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| Former UD quarterback Brunner selected to Hall of Fame |
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1:41 p.m., Nov. 18, 2002--Three legends of NCAA Division II football–among them former University of Delaware quarterback Scott Brunner–will be honored on Friday, Dec. 13, as the fourth class of inductees into the Division II Football Hall of Fame in Florence, Ala.
Brunner, former Kutztown (Pa.) University receiver Andre Reed and former Valdosta State (Ga.) University linebacker Jessie Tuggle comprise the 2002 class of inductees. The three were chosen by a 20-member selection committee and will be inducted Dec.13 as part of a combined Harlon Hill Trophy and Division II Football Hall of Fame Banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Florence Conference Center.
The Division II Football Hall of Fame is housed at Braly Municipal Stadium, which has hosted the Division II football championship game since 1986.
Brunner was a two-year letterman at UD from 1978-79 and led the Fightin’ Blue Hens to the 1979 NCAA Division II National Championship with a 38-21 win over Youngstown State in the Zia Bowl.
As a senior he was named first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American after completing 134 of 268 passes for 2,401 yards and a school record 24 touchdowns.
Brunner was drafted in the sixth round of the 1980 NFL draft by the New York Giants, and he played in New York from 1980-83. He helped take the Giants to the 1981 NFL playoffs, throwing three touchdown passes in a wild card win over the Philadelphia Eagles and three more in a semifinal loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
During his career in New York, Brunner completed 482 of 986 passes for 6,121 yards and 28 touchdowns. He later joined the Denver Broncos and Green Bay Packers in 1984 and played for the Cardinals in 1985. His career NFL passing stats were 512 of 1,046 for 6,457 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Currently, Brunner is a stockbroker on Wall Street with Buckingham Research.
"When you think about Walter Payton, Harry Carson, John Stallworth and so many others, it makes you proud to be associated with Division II," Brunner said. "I was fortunate to get a chance in Division II. Chances are I would have been lost in the numbers had I gone to a bigger school. It's hard to imagine things working out any better for me had I gone to another school."
The initial class of inductees in 1999 included running back Johnny Bailey of Texas A&I (now Texas A&M-Kingsville), quarterback Jeff Bentrim of North Dakota State and the late Walter Payton of Jackson State University.
The 2000 class of inductees included defensive lineman Harry Carson of South Carolina State University, defensive lineman Pierce Holt of Angelo State University and wide receiver John Stallworth of Alabama A&M.
Last year’s class included tight end Brent Jones of Santa Clara University, linebacker Greg Lloyd of Fort Valley State University and quarterback Ken O'Brien of the University of California-Davis.
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