/Alcorn’s Giles and Young, JSU’s Bacon join Black College Football Hall of Fame

Alcorn’s Giles and Young, JSU’s Bacon join Black College Football Hall of Fame

Jimmie Giles, Roynell Young of Alcorn State, and the late Coybacon of Jackson State will be joining the BCF Hall of Fame. Soon, the Hall of Fame will have a permanent home at Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton, Ohio. Greg Coleman, Winston Hill and Willard Bailey were the other inductees. After their college years in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, Giles, Young, and Bacon became NFL stars. Giles, a Greenville native, was an All-Pro tight-end with the Tampa Bay Bucs. Young, a New Orleans native, was a Pro Bowl Cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bacon, originally from Cadiz in Ky., was a three time Pro Bowler during a 14 year NFL career, most notably with the Los Angeles Rams. Giles went to Alcorn to be a baseball player, but O.C., the Alcorn offensive coordinator, found him on the football field. Brown watched Giles run pass routes against Alcorn footballers in a pick up game. Brown assured Giles that he was able to make a living playing football. Giles laughed and said that Brown told him he could play at the next level, even though he hadn’t played at any level before. Giles was inducted into Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame 2013 Young and Giles both credited Marino Casem, the legendary Alcorn coach, for much of their success. Young decided to go to Alcorn after being denied a Tulane scholarship. Young said that the move from New Orleans’ uptown to rural Lorman was a “real culture shock”. Casem made it all worthwhile. Young stated that Mariano Casem “shook my world and turned my life around. He was the main reason I became the man I am today.” Bacon was drafted by Jackson State after he played at Jackson State in mid-60’s. He actually played in the old Continental Football League before being offered a tryout by the Dallas Cowboys. After that, he spent a season with the practice squad. After a 1968 trade to the Los Angeles Rams, his career took off. As a member the famed Fearsome Foursome defensive team, he was the Rams’ defensive player-of-the-year in 1971 and 1972. Bacon, who was 66 years old, died in 2008 with 130 career sacks. Rickey Jackson of the Saints, the Pro Football Hall of Famer, had 128. Terrell Suggs, of the Kansas City Chiefs, is the most active NFL player with 139. Giles caught 41 touchdown passes in NFL, which has earned him a lot of attention from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Young was a part of two Super Bowls, and he intercepted 23 passes in his eight-year NFL career. All with the Eagles. Induction ceremonies are scheduled for June 21st, 2021 in Atlanta.