Eric Bieniemy, Bill McCartney finalists for College Football Hall of Fame

Eric Bieniemy (Hyoung Chang, Denver Post file)

Former Colorado running back Eric Bieniemy and coach Bill McCartney are on the College Football Hall of Fame list of finalists for this year's class, the National Football Foundation announced Tuesday.

Also on the 82-man list (77 players and five coaches) is Air Force receiver Ernie Jennings, who led the Falcons to the 1971 Sugar Bowl, and former Denver Broncos running back Rob Lytle.

Bieniemy and McCartney led the Buffs to the 1990 co-national championship, and Bieniemy finished third in the 1990 Heisman Trophy voting. He remains the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,940), all-purpose yards (4,351) and touchdowns (42) and is second in scoring (254 points). He was the nation's second-leading rusher in 1990 with 1,628 yards and 17 touchdowns.

He came back to the program as the offensive coordinator for the 2011 season but was let go after the 2012 season when CU fired Jon Embree and the staff. Bieniemy was hired in January as the Kansas City Chiefs running backs coach.

The Buffs went to nine bowl games in McCartney's 13 seasons (1982-94), and he was 93-55-5 overall.

Jennings finished eighth in 1970 Heisman voting and still holds all of the Falcons' single-season and career-receiving records. Jennings caught 148 passes for 2,392 yards for 28 touchdowns in his career. In 1970, Jennings set single-season records with 74 catches for 1,289 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Lytle was a Michigan grad was a consensus All-American in 1976 and finished third in the Heisman voting that year, when he was named the Big Ten MVP. He was selected by the Broncos in the second round (45th overall) of the 1977 NFL draft and played seven seasons for Denver. Lytle died of a heart attack on Nov. 20, 2010.

The class will be announced May 7, with induction Dec. 10 in New York

Bill McCartney (Hyoung Chang, Denver Post file)

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According to the NFF, to be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a first-team All-American by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized 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 cannot be currently playing professional football. Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60 percent of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years. If a coach is retired and 70 or older, there is no waiting period. If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. In both cases, the candidate's post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_22722084/eric-bieniemy-bill-mccartney-finalists-college-football-hall?source=rss

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