Third in a series
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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Wes Gallagher stamped his place among the
Tennessee Tech football greats, leaving his Golden Eagle tenure as
one of the most decorated offensive linemen in program history. He
is the only football player in school history to earn both
All-America and Academic All-America honors.
Gallagher is one of five people who will be inducted at the annual
Hall of Fame Dinner, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25, in the
Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. The induction
dinner is part of Homecoming festivities. Tickets for the dinner,
or the Saturday afternoon game against Jacksonville State, can be
purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by
calling (931) 372-3940.
A four-year player (1996-99) under head coach Mike Hennigan,
Gallagher racked up three straight all-Ohio Valley Conference
honors, taking home second-team recognition after the 1997 and
’98 seasons, before Gallagher’s 1999 campaign where he
became the first Golden Eagle tackle to earn first-team all-OVC
honors since Ken Dew in 1979.
Furthermore, the three straight all-OVC accolades places Gallagher
in rarified air, as he became just the third Tech offensive lineman
since 1980 to achieve such a distinction, joining Tracy Russell
(1992-93-94) and Chris Reid (1993-94-95). No other Golden
Eagle offensive lineman has earned three straight all-OVC honors
since Gallagher.
Off the gridiron, the achievements are just as sterling. Gallagher
was voted a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 1999, was chosen as a
CoSIDA Academic All-District three times (1997-98-99), and in 1998
he was selected as a NACDA 1-AA Academic All-Star and was one of
just three male student-athletes to earn OVC Scholar-Athlete
recognition. Additionally, Gallagher was an eight-time member
of the Tech Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
Gallagher’s remarkable combination of on-field success and academic prowess puts him in a class of his own, as he was the first football player in Tech history to earn both an All-American and an Academic All-American selection.
Throughout Gallagher’s four-year tenure as a Golden Eagle,
he displayed consistency, versatility, and an utmost willingness to
put the team first. This was never more evident than after
the 1998 season when he transitioned into the starting left tackle
position after spending most of his career at right tackle.
The decision to switch Gallagher across the line came with little
hesitation as head coach Mike Hennigan was quoted in the 1999 media
guide as saying, “Wes is an all-out player you can count on
every time the ball is snapped.”
Gallagher entered his Tech career with a sturdy foundation of both
on and off the field success while attending Cascade High School in
Wartrace, TN. He was named Mr. Cascade and was also the class
valedictorian.