Hall of Fame
“The finest player we’ve ever had at Jesuit.” Those were the words of legendary Jesuit Dallas head coach Gary Pasqua ’55 following Rich Rager’s monster 1974 campaign in which he was named TCIL Defensive Player of the Year en route to leading the Rangers to the TCIL State Championship. With terms like “natural leader,” “fierce competitor,” and “clutch” routinely used by teammates and opponents to describe his impact, two-sport standout Rich Rager was one of the decade’s most respected student-athletes.
Shouldering the reins as team captain in back-to-back seasons, Rager earned additional plaudits after his senior year as an Honorable Mention selection on the Dallas Morning News All-Greater Dallas team as well as Honorable Mention All-America. His leadership that season paced the Rangers to three shutouts in their final five games, including a suffocating, 43-0 victory over Central Catholic in the state title game.
While Rager earned a lot of ink in the area news for his prowess on the grid iron, his impact on the diamond was equally significant. A three-year letterman and starter at third base, he was part of a celebrated group that handed the School its first TCIL State Baseball Championship in 1973.
Following graduation, Rager accepted a football scholarship to Arkansas State University. Switching from his high school position of linebacker to cornerback and safety, Rager saw regular in-game action though the 1977 season. In his redshirt sophomore campaign, he appeared or started in all 10 games, and authored a game-clinching pick-six on Oct. 29 in the Red Wolves’ victory over Northeast Louisiana.
