Ex-USC Star Lott Joins Hall

As roommates at USC, Ronnie Lott and Marcus Allen talked about achieving greatness.

Lott was one of 24 people inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. His induction came six days after Allen was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I don’t think either of us ever dreamed that being great meant that we would both be in both halls of fame. I think when we said great we were just trying to be the best that we could be,” Lott said during enshrinement festivities.

Lott, who in 1980 led the nation in interceptions with eight, was enshrined Saturday along with former Pittsburgh quarterback Dan Marino, former Tennessee defensive tackle Reggie White, former Missouri tight end Kellen Winslow and 20 others.

The inductees signed autographs, played a game of flag football and held a skills clinic for youngsters. Lott worked intensely with his group, recalling how important he held the words of encouragement he received from Deacon Jones and James Harris of the Los Angeles Rams.

“You couldn’t help but be inspired,” he said. “You never know. Something that I said today might encourage them the way those guys encouraged me.”

Lott said he ran “video clips” through his mind as he listened to the other Hall of Fame inductees talk about their careers.

“As you look around the room, you can look at all the great players and you can feel the video clips of how they played the game,” he said.