The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2015
Sport: Football (1966-69), Baseball (1968-69)
Inducted: 2015
Hometown: Austin, Texas
A three-sport letterwinner and honors student at Austin's Lanier High School, Randy Peschel began his career at Texas by starting at wingback his sophomore season in 1967. But in 1968, when Texas switched to the wishbone "T" formation, Peschel moved to tight end and played behind All-Southwest Conference performer Deryl Comer. Peschel became a starter in 1969, suffered a knee injury in Texas' first game, but was able to return to action two games later. As a senior in 1969, he was UT's second leading receiver, catching 14 passes for 228 yards. Texas fans will be hard-pressed to remember any of them, vital though as they were, until a particular catch in the Arkansas game. That is the one in the fourth quarter, when on fourth-and-three with a National Championship hanging in the balance, Peschel caught a ball over his shoulder, despite being covered closely by two Arkansas defenders, and advanced the ball to the Arkansas 13-yard-line, setting up the game-winning score. Coach Royal said, "Randy will drop fewer passes in practice than anybody on our team. He has sure hands, and he probably caught a higher percentage of passes than anybody we have." The Chattanooga Times named Peschel to their All-American Blocking Team in 1969, in recognition of "unselfish and proficient blocking." Peschel also earned two letters in baseball for the Longhorns. He led the 1968 team in hitting with a .333 average, and he finished with a .304 average in 1969.
