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Happy Feller

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Happy Feller
No. 1, 9
Position:Kicker
Personal information
Born: (1949-06-13) June 13, 1949 (age 75)
Fredericksburg, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College:Texas
NFL draft:1971 / round: 4 / pick: 83
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Field goals made:16
Field goals attempted:43
Field goal %:37.2
Player stats at PFR

James Patrick "Happy" Feller (born June 13, 1949) is a former All-American American football kicker who won two National Championships at Texas and played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL draft and played for one season for the team. He played for two seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

Early years

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Feller was nicknamed "Happy" because he smiled often as a child.[1] He played high school football at Fredericksburg where he was an accomplished two-way player.[2]

College career

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Feller played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he was a walk on.[3] He beat out Rob Layne, who started in 1967, for the starting kicker job before the start of the 1968 season.[4] In 1968, Feller went 8-of-16 for field goals and 30-of-32 for extra point attempts.[5] He made a 53-yarder against Oklahoma, a school record.[4] He kicked a 55-yarder two years later against UCLA to break his own record.[3]

In the season-opener in 1969 against the California Golden Bears, Feller kicked a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and went two-for-two for extra point attempts.[6] In week two against Texas Tech, he converted all seven extra points.[7] He went seven-for-seven for extra point attempts on October 4 against Navy.[8] In the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma on October 11, Feller kicked two field goals of 27 and 21 yards and converted all three extra point attempts as the Longhorns beat the Sooners 27–17.[9] He had a 24-yard field goal and converted all four extra point attempts against Rice on October 25.[10] Feller made a 32-yard field goal and converted all six extra point attempts against SMU on November 1.[11] Against Baylor on November 8, he made all five extra point attempts.[12] He went five-for-six on extra point attempts against TCU on November 15.[13] Against the Texas A&M Aggies on November 27, Feller made a 43-yard field goal and converted four-of-seven extra point attempts.[14] He converted on his only extra point attempt to give the Longhorns the win in the "Game of the Century" against Arkansas on December 6.[15] In the Cotton Bowl Classic against Notre Dame on January 1, Feller went three-for-three for extra point attempts.[16]

In 1970, he was named an All-American by The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly, though these are not NCAA-recognized selectors.

In his time at Texas, he set new school and Southwest Conference records for PATs and touchbacks; and a then school record 55 extra points in 1970.[3] He was also the first Longhorn to kick two FGs of 50 yards or more.[17]

NFL career

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Feller was selected in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the first kicker selected in the draft. He played in 21 total games, but could never shake a quadriceps injury.[2] He attempted 20 kicks in his rookie season, making just six. His longest field goal was from 50 yards out. It was his only season with the Eagles, as he spent the other two seasons with the Saints. In his second season, he went 6-for-11 in field goals, with his longest being from 46 yards. The 1973 season was his last professional season. He went 4-for-12 on field goals, with his longest being from 18 yards out.

Later Life

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After leaving the NFL, Feller lived briefly in St. Louis and Dallas before returning to Austin, where he started a wholesale consumer electronics distribution company.[2]

In 2014, he was admitted to the Longhorns Hall of Honor.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Vols Must Crush Flying Foursome". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 1, 1969. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "Happy Feller's timely kicks left Longhorns fans smiling". September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Happy Feller Hall of Honor". Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Texas Has Most Happy Feller". Ocala Star-Banner. November 23, 1969. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  5. ^ Pitzer, Julian (December 31, 1968). "Pit's Sports Slants". Middlesboro Daily News. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  6. ^ "Horn Ground Game Sparks 17–0 Victory". The Victoria Advocate. September 21, 1969. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  7. ^ "Texas Tech vs Texas (Sep 27, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  8. ^ "Navy vs Texas (Oct 4, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  9. ^ "Happy Feller leads Texas past Sooners". Eugene Register-Guard. October 12, 1969. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  10. ^ "Longhorns Shoot Down Rice, 31–0". The Victoria Advocate. October 26, 1969. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  11. ^ Fite, Ed (November 2, 1969). "Texas Tames Mustangs, 45–14". Times Daily. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  12. ^ "Baylor vs Texas (Nov 8, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  13. ^ "TCU vs Texas (Nov 15, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  14. ^ "Texas vs Texas A&M (Nov 27, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  15. ^ "Pass Gamble Held Key Play in Texas Win". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 8, 1969. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  16. ^ "Notre Dame vs Texas (Jan 1, 1970)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on October 11, 2011. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  17. ^ "Texas Football Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved September 9, 2024.
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