Richard Ritchie

Texas A&I had a 1-8 record going into the last game of the 1973 season. A freshman, Richard Ritchie, moved up to the starting quarterback position. The Javelinas won that game. Ritchie continued as quarterback for three full seasons. Texas A&I had successive records of 13-0, 12-0, 13-0. Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M-Kingsville) won NAIA Division I championships those three years. The Javelinas beat Henderson 34-23 in the final in 1974, Salem 37-0 in the final in 1975, and Central Arkansas 26-0 in the final in 1976. Ritchie's record as a starting quarterback was 39-0. He passed for 40 touchdowns and rushed for 19. His passes totaled 5,131 yards and he rushed for 1492. He kicked 137 extra points and nine field goals. The 1974 Texas A&I team played a regular-season game in Monterrey, Mexico, and beat Monterrey Tech 33-6. The 1975 team played the dedication game for Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and beat the University of Hawaii 43-0. The 1976 team played exhibition games in France, Austria, and Germany. Ritchie was named Most Valuable Player in the NAIA Championship game in 1974, was named Lone Star Conference Player of the Year 1975-76, NAIA Player of the Year 1975-76, Associated Press Little All-America 1976, and Academic All-America 1975-76. He served as assistant football coach at Texas 1977-79, North Texas 1980, and Texas Tech 1981-84. He returned to school, obtained a law degree, and began practicing law in Mineral Wells, Texas where he joined his family law firm. In 1998, he was inducted into the National College Football Association's College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana. Today he currently serves on the board of Texas A&I Kingsville and is active in his community, ranching, and the practice of law. [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=70044]