The 1969 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. The Longhorns won all eleven games to win their second consensus national championship; the first was six seasons earlier in 1963. This was the last consensus title won by the Longhorns until 2005.
The 1969 team is the last all-white team to be named consensus national champions with the onset of Julius Whittier, the first African-American player in Texas football history, was enrolled at UT as a freshman but was not eligible to play; NCAA rules of the time barred freshmen from playing varsity football and
Ranked fourth to start the year, the #2 Longhorns defeated rival Oklahoma by ten points on October 11, and gained the top spot in the polls in late November. On December 6, #1 Texas traveled to Fayetteville to meet second-ranked Arkansas; down by fourteen points in the fourth quarter, UT rallied to win in the season's "Game of the Century," attended by President With a wishbone option offense, the Longhorns won all ten games in the regular season, and returned to the Cotton Bowl Classic in Fair Park in Dallas.
On New Year's Day 1970, the Longhorns met ninth-ranked Notre Dame, in its first bowl game in 45 years and second overall; their only previous postseason appearance was a win in the 1925 Rose Bowl. Trailing for most of the game, Texas scored with 68 seconds remaining and won On their final drive, the Longhorns faced fourth down twice. It was their twentieth consecutive victory, second straight Cotton Bowl Classic title, and third win that season in the stadium.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries At California
Statistics TEXCAL First downs 21 10 Total yards 329 206 Rushes/yards 71/311 40/127 Passing yards 18 79 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 2–7–2 12–23–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing James Street 2–7, 18 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Jim Bertelsen 16 car, 92 yards, 1 TD Receiving Randy Peschel 1 rec, 11 yardsCalifornia Passing TEAM 12–23, 79 yards, 1 INT Rushing TEAM 40 car, 127 yards Receiving TEAM 12 rec, 79 yards
Vs. Texas Tech
Statistics TTUTEX First downs 11 14 Total yards 213 286 Rushes/yards 41/42 57/257 Passing yards 171 29 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–34–4 10–3–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Tech Passing TEAM 14–34, 171 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs Rushing TEAM 41 car, 42 yards Receiving TEAM 14 rec, 171 yards, 1 TDTexas Passing James Street 3–9, 29 yards, 1 INT Rushing Steve Worster 15 car, 61 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Charles Speyrer 2 rec, 17 yards
Vs. Navy
Statistics NAVYTEX First downs 15 32 Total yards 278 595 Rushes/yards 27/24 83/523 Passing yards 254 72 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 19–47–1 7–10–0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNavy Passing TEAM 19–47, 254 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing TEAM 27 car, 24 yards, 1 TD Receiving TEAM 19 rec, 254 yards, 1 TDTexas Passing Donn Wigginton 5–8, 51 yards Rushing Jim Bertelsen 8 car, 99 yards, 1 TD Receiving Randy Peschel 4 rec, 46 yards
Vs. Oklahoma
Statistics OUTEX First downs 20 18 Total yards 282 373 Rushes/yards 63/198 54/158 Passing yards 84 215 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–15–2 9–18–3 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing TEAM 9–15, 84 yards, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 63 car, 192 yards, 2 TDs Receiving TEAM 9 rec, 84 yardsTexas Passing James Street 9–18, 215 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs Rushing Steve Worster 18 car, 63 yards, 1 TD Receiving Charles Speyrer 8 rec, 160 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Rice
Statistics RICETEX First downs 11 20 Total yards 138 447 Rushes/yards 43/47 64/291 Passing yards 91 156 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–29–3 9–16–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsRice Passing TEAM 9–29, 91 yards, 3 INTs Rushing TEAM 43 car, 47 yards Receiving TEAM 9 rec, 91 yardsTexas Passing James Street 6–10, 94 yards Rushing Steve Worster 16 car, 57 yards, 1 TD Receiving Charles Speyrer 3 rec, 38 yards
At SMU
Statistics TEXSMU First downs 34 15 Total yards 676 296 Rushes/yards 80/611 35/73 Passing yards 65 223 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 4–10–0 20–38–2 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing James Street 4–10, 65 yards Rushing Steve Worster 21 car, 137 yards, 1 TD Receiving Charles Speyrer 3 rec, 56 yardsSMU Passing TEAM 20–38, 223 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 35 car, 73 yards Receiving TEAM 20 rec, 223 yards, 1 TD
Vs. Baylor
Statistics BAYTEX First downs 12 31 Total yards 203 555 Rushes/yards 38/93 67/388 Passing yards 110 167 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–27–5 12–23–0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsBaylor Passing TEAM 8–27, 110 yards, 5 INTs Rushing TEAM 38 car, 93 yards, 2 TDs Receiving TEAM 8 rec, 110 yardsTexas Passing Eddie Phillips 5–10, 55 yards Rushing Jim Bertelsen 4 car, 80 yards Receiving Randy Peschel 5 rec, 61 yards
Vs. TCU
Statistics TCUTEX First downs 12 32 Total yards 181 651 Rushes/yards 37/105 80/517 Passing yards 76 134 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–34–3 8–15–2 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTCU Passing TEAM 9–34, 76 yards, 3 INTs Rushing TEAM 37 car, 105 yards Receiving TEAM 9 rec, 76 yardsTexas Passing James Street 5–8, 54 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Jim Bertelsen 16 car, 104 yards, 1 TD Receiving Ken Ehrig 4 rec, 89 yards, 1 TD
At Texas A&M
Statistics TEXTAMU First downs 22 12 Total yards 441 155 Rushes/yards 68/330 52/88 Passing yards 111 67 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–14–1 6–18–4 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing Eddie Phillips 3–8, 31 yards Rushing Jim Bertelsen 9 car, 92 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Charles Speyrer 2 rec, 43 yardsTexas A&M Passing TEAM 6–18, 67 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs Rushing TEAM 52 car, 88 yards Receiving TEAM 6 rec, 67 yards, 1 TD
At Arkansas
Statistics TEXARK First downs 19 18 Total yards 368 308 Rushes/yards 60/244 44/103 Passing yards 124 205 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 6–10–2 14–22–2 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsTexas Passing James Street 6–10, 124 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Steve Worster 25 car, 94 yards Receiving Cotton Speyrer 4 rec, 65 yardsArkansas Passing Bill Montgomery 14–22, 205 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing TEAM 44 car, 103 yards, 1 TD Receiving TEAM 14 rec, 205 yards, 1 TD
With two legendary coaches (Broyles and Royal), two neighboring states, two football powerhouses (8 of last 10 SWC Championships), and two recent National Championships (Arkansas in 1964 and Texas in 1963), Arkansas and Texas had developed a rivalry. The game was moved from the usual third week in October to the first week in December so it could be televised nationally on ABC. President Richard Nixon attended the game, and AstroTurf was even installed in Razorback Stadium in preparation for the game.
Arkansas' top-rated defense was going up against the #1-rated Texas offense, but the Hogs got on top early, with a 1-yard TD run by Bill Burnett. After halftime, Chuck Dicus hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass, giving the Razorbacks a 14–0 lead heading into the game's final quarter. Longhorn QB James Street then led his squad to its first touchdown, and as coach Darrell Royal had planned, Texas attempted and completed the two-point conversion, which would in all likelihood prevent a tie.
Arkansas then had the ball and the lead, and a 73-yard drive later, the Hogs were in good position to tack on a field goal that would put the game out of reach, but Razorback QB Bill Montgomery was intercepted in the end zone, giving the Longhorns new life. The Texas drive appeared stalled at the Longhorns' own 43, on a 4th and 3, when Royal gambled again. A 44-yard pass to Randy Peschel, who caught the ball in double coverage, put Texas at the Arkansas 13. Longhorn RB Jim Bertelsen would run in for the tying six points. The extra-point snap was high, but was snared by third-string QB Donnie Wigginton and the kick was converted by Longhorn kicker Happy Feller, giving Texas a 15–14 lead with 3:58 to play.
Arkansas drove to the Texas 40, looking for a field goal from All-American kicker Bill McClard, but the turnover bug struck again as Montgomery was again picked off.
Vs. Notre Dame (Cotton Bowl)
Statistics NDTEX First downs 25 25 Total yards 420 438 Rushes/yards 43/189 67/331 Passing yards 231 107 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–27–2 6–11–1 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsNotre Dame Passing Joe Theismann 17–27, 231 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Bill Barz 10 car, 49 yards Receiving Tom Gatewood 6 rec, 112 yards, 1 TDTexas Passing James Street 6–11, 107 yards, 1 INT Rushing Steve Worster 20 car, 155 yards Receiving Charles Speyrer 4 rec, 70 yards
Personnel Roster
Depth chart
Awards and honors Bob McKay, tackle, Consensus All-American
NFL draft Three seniors from the 1969 Longhorns were selected in the 1970 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com – 1970 NFL Draft Bob McKay T 1 21 Cleveland BrownsLeo Brooks DT 2 31 Houston OilersTed Koy RB 2 50 Oakland Raiders
Nine juniors from the 1969 Longhorns were selected in the 1971 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com – 1971 NFL Draft Cotton Speyrer WR 2 38 Washington RedskinsBill Atessis DE 2 52 Baltimore ColtsHappy Feller K 4 83 Philadelphia EaglesBill Zapalac LB 4 84 New York JetsSteve Worster RB 4 90 Los Angeles RamsScott Palmer DT 7 162 New York JetsBobby Wuensch T 12 294 Baltimore ColtsDanny Lester DB 13 317 Philadelphia EaglesDeryl Comer TE 14 345 Atlanta Falcons
Two sophomores from the 1969 Longhorns were selected in the 1972 NFL draft:Pro Football Reference.com – 1972 NFL Draft Jim Bertelsen RB 2 30 Los Angeles RamsEddie Phillips QB 4 95 Los Angeles Rams
References