Donnie Wigginton/ Spring Branch HS Shown here celebrating a pretty important extra point in Fayetteville, December 6, 1969. Number 40 in the foreground is remembered for a gutsy catch a couple of plays earlier but on this particular play Wigginton made an impressive catch on an errant snap, helping make possible a 15-14 victory.
John Hagy San Antonio Marshall. All-conference & team captain 1987. Played three years in the NFL. IIRC he was a late addition to his signing class who excelled when he hit the big stage. Everybody’s favorite type of player.
Fred was holding a couple of scholarships for bluechips, who went elsewhere. He was convinced to give Hagy an offer at the last minute. John got injured and was on crutches for the 85 TCU game in Memorial Stadium. Wacker had the Froggies riding high on the basis of big recruiting wins. At halftime, Wacker had his team come across the field and walk as close to our bench as possible. The TCU LB was about as mouthy as I've ever seen in Memorial Stadium. I was standing next to Hagy, who picked up his crutch an offered said LB a colonoscopy with his crutch in addition to other things. Officials separated the two who were about 3-4 feet apart. John was mouthy the whole game, but in a good way. Final score 20-0. That autographed game ball is in my bookcase along with the 83 OU game ball and 84 State Penn game ball.
Robert Brewer Richardson, Texas. Shown here with Herkie Walls celebrating his touchdown in the 1982 Cotton Bowl. If your career is going to be remembered for one play, this would be one to hang your hat on. He is the last walk on QB to start for the Horns. His dad started at quarterback on the 40 and his uncle played in the same backfield with DKR at OU. He went 13-2 as a starter. Stay tuned for additional greats because #16 is a good one.
IMO this guy helped make VY the player he was. I can’t count the times Thomas made a clutch catch in a tight situation. The definition of dependable.
Absolutely right. DT was the key to moving the chains in so many big situations. I don’t know but I suspect that many of those times he might have been VY’s second or third read when nobody else was open. If the ball was anywhere near, he caught it.
In the history of the University of Texas football program, there have been two players who were voted first-team AA for three separate years. One was Hub Bechtol (1944-1946) and the other was Russell Erxleben (1976-1978).
In spite of his business problems, Erxleben remains the greatest kicker of all time - punter, place kicker, kickoff (although he never ran down field after the kickoff). He also refused to fall down on the roughing call against Arkansas in 78, That would have given us a first down at the Hogs 30. How do I know it was roughing? Vince Buckley had the flag out of his pocket, and Erxleban refused to fall down.
