LAS VEGAS - On January 10, 2022, Illinois State legend Boomer Grigsby found out that he would officially be a member of the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame class. However, he would have to wait nearly a year for the day to come where he would officially be one of the less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of the individuals who have played the game have earned this Hall of Fame distinction.
The first celebration of the year came in October, when Grigsby returned to the Illinois State campus for his National Football Foundation On-Campus Salute presented by Fidelity. Grigsby began his trip as the special guest at the Brock Spack Show at Schooners on Thursday night, before being the honored guest at a pre-match volleyball reception on Friday night that was attended by family, friends, former teammates and Redbird staff. Following his introduction at the volleyball match, Grigsby and family cheered on the Redbirds from the suite at CEFCU Arena.
Then, on Saturday Grigsby tailgated with family and friends before joining the team on their walk to the stadium among a sea of fans and supporters. He also stopped in Redbird Row to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, before spending time in the President's Tent talking with alumni guests. He then headed into the stadium with his family and friends, before heading down to the field to officially be recognized on field. There, NFF Chicago Metro Area president Chris Kearney and Fidelity representative Caroline Mason presented Grigsby with his Hall of Fame plaque and Illinois State Representative Dan Brady presented him with a state resolultion honoring his accomplishment.
After the on-campus salute was over Grigsby returned to Las Vegas and awaited family, friends and ISU representatives to return in early December for the 64th annual NFF Awards Dinner on Tuesday, December 6. Upon arriving on Monday, members of the Illinois State Athletics administration and University President Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy attended a reception in Grigsby's honor and thanked all in attendance for being a part of this momentus occasion for Boomer and for the University.
On Tuesday, it was officially the day everyone had been waiting nearly a year for.
Early that morning, Grigsby joined the rest of the induction class of 2022 for a press conference prior to the evening's festivities. Each member of the class answered questions from moderator Kevin Trainor and reminisced about their college careers and what the game of football taught them. Following a group photo taken on stage and one-on-one interviews being conducted, the class headed out to prepare for what would be a very memorable evening.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2022, returning Hall of Famers, special guests and families returned to the ballroom at the Bellagio on Tuesday evening for a reception and silent auction, prior to the start of the awards dinner. While there, the Hall of Fame class took their official portrait on stage and had a chance to mingle with those in attendance, while also bidding on a bevy of silent auction items to raise money for the National Football Foundation. From there, the crowd moved across the hall to the expanse room where the awards dinner would be held. With over 2,000 people in the room there to celebrate, emcee Reece Davis from ESPN took the podium and began the festivities. After introductions were completed, other honors awarded and dinner finished, it was was officially time to induct the 2022 College Football Hall of Fame class.
As the night came to an end and the awards dinner came to a close, those in attendance took one more to congratulate the newest members of the Hall of Fame, take pictures, get autographs and wish them well. For Grigsby, now the first Illinois State Redbird and Missouri Valley Football Conference representative to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, it was a time to be thankful for all the game of football has done for him and the lasting memories he gained while wearing a Redbird uniform and representing the University. In a career filled with numerous accolades and honors, this was surely the crowning achievement for Grigsby career that can be described as legendary.
