Tim Couch dishes on 'tremendous honor' of College Football Hall of Fame selection, how he found out

Tim Couch, one of the greatest players in the history of Kentucky, earned his spot in the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this month. It was a recognition that many, including Couch, had been waiting a long time for, which made it all the better now that he’s finally in.

Couch spoke about the induction on ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’ on Tuesday. He couldn’t express enough gratitude for the selection while also taking his time to thank everyone involved in his career in Lexington for helping him to this achievement.

“This is a tremendous honor,” said Couch. “Just truly humbled, truly blessed to be selected to the Hall of Fame.

“Obviously very thankful for my teammates at the University of Kentucky, the great coaches I had in Hal Mumme, the late Mike Leach. Just had so many great people around me that helped me get to where I’m at today,” Couch continued. “Like I said, just truly humbled and honored by the selection.”

The reveal made it that much sweeter for Couch as well. He recalled how his family made the moment special in how they told him that he had made it in. It was a payoff of several years of waiting that he got to experience with several of his loved ones around him.

“My family did a very good job of surprising me. We were just having a family dinner – my brother came over, my mother, his kids. We were just hanging out, having dinner. Then, all of a sudden, they handed me an envelope and asked me to read it,” recalled Couch. “It certainly caught me off guard but it was a great moment for me and my family. We all just got to celebrate that together that night.

“It was an unbelievable moment. I’ve been waiting on it for several years where I’ve been on the finals list. Didn’t make it for several years and, obviously, it’s a very tough thing to get selected to. I had to be patient, wait my time. I thought, hopefully, that the honor would come at some point,” Couch added. “A lot of emotions hit you when you read that letter and it says ‘Welcome to the College Football Hall of Fame’.”

In three years at Kentucky, Couch threw for 8,435 yards, 74 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions on a 67.1% completion rate. Most of that came in 1997 and 1998 under Mumme. In that time, he led the team to having one of the nation’s best offenses.

In 1998, Couch was the SEC Player of the Year, a First Team All-American, and a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He then entered the 1999 NFL Draft where he was the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Browns. He’d then spend each of his five seasons as a pro in Cleveland.

On December 10th in Las Vegas, Couch will officially enter the hall as the eighth Wildcat to do so and as an all-time great. Still, nearly 2,000 miles east, all he will continue to thank are those people back in his Old Kentucky Home.

“Just thankful for those guys, thankful for the coaches, the fans at the University of Kentucky and everyone that has been so supportive of me throughout my career,” said Couch. “It was just an awesome moment for me and my family.”

Couch also set to receive a statue at Leslie County High School

If that wasn’t enough, Couch will also be receiving an honor for his high school career.

Not long after earning his selection, Couch said he also learned that Leslie County High School will also be immortalizing him with a statue.

“My high school just informed me a few weeks ago that they’re actually building a statue of me back there,” Couch said. “I’m grateful for that, honored by that. It has been a really good few weeks with the statue announcement and the College Football Hall of Fame.

“It was a lot of fun back in high school. I just remember the crowds. The word had kind of built up around Kentucky, around eastern Kentucky where I’m from. Every Friday night when we’d go to play somewhere? The stadium was full, it was standing room only,” Couch continued. “It’s just something that I look back on with a lot of fond memories. Those Friday night lights, getting a chance to go out and play with your best friends that you grow up with. It was just an awesome time for me and my friends to experience that.”

Couch became a legend as a prep player with the Eagles back in the 90s. He did so by breaking national records for completions (872), passing yards (12,104), and passing touchdowns (132).