DATE: Nov. 14, 2002

FLORENCE, AL -- Three legends of NCAA Division II football will be honored on December 13 as the fourth class of inductees into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in Florence, Ala.

Former University of Delaware quarterback Scott Brunner, former Kutztown (Pa.) University receiver Andre Reed and former Valdosta State (Ga.) University linebacker Jessie Tuggle comprise the 2002 class of inductees into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. The three inductees were chosen by a 20-member selection committee and were announced Tuesday by Division II Football Hall of Fame voting coordinator Dee Corum.

The trio will be inducted on December 13 as part of a combined Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Florence Conference Center.

The initial class of inductees in 1999 included running back Johnny Bailey of Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), quarterback Jeff Bentrim of North Dakota State and the late Walter Payton of Jackson State University. The 2000 class of inductees included defensive lineman Harry Carson of South Carolina State University, defensive lineman Pierce Holt of Angelo State University, and wide receiver John Stallworth of Alabama A&M. Last year the third class was comprised for tight end Brent Jones of Santa Clara University, linebacker Greg Lloyd of Fort Valley State University and quarterback Ken O'Brien of the University of California-Davis.

The Division II Football Hall of Fame is housed at Braly Municipal Stadium, which has hosted the Division II Football Championship Game since 1986.

The 30th annual Division II Football Championship Game will be played at Braly Stadium at 3 p.m. on December 14, 2002, and the Harlon Hill Trophy presentation to the Division II Player of the Year, and the Hall of Fame inductions are part of the Shoals area's championship week activities.

The Division II Football Hall of Fame is sponsored by Coca-Cola, The North Alabama Bone and Joint Clinic, First Metro Bank and The Johnson Companies - Industrial and Commercial Contracting.

Tickets are $35 each or $280 for a table of eight and are available by calling Larry Tinknel at (256) 764-4661 or the UNA Sports Information Office at (256) 765-4595.

Brunner, was a two-year letterman at Delaware from 1978-79 and led the school to the 1979 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 38-21 win over Youngstown State in the Zia Bowl.

As a senior he was named first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American after completing 134 of 268 passes for 2,401 yards and a school record 24 touchdowns.

He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL draft by the New York Giants and he played in New York from 1980-83. He helped take the Giants to the 1981 NFL playoffs, throwing three touchdown passes in a wild card win over the Eagles and three more in a semifinal loss to the 49ers. For his career in New York, Brunner was 482-of-986 for 6,121 yards and 28 touchdowns. He later joined the Broncos and Packers in 1984 and played for the Cardinals in 1985. His career NFL passing stats were 512-of-1,046 for 6,457 yards and 29 touchdowns. Brunner is current a stockbroker on Wall Street with Buckingham Research.

"When you think about Walter Payton, Harry Carson, John Stallworth and so many others,it makes you proud to be associated with Division II," Brunner said. "I was fortunate to get a chance in Division II. Chances are I would have been lost in the numbers had I gone to a bigger school. It's hardto imagine things working out any better for me had I gone to another school."

Reed was a four-year letterman at Kutztown from 1981-84, making 142 career catches for 2,002 yards and 14 touchdowns. Upon completion of his collegiate career, he held school records for catches in a game, season and career, most yards receiving in a game, season and career and touchdown catches in a game, season and career. He was named All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ECAC All-Star in 1983 and 1984.

He was drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills following his senior season and played the next 15 years with the Bills, helping to lead the team to four Super Bowls. His final professional numbers, including a season with the Washington Redskins, ranked Reed near the top of all receivers in the history of the NFL with 951 receptions for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns. He had four seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards. He played in 19 post-season games in Buffalo with 85 catches for 1,230 yards and nine TDs.

He was the Bills leading receiver 10 times in 15 seasons and was selected for seven consecutive Pro Bowls for the AFC from 1988-94. He was selected for the NCAA Division II Team of the Quarter Century in 1997.

"Division II was the right place for me," said Reed. "I really didn't mature physically until my sophomore season. God led me down this path and it worked out great for me.

"The Buffalo Bills were proof that you didn't have to be from a big school to be part of a successful football organization,"Reed added.

"We made it to four Super Bowls with more starters from smaller schools than any other team in the league. I think we dispelled the belief that you've got to be from a bigger school to be good in the NFL. I'm happy to be a part of that."

Tuggle was a four-year letterman at Valdosta State from 1983-86 and was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection. As a senior he was a consensus All-American after recording 129 tackles.

He was a two-time recipient of the Hugh C. Bailey Player of the Year award at VSU. His Jersey #88 was retired at Valdosta State, where he was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and named Distinguished Alumnus in 2002.

He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 1987 and went on to start for the Falcons at middle linebacker from 1989-2000. He played in 209 games, helping to lead Atlanta to four playoff appearances, including Super Bowl XXXIII. He played in the Pro Bowl in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1999 and holds the NFL record for career touchdowns off fumble recoveries (five).

He had 12 straight seasons with over 100 tackles. He was named Falcons "Man of the Year" in 1993, served as United Way national spokesperson in 1995-96 and the athletic workout facility at Valdosta State is named the Jessie Tuggle Strength and Fitness Complex.

"It's an honor for me to be thought of in these terms, as one of the best from Division II," said Tuggle. "Division II has produced a lot of great football players. I appreciate the opportunity I received from Valdosta. They gave me a chance and that'sall you can ask. It's up to you to be prepared to take advantage of those chances. Fortunately, I was able to do that."

SCOTT BRUNNER - DELAWARE - (1978-1979)

Scott Brunner was a two-year letterman at Delaware from 1978-79 and led the school to the 1979 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 38-21 win over Youngstown State in the Zia Bowl. As a senior he was named first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American after completing 134 of 268 passes for 2,401 yards and a school record 24 touchdowns. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL draft by the New York Giants and he played in New York from 1980-83. He helped take the Giants to the 1981 NFL playoffs, throwing three touchdown passes in a wild card win over the Eagles and three more in a semifinal loss to the 49ers. For his career in New York, Brunner was 482-of-986 for 6,121 yards and 28 touchdowns. He later joined the Broncos and Packers in 1984 and played for the Cardinals in 1985. His career NFL passing stats were 512-of-1,046 for 6,457 yards and 29 touchdowns.

JESSIE TUGGLE - VALDOSTA STATE - (1983-86)

Jessie Tuggle was a four-year letterman at Valdosta State from 1983-86 and was a three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection. As a senior he was a consensus All-American after recording 129 tackles. He was a two-time recipient of the Hugh C. Bailey Player of the Year award at VSU. His Jersey #88 was retired at Valdosta State, where he was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and named Distinguished Alumnus in 2002. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 1987 and went on to start for the Falcons at middle linebacker from 1989-2000. He played in 209 games, helping to lead Atlanta to four playoff appearances, including Super Bowl XXXIII. He played in the Pro Bowl in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1999 and holds the NFL record for career touchdowns off fumble recoveries (five). He had 12 straight seasons with over 100 tackles. He was named Falcons "Man of the Year" in 1993, served as United Way national spokesperson in 1995-96 and the athletic workout facility at Valdosta State is named the Jessie Tuggle Strength and Fitness Complex.

ANDRE REED - KUTZTOWN - (1981-84)

Andre Reed was a four-year letterman at Kutztown from 1981-84, making 142 career catches for 2,002 yards and 14 touchdowns. Upon completion of his collegiate career, he held school records for catches in a game, season and career, most yards receiving in a game, season and career and touchdown catches in a game, season and career. He was named All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ECAC All-Star in 1983 and 1984. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Buffalo Bills following his senior season and played the next 15 years with the Bills, helping to lead the team to four Super Bowls. His final professional numbers, including a season with the Washington Redskins, ranked Reed near the top of all receivers in the history of the NFL with 951 receptions for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns. He had four seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards. He played in 19 post-season games in Buffalo with 85 catches for 1,230 yards and nine TDs. He was the Bills leading receiver 10 times in 15 seasons and was selected for seven consecutive Pro Bowls for the AFC from 1988-94. He was selected for the NCAA Division II Team of the Quarter Century in 1997.