Bucky Richardson
Encyclopedia
John "Bucky" Powell Richardson (born February 7, 1969 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
) is a former quarterback
for Texas A&M University
who went on to play professionally for the NFL's Houston Oilers.
in Baton Rouge, LA, where he starred in both baseball and football. He played collegiately at Texas A&M and made an immediate impact as a freshman coming off the bench and making his first appearance for the Aggies against Southern Miss and future NFL star Brett Favre
, Richardson led the Aggies to a road victory in Jackson
when he broke away in the fourth quarter on an 82-yard touchdown. In the Cotton Bowl Classic that same season against Notre Dame
. Richardson was named MVP after leading the Aggies to a come from behind victory in the 2nd half.
Against BYU
in the 1990 Holiday Bowl
, Richardson compiled 402 yards of total offense (203 pass, 199 run). He rushed for two touchdowns, passed for a touchdown, and caught a touchdown pass. Richardson was also an All-Southwest Conference pick his senior season in 1991, leading the Aggies with 1492 passing yards. He finished in 10th place in the Heisman Trophy
voting that year.
During his Texas A&M career, Richardson rushed for 2,095 yards, a conference record for QBs. He played in three bowl games with the Aggies and led them to two SWC Championships. He finished his Aggie career 24-6-1 as a starter.
by the Houston Oilers. He played mostly in mop-up duty and even saw action on special teams during his first two seasons in the league, but when Oilers' QB Warren Moon
was traded to the Vikings
, Houston's quarterback position was up for grabs.
Incumbent backup Cody Carlson
began the 1994 season under center, but when he separated his shoulder in the season openener, Richardson became the starting quarterback. He is fondly remembered by Houston fans for a play during a preseason exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys
. Late in the game and down by one score, Richardson led the Oilers within striking distance. The drive culminated with a play during which he, a righthander, completed the winning touchdown pass with his left arm.
Unfortunately, the regular season would not be as memorable. Richardson was the starter for nearly half of the season and he split time with Carlson and Billy Joe Tolliver
, none of the three being particularly effective as the Oilers stumbled their way to a league-worst 2-14 record. Richardson's last regular season game as a pro may have been his best, as he passed for over 200 yards, leading the Oilers in a 24-10 victory over the New York Jets
in the Oiler's '94 season finale.
The Dallas Cowboys
signed Richardson in August 1995, planning to use him on special teams and to back up Daryl Johnston
at fullback, however Richardson did not see any regular season action. The Kansas City Chiefs
signed him the following year and he capped off a 1996 preseason victory with a touchdown pass for the Chiefs against his former team the Cowboys. In spite of his preseason heroics, Richardson has never saw action in another regular season NFL game. He finished his career with 1,257 passing yards and 225 rushing yards on an outstanding 6.8 yards per carry average.
with his wife Jenna and their three children. He is the co-owner of Environmental Improvements, Inc., a water and waste treatment company. He coaches his son's baseball team, The Xtreme, in tournaments around Houston.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
) is a former quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for Texas A&M University
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
who went on to play professionally for the NFL's Houston Oilers.
High School and College
Richardson attended Broadmoor High SchoolBroadmoor High School
Broadmoor Senior High School is an accredited public high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.-About the school:Broadmoor High School was founded in 1960 and resides in the center of the historic Broadmoor Neighborhood of South Baton Rouge...
in Baton Rouge, LA, where he starred in both baseball and football. He played collegiately at Texas A&M and made an immediate impact as a freshman coming off the bench and making his first appearance for the Aggies against Southern Miss and future NFL star Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
, Richardson led the Aggies to a road victory in Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
when he broke away in the fourth quarter on an 82-yard touchdown. In the Cotton Bowl Classic that same season against Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
. Richardson was named MVP after leading the Aggies to a come from behind victory in the 2nd half.
Against BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
in the 1990 Holiday Bowl
Holiday Bowl
The Holiday Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A college football bowl game that has been played annually at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, since 1978. Beginning with the 2010 playing the bowl will officially be known as the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl after...
, Richardson compiled 402 yards of total offense (203 pass, 199 run). He rushed for two touchdowns, passed for a touchdown, and caught a touchdown pass. Richardson was also an All-Southwest Conference pick his senior season in 1991, leading the Aggies with 1492 passing yards. He finished in 10th place in the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
voting that year.
During his Texas A&M career, Richardson rushed for 2,095 yards, a conference record for QBs. He played in three bowl games with the Aggies and led them to two SWC Championships. He finished his Aggie career 24-6-1 as a starter.
NFL
Richardson was drafted in the 8th round of the 1992 NFL Draft1992 NFL Draft
The 1992 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1992. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft...
by the Houston Oilers. He played mostly in mop-up duty and even saw action on special teams during his first two seasons in the league, but when Oilers' QB Warren Moon
Warren Moon
Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...
was traded to the Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Houston's quarterback position was up for grabs.
Incumbent backup Cody Carlson
Cody Carlson
Matthew Cody Carlson is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 3rd round of the 1987 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 203-lb...
began the 1994 season under center, but when he separated his shoulder in the season openener, Richardson became the starting quarterback. He is fondly remembered by Houston fans for a play during a preseason exhibition game against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Late in the game and down by one score, Richardson led the Oilers within striking distance. The drive culminated with a play during which he, a righthander, completed the winning touchdown pass with his left arm.
Unfortunately, the regular season would not be as memorable. Richardson was the starter for nearly half of the season and he split time with Carlson and Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver
Billy Joe Tolliver is a former American football player who played in the National Football League and Canadian Football League for twelve seasons. During this time, he played for the San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Oilers, Shreveport Pirates, Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints...
, none of the three being particularly effective as the Oilers stumbled their way to a league-worst 2-14 record. Richardson's last regular season game as a pro may have been his best, as he passed for over 200 yards, leading the Oilers in a 24-10 victory over the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the Oiler's '94 season finale.
The Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
signed Richardson in August 1995, planning to use him on special teams and to back up Daryl Johnston
Daryl Johnston
Daryl Peter "Moose" Johnston is a former National Football League fullback who played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1999.-High school career:...
at fullback, however Richardson did not see any regular season action. The Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
signed him the following year and he capped off a 1996 preseason victory with a touchdown pass for the Chiefs against his former team the Cowboys. In spite of his preseason heroics, Richardson has never saw action in another regular season NFL game. He finished his career with 1,257 passing yards and 225 rushing yards on an outstanding 6.8 yards per carry average.
Personal life
Richardson resides in the Houston suburb of Missouri City, TexasMissouri City, Texas
Missouri City is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within the metropolitan area. The city is mostly in Fort Bend County with a small portion within Harris County. As of the 2000 U.S...
with his wife Jenna and their three children. He is the co-owner of Environmental Improvements, Inc., a water and waste treatment company. He coaches his son's baseball team, The Xtreme, in tournaments around Houston.