The Mississippi Sports Foundation, Inc (MSF), the private, non-profit group that established and operates the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, is committed to honoring the best that Mississippi has to offer in the world of athletics regardless of sport, gender, race, school affiliation or geographic area. The MSF assumes full administrative responsibility for the selection process beginning with the 2007 induction class.

Determining who will be honored in the Museum is a two-tiered process involving Nominating and Selection Committees. No current member of the Mississippi Sports Foundation, Inc's board or staff is eligible to vote on either committee though Museum staff may serve as secretary to the committees. Representatives of participating institutions and associations will serve two year terms at the end of which they will exchange places with the representatives on the other committee. Participating schools and associations will inform the Museum of their representatives. The Museum will randomly determine the composition of the two committees.

All deliberations in both committees will be treated as confidential and are not the subject of public discussion or discussion with members of the other committee. The announcement of those who have been selected for permanent display will be made by the Mississippi Sports Foundation, Inc.

Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee will be comprised of a minimum of ten representatives from college & university athletic departments, athletic associations like the Mississippi Golf Association, Mississippi High School Activities Association, Mississippi Association of Coaches and similar organizations. In addition, the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Sports Foundation will appoint an at-large media representative to the Nominating Committee. The President-elect of the Jackson Touchdown Club will also serve on the Nominating Committee. In the event that the Nominating Committee does not attain its minimum size, the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Sports Foundation, Inc will appoint at-large members who either represent significant athletic interests or who have an extensive knowledge of Mississippi athletics to fulfill its size requirement.

The Nominating Committee will provide a list in alphabetical order to the Selection Committee containing a minimum of twelve and a maximum of twenty nominees who meet the eligibility guidelines as outlined below. There will never be more than twenty nominees under consideration at one time. If, for example, an induction class consists of four honorees then the Nominating Committee will have room to add no more than four additional individuals to replenish the nominating pool to its maximum of twenty for the following year's consideration. The number of annual replacements could increase after three years if nominees have exhausted their three year consideration period without being selected by the Selection Committee (see information below).

Institutions, associations, universities and the public at large will be free to submit potential nominees by downloading the official nominating forms from the Museum's website or by requesting the forms from the Museum's office. Only official nominating forms can be submitted. Forms, supporting documentation and photographs in support of nominees may be sent only to the Museum. All submissions must be computer generated or typed and are the property of the Museum and will not be returned. Only the Nominating Committee will determine who is included in the pool of twenty regardless of the source of the nominations. Nominations received by the Museum less than one month prior to the committee meeting will not be presented to the Nominating Committee for consideration but will be held for submission the following year. Nominations received by the Museum will be forwarded by the Museum to all members of the Nominating Committee.

Nominees who have been part of the nominating pool for three years and who have not been selected for permanent tribute in the Museum by the Selection Committee will be removed from the nominating pool after their third cycle of consideration. These individuals must be re-submitted with full documentation in order to be reconsidered by the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee will determine by a vote of its attending members if an individual is to be recommended to the Selection Committee for consideration. If 13 members are present, 9 votes will be required. If 12 or 11 are present, 8 votes will be needed; if 10 are present, 7 votes will be needed. A quorum requires at least 10 of the members attending and no vote can be taken without a quorum. Proxy voting will not be allowed unless an extraordinary situation exists as determined by the Executive Director. In the event that an extraordinary situation prevents a minimum number of committee members from participating in the selection process in person, members will be allowed to participate by telephone in order to meet the minimum attendance requirement.

Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will be comprised of a minimum of ten representatives from college & university athletic departments, athletic associations including like the Mississippi Golf Association, Mississippi High School Activities Association, Mississippi Association of Coaches and similar organizations. In addition, the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Sports Foundation will appoint an at-large media representative to the Selection Committee. The President of the Jackson Touchdown Club will also serve on the Selection Committee. In the event that the Selection Committee does not attain its minimum size, the Executive Committee of the Mississippi Sports Foundation, Inc will appoint at-large members who either represent significant athletic interests or who have an extensive knowledge of Mississippi athletics to fulfill its size requirement.

The Selection Committee will select from the maximum twenty person nominating pool an induction class no larger than six individuals to be honored.

No nominee can be selected for permanent tribute in the Museum without receiving widespread support from those in attendance at the Selection Committee. If 13 members are present, 9 votes are needed; if 12 or 11 are present, 8 votes are required; if 10 are present, 7 votes are required. A quorum requires at least 10 members attending and no vote can be taken without a quorum. Absentee voting will not be allowed unless an extraordinary situation exists as determined by the Executive Director. In the event that an extraordinary situation prevents a minimum number of committee members from participating in the selection process in person, members will be allowed to participate by telephone in order to meet the minimum attendance requirement.

Future Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame inductees Allyn McKeen (1977) and Shorty McWilliams (1963) take a break during a Mississippi State game circa 1946.