The 2004 College Football Hall of Fame Division I-A Class, included Southern Miss' All-American Ray Guy, the first Golden Eagle player and first-ever punter to be inducted. Southern Miss Head Coach Thad "Pie" Vann, a football coach at Southern Miss from 1949-68, was inducted in 1987.

Other members of the induction class included Bob P. Anderson (Army/Running Back/1957-59), Tony Casillas (Oklahoma/Middle Guard/1982-85), Frank Emanuel (Tennessee/Linebacker/1963-65), Wayne Harris (Arkansas/Guard-Linebacker/1958-60), Joe Kapp (California/Quarterback/1956-58), James Mandich (Michigan/Tight End/1967-69), Lydell Mitchell (Penn State/Running Back/1969-71), Tracy Rocker (Auburn/Defensive Tackle/1985-88), Jack Tatum (Ohio State/Defensive Back/1968-70), Andre Ware (Houston/Quarterback/1987-89), Charles Young (Southern Cal/Tight End/1970-72). The two coaches that will be inducted are LaVell Edwards (BYU/1972-00) and George Welsh (Navy, Virginia/1973-00).

The criteria set for selection to the Hall of Fame includes that the player must have been a first-team All-American. The player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation's Honors Court 10 years after his last year of intercollegiate football played. Players must have played within the last 50 years. Players in professional football are not eligible until their retirement.

Guy has proven that he is the finest punter in the history of NCAA football. He set the standard that punters have tried to emulate since his playing days were finished. The Greater Augusta Sports Council believed that Guy is the best punter in the history of NCAA collegiate football and because of that belief, named an annual award in his honor. That award, the Ray Guy Award, is given annually to the best collegiate punter in the nation.

He set school records as a placekicker, punter and defensive back and was the NCAA punting champion in 1972. He finished with a career punting average of 44.7 yards a kick, which is the highest average in NCAA history for punters with 200-249 attempts in their careers. He was an All-American selection by seven different publications in 1972 and was selected in the first round by the Oakland Raiders (NFL), the first punter ever taken in the first round. He also was named to Southern Miss' All-Century team as well.

Guy also was proficient in areas other than as a punter. As a defensive back, he holds the school record for most interceptions in a season (8), is second in career interceptions (18) and is third in school history in interceptions yardage (268). As he has done for the kicking game, Guy also helped foster Southern Miss' current defensive tradition. For the past six years, that Southern Miss defense has produced outstanding results, ranking among the nation's elite each year.

As a kicker, he holds the school record for longest field goal made (61 - a then NCAA record), fourth on the school's field goal's made list, and his baseball prowess, attained during a time when teams played limited schedules, continues to be prominent in the Southern Miss record books. He struck out 266 in 220.2 innings pitched, threw 14 complete games in 31 starts, is fourth in career strikeouts, though appearing in only 31 games and he was drafted three-straight years.

Guy had an outstanding professional career with the Oakland Raiders. He had an all-pro career, playing 13 seasons in the NFL, leading the league in punting three times and has been honored as a member of the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team and as a member of the NFL All-Century team. He was a member of three Super Bowl teams.