Western Carolina University

Mark Ferguson - Football - (1970-73)
In 1973, Ferguson was a first-team All-American as selected by the American Football Coaches Association (sponsored by Kodak) and The Football News. He helped Western Carolina to a 6-3-1 record that season. The previous year, Ferguson was a key figure in Western posting a 7-2-1 record and a ranking of eighth in the final Associated Press small college poll. He was just the Cats' second offensive lineman to be named All-American, joining Frank Stankunas, who earned the honor in 1962, while he and teammate Steve Yates (a three-time All-American) became just the seventh and eighth players in WCU's history to be selected All-American. In 1973, Western rushed for 20 touchdowns, which was second-most in school history at the time, and averaged 352.2 yards of total offense per game. Upon earning All-American honors in 1973, former Catamount mentor and Hall of Fame coach Bob Waters said of Ferguson, "If you write out what you want in an offensive lineman, he is it. He was the main cog in our offensive line his junior year and again (in his senior) year. He was also a good leader. Mark was one of the hardest working, most dependable kids we had." Ferguson signed as a free agent with the Detroit Wheels of the World Football League after his time at Western Carolina and then continued his football career as a high school coach at his alma mater A.C. Reynolds. In 2000, he was named the center on the Western Carolina All-20th Century team (1931-99).