Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Roaf makes donations to his alma mater Louisiana Tech

RUSTON, La. – It was a great day for Louisiana Tech football.

LA Tech had defeated UAB in a thrilling comeback victory, 37-34, in double overtime.

Tech honored its 1990 football team.

And former Louisiana Tech offensive lineman Willie Roaf donated his NFL Hall of Fame jacket and his College Football Hall of Fame ring to Louisiana Tech.

Roaf had been wanting to add something to the Charles Wyly Athletic Center museum area that features memorabilia of other Bulldog legends such as Terry Bradshaw. After the passing of another legendary Bulldog and close friend of Roaf, Fred Dean, as well as the celebration of the 1990 Bulldog football team during the Oct. 31 game against UAB, Roaf thought there would be no better time to donate his jacket and ring.

“We love when former student-athletes decide to give back,” Senior Associate A.D. Paul Kabbes said. “Willie drove the train completely on the idea of having his memorabilia reside in our museum. His items will be proudly displayed next to names like Bradshaw and Dean, and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Roaf was a four-year letterwinner at Tech from 1989-92 and was named a consensus All-American in 1992. He was the eighth pick in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. Roaf has been enshrined in several halls of fame including the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2012), College Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2015), Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2007) and Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2003).

Roaf remembered walking down the halls of LA Tech and seeing photos of former All-Americans, such as Bradshaw and Dean, and telling himself it would be special to be named an All-American and join those players on the wall.

“When guys come in, especially recruits from different places, and walk through that museum and seeing how beautiful it is, they can say, ‘Look, I’m playing at the same university that Willie Roaf, Fred Dean, Karl Malone and all of these guys went to,’” Roaf said. “They can etch out something in stone and be a great player. Whatever you put your mind to, if you work hard enough, you can be another All-American or another Hall of Famer.”

When Roaf first arrived at Louisiana Tech, LA Tech was well-known for its basketball programs. The Lady Techsters had just won their second NCAA Championship in 1988, Karl Malone was a few years into his NBA career and Randy White had just been drafted in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft.

“We wanted to come in there and make a mark for ourselves,” Roaf said. “We wanted to start with ourselves becoming a top sport on campus again.”

Roaf’s first season as a Louisiana Tech Bulldog was the program’s first year as a member of Division I-A (now FBS). During his four-year career at Tech, Roaf guided the Bulldogs to a 25-16-3 record (.602 winning percentage) and he never lost a game at home in the friendly confines of Joe Aillet Stadium.

Roaf has enjoyed watching the program continually develop and be successful.

“To see what Skip (Holtz) has done, winning six straight bowl games and the team playing every week,” Roaf said. “I couldn’t image the program where it is today. It’s been very special watching them play. We always cheer them on.”

Roaf has also been impressed with the facilities Louisiana Tech has to offer its current student-athletes.

“It looks beautiful,” Roaf said. “You can compete at any level with those types of facilities. I’m very happy with where Tech sports and the university are going, and with the diversity in the way they’re bringing other people in.”

LA Tech football (4-3, 3-2 C-USA) returns to action on Saturday as the Bulldogs host Rice (1-1, 1-1 C-USA) in Joe Aillet Stadium at 2:30 p.m. (CT).

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