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I had seen this discussed on another website, and nobody seemed to remember the guy's name. I remember him playing in the high school all-star game with Eric Dickerson & Craig James, and IMO he stole the show. I believe he had a career ending injury very early in college.

Does anybody here remember his name?

Either Charles Waggoner or Michael Charles. They were both in that class and were both very highly recruited. Waggoner broke his neck in their freshman year and never played again.

I believe that was Charles Waggoner

Pony Fan wrote:Either Charles Waggoner or Michael Charles. They were both in that class and were both very highly recruited. Waggoner broke his neck in their freshman year and never played again.

I think that there was a fifth back besides those 2, but I can't access my old Texas Football issues because I am away on vacation.

Waggoner is the guy he's thinking about. I think he may have been actually outrushing both James and Dickerson their freshman year when he went down for the count early on with a vertebrae injury.

Yeah Ron Meyer had the brillant idea to put Dickerson and Wagginer in on Kick-Off Returns. In their first game as KO-Returners he got both injured on the same play against Tech. Dickerson saw very little action the rest of the season and Waggoner never returned. Waggoner had over 800 yards rushing-500 yards more than Dickerson.

Can you imagine Dickerson's career numbers if he'd never been hurt?

Waggoner was the best of the three of them in their freshman year. Somebody would have transferred if Waggoner had not gotten hurt.

Stallion wrote:Yeah Ron Meyer had the brillant idea to put Dickerson and Wagginer in on Kick-Off Returns. In their first game as KO-Returners he got both injured on the same play against Tech. Dickerson saw very little action the rest of the season and Waggoner never returned. Waggoner had over 800 yards rushing-500 yards more than Dickerson.

The sad thing is that there were very few options for kick returners late in that season. James Collier had quit the team (he had a TD KO return against Baylor that year). Darrell Turner had not produced at kick returner that year. There simply wasn't much KO returner talent available at that point in the season. It is very sad that Wags got injured against TTU as he was having a really strong year and he had the most potential to add more weight and strength in the off season. The 1979 season was noteworthy because of all the injuries suffered that year (Ford, Smith, Waggnor, Dickerson, Mason, M. Fisher to name a few starters).

Yeah, Charles Waggoner. Thanks for the help.

Also in the what if department. What if Ford had not gotten injured that year? Would McIlhenny have ever played until his senior year? Imagine a passing attack with Ford to Leach combined with the Pony Express in the backfield.

EastStang wrote:Also in the what if department. What if Ford had not gotten injured that year? Would McIlhenny have ever played until his senior year? Imagine a passing attack with Ford to Leach combined with the Pony Express in the backfield.

Wasn't Ford a Sr. during the 1980 season when McIlhenny was a frosh? I'm thinking he might have gotten a shot at starting his sophmore year.

EastStang wrote:Also in the what if department. What if Ford had not gotten injured that year? Would McIlhenny have ever played until his senior year? Imagine a passing attack with Ford to Leach combined with the Pony Express in the backfield.

Ponyte, correct me if I am wrong, but I did not think Ford was hurt when McIhenny took over. I thought that Meyers just thought it was time for a change. I thought Ford's injury was the previous year.

mrydel wrote:

EastStang wrote:Also in the what if department. What if Ford had not gotten injured that year? Would McIlhenny have ever played until his senior year? Imagine a passing attack with Ford to Leach combined with the Pony Express in the backfield.

Ponyte, correct me if I am wrong, but I did not think Ford was hurt when McIhenny took over. I thought that Meyers just thought it was time for a change. I thought Ford's injury was the previous year.

I think that's correct. His knee injury was his junior year, the freshman year of Dickerson and James, and he was just benched for the Texas game his senior year when Lance got the start, as I recall.

Ford was injured in 1979 as was Waggoner et al. In 1980, Ford was the starter for the first 6 games (record under Ford was 4-2). However, Ford had had a very difficult game against Houston the game prior to Texas. The coaching staff decided for a change and opened up the QB position. Mike Fisher (injured against A$M in 1979) was the slated #1 at the beginning of the Texas game week. McIhenny eventually won the position. Lance then started the next 5 games (record 4-1). However, against Ark Lance was injured early in the first quarter and Ford came off the bench to win that game. Ford had received an injury redshirt so he could have been the started through 80 and into 81 (in theory). Had Ford not been injured, who knows?