Hokie Gajan will never be known as one of the game’s greatest players. But, he will be forever remembered by some as a player that gave the game everything that he had.
I always admired him from afar because of his name. How could anyone playing for the LSU Tigers and then later with the New Orleans Saints have a better name than Hokie Gajan?
He will forever be on the all time All Name Team for college or NFL teams.
Hokie was not his birth given name. That was Howard Lee Gajan. But, since he grew up in, or near, the swamps of Louisiana the name Hokie is much more suitable.
Hokie Gajan grew up in Baker, Louisiana which is right outside of Baton Rouge. Imagine that.
Naturally, when given the chance, Gajan signed with his beloved LSU Tigers.
He earned a little bit of playing time as a true freshman in 1977 and ran for 68 yards on 9 carries. But, the Tigers’ star that season was a guy from Galveston, Texas named Charles Alexander.
Alexander was a big time player for the Tigers and he was a consensus All American in 1977. Alexander ran for 1,686 yards and 17 Touchdowns and finished 9th in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was nicknamed Alexander the Great by Tiger fans.
In 1978, Gajan moved to Fullback even though he was only 205 pounds and became Alexander’s blocking Fullback.
If there’s one thing about great Running Backs in football, it’s that the vast majority of them are very grateful for the guy’s that block for them. Charles Alexander the Great was no different and he sang Hokie Gajan’s praises.
Hokie Gajan gave it everything he had on any given play. He gave it all that he had on every single
play and in all parts in between. From his Fullback position, Gajan ran for 611 yards and a Touchdown when he wasn’t blocking for Alexander.
Alexander the Great ran for 1,172 yards in that season and was consensus All American again finishing 5th in the Heisman race and then he moved on to the NFL.
Charlie McClendon was the LSU coach back in those years and he moved Gajan back to Tailback after Alexander was gone.
Gajan was not the biggest, and he was certainly not the fastest. But, he ran hard and he played his heart out.
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He ran for 568 yards and 4 Touchdowns in 1979 while leading the team in rushing.
Charlie McClendon stepped down after the 1979 season.
The LSU Tigers hired a promising and talented young coach away from North Carolina State named Bo Rein.
But, unfortunately, Bo Rein never coached a down at LSU because he was killed in an airplane crash on a recruiting trip.
The Tigers promoted Jerry Stovall and changes were made to the LSU offense.
Hokie Gajan finished 3rd in rushing during his senior season of 1980 with 316 yards.
During his 4 year career at LSU, Gajan ran for 1,563 yards and 6 Touchdowns.
By this time he was 5-11, 220 and the New Orleans Saints picked Gajan in the 10th round of the NFL Draft in 1981.
Gajan carried his tough ways into the NFL. He was the starting Fullback in 1984 for the Saints and he ran for 615 yards. That would be his best season and in 1985, his playing days came crashing down when he suffered a serious knee injury that would basically end his career.
Gajan tried his very best to come back from his injury, but when coming back the knee was injured again.
The hard playing Gajan was a fan favorite and the Saints management felt the same way and they made him a scout which he did for about 10 years.
Hokie Gajan was a color analyst for Saints games after that. He was also a fan favorite in that endeavor.
Howard Lee ‘Hokie’ Gajan passed away on Monday night, April 11th. Cancer again rearing it’s ugly head and claiming another victim.
He was 56 years old and he will be forever missed.