Hall of Fame Members

	Major Applewhite, Quarterback University of Texas, 2001 In 2001, QB Major Applewhite led the University of Texas Longhorns to a 47-43 victory against the University of Washington Huskies in what is considered one of the most thrilling games in the game’s history. Applewhite completed 37 of 55 passes for 473 yards and four touchdowns on way to earning the game’s co-Offensive MVP honors.
	Joey Harrington, Quarterback University of Oregon, 2000 In the 2000 Holiday Bowl, Joey Harrington led the Oregon Ducks to a 35-30 victory over the Texas Longhorns, recording 273 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and one receiving touchdown. Harrington is one of only three players to have recorded a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game in Holiday Bowl history (Steve Young, Bucky Richardson).
	G.E. "Vinnie" Vinson, Board of Directors 1978-1995 One of the founding fathers of the Holiday Bowl, G. E. “Vinnie” Vinson served as the first president of the bowl in 1978. Thanks to the vision and dedication of a determined group of volunteers, led by Vinson, a December San Diego bowl tradition was born. Vinson served as the president of the bowl again in 1979 and then spent the years between 1980 until his passing in 1995 as an active member of the board of directors and the chair of the Team Selection Committee.
	Herb Klein, Board of Directors 1981-2009 Klein, president of the 1987 Holiday Bowl, served the bowl from 1978 - 2009 and was an active member of the bowl’s board of directors since 1981. In addition to serving as president, Klein was an integral member of the bowl’s national strategy, civic strategy, nominating, sponsorship and team selection committees.
	Sonny Lubick, Head Coach Colorado State, 1994, 1995, 1997 Having lost in his first two Holiday Bowls in 1994 and 1995, Lubick brought the Rams back to San Diego in 1997 and faced off against the Missouri Tigers. Down three at halftime, CSU scored 21 second-half points to defeat the Tigers 35-21 and give Lubick his first career bowl victory. The victory also gave Colorado State its best record in school history, finishing with an 11-2 mark.
	Kyle Whittingham, Linebacker BYU, 1978-81 Whittingham played in the first four Holiday Bowls with the BYU Cougars. After appearing in the inaugural game in 1978 as a running back, Whittingham returned as a linebacker in 1979, 1980 and 1981. Whittingham recorded 16 tackles against SMU in 1980, and in BYU’s victory over Washington State in 1981, he earned defensive MVP honors with ten tackles and a fumble recovery.
	Darran Hall, Wide Receiver Colorado State, 1997 As both a wide receiver and special teams standout, Hall tallied 198 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, including a surprise 14-yard reverse run and a spectacular 85-yard punt return for a touchdown. Hall’s efforts led the Rams to a 35-24 win over the Tigers, and in addition earned him co-Offensive MVP honors .
	Bill Snyder, Head Coach Kansas State, 1995, 1999, 2002 In coaching the Wildcats to three Holiday Bowl victories, Snyder became one of only two coaches with three or more appearances in the Holiday Bowl to have an undefeated record. In 1995, Snyder made his Holiday Bowl debut against Colorado State and prevailed 54-21. He would return to San Diego twice more, winning 24-20 over the Washington Huskies in 1999, and then in his final appearance in 2002, his team came from behind to beat the Arizona State Sun Devils 34-27.
	Brian Kavanagh, Quarterback Kansas State, 1995 As the backup quarterback, Kavanagh completed 18 of 24 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Wildcats to a 54-21 win over the Colorado State Rams. His performance earned him Offensive MVP honors, and he became only the third quarterback in bowl history to throw for four touchdowns.
	Bart Oates, Center 1980-1982, BYU Oates started at center for BYU in three Holiday Bowls and helped the BYU offense score 84 points in two Holiday Bowl victories. He was voted to the WAC All-Decade team in the 1980’s. Oates went on to play for the New York Giants and earned two Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991.
	Tony Roberts, Broadcaster 1979-2005 Having broadcast 28 consecutive Holiday Bowl games, Roberts has been the radio voice behind many exciting plays in Holiday Bowl history. Roberts has also been the voice of Notre Dame football, and has provided commentary for the NFL and the Olympic Games.
	Mike Gundy, Quarterback Oklahoma State, 1988. Gundy completed 20 of 24 passes for an amazing completion percentage of 83.3%, which is still a game record, in a 62-14 win over Wyoming in 1988. He threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 41 yards.
	Raymont Harris, Running Back Ohio State, 1993. Harris had a dominating performance for Ohio State in 1993 as the Buckeyes defeated BYU 28-21. He rushed for 235 yards on 39 carries, both Holiday Bowl records. He rushed for three of OSU’s four touchdowns and never lost yardage on his 39 carries.
	Les Land, Executive Director 1978 Land was a key figure in the early planning stages of the game, long before it was certified by the NCAA early in 1978. His organizational skills were instrumental in laying the game’s foundation in a very short period of time. When the game became official, Land agreed to serve as the first executive director, taking a leave of absence from his business and serving without pay.
	Ty Detmer, Quarterback BYU, 1989-91. In 1989 Penn State beat BYU 50-39, however Detmer completed 42 of 59 passes for 576 yards and two touchdowns. No quarterback in the history of Bowl games has thrown for more yards in one game. In 1990, Detmer was knocked out of the game with two dislocated shoulders, but returned in 1991 to throw for 350 yards and two touchdowns in a 13-13 tie against Iowa. He earned two Offensive Most Valuable Players awards.
	John Reid, Executive Director 1980-2000. Reid’s knowledge and guidance brought the Bowl from humble beginnings to its position of national prominence, and it is fitting that he should take a place among those honored for “extraordinary contributions.” He retired as the dean of America’s bowl directors.
	Bucky Richardson, Quarterback Texas A&M, 1990. Richardson’s 354 total offensive yards led the Aggies to a 65-14 rout of BYU. He rushed for 129 yards and a score, completed 9 of 11 passes for 203 yards and a TD, and caught a 22 -yard touchdown. He was named the Offensive MVP.
	Leon White. Linebacker BYU, 1982-84. Against Ohio State in 1982, San Diego native White recorded eight unassisted tackles and was credited with deflecting a pass attempt. In the 1984 National Championship game against Michigan, White helped BYU to a 24-17 win. He recorded seven unassisted tackles and two quarterback sacks on his way to Defensive MVP honors.
	Barry Sanders, Running Back Oklahoma State, 1988. The Heisman Trophy-winner rushed for 222 yards and a Holiday Bowl record five touchdowns leading the Cowboys past Wyoming 62-14. Sanders would have broken Craig James’ rushing record (225), but he sat out the fourth quarter.
	Robbie Bosco, Quarterback BYU, 1984. Bosco put on a courageous performance in the 1984 game, as he rallied BYU to a 24-17 win over Michigan, which clinched the National Championship for the 13-0 Cougars. Despite a sprained ankle, he led BYU on an 83-yard drive in the closing minutes of the game.
	Craig James, Running Back SMU, 1980. James was a key player in the 1980 game, often referred to as “The Most Exciting Bowl Game Ever.” James ran for 225 yards to set a Holiday Bowl rushing mark that stood for 13 years. He had 45- and 42-yard scoring runs as SMU built up a seemingly commanding lead only to lose to BYU, 46-45. James played in the NFL with the New England Patriots and is now a television sports analyst.
	Bobby Bell, Defensive End Missouri, 1983. Bell was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player in the 1983 Holiday Bowl in a 21-17 loss to BYU with four tackles and four quarterback sacks, a NCAA bowl game record. He played in the NFL with the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears.
	Hayden Fry, Coach University of Iowa, 1986-87, 1991. Coach Fry’s teams are unbeaten in three exciting trips to the Holiday Bowl, with one-point wins over San Diego State (39-38, 1986) and Wyoming (20-19, 1987) and a 13-13 tie with BYU in 1991. The deadlock is the only tie game in Holiday Bowl history.
	Tim Spencer, Running Back Ohio State, 1982. Spencer paced the Buckeyes to a one-sided 47-17 victory over BYU in the 1982 game. He rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns; his 61-yard touchdown run is the second longest in Holiday Bowl history. Spencer played nine seasons in the USFL and NFL, including six with the Chargers.
	Steve Young, Quarterback BYU 1982-83. Young threw for 341 yards, and two touchdowns in BYU’s loss to Ohio State. The following year against Missouri, Young passed for 314 yards, rushed for 42 yards and caught the game winning touchdown pass with 23 seconds left in the 1983 game.
	Clay Brown, Tight End BYU, 1978-80. Brown played in the first three Holiday Bowl games, and made the miraculous catch of the winning touchdown as time ran out in BYU’s come-from-behind 46-45 win over SMU in 1980. Brown caught 15 passes for 302 yards in three Holiday Bowl games. In 1980, he had five catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns.
	LaVell Edwards, Coach BYU, 1978-84, 1989-91. Edwards brought his BYU Cougars to 11 Holiday Bowl games, including the first seven. He was the NCAA Coach of the Year in 1984 when undefeated BYU clinched the National Championship at the Holiday Bowl with a win over Michigan.
	Phil McConkey, Wide Receiver Navy, 1978. McConkey was MVP of the first Holiday Bowl with four catches for 88 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown pass. Following a five-year stint in the Navy, McConkey played in the NFL and was a key member of the 1987 Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
	Jim McMahon, Quarterback BYU, 1978, 1980-81. McMahon was MVP of both the 1980 and 1981 games. In 1980, he engineered BYU’s stunning comeback over SMU by completing 32 of 49 passes for 446 yards and four touchdowns. In three Holiday Bowls, McMahon completed 68 of 110 passes for 921 yards and eight touchdowns.