Oklahoma State University Athletics
Thurman Thomas HOF Induction
December 10, 2008 | Cowboy Football
"Thurman has always been a great competitor," said current Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, who played in the same Cowboy backfield as Thomas for two seasons. "He kind of set the stage here. I know (former OSU All-America running backs) Ernest Anderson and Terry Miller came before him, but Thurman really grabbed national attention and he brought a lot of attention to Oklahoma State when he played in the NFL.
"I remember more about him in practice than I do in games because he was such a leader in practice...He was very competitive in practice. That is what separated him from other players."
During his four seasons at Oklahoma State, Thomas led the Cowboys in rushing each season, and propelled them to three bowls and two 10-2 records. He was a workhorse for Coach Pat Jones before embarking on a 13-year professional career.
"Had it not been for you (Jones) rushing me over those four years, 30 to 40 and sometimes 40 to 50 times I might have played more than 13 years," Thomas kiddingly chided his old coach. "Thank you for having faith in me in my last two years because there was another talented running back who played at Oklahoma State, Barry Sanders."
"With the exception of winning the Heisman Trophy, he won just about every away you could win," said Jones, who also coached Thomas with the Miami Dolphins at the tail end of his professional career. "He is probably the toughest physically I have been around at any level."
Thomas, from Missouri City, Texas, burst upon the scene as a solid freshman tailback in 1984, then really starred as a sophomore in 1985 when he posted 1,553 yards rushing, fourth best in the country. Between his sophomore and junior seasons he suffered a tear to his ACL in his left knee, missing some games during the 1986 season. His rushing total dipped, and the Cowboys dropped to 6-5. He bounced back his senior season, rushing for 1,613 yards and finishing third nationally in rushing for a 10-2 Cowboys team. From 1984-87, Thomas carried the ball a remarkable 898 times for the Cowboys, the most rushing attempts in a career in Oklahoma State history.
Thomas capped his college career on a snowy day in El Paso in the 1987 Sun Bowl. "That game we played in the Sun Bowl where the conditions were terrible and he was MVP is the game I remember more than any," Gundy said. In that game, Thomas rushed for 157 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries in a come-from behind 35-33 victory over West Virginia.
The Buffalo Bills second round pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, Thomas played in the NFL for 13 seasons, appearing in four Super Bowls and five straight Pro Bowls. He retired in 2000 after one final season with the Miami Dolphins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. Residing in East Aurora, N.Y., he owns and operates "Thurman Thomas Sports," a training center dedicated to helping athletes of all ages and reach their maximum potential.
The 2008 Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner, held at New York City's historic Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Tuesday, December 9. The National Hall of Fame Salute at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl follows on January 5, giving the class recognition on a national stage, and events culminate with the College Football Hall of Fame's Enshrinement Festival in South Bend, Ind., July 17-18.
The 2008 class includes Troy Aikman (UCLA), Billy Cannon (LSU), Jim Dombrowski (UVA), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), Wilber Marshall (Florida), Rueben Mayes (Washington State), Randall McDaniel (ASU), Don McPherson (Syracuse), Jay Novacek (Wyoming), Dave Parks (Texas Tech), Ron Simmons (Florida State), Thurman Thomas (Oklahoma State), Arnold Tucker (Army), Coach John Cooper (Tulsa, ASU, Ohio State) and Coach Lou Holtz (William & Mary, NC State, Arkansas, Minnesota, Notre Dame, South Carolina).
