William James Atessis was born July, 16, 1949, in Houston, TX and is a former American football who played on two NCAA national champtionship teams. One of the most honored and productive defensive ends in NCAA history, he was a 3-year starter and was second-team All-America as a junior who was an consensus All-American as a senior. Currently resides in Phoenix, AZ.[1]
High School
Attended James High School, in Houston, TX. Graduated in 1967. He was an all-around athletes who excelled in football, baseball, and basketball.
University of Texas
- Starter on the back-to-back National Champion Texas Longhorns, 1969 (AP, UPI) and 1970 (UPI) [2]
- Starter on team that won three consecutive Southwest Conference championships and appeared in three consecutive Cotton Bowl games, winning two [3]
- 1970 1st-Team All-American (consensus)[4]
- 1969 2nd-Team All-America
- 1970 Southwest Conference Co-Lineman of the Year (with Arkansas' Dick Bumpas)
- Consensus All-SWC choice in 1969 and 1970 [5]
- Three-year starter at left defensive end, 1968-70
- Three-year letterman 1968, 1969, 1970[6]
- Finalist for Outland Trophy, 1970
- Member of teams which set school record 30-game winning streak that currently stands as the 12th-longest in NCAA history.
- Voted Longhorn Defensive MVP by the Dallas Morning News and Houston Post 1969, 1970[7]
- Member, University of Texas Men's Athletics Hall of Honor (2001)[8]
- Texas Coach Darrell Royal called him a, "Super player, who hasn't played a bad game in three years." [9]
- Played in what has been called "The Game of the Century" between #1 Texas and #2 Arkansas on December 6, 1970, with the Longhorns winning 15-14. [10]
- Played in the Coaches' All-America Game in Lubbock, TX, June 28, 1971. Singled out for his "tremendous game" by the Odessa American as worthy of the player of the game award [11]
NFL
- Second-round draft choice by NFL Baltimore Colts (52nd overall pick) on January 28, 1971
- Added to the "injured waivered list" by the Colts on September 9, 1971.[12]
- Placed on "injured reserve by the Colts September 16, 1971.
- Released by the Colts on October 4, 1971.[13]
- Signed by the New England Patriots, November 15, 1971, and assigned to the taxi squad.
- Signed to the active roster November 20, 1971, and played 5 games with the New England Patriots, 1971
- Acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals in July, 19, 1972, for a future draft choice and was switched to offensive guard. [14]
- Placed on injured reserve by the Cardinals August, 8, 1972
- CUt by the Cardinals, September 13, 1972 [15]
Notes
- Wore uniform #77 while at Texas
- Along with two other Texas All-Americans, Bobby Wuench and Steve Worster, criticized Notre Dame players of being "poor sports" in a 21-17 loss to the Longhorns in the 1970 Cotton Bowl.[16]
- Featured in 2005 book Texas Longhorns: Where Have You Gone? by Whit Canning, published in 2005, ISBN 1582619522