The University of North Alabama has had three former Lions inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. Former UNA quarterback Cody Gross (1992-95), former Lion linebacker Ronald McKinnon (1992-95) and current head football coach Bobby Wallace are among the current 35 Division II Football Hall of Fame inductees.
Gross, from Rogersville, Ala., was inducted as part of the Class of 2006. Gross had a 41-2 record as a starting quarterback and led UNA to three straight NCAA Division II National Championships from 1993-95. The first start for Gross was in a Division II playoff game at Hampton as a freshman and he led UNA to a 33-21 win, scoring three touchdowns. Gross then started every game throughout the 1993, 1994 and 1995 seasons, with the exception of the 1995 National Championship Game. He had been injured in a semifinal win over Ferris State and didn't start, but entered the game and led a key scoring drive just before the half to give UNA a 21-0 lead over Pittsburg State. The only two losses of his career as a starter came to a pair of national championship teams by a combined five points. UNA lost to Jacksonville State in the quarterfinals of the 1992 playoffs, 14-12, and the Gamecocks went on to win the Division II Championship. The other loss was 17-14 on the road at Youngstown State in 1994. The Penguins were the defending I-AA National Champions and won the champiHe was inducted with John Randle of Texas A&M-Kingsville and Sean Landeta of Towson.
McKinnon, from Elba, Ala., was inducted in 2007 with Earl Dotson of Texas A&M-Kingsville and Mike Turk of Troy. McKinnon was a four-time, first-team All-Gulf South Conference pick and a three-time consensus All-American. He is the only defensive player to win the Harlon Hill Trophy as Division II Player of the Year. He also enjoyed a 10-year career in the National Football League and has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Wallace was inducted in 2010 before his return to Florence as the Lions' head coach. Wallace was head coach at UNA from 1988-97 and had an 82-36-1 record that included three Gulf South Conference championships and three straight NCAA Division II National Championships. He led UNA to six NCAA playoff appearances in 10 years and was selected the Division II Coach of the Quarter Century in 1997. He also had head coaching stints at Temple University and the University of West Alabama. He was in the first class of coaches to join the Hall of Fame, along with Ken Sparks of Carson-Newman and Mel Tjeerdsma of Northwest Missouri State.
Class of 2006, Sean Landeta of Towson, Cody Gross of North Alabama and John Randle of Texas A&M-Kingsville
Class of 2007, Mike Turk of Troy, Earl Dotson of Texas A&M-Kingsville and Ronald McKinnon of North Alabama
Class of 2010, Coach Bobby Wallace of North Alabama, Coach Mel Tjeerdsma of Northwest Missouri State and Coach Ken Sparks of Carson-Newman
