ORLANDO, Fla. - Southwestern Athletic Conference standouts L.C. Greenwood of Arkansas AM&N (posthumously), and Arkansas - Pine Bluff head football coach Monte Coleman were both honored Saturday night at the 2015 MEAC/SWAC Legends Reception.
 

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception, now in its seventh year, held its annual Legends Reception at Disney's Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. This event precedes this year's MEAC/SWAC Challenge, which features South Carolina State University and University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CST Sunday, Sept. 6, at the Orlando Citrus Bowl. The game will be televised on ESPN.

A 1969 10th-round draft pick out of Arkansas AM&N, now Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Greenwood help made the Steelers the best franchise in the NFL in the 1970s. Greenwood found his place on a defensive line that included Mean Joe Greene, Ernie Holmes and Dwight White. Experts have named the unit one of the greatest defensive lines ever assembled.

Greenwood may have played his finest game in Super Bowl X. Although sacks would not become an official statistic in the NFL for six more years, the play-by-play from Super Bowl X says Greenwood sacked Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach four times in that game. The official Super Bowl record for sacks in a game is three.

Greenwood was an Ebony All-American, six-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1970s.

Coleman was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL draft and finished his 16-year career with 1,006 tackles and 56.5 sacks. His tenure with the Redskins (215 games) is tied for second all-time which also includes being a member of three Super Bowl Championship teams: 1982, 1987 and 1991.

He was elected and featured in the Washingtonian Magazine as a recipient of the Washingtonian of the Year Award in 1996. In 1999, he was selected by Sports Illustrated as one of the top 50 athletes in Arkansas sports' history. In 2007, Coleman was recognized by the Washington Redskins during their 75th Anniversary Legends Program. The Redskins selected the "Top 22 Players" in the franchise's history and Coleman was among those honored.

The Redskins' policy since Sammy Baugh's retirement has been to not retire numbers. However, some numbers are unofficially retired and are usually withheld from being assigned to new players and Coleman's Number 51 is one of a handful of such numbers.

As head coach of the Golden Lions, Coleman led UAPB to its first ever SWAC Football Championship in 2012.

Other members of the 2015 Legends Class include Donnie Shell, and Willie Jeffries from South Carolina State.

Tonight each honoree received an HBCU Trailblazer Award in recognition of the impact made to his or her respective career, community or alma mater. ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris served as the evening's host.

The MEAC/SWAC Challenge, owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN, annually pits a MEAC team against a SWAC opponent at a neutral site located within the footprint of one of the conferences. Several additional events will take place around the game, including a high school career panel, pep rally and the halftime Battle of the Bands.

Tickets to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Presented by Disney can be purchased through Ticketmaster online, by calling 800-745-3000 or by logging on to meacswacchallenge.com. For more information about the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, or to join the event's following on Facebook and Twitter, please visit the event's official website atmeacswacchallenge.com.

L.C. Greenwood (Honored posthumously; Representing University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff)

Monte Coleman (Representing University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) 

Willie Jeffries (Representing South Carolina State University)

Donnie Shell (Representing South Carolina State University)

A: The Legends Award was established in 2009 to pay tribute to extraordinary alumni who have used their respective MEAC and SWAC university education to bring excellence to their professional achievements and/or community service endeavors (local, state, national or global). The Legends Awards were established to honor dedicated alumni who, through exceptional service to their respective university, have helped to advance the institution's mission and goals. Legends Award recipients are representative of the rich diversity of MEAC and SWAC universities, and they inspire others. Through their enduring commitment to excellence, integrity, civility, diversity and service, they serve as stellar examples for future graduates of MEAC and SWAC institutions.

Q: What is the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception?
A: The MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Reception is a semi-formal cocktail reception and dinner that allows recipients the opportunity to share their stories about how they are making a difference within their industry and/or in the lives of others. The event, held at one of Disney's famed hotel ballrooms, allows attendees to experience the magic of Walt Disney World and the pageantry of black college football during this exciting fun-filled Labor Day weekend.

Q: Who's eligible to be a Legend awardee?
A: Legends candidates are typically, though not always, graduates of MEAC or SWAC schools, having earned a bachelor's, master's or honorary degree from the university (or its predecessor schools and colleges). Individuals who attended—but did not graduate from an HBCU—can also be eligible to be candidates, as are individuals who are affiliated with an HBCU. All nominees are considered on a case-by-case basis by the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends committee.

Q: Who comprised the Legends committee?
A: The MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Awards committee is comprised of select members of the Disney and ESPN staffs, as well as faculty from the participating MEAC and SWAC Challenge schools.

Q: How are candidates chosen?
A: Those who wish to submit a name for consideration to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends Awards Committee should send an email to meacswacchallenge@espn.com. Please write "MEAC/SWAC Challenge Legends" in the subject line. Please include a one-page letter of recommendation addressing significant accomplishments. The letter may come from the nominator or alternate supporter. Other relevant supporting documents included should not exceed three pages.

Q: What happens once nominees' names have been sent in?
A: Once a nomination is received, it will be reviewed for that year and the following year only. In any given year, three to six total Legends Awards will be awarded only if qualified nominations have been submitted. Winners will be contacted by a member of the Legends committee.

Courtesy: SWAC.org