Former Alabama Safety Tommy Wilcox to be Inducted into Greater New Orleans Hall of Fame
7/25/2016 11:05:00 AM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – Former Alabama safety Tommy Wilcox will be among four inductees into the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, August 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Each year's Hall of Fame class is selected by the Greater New Orleans Sports Awards Committee, a group of current and former media members who annually recognize a variety of award-winners, including the Corbett Awards and the Eddie Robinson Award. The group also selects the Greater New Orleans Amateur Athlete of the Month each month.
"I really appreciate this," Wilcox said of the honor. "But as I have said many times, this is not just about one player. So many people have had a role in this, from my father (Freddie), to the great coaches at Bonnabel (High School) and Alabama, to all the kids I played with. I would just like to thank all of them."
A safety on Alabama's 1979 national championship squad, Wilcox was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year that season, the first of numerous honors including first team All-American in 1981. In 1992, he was voted to the Alabama 'Team of the Century' which included just four defensive backs from the Tide's first 100 years.
Wilcox was named the Class 4A All-State quarterback, as well as all-district and all-city, before facing a deluge of recruiters. He signed with Alabama at the Harahan City Hall where his late father Freddie served as mayor for 16 years.
"Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oklahoma – they were all after me but I kind of wanted to stay closer to home," Wilcox said. "There was just something about Alabama. I have always prided myself by not always doing the easy thing. I knew if I could make it at Alabama, I could make it anywhere.
"Coach Bryant was the only coach who made no promises, not a jersey number nor a guarantee to start. He told me I have a chance to be on TV and a chance to win a national championship ring."
Wilcox was previously inducted into the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame for his accomplishments at Bonnabel High School.
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