May 1, 2008

NEW YORK - From the national ballot of 75 candidates and a pool of hundreds of eligible nominees, Archie Manning, chairman of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, announced the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) Class. Among the 13 First Team All-America players and two legendary coaches selected, two former athletes from Big 12 schools were chosen as Thurman Thomas (Oklahoma State) and Dave Parks (Texas Tech) enter college football's ultimate shrine.

                                                                            THURMAN THOMAS 
                                                                    Oklahoma State University 
                                                                        Running Back, 1984-87

Twice named a First Team All-America pick (1985-consensus, '87), Thurman Thomas amassed 4,595 rushing yards and 44 touchdowns at Oklahoma State, catapulting him into school and conference record books.

Thomas led the Big Eight in rushing and scoring in 1985 and '87 and was voted the conference's Offensive Player of the Year both seasons. His career rushing yardage is second best all-time in the conference, trailing only 2006 College Football Hall of Famer Mike Rozier of Nebraska. The Missouri City, Texas, native earned MVP honors in the 1984 Gator Bowl and the 1987 Sun Bowl and ran for 100-plus yards 21 times at OSU.

Buffalo selected Thomas in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons, appearing in four Super Bowls with the Bills. He was named to the league's All-Decade Team of the 1990s and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year.

Residing in East Aurora, N.Y., he owns and operates "Thurman Thomas Sports," a training center dedicated to helping athletes of all ages and skill levels reach their maximum potential.

                                                                                   DAVE PARKS
                                                                         Texas Tech University
                                                                            Split End, 1961-63

A pioneer of Texas Tech football, Dave Parks brought national acclaim to the university as the first Red Raider to ever make the Associated Press' All-America First Team and to receive All-Southwest Conference honors twice.

Parks established nearly every Texas Tech receiving record, including receiving yards in a game (132), season reception yardage (499), career receptions (80) and career receiving yardage (1,090). He also started on defense and recorded the longest pass interception in school history (98 yards), a record that still stands today. The native Texan also punted and was honored as one of the nation's best blockers.

The first and only Texas Tech player selected as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, Parks led the league in receiving as a rookie with 643 yards - 150 yards more than any other player. He played 10 seasons with San Francisco, New Orleans and Houston.

Parks has served as the associate director of the Texas Ranger Law Enforcement Association and on the executive board of Dallas' NFL Retired Players Association. He also invented the "Speedy Weedy," a lawn and garden tool that he manufactures and sells. He resides in Dallas.