Martin Ray Akins was born on January 6,1954 and is a former college All-American football player and politician.
26 Facts About Marty Akins
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Marty Akins started as quarterback for the Texas Longhorns in the early 1970s and was the only Longhorn quarterback to start three seasons directing the wishbone offense, and the only wishbone quarterback to ever be an All-American.
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At Gregory-Portland High School, Marty Akins was coached by his father, Ray Marty Akins, a Texas High School Football Hall of Famer with 302 wins in 37 seasons.
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Marty Akins was an All-State Quarterback and Prep All-American Quarterback and was selected Super All-State Punter and Kicker.
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Marty Akins competed in track and field, winning the 1972 Texas State High School Championship in the shot put.
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Marty Akins was heavily recruited by many national programs and first accepted an offer from Notre Dame, where he'd always dreamed of going.
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At Texas, Marty Akins spent his freshman year backing up Alan Lowry.
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Marty Akins played in several games as quarterback and as a kickoff and punt returner and played in the 1973 Cotton Bowl, against Alabama which Texas won.
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Lowry graduated and by the spring of 1973, Marty Akins had taken over as the starting quarterback.
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In 1973, Marty Akins started every game, despite suffering a broken big toe in the third game of the season.
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Marty Akins was twice voted Chevrolet Television Player of the game and was chosen the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year.
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Marty Akins played in the Cotton Bowl despite having the flu and a temperature over 102 degrees.
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Texas started the 1974 season with a win over Boston College, but Marty Akins suffered a concussion during the win resulting in him being hospitalized.
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Marty Akins played, but sat out most of the next game against Wyoming.
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Marty Akins returned full speed for the remainder of the season.
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Against Rice, Marty Akins set the record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback.
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Marty Akins was again the starter in 1975 and now the captain of a team that included future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Earl Campbell.
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That season Marty Akins was again twice the Chevrolet Player of the Game in televised games, named to the All-Conference team and became the first and only Wishbone quarterback in College Football history to be named an All-American when the FWAA chose him over AP All-American John Sciara.
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Marty Akins was inducted into the University of Texas Hall of Honor in 1995 and was selected by the University of Texas as one of the university's 125 Extraordinary Texas Exes.
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Marty Akins was selected in the 11th round of the 1976 NFL draft by the St Louis Cardinals.
21.
Marty Akins played in the exhibition games for the Saints, but because of severe injuries he decided to give up pro ball.
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Marty Akins studied law at the University of Houston College of Law, graduated with high honors and became a very successful trial lawyer dealing with environmental, consumer protection, and personal injury cases.
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Marty Akins practiced law throughout Texas for many years and retired in 2000 to pursue a career in politics.
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Marty Akins won the party's 2002 nomination for the State Comptroller's office, but then lost in the general election to incumbent Carole Keeton Rylander.
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Marty Akins was named to the All-Big XII Academic Team.
26.
Marty Akins' nephew is former Purdue starting quarterback Drew Brees, who won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints.