Each year the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics Hall of Fame Committee pours through a number of potential candidates for induction into this prestigious group of Mocs.  Our expertise covers a wide range of sports and a number of different eras in UTC history.

However, once you go beyond the 1960s, we sometimes need a little help. 

For many years, the late Porter Henderson showed up on the list of candidates.  Each time, he would just miss the cut as Players of the Year and All-Americans were selected over him. 

The Mocs football team captain from 1953-56, who passed away in 1980, played at a time when UTC was not in a conference.  Therefore, he did not have the benefit of annual awards like All-SoCon inductees.  He was also an offensive lineman, so he wasn't even listed on most of the stat sheets like the backs, receivers and defensive players. 

In fact, other than knowing he was a team captain, there just wasn't much written about Porter in UTC's limited, pre-1960 historical files.  We did find this little nugget from the Vanderbilt game program on Sept. 29, 1956:

                "Tackle Porter Henderson is the boss of a rugged line which will knock heads till the cows come home.  And this year the head-knocking Moccasins know their backs will get them some TDs for their pains."
 

Still, his name kept appearing on the list. 

A few years ago, the Hall of Fame starting polling its members on who they thought should be inducted each year.  We wanted to get the Hall of Famers' opinions on individuals just like Porter Henderson. 

The committee finally decided to make him a finalist so the Hall of Famers could vote on him.  They clearly answered the question if he should be inducted.  When the final count was tallied, Henderson garnered more votes than anyone else in this year's class. 

His son Woody grew up going to Mocs games with some well-known families like the Lagods, the Nardos and the Kovaceviches.  His childhood hero was Bucky Wolford, so his family ties to UTC go back into the Mocs record books.    

"I was really pleased," said the younger Henderson when learning that his father's legacy would be honored this year.  "A number of Daddy's contemporaries had gotten in, so I was excited that he was also going in."

Porter played for legendary coach Scrappy Moore, and was on some really good teams.  Recent Mocs have taken the field against Heisman Trophy winners like Sam Bradford (Oklahoma 2008), Mark Ingram (Alabama 2009) and Cam Newton (Auburn 2010), but Henderson played against some true legends. 

He held his own against Alabama teams led by Bart Starr.  The Mocs only lost 21-14 to the 20^th-ranked Tide in his freshman year in 1953.  The week before, Henderson led UTC to a 44-6 win over Johnny Unitas's Louisville squad. He also played against Vanderbilt's Bill Wade, and guided UTC to a 5-0 mark at Chamberlain Field in 1954.  All three of those foes would go on to quarterback NFL teams to professional championships.

Throughout his career, he went against some top-notch players.  Other big names like LSU's Earl Leggett and Dayton's Jim Katcavage, are just a few who both went on to long careers in the NFL. 

After his playing days at UTC were over, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, but he decided to stay in Chattanooga.  The support from the current members of the Hall of Fame show that his legend lives on long after his time on Chamberlain Field. 

Henderson and the rest of the Class of 2016 will be inducted during the annual ceremonies at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Feb. 19, at the Chattanooga Country Club.  The banquet is open to the public, but seating is limited and reservations are required. The cost is $35.00 per person which includes dinner. Payments and RSVP's can be submitted to the UTC Office of Alumni Affairs at (423) 425-4785.  For more information, email Jayne-Holder@utc.edu.