The speech before Stafford’s was from 1970s San Antonio Jefferson star and Texas Tech defensive lineman Gabe Rivera, whom Stafford looked up to as a young Red Raiders fan.
The speech after Stafford’s was from 1990s San Antonio Marshall star and NFL Pro Bowl running back Priest Holmes, who like Stafford had a strong career with the Texas Longhorns.
In the crowd as Stafford delivered his own speech were his two high school head coaches - Hall of Famer Bob McQueen from Stafford’s three years at Temple and Dick Stafford, his father, from his one season at Belton.
And also in attendance at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center were luminaries such as Barry Switzer, John David Crow, Jack Pardee and Dave Campbell.
“Most of my heroes are here tonight,” Stafford said in his well-delivered speech, “and I’m thankful I’m being mentioned with them.”
Afterward, Stafford was relieved to have gotten through one more night when he was in the spotlight on the big stage.
“I’m glad it’s over with, but it’s one of those nights I’ll never forget,” he said. “To have everyone here tonight I grew up around, it’s so humbling. It’s just like a dream come true, because football was such a big part of my life my first 25 years.”
Stafford, who played at Temple from 1979-81 and at Belton in 1982, became the eighth Temple player to join the Hall of Fame - the first who competed for the Wildcats after 1952 - and the first Belton Tiger elected.
Stafford played often as a freshman backup when Temple captured its first-ever state championship, then as an all-district quarterback helped lead the Wildcats to a 21-3 record - never losing a district game - and two trips to the regional round of the Class 5A playoffs.
When his father became Belton’s head coach after 10 years as McQueen’s offensive coordinator at Temple, Stafford joined him and powered the Tigers to an undefeated record in District 12-4A and a 10-2 overall mark. He was all-state at QB and all-district at safety.
Overall, his record in high school was 46-5 with only two regular-season losses.
During a 10-minute speech, Stafford expressed special appreciation to all his coaches (former assistants Mike McMurtry and Toby York attended), his teammates - “I couldn’t be what I am today without them and their help,” he said - and coaches’ wives, particularly his mother, Linda.
“Being a coach’s son, I know all the sacrifices they make,” Stafford said. “Thanks to my mother and my sister (Cindy), because they made plenty of sacrifices while my dad and I were on the football field.”
Also with Stafford for the ceremony were his wife, Gail, sons Shane and Trent and several other family members and friends.
Stafford shared a humorous story about playing for his father in 1982 during a game at Georgetown.
“I was playing defensive back and I hit a guy and got a burner in my neck,” he said. “I came off the field, but after three or four plays it felt better and I ran off the bench to go back in.
“My dad said, ‘Where do you think you’re going?’ I told him, ‘I’m going back in,’ and he said, ‘Oh, I thought you broke your neck.’ That sums it up.”
On a serious note, Stafford said, “Playing for him, he was a great dad and a great coach. I hope I can be half the example he’s been.”
Addressing Rivera and then Holmes, he told the former “you were one of my heroes at Tech” and the latter “thanks for the example you set at the next level for our kids and showing them the kind of people we want them to grow up to be like.”
Saturday’s other honorees:
n Texarkana running back Jerry Norton (pre-1950).
n Breckenridge running back Jakie Sandefer (1950s).
n Bellville fullback Ted Koy (1960s), who joined his older brother, 1989 inductee Ernie Koy Jr., in the Hall.
n Coach Chuck Curtis, who guided Jacksboro to a state titles in 1962 and Garland to consecutive state crowns the next two years.
n Austin Westlake, which received the Gordon Wood Award after overcoming the nearly fatal collapse of star offensive lineman Matt Nader to reach the 5A Division I state title game.
n Rosenberg Terry’s Tim Tekyl, who earned the Tom Landry Award for his contributions to coaching.
n The coaches of 2006’s state champions: Southlake Carroll, Cedar Hill, San Antonio Alamo Heights, La Marque, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, Liberty Hill, Tatum, Mart, Alto, Chilton, Richland Springs and Vernon Northside.
