Paul Jette’s celebration of life page as a Texas Longhorn football player.
Remembering Paul Jette
By Larry Carlson
Paul Jette, a former Longhorn player and coach, has died after a long illness.
Jette was a talented three-year letterman for Darrell Royal and defensive mastermind Mike Campbell, playing for the Longhorns from 1974-76. Paul, 71, died at his home in Castroville, surrounded by loved ones.
Jette (pronounced jet) played high school ball for his dad, Paul Jette III, in the tiny South Texas city of Devine, just 35 miles from San Antonio, starring for the Warhorses as a two-way standout.
Allen David
Sorry to hear about Paul’s passing. He was a great teammate and a fine coach. 
This writer can still recall Southwest Conference play-by-play man Connie Alexander, colorfully describing Jette’s handiwork in the defensive backfield, alongside other stalwarts such as All-American Raymond Clayborn.
“Paul Jette had him covered like white on rice,” Alexander was known to call out.
Jette, who was a senior in Royal’s last season, after having played for teams that went to the Gator Bowl and Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, immediately grabbed a job as graduate assistant under new UT boss Fred Akers in 1977. That team — 11-0 in the regular season — enabled Jette to work with former teammates such as Johnnie Johnson, Ricky Churchman, Glenn Blackwood and Derrick Hatchett. All four would go on to compete in the NFL.
“Paul was a great teammate and friend to the end,” said Joe Samford. A Longhorn tight end from ’73-’76, Samford noted Paul’s bloodline as the son of a fine coach, “so he had a very high football IQ.”
“He was a fierce competitor on the field,” Joe said of his friend, who played at 5-9, 180 in Austin, “playing golf, playing poker or flipping the silver dollars we would get for our meal money for after games.”
Samford recalled that Jette served as defensive coordinator for Jimmy Johnson at Oklahoma State, then at Miami, before returning to the Forty Acres to work with Coach David McWilliams in the late ’80s. Paul would also coach at Auburn, Wisconsin (under Barry Alvarez), East Carolina and Baylor before retiring to spend more time with his wife, Vicki. The Jettes had five children and many grandchildren.
Sad news, indeed, Larry. Paul was a great teammate and friend. He became a leader from the first day he set foot on the practice field and was very much like then-future Longhorns Blake Gideon and Michael Taaffe with his knowledge of the game, toughness and overall savvy. Horns up in his honor and to his memory
Jerry Giles
A member of my class has gone too soon. I remember him and Joe Samford. Rest in peace Paul.
Announcements on services for Paul Jette are pending. looking for better photos!
I am looking for more and better photos of Paul to add to his celebration of life page. So please email Billydale1@gmail.com if you have better photos of Paul.
Leonard Messina
Very sad news. Paul was a great teammate.
