Funny Story About How Steve Slaton Found Out He Made the College Football Hall of Fame

Steve Slaton made the College Football Hall of Fame and he also gained a funny story in how he found out as well. And for anyone who thinks Slaton was tipped off beforehand, he wasn’t. In fact, he learned the news at the same time as everyone else.

Slaton laughed about a mishap that screwed up how he was supposed to be informed while appearing on WV Sports Now’s “Mountaineer Report” with Mike Asti.

“I found out with the fans, which is funny,” said Slaton. “I was supposed to get a football announcement at my door but they sent it to the wrong address so I didn’t get the football.”

So as Slaton, who was aware he had a solid chance to be elected, granted he wasn’t sure it would happen for him this year, was waiting for a possible knock on his door until his phone started blowing up with people congratulating him.

“I enjoy it that way, to find out when everyone else found out,” he added to his story.

Slaton has no idea how the people who mistakingly received the commemorative football reacted since he doesn’t interact with his neighbors much.

Slaton, widely regarded as the greatest running back in WVU history, totaled 3,923 rushing yards, averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored 50 touchdowns on the ground in his three years in Morgantown. He also made 65 receptions for 805 yards. Slaton earned consensus All-American status in 2006 and was a key part of some of the most successful teams in program history.

Selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by Houston, Slaton played four years with the Texans before concluding his career with the Dolphins in 2011. He played with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL for one season before retiring from football and pursuing a career in the culinary arts as a personal chef and kitchen consultant in Houston. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

The 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 9, 2025 at Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Find more coverage of Steve Slaton at WV Sports Now.