- Fred Wyant
NFLretired
position=Quarterback
number=11
birthdate=birth date and age|1934|4|26Weston, West Virginia
deathdate=
debutyear=1956
finalyear=1957
draftyear=1956
draftround=3
draftpick=36
college=West Virginia
teams=
*Washington Redskins (1956)
*Toronto Argonauts (CFL) (1957)
stat1label=TDs-INTs
stat1value=0-0
stat2label=Passing Yards
stat2value=17
stat3label=Quarterback rating
stat3value=79.2
nfl=WYA118654Frederick Mount "Fred" Wyant, Jr. (born
April 26 ,1934 in Weston,West Virginia ) is a formerAmerican football quarterback who went on to serve as anAmerican football official in theNational Football League (NFL) for 27 years with 19 of those years as a referee. He wore the uniform number 11 both as a quarterback and as an NFL official.Early life
Wyant was a three-sport star in football,
baseball andbasketball forWeston High School in Weston, West Virginia and later attendedWest Virginia University (WVU) from 1952 to 1955, where he became one of the greatest quarterbacks in Mountaineer history. He ranks among the WVU career top 10 in total offense (3,426), passing yardage (2,663), pass attempts (401), and touchdown passes (20). Wyant's record as a starter was 30-4 and led the Mountaineers to the 1954Sugar Bowl . In addition to playing football at WVU, Wyant participated in one successful season of baseball, batting a percetange of .406. During his career at WVU, Wyant was also a three time AcademicAll-American .Professional career
Wyant would later have a career in the NFL as he was selected in the third round (36th overall pick) of the
1956 NFL Draft by theWashington Redskins . He played one season for the Redskins, becoming a member of theToronto Argonauts of theCanadian Football League (CFL) the following year where he played one season.Years as an Official
Following his playing days, Wyant worked as a
high school and small college football official for three years, then as a major college football official for five years, before becoming an official in the NFL.Wyant is notable for his perspective of the NFL as oulined in Rene A. Henry's book, "Offsides." Wyant was the referee in the 1981 AFC divisional playoff game between Miami and San Diego, a game won by the Chargers, 41-38 in overtime. This game would become known in
NFL lore as "The Epic in Miami ".Wyant and his wife Dolores, reside in
Morgantown, West Virginia . They have three children and three grandchildren.Honors
*West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame
Books
*"Offsides! - Fred Wyant's Provocative Look Inside the National Football League" Rene A Henry, Xlibris, ISBN 0-7388-0973-X
External links
* [http://www.wvu.edu/~sports/hall_fame/fred_wyant.htm WVU Sports Hall of Fame]
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