The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
1969 National Champions
Texas celebrates the 100th year of college football with its second National Championship.
FRONT ROW: Asst. Coach Leon Manley, Asst. Coach Fred Akers, Asst. Coach Willie Zapalac, Head Coach Darrell Royal, Asst. Coach R.M. Patterson, Asst. Coach Emory Bellard, Asst. Coach Mike Campbell
SECOND ROW: Manager Jim Lemmon, Dean Campbell, Donnie Wigginton, Rob Schultz, Raymond Fotenot, Billy Dale, Steve Worster, Ted Koy, Tom Campbell, Sam McBrierty, Johnny Otahal, Will Wilson, Terry Collins, Trainer Spanky Stephens
THIRD ROW: Manager Paul Hobbs, Jimmy Gunn, George Cobb, David Arledge, Mike Hutchings, Mike Campbell, Chris Young, Jay Cormier, Mike Dean, Bobby Mitchell, Greg Ploetz, Ronnie Tyler, David Keeton, Scooter Monzingo, Manager Bill Hall
FOURTH ROW: Manager James Cooke, Mike Speer, Jeff Zapalac, Travis Roach, Randy Stout, Dicky Johnston, Eddie Phillips, Ken Ehrig, Randy Peschel, James Street, Fred Steinmark, David Richardson, Paul Kristynik, Dan Terwelp, Steve Adger, Manager Bubba Simpson
FIFTH ROW: Manager Mike Cave, Bo Anders, Rock Troberman, Randy Braband, Bob Huffman, Rickey Martin, Bobby Callison, Jimmy Hull, Pat Macha, Jim Bertlesen, Stan Mauldin, Robert Paine, Rick Nabors, Happy Feller, Trainer Roy Baldwin
SIXTH ROW: Manager David Fox, Mack McKinney, Gary Rike, Jim Williamson, Leo Brooks, Bob McKay, Bill Zapalac, Scott Palmer, Carl White, Charles Speyrer, Tommy Lee, Rob Layne, Danny Lester, Trainer Jim Pippln
SEVENTH ROW: Johnny Robinson, Scott Henderson, Kevin Hutson, Donnie Windham, Tommy Asaff, Bud Hudgins, Forrest Wiegand, Glen Halsell, Larry Webb, Sam Lawless, George McIngvale, Jack Rushing, David Ballew, Manager Jimmy Kay
EIGHTH ROW: Tommy Woodard, Jerel Bolton, Wayne Kirk, Bill Astessis, Bobby Wuensch, Charles Crawford, Tommy Matula, Sid Kessler, Jim Achilles, Paul Robichau, Robbixe Patman, Bill Catlett, Tex Allshouse
| RECORD: 11-0 (7-0 SWC Champs) | ||||
| Date | Score | UT Rank | Opponent | Attendance |
| Sept. 20 | 17-0 | #4 | at California | 33,702 |
| Sept. 27 | 49-7 | #4 | Texas Tech | 65,200 |
| Oct. 4 | 56-17 | #4 | Navy | 63,200 |
| Oct. 11 | 27-17 | #2 | #8 Oklahoma at Dallas | 71,938 |
| Oct. 25 | 31-0 | #2 | Rice | 61,500 |
| Nov. 1 | 45-14 | #2 | at SMU | 55,287 |
| Nov. 8 | 56-14 | #2 | Baylor | 51,000 |
| Nov. 15 | 69-7 | #2 | TCU | 51,000 |
| Nov. 27 | 49-12 | #1 | at Texas A&M | 51,160 |
| Dec. 6 | 15-14 | #1 | at #2 Arkansas | 44,000 |
| Jan. 1 | 21-17 | #1 |
#9 Notre Dame (Cotton Bowl) |
73,000 |
| Rankings from Associated Press entering the game | ||||
The 1969 season marked the 100th year of college football and ABC television executive Beano Cook arranged for Texas and Arkansas to play the final game of the regular season, moving their usual October date to the first weekend in December.
For a long while, it looked as though the game would be a meeting of also-rans. Ohio State was dominating the Big Ten and the chances of the game being anything other than just the last game of the season were pretty remote.
However, as the Longhorns took a Saturday off to prepare for their upcoming game on Thanksgiving Day with Texas A&M, Michigan and its upstart coach Bo Schembechler upset the Buckeyes. Texas vaulted to No. 1 in the polls and Arkansas claimed the No. 2 spot.
That set the stage. Even the day took on an eerie feeling. The night before, a steady, cold rain fell in Fayetteville and an icy fog hovered over the stadium as the crowd awaited the arrival of President Richard Nixon, who would award a plaque symbolic of the National Championship to the winner.
In the 100th year of college football, it truly was the "Game of the Century." The Longhorns overcame turnovers and a 14-0 Arkansas lead to post a 15-14 victory. James Street scrambled for one touchdown, got a two-point conversion and then hit Randy Peschel on a dramatic 4th-and-3 play late in the game. Donnie Wigginton, the third-string quarterback who was the holder, made a big save on a high snap and Happy Feller booted the extra point for the winning score with 3:58 remaining. Tom Campbell's interception on UT's 21-yard line halted Arkansas' final drive.
Less than a week later, when safety Fred Steinmark underwent surgery for the removal of his leg because of bone cancer, UCLA administrators watching the Longhorns play basketball in Los Angeles actually wept.
The Cotton Bowl prompted a great deal of interest with No. 1 Texas hosting No. 9 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish were making their first bowl appearance since the "Four Horsemen" beat Stanford 27-10 in the 1925 Rose Bowl. Ara Parseghian's 8-1-1 squad was ending its 44-year self-imposed departure from bowls.
Again, it took some dramatics for a Texas win. UT trailed 17-14 midway through the final period before Street directed the Horns 76 yards for the winning score. Billy Dale's 1-yard run capped the drive and gave UT a 21-17 lead and the 500th win in school history.
In the locker room after the 21-17 victory, Royal gave Steinmark the game ball. The little safety would become a national symbol of courage as he battled cancer for a year-and-a-half before dying in June 1971.
An ABC-TV poll of sportswriters tabbed Royal Coach of the Decade after wrapping up the 1960s with a pair of national titles. Tackle Bob McKay earned consensus All-America and All-Southwest Conference honors, while linebacker Glen Halsell, wide receiver Cotton Speyrer, running back Steve Worster and offensive tackle Bob Wuensch each earned All-America and All-SWC recognition. Street, tackle Leo Brooks and defensive end Bill Atessis each earned consensus All-SWC honors. Halsell, Ted Koy and Street served as captains for the 11-0 (7-0, SWC Champions) Longhorns.