ATLANTA, Ga. – The Black College Football Hall of Fame (BCFHOF) announced the 2024 15th Class, as former Morgan State University head football coach Edward "Eddie" P. Hurt was amongst the class to be honored.
Hurt, a legend at Morgan State College, was head football coach from 1930 to 1959. In his 29 years as the football helm, he won 14 CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) championships.
"The arrival of the black athlete on the national sports scene in the 1940' and 50's goes directly back to Edward P. Hurt," wrote Herman L. Wade, Hurt's biographer. "There is not a single black sports figure in the world today who is not in some small way in the debt of Coach Hurt. And to the extent that Hurt helped to break down racial barriers, our entire country owes him a huge debt of gratitude. We are a better nation because of him."
From 1932-1939 his football teams played 54 games without defeat, one of the longest unbroken strings on record. Under Coach Hurt Morgan's composite football record was 173 wins, 47 losses, and 17 ties.
Hurt also coached Morgan State basketball from 1929-1947. His Cagers consistently placed among the top basketball teams in the CIAA. During his tenure, the Cagers won four CIAA titles including top honors in three successive years: 1931, 1932 and 1933.
In track and field, his teams have produced 8 individual NCAA championships, 12 National AAU champions in individual events, 6 national AAU relay champions 1 Olympic champion – George Rhoden, who's the record-holder in the 400 meter hurdles. In the CIAA, Morgan has won 18 track and field championships since entering the conference in 1930.
Hurt, while at Morgan, served as instructor in mathematics, acting head of the Physical Education Department, professor of Physical Education, and Athletic Director until his retirement.
Hurt began his coaching career at Virginia Theological Seminary and College. He was named assistant coach in 1921, then became head coach in 1925. Hurt earned a 15-11-4 record as head football coach, and led the basketball teams to two CIAA championships.
As a football star for Howard University, Hurt graduated in 1929 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He also earned a master's degree in physical education from Columbia University.
Hurt was once asked about his successful coaching history. He responded, "If I've done anything at all, it's been because of other coaches, the men, the colleges, the administration, the alumni, friends, just everybody. I've only had one formula, and that's hard work."
Hurt died on March 24, 1989 Hurt died at his home in Baltimore at the age of 89.
In addition to Hurt, the Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 also includes Joe "747 Adams (Tennessee State University), Antoine Bethea (Howard University), Waymond Bryant (Tennessee State University), Kevin Dent (Jackson State University), Richard Huntley (Winston-Salem State University), and Lemar Parrish (Lincoln University).
"This Class of 2024 is a great showcase of the some of the incredible football talent that has been produced from Historically Black Colleges and Universities," said Black College Football Hall of Fame Co-Founder and 2011 Inductee Doug Williams. "The Black College Football Hall of Fame serves to honor those who paved the way for the game today and these men did just that."
Votes were tallied from the 9-member Selection Committee, comprised of prominent journalists, commentators, and historians, as well as former NFL General Managers and executives, and from members of the BCFHOF to determine the Inductees.
The Class of 2024 will be honored at the 15th Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Presented by the Atlanta Falcons on June 8th, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. They will also be recognized at halftime of the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 24, 2024 at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, LA, which will be broadcast live on NFL Network (3:00pm CT).
For more information, please visit www.BlackCollegeFootballHOF.org
About the HBCU Legacy Bowl
The Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl, presented by the Black College Football Hall of Fame is a postseason all-star game that showcases the top 100 NFL draft-eligible football players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The game will be played on the Saturday, February 24, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana at Tulane University, and broadcast live on NFL Network. More than a football game, the week-long celebration of Black culture and history will provide invaluable exposure for HBCU students. HBCU Legacy Bowl Founding Partners include Allstate, the National Football League, adidas, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, New Orleans Saints, State of Louisiana, Riddell, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Zebra Technologies, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Follow the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on social media via @HBCULegacyBowl or visit www.HBCULegacyBowl.com for more information.
FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
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• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official web site of Bears athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios and more.
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
