Gator Bowl Chairman Greg Smith announced that the Hall of Fame Class of 2011 consists of former Oklahoma State head coach Pat Jones, University of Michigan standout Anthony Carter and Bill Nimnicht Sr., a civic leader and past chairman of the Gator Bowl Association.
“The Gator Bowl is extremely proud to honor these three outstanding individuals whose contributions have had such a positive impact in the world of college athletics,” Smith said in a news release.
The CSX Coaches Luncheon and Hall of Fame Induction is scheduled at noon Dec. 31 at the Hyatt Downtown.
The association summarized the class’s accomplishments.
Coach Pat Jones
Jones has 37 years of overall coaching experience, including 10 years in the National Football League, 11 years as a major college head coach, 10 years as a major college assistant coach and five years of high school coaching experience.
As head coach at Oklahoma State, Jones made two Gator Bowl appearances in back-to-back seasons.
In the 1984 Gator Bowl, the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Jones, a first year head coach, took home the championship trophy after Oklahoma State came from behind in the final 64 seconds to beat South Carolina 21-14. The team returned the next year to play in the 1985 Gator Bowl, losing to coach Bobby Bowden’s Florida State Seminoles.
After Oklahoma State, Jones joined the Miami Dolphins as an assistant coach, a position he held from 1996-2003. During that time, the Dolphins had five consecutive playoff appearances, the NFL’s best. Jones then joined the Oakland Raiders as an assistant coach from 2004-06.
Anthony Carter
Anthony “the Darter” Carter played for the University of Michigan from 1978-82. In addition to his duties as a receiver, he was also the team’s kickoff and punt returner for most of his career. His 45-yard touchdown catch and run against Indiana as time ran out to give Michigan a 27-21 victory is considered one of the greatest plays in Michigan football history.
In the Dec. 28, 1979, Gator Bowl game, Michigan played North Carolina in a close battle to the end, losing 17-15. Carter was selected as one of the Gator Bowl’s Most Valuable Players. By his sophomore year, Carter was the Wolverines’ primary option at receiver. That season he became the first second-year player to be voted Most Valuable Player. A three-time All-American, he was named Big Ten Conference MVP his senior season and finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Carter finished his college career as Michigan’s all-time leading receiver and went on to play professionally for two years in the USFL and 11 years in the National Football League, nine with the Minnesota Vikings and two with the Detroit Lions.
Bill Nimnicht Sr.
Bill Nimnicht Sr. was a former Gator Bowl Association president, civic leader and longtime Jacksonville auto dealer.
Nimnicht served as president of the Gator Bowl Association and its board of trustees policy advisory committee. As Gator Bowl chairman, he oversaw the Jan. 1, 1953, Gator Bowl Classic featuring Florida and Tulsa, a game his Gators won 14-13.
As a delegate of the Gator Bowl Association, Nimnicht represented the city at the annual Atlanta Touchdown Club Jamboree almost every January for nearly 10 years.
Nimnicht founded Riverside Chevrolet in 1941 and at the time was the youngest Chevrolet dealer in the country. The name was changed to Big “R” in 1968 and to Nimnicht Chevrolet in 1971.
Nimnicht was a strong community advocate and also served as a member of the board of governors of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce and in other community and business capacities.
The association said he was instrumental in laying the foundation and introducing the 6th oldest bowl game to a national audience. “His contributions will forever be etched in Gator Bowl history,” it said.