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Texas Bowl

December 29, 2010 · 5:00 pm CST

Reliant Stadium · Houston, Texas

Texas Bowl Gridiron Legends

The Texas Bowl Committee honored past football greats from the State of Texas during the Houston Texans preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, August 31.

2009 Texas Bowl Gridiron Legends

  • Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
  • Gabriel Rivera
  • Grant Teaff
  • Sammy Baugh

The 2009 Texas Bowl Gridiron Legends class includes Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Gabriel Rivera and Grant Teaff. Sammy Baugh will be honored posthumously.

After lettering in basketball, baseball, and football at TCU, Sammy Baugh was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1937. With a record-setting career as a quarterback, defensive back, and punter, Baugh was named to the inaugural class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963, the 1940s NFL All Decade Team, and the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team. Baugh passed away on December 17, 2008.

After a successful career at Widener University, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson helped transform the 1970s Houston Oilers into the “Luv ya Blue” era. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection during his time with the Oilers and named to the 1980s NFL All Decade Team and the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

A star player at San Antonio Jefferson High School and a consensus All American in 1982 for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Gabriel Rivera set a school single-season record with 105 tackles in 1982 and earned the nickname “Señor Sack.”

Currently serving as the Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association, Grant Teaff coached Baylor University through its most successful college football era. Teaff was honored as the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year six times and named the Football writers Coach of the Year in 1974 while leading the Bears to two Southwest Conference titles and four bowl victories.

Past Gridiron Legend classes

2008 Texas Bowl Gridiron Legends
  • Ecomet Burley 1971-1974, Texas Tech University
  • Ken Burrough 1971-1981, Houston Oilers
  • Mickey Herskowitz Sports Journalist, Houston Chronicle and Houston Post
  • Jack Pardee 1987-1994 University of Houston, Houston Oilers Coach
  • Jackie Sherrill 1982-1988 Texas A&M University Coach
  • Dicky Maegle 1952-1955 Rice University

Read more in the News…

2007 Texas Bowl Gridiron Legends
  • Bill Yeoman 1962–1986, University of Houston Head Coach
  • Mike Renfro 1978–1987, Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys
  • Corby Robertson 1966–1968, University of Texas
  • Chris Gilbert 1966–1968, University of Texas
  • Ray Childress 1985–1996, Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys
  • Dave Campbell 1960–present, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine

Read more in the News…

2006 Texas Bowl Gridiron Legends
  • Lamar Hunt A True Texas Gridiron Legend
  • Kenny Houston 1967–1980, Houston Oilers and Washington Redskins
  • Roosevelt Leaks 1975–1979 Baltimore Colts, 1980–1983 Buffalo Bills
  • Jerry LeVias 1969–1974, Houston Oilers and San Diego Chargers
  • Don Maynard 1958 New York Giants, 1960–1972 New York Titans/Jets, 1973 St. Louis Cardinals
  • G.A. Moore 1962–2004 Texas High School Coach

Read more in the News…