The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Fred Akers inducted into Texas Sports Hall of Fame
02.03.2016 | Football
Former Longhorns head coach won two SWC titles and led the Longhorns to nine bowl games in 10 seasons
Fred Akers Photo Gallery | TSHOF Induction Photo Gallery
Former Texas Longhorns head coach Fred Akers was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening.
"I'm so thankful, I can't tell you," Akers said about his induction. "I hope that others just like me are going to have the same opportunity."
Akers joined seven other notable sports figures with ties to the state of Texas including former University of Texas basketball point guard T.J. Ford. The induction was held at the Waco Convention Center. Also inducted were former Dallas Cowboys All-Pro Lineman Larry Allen, PRCA World Champion Rodeo Star Trevor Brazile, former Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals All-Pro Lineman Ken Gray, former Texas A&M Defensive End Jacob Green, former New York Yankees All Star Pitcher Andy Pettitte and former Negro League Pitcher "Smokey" Joe Williams (deceased).
At a luncheon earlier in the day, family and friends had an opportunity to meet with Akers and relive old times.
"It was so good to see Earl Campbell with a smile [on his face]," said Akers. "It's a family thing for us. We have lots of different people that support us."
Akers also thanked Texas fans for all of their support over the years.
"You know, the people that fill that stadium, they elevated your team just as they hit the field," said Akers. "It gave me goosebumps. Don't you get those bumps? That's good!"
Akers, a Blytheville, Arkansas native, was the head football coach at Texas from 1977-1986 where he compiled an 86-31-2 record (60-19-1 in SWC) which ranks third on the all-time UT victory list behind Darrell Royal and Mack Brown. His teams won Southwest Conference titles in 1977 and 1983. He coached legendary Longhorns running back Earl Campbell during Campbell's run to the 1977 Heisman Trophy. That season, Akers led the Longhorns to a No. 1 national ranking before losing to No. 5 Notre Dame in the 1978 Cotton Bowl. Akers' Longhorns had three 10-win seasons along with 4 Top-10 finishes in final polls. Akers also coached two Lombardi Trophy winners and 48 All-SWC players.
In all, Akers spent 19 years on the football staff at The University of Texas. He came to Texas as an assistant to Darrell Royal in 1966. Following the 1974 season, he served two years as head coach at Wyoming before returning to Austin to succeed Royal as the Longhorns' head coach in 1977. Akers' 1981 Texas team finished 10-1-1 and No. 2 nationally following a 14-12 Cotton Bowl win over Bear Bryant and No. 3 Alabama. His 1983 team carried an 11-0 record and No. 2 regular season ranking into the Cotton Bowl before losing to Georgia, 10-9. That team also produced a record 18 players who were taken in the NFL Draft in the spring of 1984. During the 1984 season, the Longhorns again earned a No. 1 regular season ranking before a 15-15 tie with No. 2 Oklahoma dropped them to No 3.
Akers was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in September.
