-89, Brandt helped Dallas grow into one of the most powerful and popular sports franchises in America. Among the Cowboys’ innovations were extensive use of computers and deeply scouting the historically black colleges for talent.

“This is, without question, one of the greatest things that have happened in my life,” Brandt said Thursday.

Bowlen, the longtime owner of the Denver Broncos, is the only owner in NFL history with 300 overall victories during his first 30 seasons. Under his leadership, the Broncos had a sensational run of success, winning three Super Bowls and seven conference titles.

The contributors committee is comprised of nine members of the overall selection committee. The 2019 contributor nominees were reduced to 10 semifinalists. Then, on a rotating basis, five of the nine members of the committee met at the Hall of Fame to discuss each of the nominees. The category is for individuals who made outstanding contributions to professional football in capacities other than playing or coaching.

To be elected to the hall, Bowlen and Brandt each must receive 80 percent voting support by the entire 48-member selection committee in February on the day before the Super Bowl.

Previously, the senior committee nominated former Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Johnny Robinson.

Texas A&M, Fisher

open to investigation

New Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said Thursday his program will be “very open” to any inquiry into allegations of possible NCAA violations, but he is confident in how things have been handled since he arrived from Florida State.

Fisher was responding to allegations former Aggies linebacker Santino Marchiol made to USA Today this week about improper cash payments for hosting recruits, practices that went beyond allowable time limits and mishandling of his ankle injury. Marchiol has transferred to Arizona and raised the allegations against Texas A&M in an application to be allowed to play this season rather that sit out a year.

The Texas A&M administration has said only that the school is “reviewing the situation with the NCAA and the SEC Office.”

Texas A&M hired Fisher away from Florida State with a 10-year, $75 million contract to replace Kevin Sumlin, who is now the Arizona coach. The Aggies open the season Aug. 30 against Northwestern State.

Rutgers football players face charges

Eight current or former Rutgers football players have been charged in an alleged credit card fraud scheme.

The Middlesex County prosecutor’s office announced the charges late Wednesday. The eight are charged with crimes including conspiracy, promoting street crime and money laundering. They allegedly obtained credit card numbers belonging to others and transferred money to accounts for their personal use.

One player was scheduled to appear in court Thursday, while others had court dates in September and October.

The school said two of the players have been dismissed from the team and two others have left to enroll at other schools. The remaining four didn’t participate in training camp.