Three Former EIU Players Named To HOF

IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the names on the 2018 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 75 players and six coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 98 players and 31 coaches from the divisional ranks.
 
Three of the players from the Divisional Ranks are former Eastern Illinois standouts from the 1970’s and 1980’s.   Listed on this year’s ballot to be considered for College Football Hall of Fame Voting are Pete Catan, John Jurkovic and Ted Petersen.
 
Pete Catan was a two-time first team All-American selection at defensive end during both the 1979 and 1980 seasons.   He was a member of the 1978 NCAA Division II National Championship team and finished his career in 1980 as the Panthers were the national runners-up in Division II.  He held the school records for sacks in a game (6), season (21) and career (47).   Following his playing days at EIU, Catan went on to star in both the Canadian Football League and USFL where he earned All-League honors for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) and Houston Gamblers (USFL).
 
John Jurkovic was a two-time first team All-American at defensive end for Eastern Illinois in both 1988 and 1989.  He twice was named the Gateway Conference Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in league history to accomplish that feat.  He led the Panthers to the 1986 conference title and twice helped EIU advance to the NCAA I-AA playoff quarterfinal round.  He set the conference record with six sacks in a game and finished his career as the league leader in career sacks (27).  Following his playing days at EIU, Jurkovic went on to have a nine year career in the NFL earning second team All-League honors with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1996.
 
Ted Petersen was one of Eastern Illinois first All-American selections when he earned first team All-American honors in 1976 at center.  During his EIU career he would serve as a team captain and helped block for Nate Anderson, the school’s first 1,000 year rusher.  He was selected in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL Draft with the 93rd overall pick becoming the Panthers highest-ever draft pick at that time.   Following his playing days at EIU, Petersen went on to play in the NFL for ten seasons including winning two Super Bowl Championships as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the late 1970s.
 
The announcement of the 2018 Class will be made Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Atlanta. The city is serving as the host for the CFP National Championship, which will be played later that day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Some of the inductees will be on site during the announcement to represent the class and share their thoughts on being elected. The Jan. 8 announcement will be televised live, and specific viewing information will be available as the date draws near. A few inductees will also participate in the pregame festivities and the coin toss before the championship game.
 
The 2018 class will officially be inducted during the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 4, 2018, at the New York Hilton Midtown. The inductees will be permanently enshrined at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta later that December and honored on the field during the 14th Annual