On Saturday, February 24, Idaho State University (ISU) recognized six new sports hall of fame inductees for the 2024 years. Among those was Covington native, Rick Noel. Recently, ISU sent the Virginian Review the following write-up from Rick Noel’s induction into their Sports Hall of Fame:
Rick Noel, Football | 1974-1975
Rick Noel’s football career began in Covington, VA, where he played football from the first grade through his senior year. He began his college football career in 1972 as a walk-on at Potomac State Junior College in Keyser, West Virginia. He earned an All-American honor while playing at Potomac State.
Rick’s passion for hunting and fishing led him to accept a scholarship to play football at ISU in 1974 and 1975. He was the team captain during the 1975 season. In 1975 he earned First Team All-Big Sky Conference Linebacker and Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
During the 1975 season, he met the love of his life, Ann (who was also attending ISU), and they have been happily married for 47 years. They have three children and four wonderful grandchildren.
After leaving ISU, Rick began a career in the Nuclear Industry, working at different nuclear power plants throughout the United States. He also worked at the Nevada Test Site, north of Las Vegas, Nevada and the Hanford Site outside of Richland, Washington. His last employment was at the Hanford Site from 2007 until retirement in 2020, where he was employed as a Quality Assurance Engineer.
Rick and Ann have retired to a small town in southeast Idaho, where they have been remodeling a 91-year-old home for the last several years. They enjoy living in a small town where they are actively involved in the community. Now living near Pocatello, they enjoy attending football games and other events at ISU.
● Team captain during the 1975 season
● First Team All-Big Sky Conference Linebacker in 1975
● Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1975
● Twice Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week in 1975
● 1975 ISU Football Team Most Valuable Player
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