ARCATA — Former San Francisco 49ers’ star running back Roger Craig will be the special guest at this year’s Celebrity Dinner & Sports Auction hosted by Humboldt State Athletics.
Craig, who led the 49ers to three Super Bowl Championships, will attend along with Santa Rosa Press Democrat sportswriter Matt Maiocco, who co-authored the book “Tales From the San Francisco 49ers Sideline” with Craig. Maiocco is a Humboldt State alumnus who has served as a 49ers beat writer for 15 years.
The event, the athletics department’s largest fundraiser, is scheduled for March 27 in the Kate Buchanan Room on the HSU campus. All proceeds go towards student-athlete scholarships.
Honored guest for the evening will be Kathryn Corbett, who has been a significant fundraiser and supporter of Humboldt State’s Women’s Walk for the past 20 years.
Craig was named to the Pro Bowl four times during a career that included eight years with the 49ers, one season with the Los Angeles Raiders and two with the Minnesota Vikings. He rushed for a career total of 8,189 yards, scored 73 touchdowns, and was selected the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1988.
During that 1988 season, Craig rushed for 1,502 yards while also catching 76 passes for 534 yards. In the 49ers' 20-16 win over Cincinnati in Super Bowl XXIII, he rushed for 71 yards and caught eight passes for 101 yards. Craig is the only running back in NFL history to lead the league in single-season receptions and the only one to achieve more than 100 receiving yards in a Super Bowl.
He was the first running back to gain more than 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season (1985).
Among items up for bid at the auction will be a sportfishing trip to Waterfall, Alaska, and a customized 2004 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Auction attendees can also vie for a chance to play golf with Roger Craig the following day.
For information on attending the event, call HSU Associate Athletic Director Tom Trepiak at 826-5959.