Shane Beamer congratulates Sylvester Croom on College Football Hall of Fame induction
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Shane Beamer’s first on-field assistant coaching position came in 2004 when Sylvester Croom hired him as Mississippi State’s cornerbacks coach. Monday, Croom was announced as part of the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2022 class.
Beamer took to Twitter to congratulate his former boss:
This is so awesome !!
Congrats Coach Croom
Forever grateful to you for giving me my first job at Miss State and for all you taught me about being a coach , husband and father https://t.co/ePB6b3DkjL
— Shane Beamer (@CoachSBeamer) January 10, 2022
Croom is being inducted for his accomplishments as a former Alabama center (1972-74). From the National Football Foundation’s announcement:
Highlighted by a national championship, Sylvester Croom was a leader at center during one of the most successful runs in Alabama history. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native becomes the 20th Crimson Tide player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
A 1974 First Team All-American, Croom helped the Crimson Tide to a UPI national title in 1973. The 1974 First Team All-SEC selection and Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipient led Alabama to three consecutive conference titles. The 1974 team captain led the Tide to three bowl games and three top 10 final national rankings (No. 7 in 1972, No. 4 in 1973 and No. 5 in 1974).
Behind Croom’s stellar blocking, the Tide averaged 414.7 yards per game in 1972, 480.7 yards per game in 1973 and 388.3 yards per game in 1974. During his three seasons, Alabama posted an impressive 32-4 record, with only one loss coming during the regular season. Croom capped his collegiate career in the 1975 Senior Bowl after playing for College Football Hall of Fame Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and alongside Hall of Famers John Hannah, Woodrow Lowe and Ozzie Newsome in Tuscaloosa. He was inducted into the State of Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2020, and the Crimson Tide’s spring practice award is named the Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award in his honor.
Croom was Mississippi State’s head coach from 2004-08. He won SEC Coach of the Year in 2007.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
