Nov. 16, 2007

JACKSON, Miss. - The Southwestern Athletic Conference officially announced its 2007 Hall of Fame Inductees and Jackson State's Eddie Payton is a member of the class.

Edward Payton was born in 1951 in Columbia, Mississippi. He attended John Jefferson High School and during his senior year, Payton was named all-conference in football, basketball, and track. After graduation, Payton attended Jackson State University on a football scholarship. In 1973, he graduated with a bachelor of science in mathematics, health, and physical education and recreation. Payton played professional football for the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Minnesota Vikings.

During his professional career with the Detroit Lions, Payton garnered national attention, as he became one of three players in Lions history to register two touchdowns off returns in a single game. His 98-yard kick-off return for a touchdown is the fifth-longest in Detroit history and his 87- yard punt return is the third-longest in franchise history.

Currently, Payton is the head golf coach at Jackson State University. He's been the recipient of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award 18 times and the National Minority Coach of the Year award eight times. Payton and his men's team have won 13 of the last 18 National Minority Championships and 18 consecutive SWAC Championships. The Lady Tigers have won nine SWAC titles under Payton.

After winning the 2001 SWAC Championship, the Lady Tigers received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, becoming the first women's golf program from a historically black college or university to receive that honor. Payton and his men's team made NCAA history when they qualified for and participated in the NCAA Golf Regional Tournament, hosted by the University of Michigan. In doing so, Jackson State became the first HBCU to participate in the event.

The SWAC induction ceremony will take place Dec. 14 at the Sheraton in Birmingham, Ala.