Former Widener football coach Bill Manlove was honored for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame and the 1981 NCAA championship football was celebrated during a special tribute dinner.

Manlove on July 16 was given college football’s highest honor by becoming the third person for Widener to be inducted. Two-time All-American Billy “White Shoes” Johnson entered as part of the Hall’s first class in 1996 and three-time All-American Tom Deery was enshrined two years later in the third class.

One of the true gentlemen in all of athletics, Manlove coached 23 seasons at Widener (1969-91) and guided the team to NCAA Division III championships in 1977 and 1981. He also was a part of 10 Middle Atlantic Conference championships, seven NCAA Tournament appearances and four undefeated regular seasons during his tenure.

During Manlove’s time, 31 of Widener’s student-athletes were tabbed All-America, three were drafted by National Football League teams and 20 were signed by either NFL, World Football League, United States Football League or Canadian Football League squads.

Manlove, who also is the school’s former director of athletics, is the program’s winningest coach with a 182-53-1 record for a .773 winning percentage. Widener was 9-5 in the NCAA Tournament during his time and 2-0 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III title game.

Manlove was honored as MAC Coach of the Year nine times. He was named AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Division II-III National Coach of the Year in 1977 and Regional/District Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1980.

The 1981 team was the second in five years for Widener to capture an NCAA football title. The squad went 13-0 for the team’s first undefeated season since 1954 and won the fifth of what would be six straight Middle Atlantic Conference titles for the school.