Aztec Hall of Fame Adds New Members
SAN DIEGO - A new group of legends will be immortalized on the weekend of October 12th when three individuals and two teams officially join the Aztec Hall of Fame. Former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and the 1941 national champion men's basketball team are two of the newest members of the Aztec Hall of Fame, presented by the Wise Foundation. Falisha Wright, the second-leading scorer in Aztec women's basketball history, the 1987 NCAA runner-up men's soccer team, and the late Norm Nygaard, a football star for San Diego State in the 1950s, comprise the new class. "We are truly excited to add these individuals and teams to our prestigious group," said Rick Bay, SDSU's executive director of athletics and special assistant to the president. "The 2002 class marks the first time that we can host part of the weekend in the first permanent home of our Hall of Fame. It is a wonderful opportunity to have former student-athletes back on our campus where they meant so much to so many people." The 2002 class is the first that will include inductions of entire teams. The San Diego State athletic department is in the process of trying to reach all members of the 1941 men's basketball team and the 1987 men's soccer team. Anyone with information on any of the former Aztecs are asked to contact the athletic department at 619-594-5162. Hall of Fame weekend will include a reception on Friday, Oct. 11th, in the Aztec Hall of Fame. The new inductees will also be honored at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12th, when the Aztec football squad hosts Utah in its Mountain West Conference opener. Joe Gibbs Football Player 1961-62-63 Coach 1965-66 Joe Gibbs was an Aztec football letterman in 1961-62-63. He then spent two years as a graduate assistant and one year as a full-time assistant under former San Diego State head coach Don Coryell. During Gibbs' stay on Montezuma Mesa the Aztecs never lost more than two games in a season and in 1966 San Diego State posted a perfect 11-0 record. From 1981 to 1992, Gibbs served as head coach of the Washington Redskins, where he posted a 140-65 record. In 1992, he became just the third coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls. He left the NFL to head up the NASCAR team of Joe Gibbs Racing in Huntersville, N.C. Norm Nygaard Football 1952-53-54 Norm Nygaard, who died Sept. 17th, 2000, was one of the most accomplished football players in San Diego State history. He starred for the 1952-53-54 Aztec football teams and was a two-time all-conference player and a Little All-American. His 2,619 career rushing yards stood as the San Diego State record until Marshall Faulk arrived 40 years later. At the turn of the century, Nygaard was still among San Diego State's career leaders in rushing yards, carries and all-purpose yards. At the time of his death, Nygaard, who also spent time in the NFL, was retired from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Falisha Wright Women's Basketball 1992-95 As an Aztec women's basketball player, Falisha Wright helped lead some of the most powerful teams in San Diego State and Western Athletic Conference history. Her last two seasons in an Aztec uniform saw SDSU post a combined record of 50-11, including a 27-1 mark in WAC competition. Wright ended her career second all-time with 1,733 points and first among SDSU players with 206 three-pointers. She was a four-time selection to the all-Western Athletic Conference squad, including a three-time member of the first team. She is currently an assistant women's basketball coach at Portland State University. 1941 Men's Basketball Team National Champions San Diego State's first national team champion was the 1940-41 men's basketball team. That squad, led by Aztec Hall of Fame members Milton Phelps, Harry Hodgetts, Dick Mitchell and Kenny Hale, and coached by Hall of Famer Morris Gross, posted a 24-7 record. The team traveled to Kansas City and won four games in the NAIA national tournament to bring home the national title. The 24 wins are still tied for the most by an Aztec club in a single season. 1987 Men's Soccer TeamNCAA Runner-UpSan Diego State's men's soccer team of 1987 made a Cinderella run to reach the championship game of the NCAA Tournament, falling to Clemson in the final. Along the way the Aztecs posted a 20-6 record, including 13 shutouts. The Aztecs knocked off undefeated Harvard in the semifinals before losing the championship game to a Clemson team playing on its home field. Eric Wynalda, a 1996 Hall of Fame inductee, had 11 goals and 11 assists for the Aztecs while Kyle Whittemore had 17 goals. |
