Murray State Athletics announced plans to retire the jerseys of MSU Football legends, Rick Fisher and Jack Wolf, when the Racers host Southeastern Louisiana, Sept. 6, in a 6 p.m. kick off.
 
Teammates at Murray State in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Fisher will see his No. 31 enshrined at Roy Stewart Stadium and Wolf’s No. 81, as a big part of MSU’s annual Family Weekend celebration.

“Jack and Rick each had a profound impact on Murray State Football, and we are thrilled to recognize their achievements on Family Weekend,” Director of Athletics Nico Yantko said. “Additionally, both have represented Murray State at a high level in their professional careers. This will be a momentous occasion for all of Racer Nation.”

 

Out of the football crazy state of Ohio, Fisher never lost a game in his high school career and was attracted to Murray State because of his connection with Coach Mike Gottfried who was an assistant for Head Coach Bill Fergerson.

 

A regular in the Racer backfield form 1969 through the 1971 season, Fisher was MSU’s first 1,000-yard rusher in 1971 which led to him being the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year. He had 1,078 yards that season and was MSU’s all-time rusher with 2,292 yards when his career with the Racers was done.

 

After playing for the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals, Fisher made his home in Murray and had a hall of fame high school coaching career at Murray High School from 1990-2005 where he had a record of 129-54 and a winning percentage of 70 percent.

 

“I am very thankful for this honor and really, it’s probably the final honor like this in my life,” Fisher said. “I miss those day of playing for the Racers, I wish I could do them over again! I’m getting up there in years and this is just fantastic.”

 

Wolf played receiver for the Racers from 1967-71 and was an All-OVC receiver in 1969.

 

A 2014 Murray State Distinguished Alumni Award honoree, Wolf’s professional career and impact on the university has been profound and continues today.

 

One of the top executives in the world of horse racing, Wolf and his wife, Laurie, founded Starlight Racing in Louisville in 2000.

 

Successes on the track have been numerous including developing two Hall of Fame horses, a Triple Crown winner, nine Eclipse Awards, 39 Grade-1 victories, and more than 110 stakes victories. Wolf’s champion thoroughbreds include Ashado, Authentic, Harlan’s Holiday and Justify.

 

His football experience and excellent education at Murray State first launched him into the business world when he started a hedge fund with Columbus Partners in Atlanta, and stayed on to manage the fund until his retirement.

 

 ”This means so much to me and I thank everyone who made it happen,” said Wolf. “My experience with Murray State University still has a profound impact on me and to have this honor with my teammate Rick Fisher, is very special.”

 

Fisher was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame in 1981 and Wolf was honored with induction in 2024.

 

When the jerseys of Rick Fisher and Jack Wolf are retired, the total of retired jerseys with Murray State Football will be seven. The first two retired were from a pair of quarterbacks, No. 10 of Larry Tillman (1966-69) and No. 11 of Michael Proctor (1986-89). In 2023, the jerseys No. 21 of tailback Don Clayton (1971-74) and No. 25 of Dennis Jackson (1960-64) were retired. In 2024, the jersey of star defensive end and No. 87 of Austen Lane (2006-09) was retired.

 

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