Mike R. Jay played his high school
football in

Torrington, Wyoming, excelling in all
sports winning Honorable Mention High School Football
All-America in 1969. He began his college football career
playing for the short-lived program of

Hiram Scott College in

Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

The Scotties did not have a losing season during their
brief existence (1966–71), but the program was shut down after the 1971
season when the school went bankrupt. Jay was the Scotties’ starting
quarterback during Hiram Scott’s final season and led the team to a 6-2-1
record (including a win against

Boise State) running an offense patterned after

Oklahoma‘s.

Following the season, the Scotties were selected to
play in the

Mineral Bowl, but were unable to accept the invitation.

Wayne State University, a team that Hiram Scott had beaten
that season, played in their place.

Hiram Scott coach

Dick Beechner called Jay one of the best players to ever
play for Hiram Scott and said, “He was a good option quarterback and when he
stepped into the huddle we knew the play he called probably going to be
successful. He had that leadership ability.”

After the Hiram Scott program was shut down, Jay found
his way into the

United States Marine Corps, where he played quarterback for
the 1972

Quantico Marines, an All-Marine Football program designed
to showcase the USMC for recruiting. The team was eliminated following that
season in the wake of defense budget cuts, as the

Vietnam War waned.

Jay was recruited heavily in 1973, as he still had
three remaining years of collegiate eligibility. In order to pursue his
dreams to be a veterinarian, Jay transferred to

Texas A&M.

He led the team in passing his sophomore season with
682 yards while running

Emory Bellard‘s wishbone offense and sharing starting
duties with 17-year-old freshman phenom

David Walker. He lost the starting job to Walker the
following season only to regain it once again his senior year.

He was the starting quarterback for the Aggies during
his senior season in 1975 and led them to a season high national ranking of
No. 2 (in the 12/1/75 AP poll), a 10-game winning streak including a 20-10
win against the rival No. 5 ranked

Texas Longhorns, a

Southwest Conference championship and a

Liberty Bowl appearance against

USC in Trojan coach

John McKay‘s last game.

After the season, Jay was voted by his teammates as the
winner of the Aggie Heart Award. The Aggie Heart Award is presented to a
senior who has completed his eligibility and displayed intangibles such as
effort, desire, determination, competitiveness, leadership and courage. The
Heart Award is voted on by the entire Aggie football team and is considered
the highest award that a senior athlete can receive at Texas A&M.

 At last look, Jay still held a
little-known record from per play yards from scrimmage of more than 10+, the
only Aggie in history to average double-digit yards every time he touched
the ball.

After football, Jay became a successful entrepreneur,
business consultant, and author. He has two daughters Mary Alexis Jay and
Skye Kathleen Jay.