By Doug Ireland
The afterglow of the 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction celebration hasn’t faded from hearts or minds.
But picking who gets inducted in 2027 has already begun.
The LSHOF selection process clicked into gear last month. New nominees were submitted up to, and past, the July 15 deadline spelled out at LaSportsHall.com on the “How to Nominate” link at the bottom of the home page.
Roughly four dozen new candidates have been suggested. They’ve all been reviewed by the selection committee’s nominations subcommittee. Some have been judged worthy of being added to the ballot; others aren’t, or require more review and will wait for at least 2028.
Next week, a ballot with about 150 candidates from more than two dozen sports categories will be distributed to voters. They’ll have 10 days to submit lists with their 25 favorites. That process will narrow the field down to 4-5 dozen finalists who will be on the table Aug. 23 in Scott, when the full committee assembles, as it did last year in Pineville, to pick the new “competitive ballot” inductees – eight or nine greats.
Later this fall, online voting will identify winners in the “contributors” category for the Dave Dixon Louisiana Sports Leadership Award and the Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism. There are already nearly 30 nominees on both those ballots, and new names to surface.
First things first. The toughest task for the selection committee – which has 35 veteran sports media from all over the state – is to wade through the dozens of deserving competitive ballot candidates and head home from Scott with the core of the Class of 2027.
The final ballot is being assembled this week. To give a glimpse of the dilemma facing the voters, let’s look at just last year’s football nominees – 39 players (coaches are considered in their own category).
There are 18 Pro Bowlers. Seven All-Pros, which is an even better honor. There is a Canadian Football League Hall of Famer, Elfrid Payton from Grambling, who as a footnote is the father of a first-round NBA Draft pick (Elfrid Jr.).
All but eight of the 39 played college football in Louisiana (12 at LSU).
The list stretches from Ashley Ambrose to Marc Zeno. Six guys have names beginning gwith H, five with J, four with S and T. There are two James (Bradie, and Tory).
Every position except deep snapper and holder has representation on the ballot.
It’s not enough to have made it to the NFL, or have been All-American in college or high school. In the football category, it generally takes exceptional accomplishment at all three levels to be a contender for election.
As chairman of the Hall since the sun was no bigger than a golf ball, I field all nominations, and they come from all corners. Anyone can nominate a candidate.
Many times it’s a friend or even a family member – proud spouses, sons and daughters, teammates, coaches. Our committee certainly contributes its share. There are the obvious ones whose accomplishments stand out to any reasonably attentive observer – former LSU defensive back Patrick Peterson is eligible for this class, and nobody had to submit his name to get him on the ballot. Not with eight Pro Bowls following a gold-standard career with the Tigers.
Sometimes I get texts, emails and calls from people I really admire, recommending their favorite. Got one of those last night. The player nominated was a tremendous college performer, and made it to the pros and played 2-3 seasons, but was a journeyman at that level who didn’t have sustained success. I know him. One of the finest folks anywhere.
How I wish there was a Louisiana Football Hall of Fame.
The great Dave Dixon suggested that in a conversation at the turn of the century, and I agreed it would be a wonderful creation. But nobody took up the task, and it would surely be a task.
The Bayou State is as good as it gets in the football world.
Problem for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame voters is, not every great player gets in. Only the very best of the best muster the votes to make it to Natchitoches.
But every one who does is undeniably legendary. Look for the announcement of the Class of 2027 in mid-September. It will come with a sigh of relief from those who cast votes.
