Top 40 Longhorns Of All Time: 1960-1969
by Peter Bean on Mar 30, 2007 8:21 AM CDT
in Texas Longhorns Basketball
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PrintAs we continue to move further away from the recent past into discussion of Longhorn players and teams that many of us never saw play, some background information is instructive. Instead of just listing players' names and All American years, I'll be including the position played, as well as the relevant statistical information to help guide your evaluations.
-Players listed in alphabetical order.
-An asterisk indicates consensus first team All American.
1963* Scott Appleton, OT (All-SWC in 1962 and '63, Appleton was UT's first Outland Trophy winner. Finished fifth in the 1963 Heisman ballotting and was a first round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 1964.)
1963 Tommy Ford, RB (All-SWC in 1962 and '63, UT went 30-2-1 during Ford's three seasons. Finished with 1,571 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns for his career.)
1968* Chris Gilbert, RB (All-SWC from 1966-68, Gilbert finished eighth in the 1968 Heisman voting. Led UT in rushing from 1966-68 and scoring in 1967-68. Was the team MVP for three consecutive seasons. First Longhorn to rush for 2,000 and then 3,000 yards in his career. Named to All-Southwest team for era 1919-1969 by Football Writers Association of America.)
1969* Glen Halsell, LB (All conference in both 1968 and 1969, Halsell was a consensus first team All American in 1969.)
1969* Bob McKay, OT (Helped lead UT to 20-1-1 record during his two seasons, McKay was one of the most decorated linemen of his era.)
1964, 1965* Tommy Nobis G/LB (Only sophomore starter on 1963 national championship team. Team MVP in 1964 and 1965. Won Outland trophy in 1965 and finished seventh in Heisman ballotting. Would become UT's first #1 overall NFL Draft pick - Atlanta Falcons, 1966 - and won rookie of the year.)
1967 Corby Robertson, DE/LB (All-SWC defensive end in 1966, then All American LB in '67. Very good player, but not Top 40.)
1961* James Saxton, RB/DB (Led UT in interceptions, rushing, receiving and all-purpose yards in 1960, and rushing, all-purpose yards, touchdowns and total offense in 1961. Averaged 7.9 yards per carry in 1961, best in the conference. Finished third in 1961 Heisman ballotting.)
1969, 1970 Cotton Speyrer, WR (Led UT to national championships in 1969 and 1970 and SWC titles from 1968-70. Led team in receiving in 1968 and 1969, and had 161 yards receiving and two touchdowns in 21-17 win vs. Notre Dame in 1969 national championship game. Averaged 15.4 yards per catch in 1969.)
James Street, QB (Accidentally left off the original list, Street is a no-doubter for discussion here. Led Texas to 1968 and 1969 SWC championships and 1969 national title. Was named Houston Post SWC MVP Trophy winner for offense in 1969.)
1969, 1970* Steve Worster, FB (2,353 career rushing yards with 36 touchdowns. All-SWC from 1968-70, he finished foruth in the 1970 Heisman ballotting. 20 carries for 155 yards in the 1970 Cotton Bowl.)
1969, 1970* Bob Wuensch, OT (All-SWC in 1969 and 1970, All-American in 1969 and consensus All-American in 1970, and co-captain of UT’s 1970 national championship team. Named to Cotton Bowl and SWC All-Decade teams of 1970s, UT was 30-2-1 when Wuensch was in the starting lineup.)
And those are your 1960s Longhorn stars. Note that I did leave off Don Talbert and Johnny Treadwell, both of whom earned All American honors, but neither of whom have much of a case for Top 40 Longhorns.
Your thoughts on this group?
--PB--
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Um, Street?
He may not have thrown a lot, but he never lost a game as QB. Or was he included in the 70's discussion (can't remember which was his last year)?
Also, Street evidently has superior athletic genes.
PB must be busy
at the staff retreat he's on. No doubt about it that Street should be on the list for the 60's.
I have a thought Kah. I think I've come to the conclusion that VY is the only QB I'm putting on my Top 40 list. I started analyising the way UT has played the game since the 60's. Texas has had some excellant QB's but Vince is the only QB that I feel would've won no matter what decade he played in.
I'll probably but Bobby Layne in as #2 QB on my depth chart.
I just think VY is a winner no matter what.
In the wishbone all he'd need to know is that you have 3 running backs behind you in this formation.
VY would find a way to move the ball.
Streeet certainly merits consideration
Just accidentally left him off the original draft. He's in there now.
huh?
You really wouldn't put Bobby Layne on your list of top 40 longhorns of all time?
Crazy.
I added that I might put
Layne in as my 2# QB....and yes it might be crazy to leave him off. I'm having a hard time trimming down to 40. Some of us are probably having difficullty because we have more or shall I say longer memories than the younger bon'ers.
by ouALWAYSsux on Mar 30, 2007 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions
thoughts
I don't think Spreyer should make it, which seems like an odd thing to say about a 2-time all american. But leading a wishbone team in receiving yards isn't exactly a feat of epic proportions, especially when said wishbone offense starts only one wide receiver and the opposing defense is to keyed to stop the run. I'm just not buying it.
I think you'd have a mutiny on your hands if you didn't put Street in the Top 40. That being said, I think he should be towards the bottom. He has to be in simply because he's one of the most successful QB's in Texas history. But he wasn't anywhere near the most important part of that offense. The Wishbone was invented specifically to take advantage of Worster and his running back cohorts. Worster, et al. even won another national championship after Street graduated.
Nobis for top-5
I'd put Saxton and Gilbert in before Worster, but I think I'd include them all. I don't think you could exclude Street, particularly if you add his son's pitching career to James' impressive football career. With Nobis the only question is which spot in the top-5 he gets. My dad's Tommy Nobis stories always seem to end with my Nobis rolling my dad in practice. There are some really good linemen to consider in this decade.
31 & Counting
So far I'm at 31 absolutes & 7 maybes !
Maybes are:
Redding
Degrate
Doug Dawson
Hager
Richard
Applewhite
Rogers
Absolutes are:
VY
Benson
Ricky Williams
Roy Williams
Campbell
Blalock
Hampton
Wuensch
Street
Nobis
McKay
Appleton
Erxleben
Leaks
McMichael
DeAyala
Sisemore
Shearer
Speyrer
Gray
K. Sims
Brackens
Neil
Fitzgerald
Phil Dawson
by jbob on Mar 30, 2007 11:33 AM CDT reply actions
Bill Bradley
Super Bill came in as a high school legend, who had won state with a last second left handed TD pass. At UT, he started at QB until DKR put in the wishbone, and then he moved to wide out. He was also a great kicker -- our last triple-threat player. Of course, he went on to be a great pro DB with the Eagles.
Rosie Leaks
Before Earl there was Roosevelt Leaks, a punishing runner who carried the team for three years. He was instrumental in recruiting Earl and was his mentor throughout his term at UT.
Sorry ..misplaced
I see you have Rosie in the 70s. I sure wish there was a way to edit or delete my comments.
I'm too young for this, but
an older longhorn was arguing why Nobis is the best longhorn player ever, and people that say Vince is the best haven't seen Tyler rose or Nobis play, etc etc. I'm not sure though, he was a tad crazy, he literally said "if Mack wins 100 national titles, he is no DKR, he was the man, blah blah" ...
He was complaining about Nobis number not being retired too (according to him his number is retired from his NFL team).
doing a little bit of research
People (including Derrick Johnson) really do respect Nobis and his number 60. From MB-TF
In tribute to the lore of the Longhorns, Johnson has decided to honor the past by wearing Nobis' famed number 60 in what will be his final home game as a Texas Longhorn.
"After talking to Tommy Nobis and really understanding the history of the number, I thought it was important for me to wear it for this game to honor him and all of the guys that have worn it," explained Johnson, who is seeking to become UT's first two-time All-American linebacker since Nobis.
It was Johnson's respect for history that led him to call Nobis prior to this year's Oklahoma State game. He wanted to get to know the guy they call "the best ever" and to be certain he would be comfortable with him wearing number 60 if he decided to. Coincidentally, Nobis, a Vice President with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons who has been with organization for the past 35 years, had a bye week over the Oklahoma State weekend and was able to make a trip to see the player who many say is rekindling memories of his All-American days in Austin.
"Tommy was happy when I called him and we talked about me wearing the number," said Johnson. "He told me that seeing a guy out there running around in the number would bring back memories of his playing days. I think by wearing it, people will have a chance to remember what a great player he was and all of the other guys that wore 60."
my earliest UT football memories are of Saxton
Appleton, Nobis, Saxton, Gilbert (who made it clear what UT could do with the wishbone and opened the door for Worster), McKay, Street, Worster, plus Speyrer as sentimental choice just for that turning around falling backwards catch he made on the closing drive of the 1970 Cotton Bowl when UT beat Notre Dame.
by rom on Mar 30, 2007 5:20 PM CDT reply actions
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