The 2008 class has a distinct Oklahoma flavor.
Besides Aikman, a quarterback at Oklahoma and UCLA, and Thomas, the all-time leading rusher at Oklahoma State, former Tulsa coach John Cooper also was selected Thursday.
The College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Dec. 9 in New York City. Aikman, Thomas, Cooper, legendary coach Lou Holtz and 11 other players will be enshrined next summer, 2009, in South Bend, Ind.
It's the second time Aikman and Thomas have received one of football's top honors. Both were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Aikman in 2006, Thomas in 2007.
Aikman, from Henryetta, signed with OU, transferred to UCLA, was the No. 1 pick in the 1989 NFL Draft and led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles.
"It's an honor to be included in such an exclusive group of players and coaches who have shaped the great tradition that college football enjoys,” Aikman said. "College football has meant so much to the sporting history of our country, and it means a lot to me personally.”
Thomas, a two-time All-American, ran for 4,595 yards and scored 44 touchdowns at OSU. The Cowboys won 34 games during Thomas' career, highlighted by wins in the 1984 Gator Bowl and 1987 Sun Bowl.
"Wow! I just came off last year going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and now this,” Thomas said. "I was just fortunate to have played with a lot of great people at Oklahoma State. This will be a treat to see Troy Aikman again in December in New York after we were together at Canton.”
He was named MVP in both bowl wins. As a freshman, Thomas rushed for 155 yards in a win over South Carolina in the Gator Bowl. In his final collegiate game, Thomas rushed for 157 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Sun Bowl to earn MVP honors.
"Thurman worked extremely hard in practice every day. It was important to him,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy, who was Thomas' teammate in the mid-1980s. "He was very, very competitive in practice and on game day. That is what separated him from other players.
"He was an all-around back. He blocked, he ran the ball effectively, he understood protections and was a good receiver.”
Aikman finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1988. During his two-year career at UCLA, Aikman passed for 5,298 yards. He led the Bruins to a 20-4 record and two bowl wins, capped by a win in the Cotton Bowl.
During a 12-year NFL career, Aikman threw for 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Aikman was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII.
"I appreciate that legacy (of the Hall of Fame) and have great respect for those honored before me,” Aikman said. "The opportunity to share this recognition with my former Cowboys teammate Jay Novacek will make this experience all the more rewarding.”
Thomas posted the fifth highest single-season rushing total in school history (1,613 yards) his senior year. He ran for 1,553 yards as a sophomore but injured his knee the summer before his junior year.
During a 13-year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, Thomas rushed for 12,074 yards. He ranks seventh in NFL history with 16,532 yards from scrimmage, the only player to lead that category four consecutive seasons.
"He's going to go down as one of the most productive guys to play at the collegiate or pro level,” said former OSU coach Pat Jones. "He's a great talent, very flexible, a great hand-eye (coordination) guy. The toughness factor goes off the scale.”
Thomas is OSU's fourth inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining running back Barry Sanders (class of 2003), running back Bob Fenimore (class of 1972) and former coach Lynn "Pappy” Waldorf (class of 1966).
Cooper coached at Tulsa from 1977-1984 before moving on to Arizona State for three years and finishing his career at Ohio State. He compiled a 192-84-6 career record during his 24-year career.
Others inducted into the 2008 College Football Hall of Fame on Thursday included: coach Lou Holtz; Billy Cannon (LSU), Jim Dombrowski (Virginia), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), Wilber Marshall (Florida), Rueben Mayes (Washington State), Randall McDaniel (Arizona State), Don McPherson (Syracuse), Jay Novacek (Wyoming), Dave Parks (Texas Tech), Ron Simmons (Florida State) and Arnold Tucker (Army).
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