Cotton Speyrer

Last updated
Cotton Speyrer
No. 28, 82
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1949-04-29) April 29, 1949 (age 74)
Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school: Thomas Jefferson
(Port Arthur, Texas)
College: Texas
NFL draft: 1971  / Round: 2 / Pick: 38
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Charles Wayne Speyrer (born April 29, 1949) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Texas.

Speyrer was a first-team all state running back at Port Arthur Jefferson High school and a two-time all american receiver at the University of Texas. He is a member of the University of Texas Hall of Honor and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame and the only player ever named to the Cotton Bowl All-Decade team in two different decades.

Speyrer was a key play-maker in what is considered by some to be the most famous drive in Texas history. Texas was fresh off its famed 15–14 come-from-behind victory over No. 2 Arkansas in the "Game of the Century" with President Richard M Nixon in attendance. That victory earned Texas the right to represent the Southwest Conference in the Cotton Bowl where their opponent was eighth-ranked Irish, featuring Joe Theismann. This was Notre Dame's first bowl game in 40 years, but early on, the game had the makings of a big upset when Notre Dame charged out to a 10–0 lead.

Starting on their own 24-yard line, the Longhorns embarked upon a fourth-quarter, 17-play march that included a pair of fourth-and-two conversions, the last coming at the Notre Dame 10 when James Street completed a clutch pass to a diving Speyrer that took the Horns to the two. From there, it took three plays before Billy Dale pushed the ball over the goal line to cement UT's second national title—Texas 21, Notre Dame 17.

Speyrer is also known for his last minute touchdown catch during his senior year in a come-from—behind win during the Texas–UCLA game in the fall of 1970. The catch and victory was a key part of Texas finishing the regular season undefeated where they were awarded their 3rd National title (1963, 1969 & 1970) by the UPI Coach's Poll.

Speyrer was the 38th overall selection in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He never played a game with Washington before being traded along with a 1973 first-round pick (25th overalltraded to San Diego Chargers for Marty Domres) to the Colts for Roy Jefferson and ninth-rounders in 1973 (218th overall Rick Galbos) and 1974 (213th overalltraded to Los Angeles Rams for Joe Sweet) on July 31, 1971. [1] [2] [3] He spent four seasons in the NFL, three with the Colts, and one final year with the Miami Dolphins. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Theismann</span> American football player and broadcaster (born 1949)

Joseph Robert Theismann is an American former professional football player, sports commentator, corporate speaker and restaurateur. He rose to fame playing quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Theismann spent 12 seasons with the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and helped the team to consecutive Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XVII over the Miami Dolphins and losing Super Bowl XVIII. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971–72 NFL playoffs</span>

The National Football League playoffs for the 1971 season began on December 25, 1971. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24–3, on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norm Bulaich</span> American football player (born 1946)

Norman Batton Bulaich is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL).

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. The Dolphins not only led the NFL in points scored, while their defense led the league in fewest points allowed, the roster also featured two running backs who gained 1,000 rushing yards in the same season.

George James Kunz is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 1980. He played college football with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning consensus All-American honors in 1968. Kunz was selected in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft with the second overall pick. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL, playing with the Atlanta Falcons (1969–1974) and Baltimore Colts (1975-1980).

Joe Dan Washington Jr is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.

Diron Vester Talbert is an American former professional football player who played defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, making the pro-bowl in 1975. He played four season with the Los Angeles Rams and 10 with the Washington Redskins, with whom we went to Super Bowl VII. He was later named one of the 70 greatest Redskin players of all time. As a freshman at the University of Texas he was part of the team that won the 1963 National Championship and he later made all-conference and pre-season All-American teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Jefferson</span> American football player (born 1943)

Roy Lee Jefferson is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Utah Utes. During 162 regular season games in the NFL, he had 451 receptions for 7,539 yards and 52 touchdowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myron Pottios</span> American football player (born 1939)

Myron Joseph Pottios is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was elected to play in three Pro Bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marv Fleming</span> American football player (born 1942)

Marvin Lawrence Fleming is an American former professional football player who was a tight end for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), seven with the Green Bay Packers and five with the Miami Dolphins. He was a member of five NFL championship teams.

John Leonard Wilbur was a professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins. He also was a member of The Hawaiians in the World Football League (WFL). He played college football at Stanford University.

The 2001 Dallas Cowboys season was the team's 42nd in the National Football League (NFL). The Cowboys matched their record from the season before, going 5–11 and missing the playoffs, finishing last in the NFC East. For the first time since 1988, Troy Aikman was not on the Cowboys roster as quarterback, as the three-time Super Bowl champion retired, after playing for the team from 1989 to 2000. For the first time, Pat Summerall and John Madden did not call any Cowboys games for Fox all year.

The 1972 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 40th season in the National Football League. They failed to improve and declined on their previous output of 6–7–1, winning only two games. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the twelfth consecutive season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Fuller</span> American football player (born 1994)

William Vincent Fuller V is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, earning second-team All-American honors in 2015. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Fuller also played for the Miami Dolphins.

Durham Smythe is an American football tight end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Notre Dame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Minnesota Vikings season</span> 60th season in franchise history

The 2020 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 60th in the National Football League (NFL), their fifth playing home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their seventh under head coach Mike Zimmer. This was the Vikings' first time since 2005 that long-time assistant Kevin Stefanski was not part of the Vikings coaching staff, as he left to become the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns on January 12, 2020. After going 1–5 in their first six games for the first time since 2013, the team failed to improve upon their 10–6 record from 2019 after a Week 11 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and failed to match their 10–6 record after a Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention following a week 16 loss to the New Orleans Saints, and ultimately finished 7–9, their first losing season since 2014. The Vikings conceded 475 points during the season, the third-highest total in franchise history, although they also managed to score 430 points, also the third-most in team history.

References

  1. "Colts Trade Jefferson For Redskin Receiver," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, July 31, 1971. Retrieved December 2, 2021
  2. 1973 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 30 (Rounds 17) & 31 (Rounds 817) Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved December 2, 2021
  3. 1974 NFL Draft Pick Transactions, January 29 (Rounds 15) & 30 (Rounds 617) Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved December 2, 2021
  4. "Cotton Speyrer". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 25, 2021.