The name Mark May is known to most Redskin fans, especially any fan of the Hogs. May was a member of two Super Bowl winning Redskin teams, but he was a star offensive lineman long before he got to Washington.
On Tuesday at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s announced their 2005 induction class. May is one of 13 players and coaches to be named to the 2005 class, and just the 23rd Pitt player or coach to earn induction.
‘May Day’ earned his nickname by wreaking havoc on the opposing defensive ends while playing at Pittsburgh. He is still the only player from Pitt to ever win the prestigious Outland Trophy (1980) for college football’s best offensive lineman. He was a unanimous All-American that same year having not given up a single sack. In fact, May did not surrender a sack in his Junior season either. He was simply dominant and is widely considered one of the best offensive linemen in college history. He was part of one of the best Pitt teams ever assembled and possessed a gaudy four-year record of 39-8-1, including three Top 10 finishes and Bowl Game appearances in all 4 years. In 1980, May led the Panthers to an 11-1 record but they still finished ranked number two in the Associated Press and United Press International polls.
It was in Pittsburgh where May first played on an offensive line with Russ Grimm. As Redskin fans know, it would not be the last. May and Grimm were drafted together out of Pittsburgh in 1981 in what might be one of the greatest draft hauls in Washington history; May – 1st round, Grimm – 3rd round, Dexter Manley – 5th round, Darryl Grant – 9th round, Clint Didier – 12th round. (The Redskins also picked up a pretty good offensive lineman that year named Joe Jacoby as an undrafted FA). May was a distinguished member of the Hogs in a career that spanned from 1981 to 1990 in Washington. He won two Super Bowl rings in D.C., played in three Super Bowl games and made the Pro Bowl in 1988. He played for a few years after leaving the Redskins – with the San Diego Chargers in 1991 and with the Phoenix Cardinals in 1992-93.
But this recognition is for his football career from 1977 to 1980 at Pitt, not for his time in Washington. In 2001, the Panthers made Mark May just the eighth person to have their Pitt jersey retired (#73). May joins three other players in the College Hall of Fame that he played with at Pitt – Dan Marino, Hugh Green and Jim Covert. May said that it was ‘truly an honor’ to be joining his teammates in the College Hall of Fame.
May is still putting his stamp on college football. Only now it’s as a broadcaster for ESPN as a color analyst and studio host.
Editor’s Note: There were twelve other 2005 inductees announced Tuesday – Cornelius Bennett (LB, Alabama, 1983-86), Tom Curtis (DB, Michigan, 1967-69), Anthony Davis (RB, Southern California, 1972-74), Keith Dorney (OT, Penn State, 1975-78), Pat Dye (coach at East Carolina [1974-79], Wyoming [1980], Auburn [1981-92]), Jim Houston (E, Ohio State, 1957-59), John Huarte (QB, Notre Dame, 1962-64), Roosevelt Leaks (FB, Texas, 1972-74), Don Nehlen (coach at Bowling Green [1968-76], West Virginia [1980-2000]), Joe Washington (RB, Oklahoma, 1972-75), Paul Wiggin (DT, Stanford, 1954-56) and David Williams (WR, Illinois, 1983-85).
— BossHog
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Mark Solway