In 1947 he walked-on to Coach Cherry’s freshman football team. He lettered as the starting fullback and he played in the 1949 Orange Bowl against to Georgia Tech and the 1950 Cotton Bowl against Tennessee. Alpha Epsilon Pi named him the national outstanding athlete. All four of his children swam for Texas. In 1998 he was inducted into the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame.
The U.S. Rowing team names former Longhorn Ruth Stiver to its 2007 Pan American Games roster in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Stiver, a first-time National Team member, was Texas’ first-ever Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) selection. She was a walk-on in 2000.
Don Hays was a walk-on defensive tackle under Coach McWilliams. Russell Hays was a walk-on wide receiver under Fred Akers. Don suffered a spinal injury and never made the team, but his brother was injury-free and received a scholarship. Don and Russel’s father’s cousin is Jack Hays, the father of Jenna McEachern, who is celebrated…
The Walk-on Social validation is tied to being part of a college team for men and women. Walk-ons embody the purity of the activity playing for principles and personal motives. Walk-ons are the closest to the ideal of a pure amateur college athlete. The student asked their coach to try out and play without financial…
Emily Anderson
–Roy Jones, senior manager of the 1963 national championship football team writes about his most unforgettable Longhorn player– and it might surprise you. I bet Nick Saban has a Mickey Riggs on his roster. Kirby Smart too. I bet Bear Bryant had a Mickey Riggs among his “Junction Boys.” I KNOW Darrell Royal had one. Any…