Thursday, August 23, 2007
Former Kansas running back John Riggins will become the 15th player added to the Memorial Stadium Ring of Honor during the Oct. 13 game against Baylor.
Riggins, known during his NFL days as “The Diesel,” will be in attendance to participate in a halftime ceremony.
He will be second Jayhawk honored this season. Former linebacker Willie Pless will have his name added in the season opener against Central Michigan on Sept. 1.
Riggins was born in Seneca, Kan., in 1949. He attended Centralia High School 12 miles away. The street where the school is located is now called John Riggins Avenue.
Riggins amassed 2,659 career yards in his career. He was twice named an All-Big Eight Conference first-team selection.
He led Kansas in rushing in each of his three seasons (1968-70) with the team. In 1968, Riggins propelled Kansas to a share of the Big Eight Championship and a trip to the Orange Bowl. The Jayhawks finished 9-2 that year after falling to Penn State in the bowl game, 15-14.
The New York Jets drafted the Jayhawk great in the first round with the sixth overall pick in the 1971 NFL draft. He later signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins.
His illustrious NFL career ended with 11,352 yards, 13th in NFL history, and 116 touchdowns, eighth all-time, while with the Jets from 1971-75 and the Redskins from 1976-79 and 1981-85.
Riggins was the MVP of Super Bowl XVII when he rushed for 166 yards, which was a Super Bowl record at the time. He scored the winning touchdown on a 43-yard run in the fourth quarter as the Redskins defeated the Dolphins 27-17 in 1983.
Riggins was named to the 1980s NFL All-Decade team. He still ranks as the Redskins’ career rushing leader.
Riggins was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1992. He became the third Jayhawk to be honored, joining Sayers and Mike McCormack.
“I think John Riggins plain and simple was one of the best players ever to play at Kansas,” Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony said. “And it wasn’t just college. His name is all over the NFL record books.”
Marchiony said the induction process into the Ring of Honor began with the Athletic Department talking to the K-Club, which is composed of former varsity athletes of the University. Athletics Director Lew perkins made the final decision.
Riggins will join Sayers, Pless, Nolan Cromwell, John Hadl, Curtis McClinton, Bobby Douglass, David Jaynes, George Mrkonic, Otto Schnellbacher, John Zook, Ray Evans, Bruce Kallmeyer, Gil Reich and Oliver Spencer in the Ring of Honor.
Marchiony said the Athletic Department had wanted to recognize Riggins for the last couple of years. The former running back’s schedule hadn’t allowed it until now.
“I know he and his family are looking forward to coming out,” Marchiony said.
— Edited by Kyle Carter
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