10/28/2026
Honoring Football Legends. Celebrating Community.
Even a couple of weeks later, the excitement and Viking pride from the night of Homecoming are still worth celebrating!
Before the big game on October 16, Selah High School took a special moment to honor two football legends, Dain Paulson and Jake Kupp, recognizing their contributions to the game and their place in football history.
• Dain Paulson played college football at Oregon State before joining the professional ranks in 1961 with the New York Titans, who became the New York Jets in 1963. Following his professional football career, Dain and his family moved to Selah in 1973. His family has continued to be part of the Viking community, with his daughters and grandchildren involved in Selah athletics and both daughters serving as teachers in the Selah School District. Also, his grandson Corey Kispert, played basketball for Gonzaga and in the NBA.
• Jake Kupp played his college football for the University of Washington, before beginning his professional career in 1964. Jake played for several NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons. He was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1992. Football has continued to run deep in the Kupp family with his sons playing for Selah High School and his son Craig going on to play professionally for the Phoenix Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. The next generation has carried that legacy forward, too, with Jakes’s grandson Cooper Kupp achieving standout success in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
What a meaningful way to kick-off Selah’s homecoming night! From honoring football legends to celebrating community, this special recognition was a reminder that football is more than a game. It’s also about legacy, community and Viking pride.