Donnie Wigginton is a former football player who started as quarterback for the TexasLonghorns in the early 1970s. Though a quarterback, he is best known for one single catch when, as a holder, he snagged a bad snap on the game winning extra-point in the so-called "Game of the Century" versus Arkansas. His hold, and the kick, were good and Texas went on to win the National Championship. He later became a football coach at rival Texas A&M.
In 1966, Don Wigginton led Spring Branch to the AAAA State Championship game where it lost to San Angelo 21-14.
College career
In 1969, Wigginton was the third-string quarterback behind James Street and Eddie Phillips. He played quarterback in seven games, but his most notable play that season - and possibly in his career - came in the so-called "Game of the Century" against Arkansas when he was the holder. In that game, a de facto National Championship game between #1 Texas and #2 Arkansas, Wigginton came in to hold the extra point kick with the game tied 14-14. He handled a bad snap, and Happy Feller booted the extra point for the win and the consensus National Title.[1]
In 1970, Wigginton's senior year, he backed up Phillips but saw only spot play, getting into only eight games.
In the spring of 1971 Wigginton, by then married with a child, turned down an offer to give up his last year of eligibility to coach at West Texas State and instead returned to back up Phillips again. He got his first career start against Texas Tech when Phillips re-injured his hamstring against UCLA and he led the #3 Longhorns to victory. The next week against Oregon, Phillips again injured his hamstring and Wigginton came off the bench to play the last three quarters in a 35-7 rout.[2] He started the following week against #7 Oklahoma and scored two touchdowns, but left the game in the 3rd quarter with a separated rib and the Longhorns down by 10. Texas would lose and fall to #10 in the rankings.[3][4] Wigginton then started the next three games, losing to #16 Arkansas and then reeling off back to back wins against Rice and SMU. Phillips was back as the starter against Baylor, but the next week against TCU Wiggington again came in for Phillips when Phillips went down in the third quarter with an injured shoulder. Wigginton rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns, and turned a 7-0 nail-biter into a 31-0 rout.[5] He then started the last game of the season against Texas A&M, scored two touchdowns and helped Texas secure another Southwest Conference Championship. He shared quarterback duties in the Cotton Bowl with starter Phillips in a 30-6 loss to Penn State, who was determined to avenge their denial of the 1969 National Championship.
Despite sharing quarterback duties with Phillips, Wigginton ended the year as the Southwest Conference leader in touchdowns from scrimmage and tied the school record for the same. He ended his career with a 4-2 record as a starter.
Records
UT - Most touchdowns, season (14), tied Len Barrell,[6] Byron Townsend and Steve Worster, tied by Roosevelt Leaks, surpassed by Earl Campbell in 1977
UT - Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, season (14), surpassed by Sam Ehlinger in 2018
UT - Lowest Percentage of Passes Had Intercepted, season (3.0%), surpassed by James Brown in 1994
Later life
Immediately after the 1972 Cotton Bowl, he went with Texas Offensive Coordinator Emory Bellard to Texas A&M to become a freshman coach.[7] He later rose to the job of offensive backs coach. After six seasons he retired to return to Austin and go into the commercial real estate business and coached at several schools in the Austin Area.
He married Judy Smith Stephens December 4, 1999 and divorced in 2015.
References
^Richardson, Steve (1 Aug 2003). Tales of the Texas Longhorns. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 66. ISBN1582615594. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
^Peterson, Harold (11 November 1971). "The Week". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
^Jenkins, Dan (18 November 1971). "Oklahoma Wins the Wishbone War". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
^Boyles, Bob; Guido, Paul (2009). The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia (1st ed.). ISBN9781602396777. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
^"Texas Keeps Cotton Bowl Hopes Alive". Gadsden Times. 14 November 1971. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
^Tagliabue, Emil (1971-11-24). "The Unusual Saga of Two Quarterbacks". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, TX. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
^"Eddie Phillips will Pilot Texas in Bowl". The Morning Record. Meridan, CT. 1971-12-30. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
External links
Texas stats
February 18, 2023
donnie, wigginton, former, football, player, started, quarterback, texas, longhorns, early, 1970s, though, quarterback, best, known, single, catch, when, holder, snagged, snap, game, winning, extra, point, called, game, century, versus, arkansas, hold, kick, w. Donnie Wigginton is a former football player who started as quarterback for the Texas Longhorns in the early 1970s Though a quarterback he is best known for one single catch when as a holder he snagged a bad snap on the game winning extra point in the so called Game of the Century versus Arkansas His hold and the kick were good and Texas went on to win the National Championship He later became a football coach at rival Texas A amp M Donnie WiggintonTexas Longhorns No 18PositionQuarterbackClass1972MajorBusinessPersonal informationBorn 12 30 1948Houston TXHeight5 ft 8 in 1 73 m Weight163 lb 74 kg Career historyCollegeTexas 1969 1971 Bowl gamesCotton Bowl 1970 1971 High schoolSpring BranchCareer highlights and awards1969 Southwest Conference Champions 1969 National Champions 1970 Southwest Conference Champions 1970 National Champions 1971 Southwest Conference Champions Contents 1 Early life 2 College career 2 1 Records 3 Later life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditIn 1966 Don Wigginton led Spring Branch to the AAAA State Championship game where it lost to San Angelo 21 14 College career EditIn 1969 Wigginton was the third string quarterback behind James Street and Eddie Phillips He played quarterback in seven games but his most notable play that season and possibly in his career came in the so called Game of the Century against Arkansas when he was the holder In that game a de facto National Championship game between 1 Texas and 2 Arkansas Wigginton came in to hold the extra point kick with the game tied 14 14 He handled a bad snap and Happy Feller booted the extra point for the win and the consensus National Title 1 In 1970 Wigginton s senior year he backed up Phillips but saw only spot play getting into only eight games In the spring of 1971 Wigginton by then married with a child turned down an offer to give up his last year of eligibility to coach at West Texas State and instead returned to back up Phillips again He got his first career start against Texas Tech when Phillips re injured his hamstring against UCLA and he led the 3 Longhorns to victory The next week against Oregon Phillips again injured his hamstring and Wigginton came off the bench to play the last three quarters in a 35 7 rout 2 He started the following week against 7 Oklahoma and scored two touchdowns but left the game in the 3rd quarter with a separated rib and the Longhorns down by 10 Texas would lose and fall to 10 in the rankings 3 4 Wigginton then started the next three games losing to 16 Arkansas and then reeling off back to back wins against Rice and SMU Phillips was back as the starter against Baylor but the next week against TCU Wiggington again came in for Phillips when Phillips went down in the third quarter with an injured shoulder Wigginton rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns and turned a 7 0 nail biter into a 31 0 rout 5 He then started the last game of the season against Texas A amp M scored two touchdowns and helped Texas secure another Southwest Conference Championship He shared quarterback duties in the Cotton Bowl with starter Phillips in a 30 6 loss to Penn State who was determined to avenge their denial of the 1969 National Championship Despite sharing quarterback duties with Phillips Wigginton ended the year as the Southwest Conference leader in touchdowns from scrimmage and tied the school record for the same He ended his career with a 4 2 record as a starter Records Edit UT Most touchdowns season 14 tied Len Barrell 6 Byron Townsend and Steve Worster tied by Roosevelt Leaks surpassed by Earl Campbell in 1977 UT Most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback season 14 surpassed by Sam Ehlinger in 2018 UT Lowest Percentage of Passes Had Intercepted season 3 0 surpassed by James Brown in 1994Later life EditImmediately after the 1972 Cotton Bowl he went with Texas Offensive Coordinator Emory Bellard to Texas A amp M to become a freshman coach 7 He later rose to the job of offensive backs coach After six seasons he retired to return to Austin and go into the commercial real estate business and coached at several schools in the Austin Area He married Judy Smith Stephens December 4 1999 and divorced in 2015 References Edit Richardson Steve 1 Aug 2003 Tales of the Texas Longhorns Sports Publishing LLC p 66 ISBN 1582615594 Retrieved 7 July 2014 Peterson Harold 11 November 1971 The Week Sports Illustrated Retrieved 6 July 2014 Jenkins Dan 18 November 1971 Oklahoma Wins the Wishbone War Sports Illustrated Retrieved 6 July 2014 Boyles Bob Guido Paul 2009 The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia 1st ed ISBN 9781602396777 Retrieved 7 July 2014 Texas Keeps Cotton Bowl Hopes Alive Gadsden Times 14 November 1971 Retrieved 8 July 2014 Tagliabue Emil 1971 11 24 The Unusual Saga of Two Quarterbacks The Corpus Christi Caller Times Corpus Christi TX Retrieved 2014 07 16 Eddie Phillips will Pilot Texas in Bowl The Morning Record Meridan CT 1971 12 30 Retrieved 2014 07 18 External links EditTexas stats Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Donnie Wigginton amp oldid 1061737297, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
