WVU Legend Slaton to be Inducted into Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame

NEW ORLEANS – West Virginia University All-American Steve Slaton, along with six other college football greats, will make up the third class of the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame in conjunction with the 86th annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2020. The inaugural Hall of Fame class, introduced in 2017, was composed of 16 stars of the annual New Orleans football classic. This year's class of Hall of Famers includes one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game as well as six standout players who left significant legacies in Sugar Bowl lore.

Slaton opened his true freshman season as the fourth-string running back for West Virginia, but it didn't take long for him to shoot up the depth chart. He would finish his freshman campaign with 1,128 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in just eight games, capped by a now-legendary performance in the 2006 Sugar Bowl. That Sugar Bowl was the only one in 85 years played outside Louisiana as Hurricane Katrina forced the game to be played in Atlanta. Slaton set the Sugar Bowl record with 204 rushing yards on 26 carries while scoring three touchdowns (two on 52-yard runs) in a thrilling 38-35 win over Georgia. As a sophomore, Slaton rushed for a school-record 1,744 yards and 16 touchdowns as he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. He then he added another 1,000-yard season with another 17 TDs as a junior, finishing his career with a school record 50 touchdowns. He went on to play four years in the NFL.

Allstate Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame – Class of 2019
Name/School                                 (Sugar Bowl(s)
Warrick Dunn/Florida State             (1995, 1997)
Bill Montgomery/Arkansas             (1969, 1970)
Tinker Owens/Oklahoma                 (1972)
Del Shofner/Baylor                          (1957)
Steve Slaton/West Virginia            (2006)
Charley Tripp/i/Georgia                    (1947)
Johnny Vaught/Ole Miss                   (1953, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1970)

"For 86 years, the Sugar Bowl has built a legacy of excellence," said Monique Morial, the President of the Sugar Bowl Committee. "Two years ago, the Sugar Bowl Committee created a Hall of Fame to recognize the legends that built our wonderful history. We are honored to have the opportunity to add seven more all-time greats to the Hall of Fame this year. These men all played significant roles in lifting the Bowl to its current level of national prominence, and we look forward to honoring them in New Orleans over the New Year's holiday."

The living members of the third class of the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame have all been invited to New Orleans for this year's Allstate Sugar Bowl. Attendees and their guests will participate in select Sugar Bowl VIP activities and will be recognized on the field during the pregame ceremony leading up to the annual Sugar Bowl Classic.

The New Orleans Mid-Winter Sports Association was founded in 1934 by a group of civic-minded businessman and professionals interested in promoting amateur athletic events geared toward bringing visitors to New Orleans during what had traditionally been a slow period for tourism. Now known as the Sugar Bowl Committee, the organization remains a voluntary group whose members serve without remuneration.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 28 national champions, 93 Hall of Fame players, 50 Hall of Fame coaches and 18 Heisman Trophy winners in its 85-year history. The 86th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, featuring Georgia from the SEC and Baylor from the Big 12, will be played on January 1, 2020. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1.6 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors nearly 100,000 student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade.

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