DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Gene Hickerson - Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

GENE HICKERSON 8
Class of 2007 Finalist
Guard >>> 6-3, 248
(Mississippi)
1958-1973 Cleveland Browns

Selected as future choice by Browns, 1957 draft. . .A tackle in college, shifted to guard as a rookie to better utilize speed. . .Lead blocker for three Hall of Fame running backs – Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly. . . All-NFL five consecutive seasons, 1966-1970. . .Voted to six straight Pro Bowls. . .Browns posted 1,000 yard rusher in 9 of Hickerson’s first 10 seasons, featured league’s leading rushing seven times. . .Born February 15, 1935, in Trenton, Tennessee.




Gene Hickerson, who was an outstanding fullback in high school, became a tackle at the University of Mississippi. He was regarded as one of the best, if not the finest, linemen in the Southeastern Conference during the end of his collegiate career.

The Cleveland Browns wasted little time in securing him for their offensive line. The Browns selected him as a future choice in the 7th round of the 1957 NFL Draft.

Hickerson joined the Browns in 1958 and was promptly shifted to guard to better utilize his speed. He had to pay his dues by first serving as one of Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown’s “messenger” guards. Hickerson quickly went from delivering plays to the huddle to establishing himself as the steady lead blocker for three future Hall of Fame running backs – Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell, and Leroy Kelly.

After just three seasons in the NFL, Hickerson’s career was slowed when he suffered a broken leg in the 1961 pre-season opener. He fractured the leg again late in the year when he was hit while watching a game from the sideline.
He rebounded fully by the following season. After sitting out two games in 1962, he never missed another game for the remainder of his stellar career. Along the way, he gained the reputation as the lead guard for Brown, regarded as one of the game’s greatest runners. But, the official accolades really did not come until after Brown retired and Leroy Kelly became Cleveland’s featured back. Hickerson earned first-team All-NFL acclaim five straight seasons, 1966-1970, and was voted to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 1966 to 1971.

By the time Hickerson retired following the 1973 season at age of 38, his accomplishments on the football field were unquestioned. During his tenure, the Browns never experienced a losing season. In all, he played in 202 games during his career and started at right guard in four NFL title games that included the Browns’ 27-0 win over the Baltimore Colts in the 1964 NFL Championship Game.

Prior to Hickerson joining the Browns, there had been just seven runners in the entire history of the NFL to reach 1,000 yards rushing in a season. With Hickerson paving the way, the Browns featured a 1,000-yard rusher in every season but one during Gene’s first 10 pro seasons. Furthermore, Cleveland featured the NFL’s leading ground gainer in seven of those seasons. Hickerson’s contribution in helping that happen was recognized when he was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s.




Source

Any word yet?


How about now?

Patiently waiting...

IIRC, people figured Hickerson would get in because the veteran thing is usually just a rubber-stamping. I think it's a done deal.

Get the bust ready.

Quote:

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With Hickerson paving the way, the Browns featured a 1,000-yard rusher in every season but one during Gene’s first 10 pro seasons. Furthermore, Cleveland featured the NFL’s leading ground gainer in seven of those seasons. Hickerson’s contribution in helping that happen was recognized when he was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s

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Wouldn't it be great to a have a guy like this on our team right now?

Go get 'em, Gene!

How about now?

Interesting comparison of Hickerson to other HOF Guards here:

http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/story.jsp?story_id=2202

Ahem.. Check out my sig pic..

Nice!

I had sigs disabled - they get a little tiresome - but that's a keeper.

ARTICLE BLURB: An induction class between three and six will be announced at 2:30 this afternoon.

http://www.chroniclet.com/Daily%20Pages/020307sports6.html

What's that? a big announcement at 4pm?

What's it about???!!!!!

I think we might have signed Pace.

It's 2:30 now.....................

He made it !


Congrats Gene!

Great news!

WooooHoooooo it's about damn time!!!!!!!!!!

Jules, is the cat on the broomstick trying to hump the witch??

Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson!

If anyone wants to watch the coverage but doesn't have NFL Network, go to http://www.profootballhof.com/ and view the video there.

Thansk Prp!!!

I was trying to find it onlein but having trouble doing it.

Purp - is it possible to rename this thread?

Complete List of Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2007 Inductees:

Gene Hickerson
Michael Irvin
Bruce Matthews
Thurman Thomas
Charlie Sanders
Roger Wehrli

Excellent news!

For us pups who never saw him play...

Gene Hickerson
Guard, 6-3, 248
Played: 1958-1973 Cleveland Browns. 15 seasons, 202 games.
Selected as future choice in seventh round of 1957 draft. ... A tackle in college, was shifted to guard. ... Was lead blocker for three Hall of Famers: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. ... Suffered broken leg in 1961 preseason opener, missed entire season. ... Fractured leg again later in year when hit while standing on sideline. ... After sitting out two games in 1962, never missed another game during his career. ... First-team All-Pro five consecutive seasons (1966-1970). ... Voted to Pro Bowl six straight times (1966-1971). ... During Hickerson's tenure, Browns never had a losing season. ... Started at right guard in four NFL title games, including Browns' 27-0 win over Colts in 1964. ... Before Hickerson joined Browns, just seven runners in NFL history reached 1,000 yards rushing. With Hickerson as lead blocker, Browns posted 1,000-yard rushers in nine of his first 10 seasons. ... Cleveland featured league's leading rusher in seven of those 10 seasons. ... Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1960s.

web page

Way to go Gene! You made your buddy Elvis (and all of us) proud!



Thank you, thank you very much.

I for one am very happy. My brother and I bought a GH throwback for my dad this year. My dad always gets a sparkle in his eye when he talks about the browns from back then.

good stuff.

Hickerson played 15 seasons for the Browns as the lead blocker for three Hall of Famers - Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, Bobby Mitchell - and has been eligible for 29 years.

"I am honored to be joining such an elite group of individuals and to be remembered as one of the best linemen of all time," Hickerson said.

Source

WOOHOOO!!!! Bout time.......bodes well for the Browns

Yippi ayy aaaaaaay. Now, I got a find out how, Im gonna come up with all that money too go see him inducted. I don't wanna miss this one.

should only be a couple hundred bucks at most for tickets.... and it's not that far of a drive to get there. Take a part time job for a couple weeks and it'll be paid for


It'd be nice if during the broadcasts of the inductions, if there was just a sea of Orange & Brown for the cameras to look at

I agree - being in the Browns backyard (and not having a lot to cheer about over the past couple of years) it'd be really nice to see a good group there to cheer for Hickerson

I thought I seen posts on here, earlier this week with it, costing 800 bucks a ticket. I can handle 200 bucks. My kids can't go. Maybe we could have a Dawgtalkers tailgate party for Gene. I want a ticket for sure.

WOO! It's about damn time!!

# 66 is home at last......Were proud of ya Gene...always have been, always will be,

Gene was always in our HOF..no matter what the NFL said...Bout time they realized what we always knew.....