The Associated Press

CANTON, Ohio - They starred on NFL Sundays, so it's fitting that's when they will enter the Hall of Fame.

Today, for the first time in its 40-year history, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will hold its induction ceremony on a Sunday, honoring the 2003 class of Marcus Allen, Hank Stram, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure and James Lofton.

The Hall switched the ceremony from its usual Saturday morning slot to help accommodate thousands of out-of-town visitors, many of whom wanted to attend both the induction and Monday's Hall of Fame exhibition game pitting Kansas City against Green Bay.

There will be more visiting Hall of Famers - wearing those familiar yellow jackets - than ever before.

As part of its 40th anniversary, the Hall of Fame invited all 144 living members to attend this year's "NFL Homecoming" weekend, and 115 made their way to Canton.

Allen, who rushed for 12,243 yards, is the most prominent member of this year's class.

A star for the Raiders and Chiefs, Allen ran through defenses during 16 prolific seasons. He was NFL Rookie of the Year in 1982 and Super Bowl MVP two years later when he shredded the Washington Redskins for 191 yards, including 74 on a burst that became a career-defining play.

"He was better than everybody at finding a soft spot," said Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, who had Allen at Kansas City. "Even when those plays are designed to go a different direction, he always had a natural instinct for it."

Stram's coaching instincts helped guide the Chiefs to three AFL titles and a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

Wearing one of his signature blazers and usually clutching a rolled-up game plan, Stram was known as an offensive innovator and motivator.

"I don't think people know what a great quarterback coach he was," said Hall of Famer Len Dawson, who will present his former coach for induction. "He knew more about the quarterback position than any coach I ever had."

An eight-time Pro Bowl selection for the Houston Oilers, Bethea made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks during 16 pro seasons. He recorded 105 sacks despite playing mostly in coach Bum Phillips' 3-4 alignment.

DeLamielleure was one of the key members of Buffalo's "Electric Company" offensive line, providing the holes for Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson to rush for more than 2,000 yards in 1973.

A college track star, Lofton hardly lost a step at the end of his 16-year career with the Packers, Raiders and Bills. He finished with 14,004 yards receiving and averaged 18.3 yards per catch. Lofton's arrival in Buffalo helped the Bills reach their first of four straight Super Bowls.

"Honestly, he was kind of the missing piece we needed," former Bills coach Marv Levy said.