It's the Hall for WVU's Don Nehlen

Jack Bogaczyk
Daily Mail Sports Editor

The Thursday buffet:
A crowning culmination of 30 years on the sidelines is expected soon for Don Nehlen. The retired West Virginia coach is expected to be a 2005 inductee to the College Football Hall of Fame.

The announcement on the ‘05 Division I-A inductees is expected within a week. Newspaper reports have put Nehlen and former Auburn Coach Pat Dye as the coaching selections, with induction scheduled at the National Football Foundation dinner in New York in December.

A Hall of Fame official at the South Bend, Ind., shrine would not confirm Nehlen's selection, but the 21-season WVU coach certainly meets the criteria for coaching induction. Nehlen, 69, ranks 13th in history in major college victories.

A coach must be retired for three years, with a minimum of 10 years as a head coach and at least a .600 winning percentage for enshrinement. Nehlen retired in 2000 at WVU. His record at BG and West Virginia was 202-128-8 (.609).

The news on Nehlen follows last week's announcement that former Marshall wide receiver Mike Barber, of Winfield, will be a Division I-AA inductee to the College Football Hall in August.

Good for him. Coach Mac and Nehlen were best buds.

Great news...always had a lot of respect for Coach Nehlen.....