On his way to South Bend, Ind., this weekend, Tom Brahaney felt as if he was playing college football again.
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"It was like I was going to a football game,” Brahaney said. "It made me feel real sentimental.”
Today, the two-time All-America center at Oklahoma is one of 14 men who will be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Brahaney anchored the OU offensive line in 1971 and 1972 as the Sooners transitioned to the wishbone offense, a dynasty that would last almost 20 years.
In the 1971 "Game of the Century,” which the Sooners lost to Nebraska 35-31, Brahaney squared off in one of the game's most memorable matchups against Outland Trophy winner Rich Glover, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
"It's really such an honor considering all the great players from OU and college football who are in the Hall of Fame,” said Brahaney, who was inducted in December. "It's great to be back in football for a weekend.”
Brahaney played nine seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and now lives in Midland, Texas, where he runs an oil production company.
Before he went to the NFL, Brahaney was a stalwart blocker on an offense led by quarterback Jack Mildren that averaged almost 470 rushing yards a game.
Mildren, who isn't in the Hall of Fame, passed away in May.
"If anybody from those teams that should be in the Hall of Fame it's Jack Mildren,” Brahaney said. "He was a great football player and a great guy.”
Also being enshrined in the Hall of Fame are Michigandefensive back Dave Brown, Clemson linebacker Jeff Davis, Boston Collegequarterback Doug Flutie, Texas safety Johnnie Johnson, Ohio State quarterback Rex Kern, Oregon flanker Ahmad Rashad, Indiana tailback Anthony Thompson, Houston defensive tackle Wilson Whitley, Dartmouthlinebacker Reggie Williams, USC linebacker Richard Wood and Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Zorich.
Coaches to be enshrined are Penn State's Joe Paterno and Central Michigan's Herb Deromedi.
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