When Mike Utley has bad days — since suffering three broken vertebrae in his neck while playing for the Detroit Lions 24 years ago — one of the memories that helps him get through tough times is walking through the tunnel at Washington State’s Martin Stadium.

PULLMAN, Wash. - Former Washington State All-America offensive lineman Mike Utley has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced Friday.

The Detroit Lions announced today that the players have voted DL Darryl Tapp as the winner of the "Mike Utley Spirit Award." The award is named after Utley, who was paralyzed while playing with the Lions in 1991, but gave a thumbs up while being wheeled off the field, and was a big motivation to a Lions team that advanced to the NFC Championship game.