Happy Feller
Encyclopedia
James Patrick "Happy" Feller (born June 13, 1949) is a former American football
kicker
in the National Football League
. He was drafted 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
. He played college football
at Texas
.
for the Texas Longhorns
. He beat out Rob Layne, who started in 1967, for the starting kicker
job before the start of the 1968 season. In 1968, Feller went 8-of-16 for field goals and 30-of-32 for extra point attempts
. He made a 53-yarder against Oklahoma
, a school record.
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. In week two against Texas Tech
, he converted all seven extra points. He went seven-for-seven for extra point attempts on October 4 against Navy
. 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. He had a 24-yard field goal and converted all four extra point attempts against Rice
on October 25. Feller made a 32-yard field goal and converted all six extra point attempts against SMU
on November 1. Against Baylor
on November 8, he made all five extra point attempts. He went five-for-six on extra point attempts against TCU
on November 15. Against the Texas A&M Aggies
on November 27, Feller made a 43-yard field goal and converted four-of-seven extra point attempts. 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. In the Cotton Bowl Classic against Notre Dame
on January 1, Feller went three-for-three for extra point attempts.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft
1971 NFL Draft
The 1971 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1971.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
and played for one season for the team. He played for two seasons with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
.
College career
Feller played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Texas Longhorns
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
. He beat out Rob Layne, who started in 1967, for the starting kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
job before the start of the 1968 season. In 1968, Feller went 8-of-16 for field goals and 30-of-32 for extra point attempts
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
. He made a 53-yarder against Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, a school record.
In the season-opener in 1969 against the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
, Feller kicked a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter and went two-for-two for extra point attempts. In week two against Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, he converted all seven extra points. He went seven-for-seven for extra point attempts on October 4 against Navy
Navy Midshipmen football
The Navy Midshipmen football team represents the United States Naval Academy in NCAA Division I-A college football. They are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school and coached by Ken Niumatalolo since December 2007...
. 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. He had a 24-yard field goal and converted all four extra point attempts against Rice
Rice Owls football
The Rice Owls football team represents Rice University in NCAA Division I college football. The Owls have competed in Conference USA's Western Division since 2005. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games.-Venue:...
on October 25. Feller made a 32-yard field goal and converted all six extra point attempts against SMU
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
on November 1. Against Baylor
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
on November 8, he made all five extra point attempts. He went five-for-six on extra point attempts against TCU
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
on November 15. Against the Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
on November 27, Feller made a 43-yard field goal and converted four-of-seven extra point attempts. He converted on his only extra point attempt to give the Longhorns the win in the "Game of the Century"
1969 Texas vs. Arkansas football game
The 1969 Texas vs. Arkansas football game, dubbed The Big Shootout and sometimes referred to as the "Game of The Century", was a legendary college football game on December 6, 1969 in which the top-ranked Texas Longhorns visited the second-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks at Razorback Stadium in...
against Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
on December 6. In the Cotton Bowl Classic 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...
on January 1, Feller went three-for-three for extra point attempts.