Wright Set for Saturday Salute
9/23/2021 11:00:00 AM | Football
On-campus ceremony scheduled for halftime against Navy
HOUSTON – Houston, The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday that they will jointly honor 2020 College Football Hall of Fame electee Elmo Wright with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments.
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The Salute will take place during halftime of Saturday's Houston Football matchup against Navy. The contest is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Tickets are available by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets or by calling 713 GO COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
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The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program began with the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame Class in 1951. During the Salute, each electee returns to his respective school to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at the institution.
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"During an era when Houston ranked among the nation's leaders in rushing, Elmo Wright managed to leave his mark as a receiver and remains in the top five of nearly every receiving category in school history," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are thrilled to honor him at TDECU Stadium."
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The 2020 and 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Classes will be officially inducted during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas Dec. 7 at the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. (The 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19.)
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A consensus First Team All-American in 1970, Wright was named the Touchdown Club of Columbus Player of the Year after guiding Houston to a No. 19 final ranking. He earned Second Team All-America honors in 1969 after leading the NCAA with 14 touchdowns and guiding the Cougars to a No. 12 final ranking and a win over Auburn in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.Â
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In 1968, Wright helped Houston finish at No. 18 while earning Honorable Mention All-America honors and setting a still-standing NCAA single-season record with eight touchdown receptions of 50 yards or more. His 111.6 career receiving yards per game were the second most in FBS history at the end of his career and still rank 12th all-time.
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Fifty years later, Wright still owns five Houston records – all-purpose career average yards per play (21.0), yards per reception in a season (27.9 in 1968), yards per reception in a career (21.9), 200-yard receiving games in a season (2 each in 1968 and 1969) and 200-yard receiving games in a career (4). He posted career marks of 34 touchdown receptions and 3,347 receiving yards, which rank second and fourth in Cougar history, respectively.Â
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Wright also sits second in Houston annals for 100-yard receiving games (15) and 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2) while placing third in both single-game receiving yards (262 vs. Wyoming in 1969) and single-game touchdown receptions (4 – two occasions). He led College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Yeoman's Cougars to upsets over No. 17 Ole Miss in back-to-back seasons, and he scored twice in the team's historic 100-6 win over Tulsa in 1968.
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A first-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, Wright played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1971-74 before splitting the 1975 season between the Houston Oilers and New England Patriots.
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The Salute will take place during halftime of Saturday's Houston Football matchup against Navy. The contest is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Tickets are available by visiting UHCougars.com/tickets or by calling 713 GO COOGS (462-6647) during regular business hours.
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The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program began with the inaugural College Football Hall of Fame Class in 1951. During the Salute, each electee returns to his respective school to accept a Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at the institution.
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"During an era when Houston ranked among the nation's leaders in rushing, Elmo Wright managed to leave his mark as a receiver and remains in the top five of nearly every receiving category in school history," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are thrilled to honor him at TDECU Stadium."
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The 2020 and 2021 College Football Hall of Fame Classes will be officially inducted during the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas Dec. 7 at the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. (The 2020 event was canceled due to COVID-19.)
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A consensus First Team All-American in 1970, Wright was named the Touchdown Club of Columbus Player of the Year after guiding Houston to a No. 19 final ranking. He earned Second Team All-America honors in 1969 after leading the NCAA with 14 touchdowns and guiding the Cougars to a No. 12 final ranking and a win over Auburn in the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl.Â
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In 1968, Wright helped Houston finish at No. 18 while earning Honorable Mention All-America honors and setting a still-standing NCAA single-season record with eight touchdown receptions of 50 yards or more. His 111.6 career receiving yards per game were the second most in FBS history at the end of his career and still rank 12th all-time.
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Fifty years later, Wright still owns five Houston records – all-purpose career average yards per play (21.0), yards per reception in a season (27.9 in 1968), yards per reception in a career (21.9), 200-yard receiving games in a season (2 each in 1968 and 1969) and 200-yard receiving games in a career (4). He posted career marks of 34 touchdown receptions and 3,347 receiving yards, which rank second and fourth in Cougar history, respectively.Â
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Wright also sits second in Houston annals for 100-yard receiving games (15) and 1,000-yard receiving seasons (2) while placing third in both single-game receiving yards (262 vs. Wyoming in 1969) and single-game touchdown receptions (4 – two occasions). He led College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Yeoman's Cougars to upsets over No. 17 Ole Miss in back-to-back seasons, and he scored twice in the team's historic 100-6 win over Tulsa in 1968.
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A first-round pick in the 1971 NFL Draft, Wright played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1971-74 before splitting the 1975 season between the Houston Oilers and New England Patriots.
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