Bill Hadden (2016) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Bill Hadden

Induction:
2016
Class:
1987

1984-86
Linebacker

Bill Hadden came to the University after playing defensive end at Mentor High School where he earned first-team All-Greater Cleveland Conference and All-Lake County honors as senior.

As a freshman at UA in 1983, he got playing time for head coach Jim Dennison on special teams. Starting out as a strong-side outside linebacker, Hadden was switched to defensive tackle his sophomore season where he played in all 11 games as a back-up and had 26 tackles.

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There is little doubt that Hadden’s junior season of 1985 was the finest and most memorable of his playing career. The 6-4, 250-lb. Hadden was back at his favorite position of outside linebacker and became one of UA’s defensive leaders on Dennison’s “multiple 50” defense. Early on, Hadden and teammates held rival Kent State to only 44 yards rushing on 40 carries in a 24-0 whitewash of the Golden Flashes. Perhaps his best all-around performance came in the Rubber Bowl against 7th ranked Murray State as the Zip defense shut down MSU’s high octane offense, allowing only 56 yards rushing and 132 yards passing. In that 17-10 win, Hadden had five solo tackles, one assist, three tackles for losses, a fumble recovery and returned an interception for 24 yards. That outstanding effort earned him the Ohio Valley Conference’s Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Hadden and his Zip teammates produced an outstanding 8-3 campaign that earned UA a berth in the NCAA I-AA Playoffs. The 10th-ranked Zips journeyed to Kingston, R.I., to face Rhode Island, the nation’s top passing offense. The Rams proved they were indeed a great passing team as their 472 yards, five touchdowns and 35-27 victory can attest. Yet, during that game, Hadden was involved in a 77-yard record-breaking return of a blocked field goal that still remains today. UA’s weak-side outside linebacker Greg Thomas blocked the Rams’ field goal attempt and was credited with eight yards; Hadden scooped the ball up and ran 20 yards before lateralling to corner back Gary Tyler for the final 49 yards for Akron’s first score of the game.

Hadden finished 1985 fifth in tackles with 53 solo and 26 assists and three tipped passes. However, more importantly he led the team with 19 tackles for losses of 96 yards. His performance earned him first-team All-OVC honors and Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press.

As a senior, Hadden was selected as a preseason All-American by Sporting News and he was elected as one of the four captains in head coach Gerry Faust’s first season. However, in the season opener against Salem College, Hadden suffered a knee injury that would plague him all season long. While the team was compiling a fine 7-4 season record, Hadden finished with 16 solo tackles, six for losses of 52 yards, and five assists.