HALL OF fame selection process
The following outlines the framework for nominations, voting, and selection for each class of Hall of Fame inductees.
Nomination Process
Nomination Process
- Nominations will be solicited each year through website, newspaper, tv, radio.
- General public may make nominations.
- All nominations are made through the Mountain Empire's website.
- Nominees are limited to players or coaches from Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia from the following schools (additional schools may be considered to be added each year):
- Northeast Tennessee Counties
- Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, Washington
- Southwest Virginia Counties/High Schools
- Bristol (Virginia High); Dickenson (Ridgewiew); Lee (Lee & Thomas Walker); Russell (Castlewood, Honaker, & Ledanon); Scott (Gate City, Rye Cove, & Twin Springs); Washington (Abington, Holston, John Battle, & Partick Henry); Wise (Central, Eastside, & Union)
- Bristol (Virginia High); Dickenson (Ridgewiew); Lee (Lee & Thomas Walker); Russell (Castlewood, Honaker, & Ledanon); Scott (Gate City, Rye Cove, & Twin Springs); Washington (Abington, Holston, John Battle, & Partick Henry); Wise (Central, Eastside, & Union)
- Western North Carolina Counties
- Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga, Yancey
- Northeast Tennessee Counties
- Player nominees must be someone who has been graduated from high school for at least 10 years.
- Coach nominees must be someone who has been retired from coaching for at least 3 years, or have obtained the age of 65.
- College Players, Officials, or Sports Announcers are selected through the annual awards banquet process.
- Voting is made by members of the Mountain Empire Chapter of the National Football Foundation, high school coaches, and selected members of the sports media.
- Voting will be conducted through the Mountain Empire website.
- Winners from annual scholar-athlete banquet are automatically inducted (high school player, college player, coach, official, lifetime achievement, sports broadcaster).
- Other inductees for each year's class will come from nominations that are submitted.
- Selection is based primarily on high school achievements and community involvement. Football achievements at other levels of play are are considered.
- A Selection Committee oversees the voting and determines the number of players or coaches selected each year.
- Up to the top 3 players should be chosen to be inducted.
- The top 1 coach will be chosen to be inducted.
- The Selection Committee has the option to include "Legends" - additional players prior to 1970 and/or an additional legendary coach. However, the total number inducted should not include more than 6 players.
- TBD