LARAMIE – Dave Hampton's Wyoming career will not be lost to history.
 
The three-time Western Athletic Conference champion will be inducted into the UW Collegiate Athletics Hall of Fame on Sept. 11.
 
Hampton (1966-68) played during the "Golden Era" of Cowboy football, when his statistics were overshadowed while serving as Jim Kiick's blocking back for two seasons.
 
Fifty-eight years after leaving Laramie to begin a lengthy NFL career, Hampton has received his hall call.
 
"It really was such a surprise," said Hampton, who added that he is grateful for selection committee members Bill Schrage and Sally Ann Shurmur pushing for his inclusion in the 2026 class. "I didn't even consider getting in so late after my career was up."
 
Hampton played on offense, defense and returned kicks for the Pokes during his first two seasons.
 
In 1966, UW finished 10-1 with a victory over Florida State in the Sun Bowl. In 1967, the star-studded Cowboys finished the regular season 10-0 and ranked No. 6 before losing 20-13 to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.
 
In addition to Kiick, who helped the Miami Dolphins to a perfect season and a Super Bowl victory in 1972, Vic Washington and Joe Williams were also part of the loaded backfield coached by Paul Roach while Hampton was at UW.
 
"It was a big step up," Hampton said when asked about the competition on the Cowboy depth chart. "You had athletes from all over the country with different personalities and other cultures. It was quite an experience."
 
During the 1968 season, Hampton stepped into the spotlight as a lead back. He finished his senior season with 749 rushing yards on 137 carries (5.5 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns, eight on the ground.
 
UW won its third consecutive WAC title with a 6-1 conference record. The Pokes outscored opponents 242-118 but lost three close road games at No. 14 Nebraska (13-10), at Air Force (10-3) and at Arizona (14-7).
 
"Guys like Kiick, Washington and Hampton were truly all-stars … and that was true nationwide," Roach said in a 2011 Laramie Boomerang story written by Hall of Fame sportswriter Bob Hammond. "They were as good (of) collegiate players as there (were) in the country."
 
Shurmur has strong historic ties to Hampton, who was recruited by her father, Fritz Shurmur, out of Ann Arbor, Mich.
 
"It's a team sport and not everybody has the flashy numbers, but when Jimmy (Kiick) left, Dave Hampton did great things," Sally Ann Shurmur said. "He did good enough to be drafted. I'm excited to see him, and I think that he definitely has a place in the (UW) Hall of Fame."
 
Hampton was picked in the ninth round of the 1969 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers. The selection was the final official personnel decision Vince Lombardi made for the franchise before leaving to become head coach and general manager of the Washington Redskins.
 
In 1996, Fritz Shurmur, UW's head coach from 1971-74, was the Packers defensive coordinator when the franchise won its first Super Bowl since 1967.
 
"If you can get there, then you can achieve anything," Hampton said of starting his professional career in Green Bay and being named the Packers outstanding rookie. "(Lombardi) was such a disciplined coach and created such a great team and organization. Even though he was gone, his impact stayed there for years, and it was such a solid system.
 
"Once I got there, I was hungry, and I wanted it."
 
In 1971, Hampton set the NFL record for kickoff return yards (1,314), a mark that stood until 1985. He still holds the Green Bay record for kickoff return average (28.2 yards) and is third in kickoff return yards (2,084) despite playing only three seasons for the Packers.
 
Hampton's career as a starting running back took flight with the Falcons after being traded from Green Bay to Atlanta.
 
In 1972, Hampton eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the regular season finale. The game was stopped so Atlanta could honor him as he received a standing ovation, but after bobbling the pitch on his next run, Hampton was thrown for a 6-yard loss.
 
Hampton finished the campaign with 995 rushing yards but led the NFL in all-purpose yards (1,780).
 
In 1973, Hampton finished with 997 yards and injuries prevented a run at the milestone in 1974.
 
In 1975, Hampton finally became the first Falcon to rush for 1,000 yards in a season (1,002) and the only UW player to accomplish the feat in the NFL. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year that season
 
Roach, who led UW to back-to-back WAC titles as head coach in 1987-88, said he was not surprised by Hampton's success at the game's highest level.
 
"I think Paul Roach did more for me than any other coach," Hampton told the Boomerang in 1973. "More than anything else, Coach Roach made me strive to do things right. He also taught me how to block. A lot of backs came into this league not knowing how to block and it hurts them. I may not have stayed around myself if I wasn't adept in this phase of the game."
 
Eleven of Hampton's teammates are in the UW Hall of Fame, including Kiick and Washington. The 1966 and 1967 teams are also enshrined.
 
Now Hampton finally joins them.
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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