ST. LOUIS -- Founded in 1985 as the Gateway Football Conference, the Missouri Valley Football Conference will celebrate its 25th season of FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) football during the 2009 season.  To kick off the league’s 25th Year Celebration, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats - those who have had stellar careers or played with distinction in the National Football League.

 Included in the list are former NFL Most Valuable Players, Pro-Bowl selections and Super Bowl participants.  In all, former conference players have combined to play in 15 Pro Bowls and earned four MVP honors, while 12 players have combined for 23 Super Bowl appearances.  Notably, 16 former league players on the list are currently active in the NFL.

 In addition, the league is honoring an “institutional greats” category, recognizing student-athletes who played at current member schools while those schools were not a part of the league. 

 During the season, fan voting will be conducted to help select a “Silver Anniversary Team,” recognizing the league’s all-time greats.  Voting can be accessed at www.valley-football25.org.   Team composition for the league’s Silver Anniversary Team will be determined by a committee and fan voting.   Fans can also vote to determine an Offensive and Defensive MVP of the league’s All-Select NFL Team.  The web site will be operational by August 15.

 The conference office, with consultation from institutional personnel, compiled the list of honorees.

OFFENSE

QB Kurt Warner, UNI -- Rams, Giants, Cardinals (1998-present)
 4-time Pro Bowler; 2-time NFL MVP; Super Bowl XXXIV MVP; 3rd all-time in career passer rating; 2,327-of-3,557 for 28,591 career yards and 182 career TDs

RB Brandon Jacobs, Southern Illinois -- Giants (2005-present)
 Giants featured back in 2007 and 2008; 555 carries for 2,620 yards and 35 TDs in first 4 years in the league

RB Aaron Stecker, Western Illinois -- Buccaneers, Saints (2000-08)
 2,655 career rushing/receiving yards, 16 career starts in 9-year career

RB Aveion Cason, Illinois State -- Lions, Cowboys, Rams (2001-present)
 1,217 career rushing/receiving yards in 8-year career

FB Jeremi Johnson, Western Kentucky -- Bengals (2003-present)
 Started 50 games for the Bengals in his first five years in the league

WR Don Beebe, Western Illinois -- Bills, Panthers, Packers (1989-97)
 Played on more Super Bowls than any other league player (6), 219 career catches for 3,416 yards and 23 TDs

WR Dedric Ward, UNI -- Jets, Miami, Ravens, N.E., Dallas (1997-04)
 33 starts, including all 16 games for the Jets in 2000; 167 career catches for 2,307 yards and 12 TDs

WR Mike Furrey, UNI -- Rams, Lions, Browns (2003-present)
 Led the NFL in receiving with 98 catches for 1,086 yards in 2006; 198 catches for 2,128 yards and 7 TDs in first six years

WR Kenny Shedd, UNI -- Jets, Bears, Raiders, Redskins (1993-00)
 Was kick returner and wideout for five NFL teams over a seven-year career

WR Frisman Jackson, Western Illinois -- Browns (2002-05)
 In four seasons with the Browns, caught 40 passes, including 24 for 287 yards and a TD in 2004

WR Eddie Berlin, UNI -- Titans, Bears (2001-05)
 Played 5 years and in 62 games; best season was in 2004 with the Titans - 20 catches for 278 yards

WR Fabien Bownes, Western Illinois -- Bears, Seahawks (1995-01)
 Played in 70 games over six seasons with the Bears and Seahawks, had 12 catches for 146 yards in his second season with Bears

TE Damon Jones, Southern Illinois -- Jaguars (1997-01)
 Played in 40 games over five seasons with 22 starting assignments; 11 career TDs

TE Ryan Hannam, UNI -- Seahawks, Cowboys (2002-06)
 Started 5 games for the Seahawks during the 2005 season and was on team for Super Bowl XXL

OL Brad Meester, UNI -- Jaguars (2000-present)
 Has started all 129 contests in which he has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars

OL Frank Winters, Western Illinois -- Browns, Giants, Chiefs, Packers (1987-2002)
 1-time Pro Bowler (1997); 141 starts in 231 career games with four different teams; played in two Super Bowls with Green Bay

OL Mark Rodenhauser, Illinois State -- Bears, Vikings, Chargers, Lions (1987-99)
 Played on more teams (7) than any other former league player Panthers, Steelers, Seahawks

OL Jason Whittle, Missouri State -- Giants, Buccaneers, Vikings, Bills (1998-present)
 Has started 44 of 137 career games played with four different NFL teams

OL Rich Seubert, Western Illinois -- Giants (2001-present)
 Has started 58 of 74 career games with the New York Giants; was on winning Super Bowl team following 2007 season

DEFENSE

DL David Bowens, Western Illinois -- Denver, G.B., Redskins, Miami, Jets (1999-present)
 Has started 22 of 136 career games on the defensive line; 187 career tackles and 32.5 career sacks

DL James Jones, UNI -- Browns, Broncos, Ravens, Lions (1991-00)
 Started 140 of 160 games on the defensive line with four NFL teams; recording 37 career sacks

DL John Jurkovic, Eastern Illinois -- Packers, Jaguars, Browns (1991-99)
 Started 95 of 114 career games on the defenisve line with three different teams

LB Bryan Cox, Western Illinois -- Miami, Bears, Jets, Patriots, Saints (1991-02)
 3-time NFL Pro Bowl Selection; played in Super Bowl XXXVI with New England; started 144 of his 165 career games played

LB Bart Scott, Southern Illinois -- Ravens, Jets (2002-present)
 Pro-Bowl (2007); started all 48 games in final 3 years with Ravens (2006-07-08); 433 career tackles, career-best 103 in 2006

LB Bryce Paup, UNI -- Packers, Bills, Jaguars, Vikings (1990-00)
 NFL Defensive MVP in 1995 (with Buffalo); 4-time Pro Bowl selection; 75 career sacks (season-best 17.5 in MVP season in 1995)

LB Ed Hartwell, Western Illinois -- Ravens, Falcons (2001-06)
 Started 57 of 77 career games, recording 400 career tackles and seven sacks

LB Boomer Grigsby, Illinois State -- Chiefs, Dolphins, Texans (2005-present)
 Has played special teams and has been moved to fullback while entering his 5th NFL season

LB Tim Johnson, Youngstown State -- Raiders, Ravens (2002-06)
 Recorded 114 tackles over 5-year career; played in Super Bowl XXXVII with Oakland, blocking a punt that was returned for a TD

DB Rodney Harrison, Western Illinois -- Chargers, Patriots (1994-08)
 Only player in NFL history with 30+ sacks and 30+ interceptions, 2-time Pro Bower; played on 4 Super Bowl teams in his career

DB Benny Sapp, UNI -- Chiefs, Vikings (2004-present)
 125 career tackles; four career interceptions; 15 career PBUs; while making 10 career starts in 70 games played

DB William James, Western Illinois -- Giants, Eagles, Jaguars (2001-present)
 253 career tackles; six career interceptions; 30 career PBUs; while making 46 career starts in 76 games played

DB Ray McElroy, Eastern Illinois -- Colts, Bears, Lions (1995-01)
 Played in 81 career games with nine starting assignments in six-year NFL career

P Mike Scifres, Western Illinois -- Chargers (2003-present)
 44.1 yards per punt, placing 144 inside the 20; career long of 71 yards; first-alternate for Pro Bowl following 2007 and 2008 seasons

P Derrick Frost, UNI -- Browns, Redskins, Packers (2003-present)
 41.2 yards per punt, placing 105 inside the 20, while kicking for three different NFL teams

LS Brad St. Louis, Missouri State -- Bengals (2000-present)
 Has played in 139 contests as the long snapper for the Cincinnati Bengals

INSTITUTIONAL GREATS - players who played at league schools before schools were members of the MVFC (which began in 1985 as the Gateway Conference).  Only current league schools’ former players are listed below 

DB Estus Hood, Illinois State -- Packers (1978-84)
 31-straight starting assignments, 11 career interceptions

OL Dennis Nelson, Illinois State -- Baltimore Colts, Eagles (1970-77)
 77 NFL games, on Super Bowl championship team in 1971

DB Mike Prior, Illinois State -- Buccaneers, Colts, Packers (1985-98)
 198 career games (two Super Bowls), 35 career interceptions

OL Tunch Ilkin, Indiana State --  Steelers, Packers (1980-93)
 Played 176 career games with the Pittsburgh Steelers over a 14-year NFL career

DB Vencie Glenn, Indiana State -- N.E., Chargers, Saints, Vikings, Giants (1986-95)
 Played 153 career games with 35 career interceptions

DL Phil Hansen, North Dakota State -- Bills (1991-01)
 Played 156 career games, with 61.5 career sacks, appeared in three-straight Super Bowls (1991-93)

WR Stacy Robinson, North Dakota State -- Giants (1985-90)
 Played for Super Bowl champion New York Giants in 1987 and 1991

DB Steve Nelson, North Dakota State -- Patriots (1974-87)
 Played 174 career games, all with the Patriots, over 14 NFL seasons, recording 17 career interceptions

DB Tyrone Braxton, North Dakota State -- Broncos, Dolphins (1987-99)
 Played 181 career games, with 36 career interceptions (4 of which he returned for touchdowns)

PK Adam Vinatieri, South Dakota State -- Patriots, Colts (1996-present)
 The first kicker ever to play in five Super Bowls and win four Super Bowl rings.

TE Steve Heiden, South Dakota State -- Chargers, Browns (1999-present)
 Has had 191 receptions for 1,616 yards, and 13 TDs in his first 10 seasons in the league

WR/TE/RB Pete Retzlaff, South Dakota State -- Eagles (1956-66)
 452 career catches for 7,412 yards and 47 TDs in 11 seasons with the Eagles, 5-time Pro-Bowl selection; Eagles retired his #44

OL Jim Langer, South Dakota State -- Dolphins, Vikings (1970-81)
 Played in 151 career games over 12 seasons; Pro Football Hall of Fame; six-time Pro Bowl selection; NFL 1970s All-Decade Team

OL Adam Timmerman, South Dakota State -- Packers, Rams (1995-06)
 Started 172 of 187 games played in his 12 seasons in the league, playing in three Super Bowls

OL Carl Mauck, Southern Illinois  -- Colts, Dolphins, Chargers, Oilers (1969-81)
 Played in 166 career games, including 156 in a row in a 13-year career in the NFL

QB Jim Hart, Southern Illinois  -- Cardinals, Redskins (1966-84)
 4-time Pro Bowler (1974-77), NFC Player of the Year in 1974, 34,655 career passing yards

WR Kevin House. Southern Illinois  -- Buccaneers, LA Rams (1980-87)
 299 career catches, 5,169 career yards, 34 touchdowns in 8-year career

DB Terry Taylor, Southern Illinois  -- Seahawks, Lions, Browns, Falcons (1984-95)
 25 interceptions over a 12-year NFL career with four different teams

DB Mike Wagner, Western Illinois -- Steelers (1971-80)
 36 career interceptions, and won four Super Bowls as part of the Steel Curtain defense; 2-time Pro-Bowl selection

QB Ron Jaworski. Youngstown State -- LA Rams, Eagles, Dolphins, Chiefs (1974-89)
 Pro Bowl selection in 1980, NFL Player of the Year in 1980, Super Bowl appearance in 1980, 28,190 career passing yards

QB Cliff Stoudt, Youngstown State -- Steelers, STL Cardinals, Miami, Dallas (1977-89)
 Threw for 4,506 yards in his career and 23 touchdowns over 13 seasons

PK Jeff Wilkins, Youngstown State -- Eagles, 49ers, Rams (1994-07)
 All-time scoring leader for St. Louis Rams, 307 career FGs, Pro Bowl 2003; NFL record holder with 371 straight PATs without a miss

PK Paul McFadden, Youngstown State -- Eagles, Giants, Falcons (1984-89)
 2-time All-Pro, NFC Rookie of the Year, made 120-of-163 field goals in his NFL career