Following in the footsteps of one of the greatest of all time, RB Élisée Marchal, is not an easy task, but Mallard-White managed to fill the shoes well. After being selected 1st overall in 1956, he would serve as the #2 back to Marchal in his first season. He would perform well in limited snaps during the season, showing Montreal did have their new premier back. In the offseason, Marchal would leave for Providence, passing the torch onto Mallard-White. After a solid first season as the starter, Mallard-White would break free as a top rusher in the league in his 3rd season, scoring 20 touchdowns and winning his first Offensive Player of the Year award. He continued to put up solid numbers throughout the next several seasons, being an All-Star in 3 consecutive seasons between 1958 and 1960. His performance would dip a little between the 1961 and 1962 regular seasons, but he showed up for the 1962 playoffs, earning the Playoff MVP in helping the Rouge to the McCallister Cup, where they would fall short against the Louisville Thunder. Mallard-White would ride that wave from the 1962 playoffs, and put up another 20-touchdown season in 1963, earning his 2nd Offensive Player of the Year. Following the second award, Mallard-White started to show his age, not quite reaching the top form he held during his prime. He would still help the Rouge reach one more McCallister Cup final in 1966, but once again came up empty-handed. Despite not winning a McCallister Cup, Mallard-White lived up to the expectations and had a very strong career, earning his rightful place in the Hall of Fame.
Member #43: DB Alexander Bradley - Newark, NJ - 1st Ballot - Creator: CaptainMort3D
Bradley immediately broke through in his first season after being selected 2nd overall by the Worcester Athletics in 1954. He brought in 6 interceptions during his rookie season, earning him the Rookie of the Year honours. Bradley kept up the pace through his first 4 seasons, being named an All-Star in each one of them. He would get his first crack at the McCallister Cup during the 1956 season, helping the Athletics reach the final, but the team came up short against the Royals. In the next two seasons, Bradley’s relationship with the Athletics’ front office deteriorated. He was not happy with the direction of the team, and when the cheap operations of Chester Paul led to Bradley being lowballing in his new contract discussions, he decided to leave. Bradley would end up signing on with the Louisville Thunder, following his coach from Worcester, Emil Riddle, who was also heading out West. Taking on a leadership role, Bradley would return to superstar form in 1959, playing well enough to earn him Defensive Player of the Year. The Thunder continued to build their team around Bradley, improving with each season. Then, in 1962, Bradley would be reunited with former Worcester teammate, LB Scotty Williams, and the two would be the core pieces in one of the greatest defences in NAAF history. That season the team would win the McCallister Cup, earning Bradley his first title. After one more season with the Thunder, Bradley would find himself back in free agency ahead of the 1964 season. This time, he would sign with the Long Island Raiders. He would put up 3 more All-Star seasons with the Raiders, bringing his total to 11 in his career. He even earned a 2nd McCallister Cup with Long Island in 1965, defeating his former club in the Thunder. Bradley will go down as one of the best and most consistent DBs in the league’s history, easily cementing his legacy in a Hall of Fame career.
Member #44: LB Konrad Aust - Staten Island, NY - 1st Ballot - Creator: ZO82
The Independents drafted Aust with the #2 pick in the 1956 draft, just one pick behind fellow Hall of Fame Classman, Scott Mallard-White. In just his second season, Aust was already making a major impact, earning his first All-Star nod. Next to Hall of Fame LB Brent Harper, Aust made up the core of the Boston defence for the next decade as they went on to make 9 consecutive playoff appearances between 1957 and 1965. During the run of success, Aust would earn his lone McCallister Cup in 1961, ironically the only season during that time that he wasn’t named an All-Star. Overall, Aust was a little overshadowed in his time in Boston, with Harper being the one to earn 3 Defensive Player of the Year awards, but he still made enough of a mark to earn his place in the Hall of Fame.
Member #45: OL James Knowles - Oshawa, ON - 6th Ballot - Creator: Wallflower
Knowles was a rising star with the Ottawa Royals during the postwar era of the Ontario Football Union, prior to the founding of the NAAF. Right from the first season in the NAAF, Knowles was a consistent All-Star. He would be an All-Star in each of the first 7 seasons he spent in the NAAF. He played a vital role in protecting QB Duane Logan and then later QB Jean Matieau. Eventually, he would get his first McCallister Cup in 1954, helping the Royals to start their dynasty. He would continue to play a role in the team’s success capturing a 2nd and 3rd Cup in the next two seasons. Unfortunately, his final two seasons in 1956 and 1957, were filled with injuries, which eventually led to his retirement. However, Knowles still will go down as one of the strongest O-linemen in the early years of the NAAF, earning his spot in the Hall.
Member #46: DL Calias McDonough - Brooklyn, NY - 1st Ballot - Creator: Darknes
McDonough is a Providence Gold Star. His humour and trash talk on the field, mixed with his undying loyalty for the organization and city made him a massive fan favourite and a perfect fit for the organization. McDonough began his career when he was selected 2nd overall by the Gold Stars in 1955. In his second season, he had already established himself on the D-line, earning his first All-Star nod. He would then go on to be an All-Star in each of the next 6 seasons. McDonough’s loyalty was seen throughout his career with the Gold Stars going through some tough seasons at the turn of the decade, but it would pay off when the team got to the McCallister Cup in 1963. Unfortunately, the team came up short against the Tigers. In the backstretch of his career, McDonough would be presented with an opportunity to leave the Gold Stars and chase a title, but he elected to stay put. He loved the city and the team, even if he never admits it outright. McDonough is a legend in the city and now a legend across the league as he enters the Hall of Fame.
Member #47: OL Malachi Knowles - Worcester, MA - 6th Ballot - Creator: Wallflower
Malachi Knowles began his career in 1939, playing for his hometown team in the Worcester Athletics of the New England Football Championship. Knowles was a solid player through his first few seasons, helping the Athletics capture a McCallister Cup in 1940. However, in 1942, his career had to be put on pause as the US entered WWII. During the pause, Knowles was still dedicated to getting better at the game he had fallen in love with and worked on his skills. Once the war had ended, Knowles was part of a core group of players and officials that were key to getting the NEFC back up and running. Knowles’ hard work skill-wise paid off as well, earning him a spot on the Boston Football Club in 1946 after his old team in the Athletics did not return after the war. Knowles had a solid run with Boston, capturing 5 consecutive McCallister Cups from 1946-1950. During that time, Knowles would also become a key voice in Boston over the decision for the league to move forward with trying hybrid football, leading to the eventual merger into the NAAF. Over the first two years in the NAAF, Knowles would work with Richard Paul in Worcester to help get the Worcester Athletics back to the pro level. In 1951, they would return to the NAAF. Knowles would join the new team, earning his lone NAAF All-Star nod in 1951. After one more season, Knowles would call it a career and move on to coaching, spending a lot of time as an Offensive Coordinator with Boston and Indiana, while also having head coaching roles in Louisville and currently Montreal. This Hall of Fame induction goes beyond just Knowles’ play on the field, but also his work off of it. He may not get the foremost credit, but he was still a passionate and dedicated factor in helping hybrid football (and professional football) get off the ground during the postwar era.
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