Dec. 8, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., -
Curt Warner's Remarks at National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Press Conference
December 8, 2009; New York, NY
"I, too, am honored and humbled to be part of such a prestigious group. I want to thank the NFF for all of their hospitality throughout all of their procedures.
When I look back over my career, it's a humbling time to reflect upon family, friends, teammates, coaches. And I just happen to have one of my teammates out in the audience with you, Todd Blackledge. He was an integral part of us being able to capture that National Championship (defeating No. 1 Georgia in 1983 Sugar Bowl).
When you think about a coach, I had the honor and the privilege of playing for Coach Paterno. And, you know, people ask me a lot about Paterno. And I've said, he's a guy that you learn to like after you get out of Penn State. He's a hard-nosed kind of uncompromising fellow that could be very opinionated at times. Rightfully so.
He brought a lot to the game; and he continues to do that. And I'm just privileged and proud to be a part of the Penn State family. I, too, reflect back and think that a kid from the hills of West Virginia, the coal mining hills of West Virginia, would have an opportunity to be part of such a great class. I'm deeply humbled, and deeply honored and proud. Thank you."
Former Penn State All-America tailback Curt Warner, the Nittany Lions' career rushing yardage leader, will gain induction in the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Warner is the 17th Penn State player to receive college football's ultimate honor.
Warner will be inducted with other members of the Class of 2009 at the National Football Foundation's 52nd annual awards dinner on Tuesday at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. He will become the 22nd member of the Penn State program inducted, joining Joe Paterno, 16 other former players and four Nittany Lion coaches. The most recent Penn State player so honored was offensive lineman Keith Dorney in 2005.
"I am deeply honored to have been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame," said Warner, who lives in Camas, Wash., near Portland, Ore. "I am honored and privileged to join such a distinguished group of players and coaches."
Hailing from the small town of Pineville, W. Va., Warner was a standout at Pineville High School, graduating in a class of 90 students. He went on to lead the Nittany Lions in rushing in 1980, '81 and `82, helping Penn State capture its first National Championship in 1982. Warner was instrumental in Penn State's 31-5 record during his final three seasons, which included two Fiesta Bowl wins (Ohio State and USC) and a 27-23 win over Georgia in the 1983 Sugar Bowl for the National Championship.
When Warner's brilliant career ended, he owned 42 school records. His 3,398 career rushing yards and 18 100-yard rushing games remain Penn State records more than 25 years later. The Nittany Lions were 18-0 when he eclipsed the century mark. Warner is the only Penn State running back to be selected a two-time first team All-American and is one of just 14 Nittany Lions all-time to earn first team All-America honors twice.
"Curt Warner was an outstanding running back," said head coach Joe Paterno, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007. "In all my years at Penn State, we have had a lot of exceptional backs, and he is one of the very best of that distinguished group. Curt was a leader for the great teams we had in the early 1980's and played a big part in helping us win our first national championship. Curt was a very good student, has been very loyal to Penn State and has made a positive impact on his community in Washington.
"Curt is most deserving of induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and we are very pleased that he will be joining its prestigious membership," Paterno added.
In addition to his Penn State career rushing and 100-yard rushing game records, Warner also holds the school record for all-purpose yards in a game, with 341 at Syracuse in 1981. He ran for a career-best 256 yards vs. the Orange that day. His 280 all-purpose yards vs. Rutgers in 1979 remain a school freshman record. The only Nittany Lion to post more than 1,000 all-purpose yards in all four of his years, Warner is No. 2 in Penn State career all-purpose yards (4,982) and career rushing attempts (649).
Warner earned his Penn State degree in speech communications in 1983.
During the Akron game earlier this season, Warner returned to campus and was recognized by Penn State and the National Football Foundation, who was represented by Matthew Sign, the NFF's Chief Operating Officer, for his upcoming induction into the College Hall of Fame.