Joe Aska had a remarkable two-year career at UCO in 1993 and 1994 in becoming one of the top all-around athletes in school history.
Aska joined the football team as a junior college transfer in 1993 and rushed for 320 yards on 41 carries, highlighted by an 84-yard touchdown run that sparked the Bronchos to a 28-24 upset of No. 7-ranked Angelo state.
He followed that up in the winter by becoming UCO’s first -- and only -- NCAA Division II track national champion, capturing the 55-meter dash indoor title in an astounding 6.21 seconds. Aska was also an outdoor All-American in the 100-meter dash.
Joe came back in 1994 and enjoyed one of the best football seasons in school history, rushing for a school-record 1,629 yards and 15 touchdowns. He set single-game school records for carries, with 45 in a 241 yard outing against Texas A&M Commerce, and yards with an eye-popping 312 on 26 tries against Langston.
Aska was named the Lone Star Conference Back of the Year, a consensus first-team All-American and finished third in the Harlon Hill Trophy balloting for Division II Player of the Year. He played in two postseason all-star games, winning most valuable player honors at the nationally televised Blue-Grey game.
A third round draft pick by the then Los Angeles Raiders, Aska played three years in the NFL.
