Immortality awaits Bruce Smith, Ralph Wilson

CANTON, Ohio — Ralph C. Wilson Jr. and Bruce Smith felt humbled Friday as they waited to take their place in pro football history.

Smith and Wilson struggled to describe the significance of the honor that awaits them tonight when they are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"This already has been an incredible ride," Smith said Friday afternoon. "It hasn't even set in yet in terms of the emotions I'm going to feel when the ceremony starts. I'm just overwhelmed."

"I never, ever expected this," Wilson said. "This is still a big surprise."

Wilson and Smith will be among six men inducted into the Hall of Fame's Class of 2009 tonight. Also entering the Hall will be offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, defensive back Rod Woodson, and two deceased former greats, linebacker Derrick Thomas and receiver Bob Hayes.

Wilson will be the first to speak at the ceremony, which runs from 7 to 10 p.m. (ESPN). Smith will be the last to speak.

Wilson's calling card for 50 years in football has been as a founding member of "the Foolish Club," the original eight owners of the American Football League. After attending an exclusive luncheon Friday that included about 80 current Hall of Famers, Wilson realized that tonight's honor supersedes that distinction.

"After coming from the luncheon today with all the Hall of Famers, I've thought during my lifetime I'm a member of an exclusive club," Wilson said. "But it's nothing like the Hall of Fame. It's not only a club. The players care for each other so much. ... It's a fraternity. To be a member of it, hey, there's no words to express it."

Wilson, however, still managed to search for some humor, as is his custom, during a 45-minute meeting with members of the media.

Asked if he was nervous about his speech, Wilson cracked: "It's going to be very, very boring."

"I'm liable to ramble on, and they're going to ring the bell on me," Wilson said.

Wilson, in fact, has a 12-minute time limit on his speech.

"After 50 years, they give me 12 minutes," he said with a laugh.

How will he sum up 50 years in football, he was asked.

"I don't know," he said. "It's not easy."

Wilson will be introduced in a two-minute presentation by ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman. Smith will be introduced by former Bills assistant coach Ted Cottrell.

Both Wilson and Smith know that they will be received by a partisan crowd. Bills fans have become famous for packing the stands of Fawcett Stadium, as they did for the inductions of Jim Kelly, Marv Levy and Thurman Thomas. About 30 percent of the tickets for the event went to people from the 716 area code. A crowd of between 12,000 and 15,000 is expected. Wilson invited more than 700 people to the event. Smith's invitation list was about 450.

"Everybody knew Bruce was going in," said Kelly. "But to have Mr. Wilson go in on this day, on this year — the 50th anniversary of the team — is something very, very special."

"I guess I'm clean up and Mr. Wilson is first," Smith said of the speaking order. "I've got a lot of time to think. I guess since we have such a great following by Bills fans, I think it's fitting. ... It will be exciting. It will be loud. The Bills' fans are the greatest."

Kelly had breakfast with Smith Friday and gave him some final tips on his speech.

"More than anything, I told him don't ad lib," Kelly said. "It's very easy once you go off on a tangent to look up and just talk from your heart, which is good. But there's only one time you give your Hall of Fame speech and there's only one time you can forget somebody, and you don't want to do that. If he forgets one person [that he wanted to thank], trust me, he will hear it the rest of his life."

Kelly knows it will be emotional.

"Already, the over-under on Bruce crying is three times," Kelly said. "I say he'll probably break down twice, maybe three times. But no more than that."

Wilson and Smith received their gold-colored Hall of Fame sport coats at a dinner Friday night. They will receive Hall of Fame rings at some point during the regular season.

Wilson and Smith will bring to nine the number of former Bills in the Hall. The others are Kelly, Joe DeLamielleure, Marv Levy, James Lofton, Billy Shaw, O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas.

mgaughan@buffnews.com