Texas Longhorns Heisman Notes

If Alabama’s Mark Ingram wins the Heisman this Saturday, he will be the first from that tradition-rich program to take home the hardware. Texas of course has two Heismans in the vault, and Colt McCoy will be on stage Saturday as one of the finalists.

Here is a look at some Longhorn notables who also came close.

1947 BOBBY LAYNE — 6th

That football season was full of firsts for the Longhorns. It was Blair Cherry’s first season as head coach. The team made their first-ever plane ride for a game (to Oregon) and it was the first season that Texas ran out of the T-Formation.

That last first enabled Bobby Layne to establish himself as a legitimate NFL quarterback prospect as well as a consensus All-American.

Texas went 10-1 that season with the new offense, rising as high as #3 in the nation before losing to #8 SMU 14-13. The game was a showcase for two Highland Park High School classmates who would end up in the in the Hall of Fame — Layne and SMU’s Doak Walker.

Walker accounted for 125 of the Ponies 199 yards of total offense in the game, while Layne accumulated 141 of the Horns 196 yards of total offense. Walker would finish 3rd in the Heisman balloting in 1947.

Layne was an All-SWC selection all four years at Texas.

Texas finished 1947 with a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. The Horns beat the Crimson Tide 27-2 and Layne was named MVP.

1961 James Saxton — 3rd

By 1961 Darrell Royal had a jackrabbit of a running back in 5-11, 160lb, James Saxton. He wanted Saxton, a former QB, to carry at least 20-25 times a game from the tailback slot, but he also wanted to simplify the blocking assignments. That’s how the Flip-Flop Offense was born.

Essentially Royal simplified all blocking assignments by having the strongside (guard, tackle, end, wingback) all flip to whatever side of the field was called for. Royal felt it would make for less confusion on the offensive line.

It worked like a charm — except that Saxton didn’t come close to getting 25 carries a game. Saxton ended up the season with 846 yards on only 107 carries for a mind-boggling 7.9 yards per carry. Texas blew out so many opponents that Royal was playing subs early in the third quarter in many games. The one loss was a 6-0 defeat at the hands of TCU when Saxton was knocked unconscious early in the contest.

Saxton appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated the week of the TCU loss.

Saxton finished 3rd in the Heisman voting, Ernie Davis of Syracuse became the first black player to capture the trophy.

1963 Scott Appleton — 5th

The Longhorns first national championship squad was short on offensive fireworks, but long on defense, and Scott Appleton was the heart of that defense. Appleton became the first Longhorn to win the Outland Trophy as nation’s outstanding interior lineman.

Appleton had his best efforts in the big games. Against #1 OU, Appleton had 18 tackles and a fumble recovery that led to a score in #2 Texas 28-7 win.

Appleton finished 3rd in the Heisman voting, behind Roger Staubach.

Scott Appleton may have lost the Heisman to Roger Staubach, but he helped make his life miserable in the Cotton Bowl.

Navy went into the 1964 Cotton Bowl popping off about how they should be #1 if they beat Texas. The Football Writer’s Association were going to wait until after the bowl games to name their #1 team.

Texas listened to all the talk and then went out and crushed Navy 28-6. Appleton led a Texas defense that held Staubach to -47 yards rushing. Navy finished with-14 yards total yards rushing, and Appleton was named Outstanding Lineman.

1970 Steve Worster — 4th

1970 saw Texas run its winning streak to 30 in a row — thanks to the Wishbone offense and the recruiting class known as the “Worster Bunch.”

Steve Worster, the original Wishbone fullback, was a two-time All-American and in 1970, Worster rushed for 898 yards on 160 carries for a 5.6 average and scored 14 touchdowns as Texas went through the regular season unbeaten.

Steve Worster finished his Longhorn career with 2,353 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns in three years.

The 1970 Heisman race was the Year of the Quarterbacks, as Worster finished 4th behind the winner Jim Plunkett of Stanford, Joe Theismann of Notre Dame and Mississippi’s Archie Manning.

1973 Roosevelt Leaks — 3rd

In 1973 Roosevelt Leaks was coming off a terrific sophomore year where he had rushed for 1,099 yards and averaged 4.8 yards a carry. Texas was breaking in a new Wishbone QB — Marty Akins — but it had a strong offensive line, led by Center Bill Wyman. Texas began the season at Sports Illustrated’s #1 team, but slipped to an 8-3 record.

Leaks, however was spectacular rushing for a then school-record 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged 6.2 yards per carry.

He solidified his All-American status and his Heisman candidacy with a SWC-record 342 yards against SMU in the Cotton Bowl in front of a national TV audience. That performance led one of the Dallas papers that Sunday to headline its game story:

ROOSEVELT LEAKS ALL OVER THE FIELD.

Leaks was named the “Texas Amateur Athlete of the Year” by the Texas Sportswriters Association in 1973.

Leaks finished 3rd in the Heisman balloting behind Penn State running back John Capelletti and Ohio State offensive lineman John Hicks.

Leaks would have been a favorite for the 1974 Heisman, except he tore up a knee in spring training. He was advised to redshirt, but Leaks vowed to play in 1974. He went through extensive rehabilitation and did indeed play, although he was not at full strength. Earl Campbell picked up the slack, but Royal, and Texas fans, were left wondering what it would have been like to have Leaks at full strength in the same backfield with Campbell.

2004 Cedric Benson — 6th

Cedric Benson finished his career at Texas with a strong effort, gaining 1,834 yards on 326 carries for a 5.6 average and 19 touchdowns.

Cedric Benson was the 2004 Doak Walker Award Winner as the best running back in college football.

Whle Benson’s season earned him All-American honors, he finished 6th in the Heisman vote, behind the winner, USC’s Matt Leinart, OU teammates Adrian Peterson and Jason White, Utah’s Alex Smith as well as Leinarts teammate, Reggie Bush.

2005 Vince Young — 2nd

Do We Really Have To Rehash This Gross Miscarriage of Justice? I Didn’t Think So.

2008 Colt McCoy — 2nd

Not much need to go over the bitterness of last years events as well. Colt McCoy sets an NCAA record for percentage of pass completions, leads Texas to a 10-point win over OU, and then after the infamous tiebreaker, has to watch the Sooners’ Sam Bradford take the Heisman.

Colt McCoy gathered 1,604 points compared to Bradfords 1,726 points in the 2008 Heisman balloting.

Should McCoy win the Heisman Saturday he will of course join Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams as Longhorn winners. Should he finish second, he will become the fourth player to finish second in the Heisman voting two years in a row.

The others are Glenn Davis – Army (1944-45), Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice – North Carolina (1948-49) and Darren McFadden of Arkansas (2006-07).

See more on the Heisman here.

Article Tags:

College Football, Colt McCoy, Earl Campbell, Heisman, Heisman Trophy > Academy Awards, Ricky Williams, Texas Longhorns

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46 Responses

Scipio Tex said:

December 9th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Great stuff. I always enjoy these.
wallybanger said:

December 9th, 2009 at 11:05 pm

Reading through that brought a great sense of depression over the current state of our running game.
Woody Bombay said:

December 9th, 2009 at 11:12 pm

Yes, I wish we had “Football’s Fanciest Runner” once again.

Even though Akins was dating the girl who lived across from the street from me, Roosevelt Leaks was my first Longhorn hero. It was an easy transition to Earl.
FiesoleHorn said:

December 10th, 2009 at 6:32 am

The argument for Colt last year is the same as the argument against him this year. Last year, he came up big in the biggest games of the year. The 4 game stretch was amazing – even the game we lost, he put us in a position to win at the end, and he was the instigator in all 4 games. This year he played like crap in the biggest games of the year, against the only legit defenses we faced. We won in spite of him.
Bob in Houston said:

December 10th, 2009 at 7:33 am

Thanks, srr.

Fiesole: Despite all the legitimate breakdowns of Colt’s poor play, particularly on this board, IMO it’s a long way from “He didn’t play like a Heisman winner” to “We won in spite of him.”

Particularly in the OU game, if he’s not looking for the last yard he can get, or the receiver runs the right route, a 16-13 win turns into a pretty easy scoreboard victory. Those things didn’t happen.

As to last week, it’s a lot easier to keep your head together when you don’t have Ndamakong Suh’s number implanted on your back.
ransomstoddard said:

December 10th, 2009 at 7:40 am

Fie: I agree with Bob. Colt is a finalist this year despite having one of the worst offensive lines in Texas history, no running game to take pressure off of him, only one legitimate and reliable receiver, and an absolutely brain-dead offensive philosophy. Despite all these handicaps, he has had a tremendous season, a great career, and I predict he will win the award.
henley said:

December 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am

Colt will finish 4th, if http://www.stiffarmtrophy.com is to be believed.
travis said:

December 10th, 2009 at 8:09 am

Maybe its just me, but how the hell is chris hall up for the center of the year award?

The entire offensive line should pitch in and buy Colt a replica heisman since its THEIR fault he isn’t going to win…

If they had shared just one set of balls against Nebraska, We would have never had to make that field goal at the end of the game to win and Suh wouldn’t even be in the heisman discussion. The damn thing was Colt’s to lose and they left him out to dry, to me if anyone on that O-line was to win any type of award it would be laughable.
poutytitties said:

December 10th, 2009 at 8:32 am

The best, most dominant player in CFB this year is Mr. Suh.
Colt shall forever live in fear of the House of Spear. S.
Fritz said:

December 10th, 2009 at 8:36 am

Great read – thanks.
Guvnah said:

December 10th, 2009 at 9:26 am

I hope either Suh or McCoy takes it this year, but it would not be any sort of injustice if it went to Toby Gerhart.

It will be a travesty if Mark Ingram wins.

Not only are Ingram’s stats not up to the level of Gerhart… They are absolutely pedestrian compared to lots of other running backs who haven’t come close to winning this decade.

2009 – Mark Ingram: 13 games, 1542 yards, 15 TDs

Two Texas notables…

2004 – Cedric Benson: 12 games, 1834 yards, 19 TDs
2007 – Jamaal Charles: 13 games, 1619 yards, 18 TDs

Others…

2007 – Darren McFadden: 13 games, 1830 yards, 16 TDs

It would be hard to come up with a less-deserving Heisman winner than Mark Ingram during the past 10 years.
Saltshaker said:

December 10th, 2009 at 9:37 am

Those holy men (Sunshine Boys) of the the Offensive line turned Judas on Colt offering him up for crucifixion in his moment of truth.

This line was suspect from the beginning, you can watch any game film from our non conference cake walks, and see the problems these apathetic linemen were letting happen.

They don’t have any fire, they don’t have any tattoos, they don’t have any mohawks or shaved heads, and they pray before they eat. They don’t care to use weights either judging by the lack of upper arm definition and bulk. They just seem to be a bunch of fat white pussies that are easily confused by instinctive D-lines with moderate motors.

It wouldn’t be so bad that they are so shitty, individually and as a unit, but we don’t have a tight end either.

Check out this TD against Wyoming, watch the line, look familiar?

Simple stunts from mediocre linemen screw up seniors Tanner and Ulatoski. It’s no surprise that guys like Gerald McCoy, and Suh have big days. What are we to expect from Terrence Cody of Alabama? Last I saw, he was up for the Lombardi.

Why oh why…..have they forsaken Colt?
NY Horn said:

December 10th, 2009 at 10:01 am

Mark Ingram will back his way into the Heisman due to Colt’s performance against Nebraska. He’s come so close to winning this award: had Gideon caught that pick, had Kirkendoll made that catch. I guess some things are just not in the cards for him.
Guvnah said:

December 10th, 2009 at 10:58 am

Because they’ve taken such a deserved beating… I think it’s also important to acknowledge the O-Line when they perform up to task.

On Texas’ only TD of the game, Colt took a QB draw and ran right at Suh’s gap in the line.

And DAVID SNOW executed a PERFECT one-on-one block on Suh, totally taking Suh out of the play, so that by the end of the play, Suh was on his ass about 8 yards away from the ball.
Just Saying said:

December 10th, 2009 at 11:31 am

Colt, like Vince before him, will be better off without the distraction.
NY Horn said:

December 10th, 2009 at 11:41 am

Snow had a couple of good blocks on Suh during the game. I think he’s a pretty physical player compared to his teammates. I think a lot of our problems stem from bad feet and bad communication between the linemen, which is pretty unacceptable since they’ve been playing together for so long now.
Bateshorn said:

December 10th, 2009 at 12:08 pm

srr50, great stuff, man, particularily after a very beery lunch.

NYHorn-Had not considered that two easy drops cost Colt two separate Heismans. Depressing.
srr50 said:

December 10th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

Scip, BIH, Bates et al thanks for the kind words. Just imagine what kind of numbers Saxton would have had if Darrell hadn’t called off the dogs in so many games.

Ernie Davis won the Heisman that year, and he rushed for 877 yards on 150 carries with 15 touchdowns. He did lead his team in receiving with 16 catches with another two scores.
Mysterious Package said:

December 10th, 2009 at 12:23 pm

When we offered Hall and Tanner full rides i thought the coaches must know something. not the kind of calaber we are used to. Another product of how lazy our recruiting staff has become with regards to OL, im sure we offered charlie because all it took was a 5 minute car ride from campus. No attitude, just nice guys who would rather open the door for old laddies than look Colt in the eye and tell him sorry for the past 4 years. How it even came to this is just a mind numbing
travis said:

December 10th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

It’s easy to see the difference in offense and defense just from walking off the bus, because our D is a group of mean ass motha’s and then you see our o-line and they seem like a group of guys making plans for after church to go down to the bowling alley for pizza and soda pop.
Trips Right said:

December 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pm

First off, outstanding work srr50. It’s interesting stuff but a lot of it pisses me off to no end.

Here’s an interesting excercise…

Who would you choose for Heisman?

Heisman Candidate 1 RB
AT YDs YPC LG TD
249 1542 6.2 70 15

Heisman Candidate 2 RB
AT Yards YPC LG TD
200 1740 8.7 76 16

Heisman Candidate 3 RB
AT Yards YPC LG TD
155 1050 6.8 80 12

Heisman Candidate 4 QB
Comp AT YDs % YP/A LG TD INT Rating
212 325 3036 65.2 9.34 75 26 10 163.95
TXinDC said:

December 10th, 2009 at 12:57 pm

ransom:

“Colt is a finalist this year despite having one of the worst offensive lines in Texas history, no running game to take pressure off of him, only one legitimate and reliable receiver, and an absolutely brain-dead offensive philosophy. “

Besides having TWO receivers rather than one, how was last year any different from this year?
SeeingRed said:

December 10th, 2009 at 1:11 pm

Yeah, I’m gonna stick with Suh:

The stats below compare season totals for Alabama’s starting 4 defensive linemen, Florida’s starting 4 defensive linemen, Texas’ starting 4 defensive linemen, and Suh:

Alabama Season Totals
98tkl – 23.5tfl – 9.5sk – 20qbh – 5pbu – 0int – 1ff – 3bk

Florida Season Totals
112tkl – 33tfl – 14sk – 48qbh – 5pbu – 0int – 1ff – 0bk

Texas Season Totals
116tkl – 25.5tfl – 15.5sk – 10qbh – 7pbu – 0int – 2ff – 0bk

Suh Season Totals
82tkl – 23tfl – 12sk – 24qbh – 10pbu – 1int – 1ff – 3bk
maninblack said:

December 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

I would love for this to be a repeat of 2005 when a completely undeserving RB receives the award only to be shown up by a more deserving QB from Texas. Afterward all media retards espouse how the voting should be held til after the bowl games yada, yada yada
Guvnah said:

December 10th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

SeeingRed:

I’m pretty sure there’s a DL playing for Wisconsin whose stats on everything but Pass break-ups are better than Suh’s…. At least they were about 8 or 9 games into the season when I last checked.

But like I said… there would be no crime in Suh’s winning it.

Mark Ingram and Tim Tebow are the players who have no business even being invited to the show. If either of them wins, then the Heisman will be as big a joke as the Nobel Peace Prize.
nordberg said:

December 10th, 2009 at 1:57 pm

Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but our four starting d-linemen have combined for 10 qbh this season?
bateshorn said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:21 pm

On the flip side, Florida has 48 qbh? They’ve just barely missed that many sacks?
Huckleberry said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Trips -

I would choose Candidates 3 and 4. You know, since they’re the same person.
JUICE said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:31 pm

When I was a kid I named my dog after Roosevelt Leaks. I suspect it was the highest compliment I was capable of at the time.
huskerwes1 said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

It would be cool if Suh won and NOT because I’m a Husker but because it would make the award what it would be in a perfect world.

Having said that b.s. I’ll say this- My vote is for McCoy- Should have got it last year – no disrespect here to Bradford – McCoy remains the most valuable player on a winning team (which is really what the award is if your a QB or RB) and his body of work is deserving.

Horn up!
Eastbound & Down said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

“When I was a kid I named my dog after Roosevelt Leaks. I suspect it was the highest compliment I was capable of at the time”

My brother and I named ours Switzer just so we could say shit like, “lick your dick Switzer.”
Guvnah said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

I don’t know who SeeingRed is talking about. Here are the stats I found

http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/703/roster.html

Tckl; TFL; Sack; QBH; PBU; Blocked kicks

Lamar Houston – 50; 14.5; 5; 10; 4; 0

Sergio Kindle – 49; 12.5; 3.5; 9; 2; 0

Sam Acho – 53; 12; 6; 4; 3; 0

Kheeston Randall – 19; 4.5; 3; 2; 0; 0

Totals: – 171; 43.5; 17.5; 25; 9; 0
homesickalien said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Is there a website dedicated to the ripping and reaming of our womanly offensive line? If not, there should be.

Even though it’s actually Greg and Mack’s fault.

Where I put it back on them is that, if they had any pride, they would find some way to do something about it. It isn’t Greg and Mack’s womanly blocking schemes that keep them from fighting back and showing attitude when they get Colt slung like an empty sandwich bag.

They’re just jotos.
nordberg said:

December 10th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

What if we made every member of our OL wear a dress every day between now and January 7th? Maybe make them put on some make-up, carry a purse, that sort of thing. Think how pissed they’d be come January 7th.
Huckleberry said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Check the 1:30 mark. Was Hall paid to throw the game? He actually shoves Huey out of the way so Suh can get around them to McCoy.
NY Horn said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:08 pm

Nah Nordberg, that would just hurt their feelings. They would probably not even make the trip out of protest.
Eastbound & Down said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

“What if we made every member of our OL wear a dress every day between now and January 7th? Maybe make them put on some make-up, carry a purse, that sort of thing. Think how pissed they’d be come January 7th.”

As far as wearing dresses it would be business as usual as they’d still squat to pee. Though I do see how the pent up rage could play a factor January 7th. Perhaps Hall would stamp Cody’s foot with a four inch stiletto and go all Ruth Buzzi on his ass with the purse..
huskerwes1 said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:19 pm

“What if we made every member of our OL wear a dress every day between now and January 7th? Maybe make them put on some make-up, carry a purse, that sort of thing. Think how pissed they’d be come January 7th.”

Can’t be done- if they love it how do you comeback from that?
huskerwes1 said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Anyone gonna do a write-up comparing UT ’05 underestimated and UT ’09 underestimated? Been thinking on it- biggest element missing is Vince; not sure I want to see Colt running for the goal on 4th, but maybe something there?
Toadvine said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

OH man, that’s the bets block Hall through all year — one of his only pancakes!
Toadvine said:

December 10th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

“threw” dammit
homesickalien said:

December 10th, 2009 at 4:40 pm

Are our offensive linewomen aware of their sterling reputation amongst their own fanbase?

They have to know on some level that we think they’re feminine. Post-op trannies at best.
Toadvine said:

December 10th, 2009 at 4:48 pm

I don’t think they’re feminine, per se. Just fat kids. Fat kids getting thrown around by athletes = bad line play or a&m campus bathrooms at night (see dedfishcer’s forum post)
Sugarpants said:

December 10th, 2009 at 7:09 pm

Colt’s freshman year we ran a five yard QB sneak against OU. A five yard QB sneak. Against OU. Colt just got behind the line and kept walking, like the Red Sea parting. He kind of laid down after five yards, presumably to save OU from furthe humiliation. Or possibly because he tripped over one of his own guys or jockstrap dropped by an OU DL.

We have fallen a long way since then.
nordberg said:

December 11th, 2009 at 10:18 am

So what y’all are saying is that taking undersized kids that aren’t terribly athletic and turning them into fat kids that don’t move real well isn’t the best way to develop great o-linemen?
Laz said:

December 11th, 2009 at 11:35 am

What pub did Earl do those commercials for? The ones where he’d hoist a drink up in the air and belt out a roarin’ “let the good times roll”

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46 Responses

Scipio Tex said:

wallybanger said:

Woody Bombay said:

FiesoleHorn said:

Bob in Houston said:

ransomstoddard said:

henley said:

travis said:

poutytitties said:

Fritz said:

Guvnah said:

Saltshaker said:

NY Horn said:

Guvnah said:

Just Saying said:

NY Horn said:

Bateshorn said:

srr50 said:

Mysterious Package said:

travis said:

Trips Right said:

TXinDC said:

SeeingRed said:

maninblack said:

Guvnah said:

nordberg said:

bateshorn said:

Huckleberry said:

JUICE said:

huskerwes1 said:

Eastbound & Down said:

Guvnah said:

homesickalien said:

nordberg said:

Huckleberry said:

NY Horn said:

Eastbound & Down said:

huskerwes1 said:

huskerwes1 said:

Toadvine said:

Toadvine said:

homesickalien said:

Toadvine said:

Sugarpants said:

nordberg said:

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