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Texas football saw two recorded field goals during the 1977 season

Texas football saw two recorded field goals during the 1977 season

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This date in Texas history is part of a daily Longhorns newsletter compiled by Texas football beat writer Danny Davis. Sign up for the newsletter here to get this and other phenomenal coverage from the American-Statesman delivered straight to your inbox.

Today is October 15, 2024. And on this day in Texas history, a historic kick was made against the Longhorns.

During a Top 10 matchup in 1977, No. 2 Texas posted a 13-9 win over No. 8 Arkansas. Johnny “Ham” Jones scored the game-winning touchdown with 4:31 left, but this game ended up being a showcase for the kickers. Russell Erxleben hit 52- and 58-yard field goals for Texas, while Steve Little hit three three-pointers for Arkansas.

One of Little’s field goals was pretty big. In the second quarter, Little converted a 67-yard attempt.

This 67-yard field goal tied an NCAA record that Erxleben had set two weeks earlier against Rice. Forty-seven years later, no college kicker has surpassed Little and Erxleben’s 67-yard field goals. Wichita State’s Joe Williams also took a shot from that distance in 1978.