Gary Wichard

Gary Theodore Wichard (pronounced Wish-hard; March 24, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York – March 11, 2011, in Westlake Village, California) was a college football player and professional sports agent.[1][2][3][4]

Early life and football career

Wichard was Jewish, and was raised in Glen Cove, New York, and attended Glen Cove High School.[2][4][5][6] He later lived in Westlake Village, California until he died on March 11, 2011.[7]

In college, Wichard was a two-time All-American quarterback at C.W. Post College.[2][7] After the 1971 season, he received a Heisman Trophy vote.[2] He was the first C.W. Post player to be named an All-American by both the Associated Press and Kodak.[7] He was also invited to the Senior Bowl All Star Game.[7]

He set school career records in the areas of passing yardage and touchdown passes.[8][9] In 2011, he was ranked third all-time in career passing yards with 5,373.[7]

Wichard was drafted in the 16th round by the Baltimore Colts in the 1972 NFL draft.[2][10][11]

Sports agent career

Wichard entered the sports agent business working for sports agent Irwin Weiner.[2] Wichard recruited Colts running back Don McCauley and hockey player Jean Potvin for Weiner, and then set off on his own.[2]

He founded Pro Tect Management Corporation in 1979.[5] Among his first clients were Rob Carpenter of the New York Giants and Richard Todd and Mark Gastineau of the New York Jets.[2] He also represented Brian Bosworth, Keith Jackson, Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens, Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts, Keith Bullock of the New York Giants, Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins, Jimmy Clausen of the Carolina Panthers, Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos, Darren Sproles of the San Diego Chargers, Antonio Cromartie of the New York Jets, C. J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills, and Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins.[2]

NCAA violations
Main article: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football scandal

Wichard was suspended by the NFL Players Association in December 2010 for having "impermissible communication" with then-college player Marvin Austin, and was investigated by the NCAA regarding his friendship with John Blake. Austin was dismissed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football team in October 2010; Blake resigned as the team's assistant coach in September 2010.[1] In March 2012, Blake received a three-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA after the organization determined he had received personal loans from Wichard in exchange for access to UNC players. The penalty effectively barred Blake from college coaching during that period.[12]

Halls of Fame

In 2001, Wichard was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[5] Wichard was also inducted into the C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame.[9]

References
  1. "Suspended NFL Agent Gary Wichard Dies At 60" NBC-17 Archived March 14, 2011, at the Wayback Machine October 26, 2011
  2. Tom Friend (March 11, 2011). "NFL player agent Gary Wichard dies at 60 from diabetes, pancreatic cancer". ESPN. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  3. "Social Security Death Index search results for Gary Wichard" ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com October 26, 2011
  4. "Sport: Gary Who from C.W. Where?". Time. December 6, 1971. Archived from the original on April 8, 2008. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  5. "Jewish Sports Hall of Fame". Jewishsports.org. March 25, 2001. Archived from the original on February 27, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  6. Bob Wechsler (2008). Day by day in Jewish sports history. ISBN 9780881259698. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  7. "Former Football Standout Gary Wichard '73 Passes Away". Cwpostpioneers.com. March 12, 2011. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  8. "CW Post Athletics - Former Football Standout Gary Wichard '73 Passes Away". Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  9. "C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame". Cwpostpioneers.com. March 28, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  10. Bobby R. Patton, Kim Giffin (1977). Interpersonal communication in action: basic text and readings. ISBN 9780060423162. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  11. "Baltimore Colts 1972". Databasefootball.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2006. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  12. "UNC banned from 2012 postseason". ESPN.com. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
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