BATON ROUGE – Charles Alexander, a two-time All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist who played at LSU from 1975-78, has been named to the prestigious College Football Hall of Fame, it was announced by the National Football Foundation on Tuesday.
One of the greatest running backs in the history of the Southeastern Conference, Alexander etched his name in college football history during a four-year career from 1975-78. Known to LSU fans as “Alexander the Great,” he earned All-America honors in 1977 and 1978 while finishing ninth in the Heisman Trophy race as a junior and fifth in the balloting his senior season.
“This is an important recognition for one of the legendary figures in LSU athletics history,” LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva said. “This honor is one of the most significant and prestigious honors in all of sports and one which is well-deserved. Charlie played an important role in LSU football history and the University congratulates him on this tremendous honor.”
Alexander will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the historic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City in December. He will become only the eighth player in LSU history to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and he will be one of just four living LSU members, joining Billy Cannon, Tommy Casanova and Jerry Stovall.
Before there was Herschel Walker or Bo Jackson, there was Charles Alexander. The MVP of the Southeastern Conference in 1977, he set nine SEC records and tied for another. At the end of a stellar career that included a pair of All-America and All-SEC honors, his name sat atop 27 LSU records. In two bowl games, he was responsible for 330 yards. He rushed for more than 150 yards on nine occasions and twice topped the 200-yard mark during his LSU career.
Alexander still holds the school records for most rushes in a game (43), most yards in a season (1686) and most yards gained per game in a season (153.3). He was selected with the 12th pick in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft by Cincinnati and played in Super Bowl XVI.
He later served as a development officer for LSU’s Tiger Athletic Foundation and is now a successful businessman in Houston, Texas.
He is a member of LSU’s Modern Day Team of the Century and a member of both the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
LSU players previously inducted into the hall of fame (with year of induction) include Stovall (2010), Cannon (2008), Casanova (1995), Doc Fenton (1971), Ken Kavanaugh (1963), Abe Mickal (1967), and Gaynell Tinsley (1956). College Football Hall of Fame coaches with stints at LSU include Dana Bible (1951), Michael Donahue (1951), Lawrence “Biff” Jones (1954), Charles McClendon (1986) and Bernie Moore (1954). For a complete list of players and coaches in the hall, please visit www.collegefootball.org.
CHARLES ALEXANDER, LSU
TAILBACK, 1975-1978
Career Highlights:
Two-time First-Team All-America (1977 and 1978)
Southeastern Conference Most Valuable Player (1977)
Two-time All-Southeastern Conference (1977 and 1978)
Two-time Heisman Trophy finalist (1977 and 1978)
Conference rushing records held at the time:
Rushing yards gained in a single-season (1977) – 1,686 (311 rushes)
Rushing yards gained for a career (1975-1978) – 4,035 (44 games)
Rushing yards per game in a single-season (1977) – 153.3 (1,686 in 11 games)
Rushing touchdowns in a single-season (1977) – 17
Rushing touchdowns for a career (1975-1978) – 10
LSU rushing records held at the time:
Rushing yards in a game – 237 (31 attempts)
Rushing attempts in a game – 43 (231 yards)
Yards per rush in a game – 9.7 (155 yards in 16 attempts)
Rushing touchdowns in a game – 4
Rushing yards in a single-season (1977) – 1,686 (311 attempts)
Rushing attempts in a single-season (1977) – 311 (1,686 yards)
Rushing touchdowns in a single-season (1977) – 17
100-rushing yard games in a single-season (1977) – 7 games
Rushing yards for a career (1975-1978) – 4,035 (855 attempts)
Rushing attempts for a career (1975-1978) – 855 (4,035)
Rushing touchdowns for a career (1975-1978) – 40
100-rushing yard games for a career (1975-1978) – 16 games
LSU records currently held:
Most rushes in a game – 43
Most yards in a season – 1,686
Most yards gained per game in a single-season – 153.3
Rushing Games of 150 yards or more (nine games):
237 yards vs. Oregon, 1977
231 yards vs. Wyoming, 1977
199 yards vs. Tulane, 1977
183 yards vs. Vanderbilt, 1977
170 yards vs. Florida, 1977
156 yards vs. Florida, 1978
156 yards vs. Mississippi State, 1978
155 yards vs. Rice, 1977
152 yards vs. Vanderbilt., 1976