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Javelinas Dominate LSC 75th Anniversary Football Team

   The Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelina football program garnered 16 members of the 75 players and coaches honored by the Lone Star Conference on its 75th anniversary team.
   Fourteen players and two coaches, Gil Steinke and Ron Harms, were honored.
   Texas A&M-Kingsville entered the Lone Star Conference in 1954, 23 years after the league was first formed, yet the Javelinas have won more conference championships (26) and national championships (8) than any school in league history.
   Only 10 coaches in LSC history were picked for the 75th anniversary team, two of those being Steinke and Harms.
   Coach Steinke led the Javelinas from 1954 through 1976, leading the Javelinas to an incredible 182-61-4 record, which included 10 LSC titles and six NAIA national championships. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the LSC Hall of Honor and the Javelina Hall of Fame. Steinke led the Javelinas on a record setting 42-game winning streak, which began with the last game of the 1973 season and ended in the fourth game of the 1977 season. The Javelinas won three consecutive national championships during the streak.
   Coach Harms was the offensive coordinator for 25 of the 42 games during the Javelinas’ legendary winning streak, then took over the Javelina program in 1979, leading the team to a national championship in his first season. Harms was the head coach from 1979 through 1999, leading the Hogs to 11 league titles in 21 seasons and 173-71 record. He was named LSC Coach of the Year five times and is a member of the Javelina Hall of Fame.
   Javelina players that were named to the 75th anniversary team include Johnny Bailey (RB, 1986-89/Houston Yates HS), Larry Collins (RB, 1974-77/San Antonio Edison HS), Karl Douglas (QB, 1967-70/Houston Worthing HS), Roberto Garza (OL, 1997-2000/Rio Hondo HS), Darrell Green (DB, Houston Jones HS/1978-82), Andy Hawkins (LB, 1976-79/Van Vleck HS/), David Hill (TE, 1972-75/San Antonio Highlands HS), Randy Johnson (QB, 1962-65/San Antonio Sam Houston HS), Jermane Mayberry (OL, 1993-95/Floresville HS), Dwayne Nix (TE, 1965-68/Kingsvile H.M. King HS), John Randle (DL, 1988-89/Hearne HS), Richard Ritchie (QB, 1973-76/Mineral Wells HS), Heath Sherman (RB, 1985-88/El Campo HS), and Gene Upshaw (OL, 1963-67/Robstown HS).
   Upshaw is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, elected in 1987. He was the first player elected to the hall who played guard exclusively. After playing in the Senior Bowl, Coaches’ All-America Bowl and College All-Star game, he was a first round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders. Upshaw played in 10 AFL/AFC title games, three Super Bowls, seven Pro Bowls and earned All-league seven years, second-team All-NFL four other times. He played on the Raiders 1977 and 1981 Super Bowl title teams. He is currently the executive director of the NFL Players Association.
   Bailey is the only player in NCAA Division II history to win the Harold Hill Award, which is given to the top player in Division II, three times. Bailey set the NCAA Division II career rushing record in 1989, finishing with 6,320 yards, breaking the old record by over 1,200 yards. He was an AP Little All-America and an AFCA first team All-America four years. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the LSC Hall of Honor, and the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame.
   Roberto Garza is the starting right guard for the Chicago Bears. Garza was a two-time AP Little All-America and AFCA first team All-America selection. He was also the NCAA Division II national indoor and outdoor national champion in the shot put in 1999 and the Lone Star Conference Athlete of the Year in 1999-2000.
   Larry Collins was on teams that won three NAIA national titles (1974, 75, 76) and four LSC championships, compiling a 41-1-1 record with him in the backfield. He was an AP Little All-America, NAIA All-America, LSC Freshman of the year in 1974 and the 1977 LSC Back of the Year. He finished his career with 4,511 rushing yards, a school record at the time.
   Karl Douglas was an NAIA All-America first team quarterback, leading the Javelinas to a pair of NAIA national championships (1969, 70) and four LSC titles. The team had 41-4 record during his career and finished with 5,027 yards passing, still the school record.
   Darrell Green was an AP Little All-America first team was an AFCA All-America first team pick and one of nation’s top sprinters in track & field. He was a national champion in the 200-meter dash and an outstanding defensive back as well as kickoff and punt returner. He played an incredible 21 years with the Washington Redskins (1983-2002). He was the 1996 NFL True Value Man of the Year, 1996 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 1996 Ken Houston Humanitarian Award, 1997 USA TODAY Most Caring Athlete Award, and 1997 Sprint Good Sportsmanship Award winner. He finished with 54 career interceptions, six returned for touchdown, played on three Super Bowl championship teams, and was a seven-time All-Pro selection. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and the LSC Hall of Honor. 
   Andy Hawkins was a first team AP Little All-America and AFCA All-America first team selection. He played on NAIA national championship teams in 1976 and 1979 and was a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the early 1980’s.
   David Hill was AP Little All-America and AFCA All-America first team selection. He played on NAIA national championship and LSC title teams in 1974 and 1975. He enjoyed a 12-year career with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection, catching 358 passes for 4,212 yards and 28 touchdowns in his NFL career.
   Randy Johnson was an AP Little All-America first team quarterback and the LSC most valuable player in 1965. He threw for 4,600 yards and accounted for 5,428 yards of total offense during his Javelina career. He played in several post-season all-star games and was a first round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons. Johnson enjoyed a 10-year NFL career, throwing for 8,329 yards and 51 touchdowns.
   Jermane Mayberry was an AP Little All-America and AFCA first team All-America pick. He was a first round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles and has enjoyed an 11-year NFL career, making 104 career starts and earning Pro Bowl honors in 2002. He was the first Eagles’ guard to earn All-Pro honors since 1957 and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2005 Super Bowl team. He is currently on the New Orleans Saints roster, but is on injured reserve.
   Dwayne Nix, a native of Kingsville, was a three-time AP Little All-America first team pick and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Dwayne also was a two-time All-Lone Star Conference pick and a member of the All-Texas College first team in 1966 and 1967. As a junior, the Javelinas were undefeated, with his senior squad going all the way to the NAIA championship game. He was elected to the All-Lone Star Conference team of the 1960's, was named a member of the Texas A&I 50th Anniversary team, and was elected to the Javelina Hall of Fame. He finished his career with 121 receptions for 1,626 yards. After he left Texas A&I, he began a military career in the Marine Corps.
   John Randle was an AP Little All-America first team pick and was voted the LSC outstanding lineman in 1988 and 1989. He had an incredible 22 sacks as a junior in 1988 and 14 in 1989. He went on to a standout 15-year NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and when he retired after the 2003 season, he was tied for fifth in NFL history in quarterback sacks with 137 ½.
   Richard Ritchie had one of the most successful careers of any college quarterback, leading the Javelinas to a 39-0 record as a starter. Ritchie accounted for 5,815 yards of total offense during his career. He led the team to three NAIA national titles and four LSC championships. He was an AP Little All-America and NAIA All-America first team selection. He was the LSC Back of the Year in 1975 and 1976 and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and the LSC Hall of Honor.
   Heath Sherman combined with Johnny Bailey as one of small college’s greatest backfields. Sherman had 1,126 yards and scored 20 rushing touchdowns his senior season. He finished his career with 4,654 career rushing yards and scored 378 points. He was a first team All-America pick by the Football News. He had a solid five-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, rushing for 2,130 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns while also catching 75 passes for over 600 yards and four scores.
 
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