Duane Burieson / AP

Desmond Howard won the 1991 Heisman Trophy.

OPINION

By Dave Curtis

updated 8:49 p.m. ET May 27, 2010

The College Football Hall of Fame received its annual turn on the main stage Thursday with the unveiling of this year's 14-member induction class.

The group honors careers familiar and forgotten, and is highlighted by 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard of Michigan and the late Pat Tillman of Arizona State.

Here are a few thoughts on this year's class and the voting process:

The good

More than skill players: It's easy to remember the touchdown-makers throughout the generations of college football. Salute this year's selectors for making sure the blockers and tacklers got their due, as well. Dennis Byrd on the defensive line, Chet Moeller in the secondary and Alfred Williams at linebacker not only excelled at their positions but also changed how they're played. In all, seven of the 12 men recognized for their playing careers weren't offensive skill players. Kudos to the Hall for realizing everybody on the field can be great.

They could play, too: Mention USC RB Sam Cunningham, and people think of the performance that accelerated Alabama integrating its football program. For Tillman, it's his tragic death as an Army Ranger in the Middle East. The guys' achievements beyond football certainly helped their election. But the Hall induction reminds us they could play, too. Tillman was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year; Cunningham was the 1973 Rose Bowl MVP.

Perfect coaches: Given the voting criteria (more on this later), Barry Alvarez and Gene Stallings are great choices. Each reached the top of his profession in different fashions — Alvarez building Wisconsin from rubble to Rose Bowl winner; Stallings reinvigorating Alabama and landing a national championship. It's an ideal reward for two memorable careers.

THE NOT-SO-GOOD

We want stars: The 12 honored players come from a list of 77 nominees. Among this year's candidates who fell short: Lawrence Taylor, Eddie George, Eric Dickerson, Brian Bosworth and Russell Maryland. (Quick note: Nominees must have been a first-team All-American, been out of college football 10 years, played within the last 50 years and be retired from pro football). The Hall guidelines do allow voters to consider a player's behavior as a citizen, which could hurt some of the players who aren't in (Taylor comes to mind) and aid others (like Tillman). But let's get some of these higher-profile names in the Hall, and soon.

We want active coaches: A few years back, the Hall changed its rules to allow Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno in as active coaches. The policy now dictates that active coaches become Hall-eligible when they hit age 75. Our advice — drop the guidelines. We stumped for Jim Tressel to the Hall of Fame last summer, and Frank Beamer should receive consideration, too. Alvarez and Stallings belong, but no more than the guy at Ohio State who's won five national titles (four in I-AA).

We want (and will get) more quarterbacks: Only seven quarterbacks made the list of 77 nominees, and only Purdue's Mark Hermann earned induction with this class. Those numbers should leap starting in a few years, as guys with higher passing numbers and some of the early spread passers become eligible. Sure, we like the linemen getting in. But quarterbacks make teams go, and there should be more of them considered for this highest award.

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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