When Napoleon McCallum walks to the podium tonight at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City to be inducted into the 2002 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A class, a special touch of sadness could creep through the many Naval Academy faithful in the crowd.
They could be witnessing the last great Navy football player to receive such a high honor.
McCallum won't be among those foreseeing such a bleak football future for the Naval Academy.
"I believe the academy can turn it around," he said. "This is a fantastic honor, and what better way to showcase Navy football than in this kind of atmosphere? It's a perfect way to sell the program."
McCallum will be joining such college and pro greats as Dan Marino, Ronnie Lott, Reggie White, Kellen Winslow, Reggie McKenzie and John Jefferson in the hall.
"It just depends on the wants and needs of the Navy," said McCallum, who now runs his own graphics business in Las Vegas. "It's not up to the coach. If the Navy wants to put a winning football team on the field, they can do it."
McCallum was a two-time consensus All-American as a Navy tailback from 1981 to '85, finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1983 and eighth in 1985. He ranks second all-time at the NCAA Division I-A level with 7,172 career all-purpose yards.
The long-striding runner who somehow seemed to glide through and around defenders established 26 school rushing and return records.
"I had a lot of special muscle management helping me make those cuts," said McCallum, 39. "I had long strides, a lot of pre-reads, instincts and good coaching. And I had an offensive line that engaged people with a lot of heart and inspiration."
The man, who was often referred to as an officer and a gentleman for his mild manners, said, "I hope to keep it that way. When we played, it was fun. It was a way to relieve tension and stress from other things."
Some of McCallum's most glittering records were single-season rushing yards (1,587) and career marks for rushing yards (4,179) and kick return yards (2,197).
He was the team co-captain in 1985 when he led Navy in yards rushing, receiving, all-purpose yards, punt returns, kick returns and scoring.
After graduation, he was drafted by the then-Los Angeles Raiders, who had to wait three years for McCallum to honor his military assignment. He would play five seasons for the Raiders before a severe knee injury ended his playing career.
Other players being inducted tonight include Auburn's Terry Beasley, Georgia Tech's Randy Rhino, Kansas State's Gary Spani, Texas' Jerry Sisemore, Minnesota's George "Sonny" Franck and Princeton's Cosmo Iacavazzi. Coaches Carmen Cozza (Yale) and Earle Bruce (Ohio State) also are being inducted.