Aug. 8, 2011
HIGHLIGHTS OF SPEECH | PHOTO GALLERY | TRANCRIPT OF SPEECH
SAN DIEGO - Former San Diego State running back Marshall Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Canton, Ohio, along with Deion Sanders, Shannon Sharpe, Richard Dent, Ed Sabol, Les Richter and Chris Hanburger.
Through tears, Faulk said, "Boy this is pretty special. ... I am glad to be a part of it. This is football heaven."
A three-time All-American (1991-93), Faulk holds the SDSU record for most 300-, 200-, and 100-yard rushing performances by a player and the record for the most 200-yard rushing efforts in a single season. He led the nation in rushing as a freshman in 1991 with 1,429 yards and in 1992 as sophomore with 1,630 yards. Faulk finished in the top nine of the Heisman Trophy balloting in all three of his seasons, including second in 1992 and fourth in 1993. In his time as an Aztec, he rushed for 4,589 yards and 57 touchdowns.
"To the red and black Aztec Nation. It's plain and simple, Aztec for life," Faulk said during his enshrinement speech.
San Diego State's all-time career leading rusher was the second overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1994 NFL Draft. A seven-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, he rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of his first eight seasons. Faulk was named NFL Most Valuable Player in 2000, after setting a single-season record for touchdowns (26) that included a league-leading 18 rushing scores. He also won the world championship with the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV on Jan. 30, 2000.
Faulk is also in the Aztec Hall of Fame (Class of 1998) and the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of the Fame.