Hall of Fame
Brian Shay, Football Athlete
Emporia State, 1995-99
A three-time All-American and the 1998 Harlon Hill Trophy winner as the top player in D-II, Shay ended his career as the all-time leading rusher in all levels of collegiate football. He gained a then record 6,958 yards in just 44 games and had 9,301 all-purpose yards. He set 17 NCAA D-II records and five all-division records during his ESU career. As a senior he ran for an ESU and MIAA record 2,265 yards with 29 rushing touchdowns. He set Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman, records with 88 first place votes, 303 points and was named on 110 of 115 ballots. He led ESU to a 9-2 record his senior year. He finished second in the voting in 1997 after gaining 1,912 yards rushing and scoring 32 total touchdowns. He became the first Hornet to gain 2,000 yards in a season when he went for 2,103 yards in 1996. The Paola, Kan. native signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after college and later played in NFL-Europe and the XFL. Was a 2009 inductee into the Emporia State Hall of Honor.