by Bob Jacobsen '63

Ron Pritchard, an All-American linebacker for ASU in the late 1960s, has been elected to the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame. He will be inducted at the 46th annual awards dinner Dec. 9 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.

Pritchard joins former Sun Devils Danny White, Mike Haynes and John Jefferson, and former coaches Frank Kush and Dan Devine in the Hall. Jefferson was inducted just last year.

Pritchard, arguably the greatest linebacker in ASU history, was a key figure for the Sun Devils in the 1967 and '68 seasons, leading the team to consecutive 8-2 records. He was a first-team All-America in his senior season, and earned postseason berths in the East-West Shrine game, the Coaches All-American game, the Hula Bowl and the Senior Bowl.

In 1968 he was team captain, voted Most Valuable Defensive Player and led ASU in tackles and interceptions. He was also a three-time All-Western Athletic Conference choice, and was selected to the 20-year WAC All-Star team.

In the 1969 NFL draft, Pritchard was selected 15th overall by Houston, and spent nine years in the NFL before his career ended due to a knee injury. After football, he eventually ran his own business, Interstate Battery Systems, before selling it four years ago.

For Pritchard, it was an honor he said he never saw coming.
"You see other people receive something like this,"he said, "but you never think it can happen to you."

The NFF selects honorees largely by position, and Pritchard beat out Lawrence Taylor and Chris Spielman. The former ASU star said he is very appreciative.

"It is very surprising ASU would get two back-to-back like J.J. and I,"said Pritchard, 56. "That usually happens to schools like Notre Dame and USC."

Kush lauded Pritchard's efforts on the field.

"Along with Larry Gordon and Bob Breunig, he was one of the most unique players we ever had,"said the longtime Sun Devil coach. "He was very intense, extremely serious and he did everything to the maximum. His mental capacity to absorb things was just fantastic. He was so keyed on what we were doing defensively.

"He could play both the run and pass, and has as good of instincts as I've ever seen. Intensity was his greatest asset."One story goes in the East-West game, blitzing was not allowed because teams did not have enough time to prepare. But more often than not, Pritchard was in the East backfield.

The East claimed Pritchard was blitzing all afternoon, but San Francisco 49ers Coach Dick Nolan disagreed.

"He wasn't,"said Nolan. "He's awfully quick, and he did an excellent job of reacting to the outside sweeps to cut them off."Former ASU defensive coordinator Larry Kentera '51 said Pritchard was a coach's dream.

"He always played every play with aggressiveness,"said Kentera. "He felt he should make every tackle."

Kentera said he was a leader by performance. "All the players looked up to him,"he said. "When he talked, they listened. They respected him very much. I can't say enough about him."

Pritchard came to ASU from Antioch (Calif.) High School after a sensational career. He was an All-Northern California selection and played for the North in the California prep Shrine Game.

Today Pritchard and wife Claudia are living in the East Valley of Phoenix. They have been married 34 years, and have a daughter, Gia Chapman, and a son, Cole. They have two grandchildren, Baxter, 4, and Bronson, 2.

Ron is actively involved with charity work in the Valley, and sponsors and funds a scholarship for a student-athlete at his high school. He also helps raise funds for the United Food Bank.

"I became a Christian about 30 years ago,"said Pritchard. "I'm an incurable God lover. The impression I want to leave behind is I was an honest person. Integrity has always been at the top of my list."

Kush agreed.

"He was dedicated and intense both on and off the field,"said Kush. "His work ethic was unmatched."

Pritchard will be honored at an ASU Friday night reception next fall, and introduced during halftime of a Sun Devil football game. He will be inducted into the Hall next December in New York City, and another ceremony will take place at the College Hall of Fame headquarters in South Bend, Ind., during fall 2004.

Ron Pritchard, ca. 1968

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