Hall of Fame
What former Western New Mexico University Mustang football player Herman Andrews is most pleased with is helping to build a good program from the ground.
Andrews played for the Mustangs in the early 90s, graduating in 1993.
Originally, though, Andrews’s talent was wrestling.
The Mustangs’ coach at the time, Bob O’Mera, traveled to Safford, Arizona, looking for new recruits. Andrews was in a training program at the local junior college when O’Mera saw the young wrestler in the weight room. O’Mera asked Andrews if he was looking to play some football at the university level.
Because playing university-level football was something Andrews always wanted to do, he decided to give WNMU a chance.
“At the university level, everyone told me that the only thing I could participate in was wrestling,” Andrews said. “But I wanted to play football and Western gave me that chance.” While playing with the Mustangs, Andrews played running back, wide receiver, and kick and punt return.
As Andrews’ puts it, he would play wherever he was needed. Life in Silver City did not begin as he would have expected it, though.
He said he enjoyed just about every moment he lived in Silver City. One of the most memorable accomplishments was being on the team that defeated Northern Arizona University. Because the Mustangs were in the NAIA, defeating a team in the NCAA was a big accomplishment, he said.
“When we got there and played Northern Arizona, they were the only big school we played and we won,” Andrews said.
That win moved the Mustangs to a No. 3 ranking in the NAIA standings that year. Life in Silver City treated Andrews well off the field as well. Andrews said he has many life-long friends still living in Silver City.
“It’s a small town atmosphere with big-hearted people,” Andrews said. “It made it worthwhile, especially coming from a small town myself. I worked at (Silver) high school and coached football for three years and wrestling for five.”
After leaving Silver City, Andrews returned to his hometown of Safford and became a juvenile probation officer. After holding that position for a few years, he became an adult probation officer. All the while, he still participated in Safford athletics with only one difference. This time around, he’s the one carrying the whistle.
“I coach wrestling, cross country, and assistant in track,” Andrews said. “I’m the assistant to the winningest track coach in the nation, my father B.B.”
Andrews said that his experience at WNMU has prepared him for everything that followed in his life. He still sees how WNMU continues to influence his life now that it has been a little more than a decade since he left. Andrews said he is more than pleased to accept the honor the university has chosen to give him.
“It was not like a big university where you can get lost,” Andrews said. “I’m still kind of puzzled, though. You don’t go to a university just to be in the hall of fame, it’s just a bonus. It was a bunch of guys that did well.
“I’m just happy to be part of it. When (assistant athletic director) Barbara (Flores) first called me about it, I was blown away. I told her ‘You got to be kidding.’ My oldest son is playing ball right now. I told him ‘I’ve done it, now it’s your turn,’” Andrews said.
