Bethea's induction began as ESPN's Chris Berman introduced Bethea as an inductee. A narrated video of Bethea's playing days with the Houston Oiler's was then shown, after which Berman introduced Howell as Bethea's presenter.

"As Elvin Bethea's former football coach, I feel honored to be here on this momentous occasion before football's greatest to introduce him," said Howell. "I reflect back to the summer of 1964 when he came to play for me. 'I'm the best offensive lineman you've ever had' he would say. I put up with that for one year. Then Claude Humphries of Tennessee State [a dominating defensive lineman who played for years with the Atlanta Falcons] and Elvin had a big battle, Elvin as an offensive lineman.

"After the game I wrote Claude a nice little note 'thank you very much.' And so from then on Elvin was a defensive player," as the Hall of Fame crowd reacted with much laughter.

Howell then introduced Bethea, who thanked the Hall of Fame committee for the induction. He then went on to talk about how his mother chose A&T for him to go to college and also about Howell.

"...Coach Howell. Here is a man I thought was insane, crazy, out of his head," Bethea said. "He is the man that put me here today and I will say that to anyone.

"Coach Howell would push me to the point of no return, to the limit and beyond. I remember the three practices a day and that's what it took to get me here today and I say thank you coach," as Bethea turned and looked towards Howell and the crowd applauded.

This will be Howell's second season as director of football operations at Shaw. He worked at A&T for over 20 years, as a trainer and interim athletics director. He also served as head football coach at A&T from 1968-1977, amassing a record of 47-34-4. The Aggies won the CIAA Championship in 1968 and a share of the 1975 MEAC Championship. Howell has also served as administrative assistant to the assistant athletics director at the University of Georgia and interim athletics director at Savannah State.