Courtesy of UWBadgers.com
MADISON, Wis. — Tim Krumrie’s long wait is finally over. Some 24 years after becoming eligible for the game’s highest honor, the man who set the standard for defensive players at the University of Wisconsin is set to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Krumrie’s election became official Friday with the National Football Foundation’s announcement of the 16 members — 14 players and two coaches — that comprise the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016.
Krumrie, 55, will be the 10th Wisconsin player to be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame – and the first UW defensive player to be so honored. In all, 14 players or coaches with Badgers ties have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Most recently, UW Director of Athletics and former head coach Barry Alvarez was inducted in 2010 and Heisman Trophy-winning running back Ron Dayne was enshrined in 2013.
As part of the Class of 2016, Krumrie will be honored at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on Dec. 6.
After starting as a linebacker when he came to Wisconsin in 1979, Krumrie found a home at nose guard and redefined how the position was played over a decorated career for the Badgers.
Leading the Badgers in tackles in each of his four seasons, Krumrie still ranks No. 3 in UW history with 444 career stops, the most ever by a defensive lineman. His 276 solo tackles remain the Badgers’ career record.
Krumrie, who never missed a start in 46 career games, was a consensus first-team All-America selection in 1981, a Walter Camp All-American in 1982 and went on to earn All-Big Ten honors three times. He helped the Badgers upset No. 1-ranked Michigan in their 1981 season opener and, in his final college game, was named Defensive MVP of the 1982 Independence Bowl after UW held Kansas State to just three points on the way to the program’s first-ever bowl win.
Also a two-year member of the Wisconsin wrestling team, Krumrie was enshrined in the UW Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.
He was selected in the 10th round of the 1983 NFL Draft by Cincinnati and helped lead the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Krumrie finished his NFL career with 1,017 tackles and 34.5 sacks. He went on to spend 15 seasons in the NFL as an assistant coach with the Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
Badgers in the College Football Hall of Fame
- Barry Alvarez, Coach, Class of 2010
- Alan Ameche, RB, Class of 1975
- Marty Below, OL, Class of 1988
- Robert Butler, OL, Class of 1972
- Ron Dayne, RB, Class of 2013
- Pat Harder, FB, Class of 1993
- Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, RB, Class of 1974
- Phil King, Coach, Class of 1962
- Tim Krumrie, NG, Class of 2016
- George Little, Coach, Class of 1955
- Pat O’Dea, P, Class of 1962
- Pat Richter, WR, Class of 1996
- Dave Schreiner, End, Class of 1955
- Harry Stuhldreher, Coach, Class of 1958
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