Novacek selected to College Hall of Fame
Former University of Wyoming All-America tight end Jay Novacek was selected to the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) Class on Thursday. Novacek was one of 15 individuals picked for the 2008 class by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame.
Novacek, who played at Wyoming from 1982-84, was named a Consensus All-American in 1984. He still holds the NCAA record for highest average gain per reception by a tight end in a single season (22.6 yards per reception in 1984). He was not only a First Team All-American in football, but also earned All-America honors in track and field in ‘84, placing fourth at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the decathlon. Novacek caught 83 career passes for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns during his three-year college career at Wyoming.
He went on to win three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1992, ‘93 and ‘95 seasons. Novacek was twice named All-Pro (1991 and ‘92), earned All-NFC honors three times (1991, ‘92 and ‘95) and played in five Pro Bowls (1991-95).
Novacek joins one other former Cowboy player and two former Wyoming coaches as members of the College Football Hall of Fame. Eddie “Boom Boom” Talboom was inducted posthumously as a tailback in 2000. Former Cowboy head coach Bowden Wyatt was inducted posthumously as a player (Tennessee) in 1972 and then was inducted as a coach (Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee) in 1997, becoming only the third individual at that time to be inducted as both a player and coach -- the other two being Amos Alonzo Stagg and Bobby Dodd. The other College Football Half of Famer from the University of Wyoming is former head coach Bob Devaney (Wyoming, Nebraska) who was inducted in 1981.
Novacek, who played at Wyoming from 1982-84, was named a Consensus All-American in 1984. He still holds the NCAA record for highest average gain per reception by a tight end in a single season (22.6 yards per reception in 1984). He was not only a First Team All-American in football, but also earned All-America honors in track and field in ‘84, placing fourth at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in the decathlon. Novacek caught 83 career passes for 1,536 yards and 10 touchdowns during his three-year college career at Wyoming.
He went on to win three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys at the conclusion of the 1992, ‘93 and ‘95 seasons. Novacek was twice named All-Pro (1991 and ‘92), earned All-NFC honors three times (1991, ‘92 and ‘95) and played in five Pro Bowls (1991-95).
Novacek joins one other former Cowboy player and two former Wyoming coaches as members of the College Football Hall of Fame. Eddie “Boom Boom” Talboom was inducted posthumously as a tailback in 2000. Former Cowboy head coach Bowden Wyatt was inducted posthumously as a player (Tennessee) in 1972 and then was inducted as a coach (Wyoming, Arkansas, Tennessee) in 1997, becoming only the third individual at that time to be inducted as both a player and coach -- the other two being Amos Alonzo Stagg and Bobby Dodd. The other College Football Half of Famer from the University of Wyoming is former head coach Bob Devaney (Wyoming, Nebraska) who was inducted in 1981.
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