Where Are They Now?
The South Carolina native took his “œSweet Feet” and gave opposing defenses headaches with his elusive running combined with his arm. Foggie was a three time team MVP and compiled gaudy stats during his four year career and put a personal assault on both all-time passing and rushing records. He is 9th all time in career rushing yards, fourth all-time in career rushing TDs, and is either first or second all-time in all major rushing categories for a quarterback. Foggie is also fourth all-time in career passing yardage and passing touchdowns.
Foggie’s leadership was a key ingredient in leading the Gophers to back-to-back bowl games in 1985 and 1986. His 60 yards rushing and 123 yards passing led a fourth quarter comeback over Clemson in the 1985 Independence Bowl, giving the Gophers its first bowl win since 1962. Foggie led the Gophers to its second bowl in as many years when they lost to Tennessee in the 1986 Liberty Bowl. In that game Foggie ran for 52 yards and threw for 136 yards while being named its teams Offensive MVP.
Foggie’s post-Gopher football career has been equally impressive spanning 17 years and is still going strong as he is currently playing for the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League. Foggie’s professionally career culminated in the Canadian Football League, a style of ball tailored made for his style of ball, where he was a league legend and led his teams to two Grey Cup titles. His eight-year AFL career has catapulted him to the top ten all-time league leaders in passing completions, yards and touchdowns.
In addition to his professional football career, Foggie also spent one year as an assistant coach at Augsburg College and during the off-season, the Gopher legend works for Optimum Mortgage where he works with his clients in purchasing and refinancing.
Foggie recently spent time with GopherHole.com where he discussed his favorite memories as a Gopher, his thoughts on Coach Lou Holtz, as well as the current state of Gopher football.
GH.com: Where has your post Gopher career taken you?
Rickey Foggie: I have been all over in both the Canadian Football League as well as the Arena Football League over the years. I played for Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton and Memphis in the CFL. I have also played for quite a few teams in the Arena League including the Minnesota Pike and my current team, the Carolina Cobras. During my time in the CFL our team won the Grey Cup with Toronto in ’91 and the Edmonton Eskimos in ’93. I also spent a year as an assistant coach for Augsburg College and have also been in private business where I work for Optimum Mortgage in purchases and refinancing. If any Gopher fans need a mortgage lender, please contact me at 952-884-8300.
GH.com: How is the competition in the CFL and Arena Leagues?
Foggie: Both leagues are very competitive. The style of play with the way the fields are set up both are tailor made for my game. It’s very high scoring and its very fast paced. We just beat Philadelphia 63-59 and I threw for over 330 yards with five touchdowns. It’s fun to still be able to play this many years later. I don’t have quite the step I had during my days with the Gophers, but I feel lucky to be playing still today.
GH.com: Thinking back to your days as a Gopher, which games stick out more than others?
Foggie: Definitely the 1986 game at Michigan. Yea, definitely that game. That game was special. No one thought we would win that game as Michigan was number two in the country and we were playing in front of 104,000 screaming Michigan fans. Chip Lohmiller kicked the game winner and we went crazy. It was a feeling I will never forget. The other games that I really remember were the two bowl games. The program hadn’t been to a bowl game in a long time and it was fun being a part of that. The city and the University really got behind us.
GH.com: How did you like playing for Coach Lou Holtz?
Foggie: He was tough but he was always teaching us life lessons. I learned from him constantly both on and off the field. He knew how to treat people, but he also knew how to push us to prepare us for game day. It was fun knowing that I was coached by a legend such as him.
GH.com: What former teammates do you keep in touch with?
Foggie: Darrell Thompson and I are very good friends. We talk regularly even when I am on the road playing.
GH.com: How has it been seeing many of your records fall over the past few years to Asad-Abdul Khaliq?
Foggie: It’s bitter sweet, but records are meant to be broken. It’s fun knowing that the records stood for so long, but Asad is a great kid and a great QB and I am proud of him for the career he put together. We had somewhat of the same style of play. I think I was quicker and a bit more elusive running the ball, but he throws a real nice ball. I think he could have a similar professional career to what I have had if he wants to work at it. The nice thing about my records falling is that it means the program is improving.
GH.com: Have you had a chance to follow the progress of the program?
Foggie: Oh, yes, definitely. Its hard when I am playing ball to see all the games, but now that we’re on national TV so often it’s a lot easier to catch the games when I’m on the road. Coach Mason has done an outstanding job with the program. I like to get to practices and to his luncheons when I am in town. The program is definitely on the right track.
GH.com: If you could put the maroon and gold back on one last time, who would you want to suit up against?
Foggie: If it was a Big Ten game it would most definitely be Iowa. I’d want that Pig one last time. If it could be any team in any era, it would be Florida State when Charlie Ward was there. That would have been a fun matchup.
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