Youngblood, Slater Ram Their Way In

By BOB OATES

Jan. 28, 2001 12 AM PT

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

TAMPA, Fla. —

It was another big day for the Rams.

The old Los Angeles Rams.

Their first in many years.

Two of their finest players, defensive end Jack Youngblood and offensive tackle Jackie Slater, were voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday as members of the seven-man class of 2001.

They joined guard Tom Mack and running back Eric Dickerson to make it four Rams in two years.

It was also a great day for USC.

Two former Trojans--Lynn Swann, a former Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver, and Ron Yary, a former Minnesota Viking offensive tackle--were also voted into the Hall of Fame along with three other finalists, Mike Munchak, Nick Buoniconti and Marv Levy.

Munchak played guard for the old Houston Oilers.

Buoniconti, the old-timers candidate, was the middle linebacker for the Miami Dolphin team that went 17-0 in 1972.

Levy, a former Ram assistant, set a record that may never be equaled when he coached the Buffalo Bills into four consecutive Super Bowl games in the early ‘90s and lost all four.

Rejoicing after his election, Levy said, “It’s great to have something to celebrate on a Super Bowl weekend.”

Swann’s reaction was wholly different.

Called from his hotel to the Tampa Convention Center to join the others, Swann said: “I cried all the way over.”

The seven were chosen by the 38 members of the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, most of them newspaper reporters.

As recently as last summer, there were 78 nominees on a list of candidates that the committee pared three times, first to 15 quarterfinalists, then to 10 semifinalists and then six finalists--plus an old-timers candidate who was considered separately.

In the last stage of the selection process, each candidate was voted on individually, yes or no.

Admission requires 80% affirmation from the 38 committee members.

A year ago, both Youngblood and Swann were dinged in the yes-or-no voting, but at Saturday’s meeting they sailed through.

“I’ve thought about this moment for years,” said Youngblood, who was first nominated in 1988 and has been a finalist annually since 1992. “This is the epitome--to be mentioned in the same breath with [former teammates] Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen.”

Slater, who, unlike Youngblood, was accepted Saturday by the committee the first year he was eligible for election, also thought of Jones and Olsen first off.

“I came to the Rams in 1976,” said Slater, who spent an NFL-record 20 years with the same team. “And after knowing [Jones and Olsen], I wanted to be remembered as one of the best.”

A third-round draft choice, Slater had played with the late Hall of Famer Walter Payton at their alma mater, Jackson State.

“I knew I was a good athlete,” Slater said. “And when I first saw Jack Youngblood, I said he’s not so big, I’m as tough as he is. But after working against him every day, I learned that [pro football] isn’t just about being physical. He had me all mixed up. Just when I thought I had him figured out, he’d do something better.”

Youngblood said he was born that way.

“I thank the Lord for the talent to play as well as I did for as long as I did,” he said.

He played 201 consecutive games in his 14-year Ram career, playing through injuries every season, and playing the 1980 NFC championship game and Super Bowl game on a broken leg.

Swann, like Youngblood, had also waited 14 years for election after his first year of eligibility, and for much of that time he was a finalist who couldn’t break through, in part because the members of the selection committee split their votes between him and Steeler teammate John Stallworth, also a wide receiver.

His teammate was the first person Swann thought of after the election.

“I wish Stallworth were here with me getting interviewed at the same time,” he said.

He added: “Waiting 14 years for this makes me appreciate the honor even more.”

Yary said there’s a crowd of qualified Hall of Famers out there who can’t get in.

“A lot of others should be here,” he said.

Asked about Minnesota quarterback Fran Tarkenton, a teammate and now a fellow Hall of Famer, Yary said: “Tarkenton added a dimension to football with his scrambling, and I take the credit for that. My guy [on the other side of the scrimmage line] ran around me and chased him out of the pocket.”

Yary on Youngblood: “Nobody was ever harder to block.”

Munchak, speaking for most of the Hall of Famers elected in the last 30 years, said he was overwhelmed.

“I’ve been amazed all the way,” he said. “I was amazed to make the team. I was amazed to make the Pro Bowl. I was amazed to make the final Hall of Fame list, and I’m amazed to be in the Hall of Fame.”

Munchak, Slater and Yary set a record: They’re the first three offensive linemen to make the Hall of Fame team on the same day.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Hall of Famers by position

Quarterbacks - 24

Fullbacks - 9

Halfbacks - 20

Running backs - 8

Ends - 7

Wide receivers - 14

Tight ends - 5

Tackles - 20

Guards - 10