CANTON, Ohio — Practically giddy with excitement over his upcoming induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ralph Wilson greeted Bruce Smith in the middle of a hotel ballroom to pose for a picture Friday afternoon.
“It’s been fun,” said the 90-year-old Bills owner, who then pointed to Smith, his former star defensive end. “It’s been fun because of him.”
Smith was quick with a response.
“I think it goes both ways,” he said. “And now we’re going to be part of an elite class.”
That will happen today, when Wilson and Smith are formally inducted along with Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, defensive back Rod Woodson, offensive guard Randall McDaniel and receiver Bob Hayes.
Thomas, whose career was cut short in 2000 when he died following a car accident, and Hayes, who died in 2002 at age 59, will be inducted posthumously.
What’s hard to miss about this group are the Bills connections, which will give this weekend a distinct Buffalo flavor. Not only are two Bills being enshrined, but the team will be playing Tennessee in the Hall of Fame game on Sunday, when Terrell Owens makes his debut in a Buffalo uniform.
As of Friday evening, Hall officials said 30 percent of enshrinement tickets sold have been purchased by fans from Buffalo telephone area codes.
“It will be exciting. It will be loud,” said Smith, recalling how 80,000 fans would fill Ralph Wilson Stadium in blizzard-like conditions. “It’s going to be incredible to see all of them out again.”
Smith, the No. 1 pick in the 1985 draft out of Virginia Tech, went on to become one of the league’s most dominant pass-rushers and will be inducted in his first year of eligibility.
In 19 seasons with Buffalo and Washington, he registered a league-record 200 sacks and played a pivotal role in helping the Bills make an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s.
Wilson was one of the eight original owners to establish the American Football League in 1959, and played a significant role in the AFL-NFL merger.
His talks with then-Baltimore Colts owner Carroll Rosenbloom set the framework of the merger deal because it included revenue sharing, something NFL owners had been against.
Hall of Fame guard Billy Shaw, who played for the Bills in the 1960s, spent part of the day with Wilson and said: “He’s like a little boy right now with a new candy bar.”
The same goes for McDaniel, who didn’t expect to be inducted after playing such a low-profile position.
“I didn’t have big goals. My goal was mainly to win a starting job and get to play,” said McDaniel, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection during a 14-year career, most of which he spent with Minnesota.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
2009 INDUCTEES
A list of who will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame today:
BOB HAYES
Wide receiver — 5-11, 185
1965-1974 Dallas Cowboys, 1975 San Francisco 49ers
RANDALL McDANIEL
Guard — 6-3, 276
1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
BRUCE SMITH
Defensive end — 6-4, 280
1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-2003 Washington Redskins
DERRICK THOMAS
Linebacker — 6-3, 243
1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
RALPH WILSON JR.
Founder/owner
1960-present, Buffalo Bills
ROD WOODSON
Cornerback/safety — 6-0, 200
1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-2003 Oakland Raiders
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame
