I'm once again heading to an all day "staff retreat," so posting beyond this list will be cut off until I get home. A couple of housekeeping notes before we get started:
For one, check the note in the Morning Coffee about this list. All this commentary from each of you, especially those who are commenting on each and every decade thread, is invaluable. Many, many thanks.
Second, as we move out of 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.
1975 Marty Akins, QB (Led the '75 Longhorns in total offense with 1,240 yards. Never threw more than four TDs in one season, but is third on all time list with 26 wins as a starter.)
1970* Bill Atessis, DE (Sacks and tackles for loss were not official stats until 1975, which makes evaluating Atessis from a statistical standpoint near impossible. Here's what you need to know, though: Atessis was a member of the 30-game winning streak teams from 1969-1970 and was voted Defensive MVP of the team by the Dallas Morning News in both 1969 and 1970.)
1975, 1977* Earl Campbell, RB (You don't really need an intro here, do you?)
1976 Raymond Clayborn , DB (Led the 'Horns in passes defended in both 1975 and '76. Prolific return man as well, known for breaking long runs. Named to All-SWC team of the 1970s.)
1976, 1977, 1978, Russell Erxleben, P/PK (Fifth on all time career FGs made at Texas with 49. Made a ridiculous eleven field goals of 50 yards or more, including three of 60+, with a high of 67 yards. Also holds career records at Texas for punt average in a season (46.6) and career punting average (44.2))
1970 Happy Feller, PK (Two career field goals over 50 yards, but isn't a real Top 40 candidate.)
1970 Scott Henderson, LB (Will be included in the discussion of the 1960s players. He's Top 40 material. Captain of 1970 team, three-time first team All American. All around badass.)
1978*, 1979* Johnnie Johnson, DB (Led Longhorns in interceptions in 1978 with five. Fifth most interceptions in school history. Over 1,000 return yards. Named to All SWC Team of the 1970s.)
1978, 1979 Johnny "Lam" Jones, WR (Team MVP in 1978, Jones scored eight touchdowns of 45 yards or longer. If performance in track and field counted, he'd be a lock.)
1973* Roosevelt Leaks, RB (First African American Longhorn to earn All American and All Conference honors, Leaks finished third in the Heisman voting in 1973. A knee injury hampered his senior year production, but there's no question he'll be among the Top 40 Longhorns of all time. Inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.)
1978, 1979* Steve McMichael, DT (Team MVP in 1979, McMichael anchored the Longhorn defense with 18 tackles for loss and 142 tackles in 1978, both team highs. His 7.5 sacks in 1979 also led the team.)
1977 Brad Shearer, DT (The team's co-captain in 1977 won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman and was named as a member of the All SWC team for the 1970s. Averaged 10 tackles per game and led the team to a #1 ranking in 1977.)
1974, 1975* Bob Simmons, OT (Three time all-conference player helped lead Texas to two conference titles.)
1971*, 1972* Jerry Sisemore, OT (Led Texas to three SWC titles and was named to the SWC and Cotton Bowl teams of the decade.)
1973* Bill Wyman, C (Not much available data on Wyman. Which means no Top 40, unless someone knows something I don't.)
NOTE: Cotton Speyrer, Steve Worster, and Bub Wuensch will all be discussed in the next decade thread.
Have at it, boys and girls. Your comments on the Longhorns of the 1970s?
--PB--