Gift celebrates Paul Tagliabue’s induction to Pro Football HOF and his diversity efforts as Grambling and Tennessee State set to face off in Black College Hall of Fame Classic on Labor Day weekend
A gift from The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to former National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue celebrating his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame [PFHOF] will be used to advance a cause important to him: diversity throughout the sport.
The foundation’s gift to the James Harris-Doug Williams Fellowship, which provides a post-graduate opportunity at the PFHOF to a recent college graduate from an accredited Historically Black College and University (HBCU), will be endowed for two years in Tagliabue’s honor. The fellowship program is named for two Grambling State alumni who were among early pioneers as NFL black quarterbacks.
Increased career advancement and diversity in football were efforts Tagliabue promoted. He was NFL commissioner when the League adopted the “Rooney Rule,” which requires teams to interview at least one racial minority when hiring a head coach.
Speaking to media recently, Tagliabue, who took over as commissioner the same year Art Shell became the first black NFL head coach since the 1920s, said more work in the area of racial equality across hiring in pro football remains to be accomplished.
“The Rooney Rule addressed issues at the coaching level. But those issues go beyond issues for coaches,” he said.
“We didn’t achieve enough progress on that issue for coaching, and I think the same can be said about non-coaching positions in the front office and other areas — not just for ethnic or racial minorities but for women as well.”
Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, praised Tagliabue’s leadership as NFL commissioner, calling it “impossible to measure what Paul Tagliabue has meant to me and our entire Atlanta Falcons family. His impact on the game during his tenure as commissioner is immeasurable. Simply put, the NFL wouldn’t be what it is today without him,” he said.
“In recognition of Paul Tagliabue’s induction, my family and the Atlanta Falcons are proud to support the very important efforts of Paul and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the creation of a physical location for the Black College Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Equally important to its creation is the formation of the James Harris-Doug Williams Fellowship and its ability to provide an HBCU graduate a unique opportunity for professional development and career advancement, which we are proud to support.”
James Harris-Doug Williams Fellows perform a variety of tasks at the Pro Football Hall of Fame by completing rotations through various departments. They work on a multitude of projects, tasks and initiatives with the goal of advancing their careers in the sport of professional football.
Akil Blount, son of former Pittsburgh Steeler Mel Blount, was the first James Harris-Doug Williams fellow at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Florida A&M grad is now an employee of the Marketing Team at the Hall and assists in screening new Fellowship applications.
Shell and Blount are HOF inductees.
For more information about applying for a grant, click here.
The Black College Hall of Fame and Classic
The Black College Hall of Fame was established in 2009 by former Grambling QBs "Shack" Harris and Williams to preserve the history and honor the greatest HBCU football players, coaches and contributors. Under a partnership established with the PFHOF in 2016, BCHOF's annual football classic gained a new home in Canton. This year's classic will feature Grambling State and Tennessee State playing on Labor Day Weekend. Details of the September 3-5 Black Classic Weekend, including a college fair, classic step show, Greek Service Day, golf outing, and more, can be found here.
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