Marty Akins

Early life

Marty Akins was born in San Saba, Texas. At Gregory-Portland, Akins was coached by his father, Ray Akins, a Texas High School Football Hall of Famer with 302 wins in 37 seasons. Marty Akins, captain of his high school team, was selected as the Texas High School 3A Football Player of the Year in 1971 while he led the Wildcats to the 1971 State Championship game. He had a 60–4–1 record as a junior high and high school quarterback. Akins was an All-State Quarterback and Prep All-American Quarterback and was selected Super All-State Punter and Kicker. Marty Akins was also selected as Quarterback on the UIL All-Century Football Team 1910-2010.

Akins was heavily recruited by many national programs and had always dreamed of playing for Notre Dame. When Notre Dame offered Akins a scholarship, he first decided to take it, but later chose to stay close to home when he was heavily recruited by Longhorn coach Darrell Royal and by former President Lyndon Johnson.

Akins was also a star in track and field, winning the 1972 Texas State High School Championship in the shot put. He also won the 1971 national championship in track and field.

College career

At Texas, Akins spent his freshman year backing up Alan Lowry. As a freshman, Akins played quarterback in several games helping Texas win the Southwest Conference for the fifth time in a row. He also emerged as a great kickoff and punt returner playing in the 1973 Cotton Bowl, which Texas won. Texas finished the season ranked #3 in the nation.

Lowry graduated and by the spring of 1973, Akins had taken over as the starting quarterback. In 1973, Akins started every game, despite suffering a broken big toe in the third game of the season. Texas defied predictions and won its sixth consecutive SWC Championship, but lost to Nebraska in the 1974 Cotton Bowl. He was twice voted Chevrolet Television Player of the game and was chosen the Southwest Conference Newcomer of the Year. Akins played in the Cotton Bowl despite having the flu and a temperature over 102 degrees.

Texas started the 1974 season with a win over Boston College. Akins suffered a concussion late in the game and was hospitalized for observation. He then sat out most of the next game against Wyoming, but he came in late and helped the Longhorns win. Royal reported: "In spring training Marty ran a 4.4 forty-yard dash, bench pressed 375 lbs., vertical jumped over 40 inches, squatted 475 lbs., and standing broad-jumped over 11 feet." Coach Royal also said: "Marty is the best all-around athlete I have ever seen or coached." Against Rice, Akins set a school record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback (188 yards). Texas came close to winning the SWC for a seventh straight time, but lost in upsets to unranked Texas Tech and Baylor, as well as second-ranked Oklahoma, which also beat Texas, 16-13, en route to becoming the National Champion. The Longhorns finished on a high note, beating TCU 81-16 and upsetting #7 Texas A&M. They went on to the Gator Bowl, but lost to #5 Auburn.

Akins was the starting quarterback again in 1975 and was one of the captains of a team that included future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Earl Campbell. Akins led the Longhorns to a 10–2 record, again losing to #2 (and eventual National Champion) Oklahoma (21-17). Royal called Akins "the best college football player of the 1975 season." He was replaced in the TCU game by Ted Constanzo when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Texas was ahead 14–3 when he left the game and eventually won 27-11. Two weeks later, after much doubt that he would even play, Akins, with his knee heavily braced, started against #2, undefeated Texas A&M with the Conference title on the line. But he was injured again on the Longhorns' first offensive play when the Aggies went straight for his knee and put him out of the game. Constanzo replaced him, but without Marty Akins in the game Texas couldn't do much, even with Earl Campbell. Texas A&M won, splitting the conference championship with Texas and Arkansas and sending Texas to the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. Akins was back in the lineup for the that game and led the team to a 38–21 come-from-behind win over Colorado and a final ranking of #9. Coach Royal said, "Without Marty we would not have beaten Colorado. He played on one leg and won the game." That season Akins was named to the All-Conference team, was voted Southwest Conference Player of the Year, was Most Valuable Player of the Southwest Conference, won the Kern Tips Memorial trophy, and became the only quarterback in college football history to be named an All-American when the FWAA chose him over AP All-American John Sciara. Coach Darrell Royal stated: "Akins making All-American as a wishbone quarterback was like winning the Heisman Trophy."

Akins finished his football career at the University of Texas with a record of 27-9, the most wins since Bobby Layne won 28.

Records

Later life and political career

Akins was selected in the 11th round of the 1976 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent his rookie season on the scout team playing quarterback, defensive back, punter and place-kicker. He was then traded to the New Orleans Saints in 1977. His injured right knee never recovered. He played in several exhibition games for the Saints but was only able to play at 85 percent. Akins was set to play hurt, but before the season started he decided to give up pro ball and become a lawyer. He 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.

In 1987, Akins joined his father in the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame, where they became the only father/son inductees.

Akins practiced law throughout Texas for many years and retired in 2000 to pursue a career in politics. In 2001, he sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Texas, but then dropped out to compete for state comptroller instead. 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.

In 2006 Akins was hired as the Head Men's and Women's Golf Coach for Huston-Tillotson University and remained in that position for two years. In 2009, he was appointed to the Texas State Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers by Governor Rick Perry.

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.

Family

Akins and his wife Pam have three children. Their youngest daughter Angela Akins played golf for the TCU Horned Frogs before transferring to the Texas Longhorns for her junior and senior years. She was named to the All-Big XII Academic Team. In January 2017, Angela was engaged to professional golfer Sergio García.

Akins's nephew is former Purdue starting quarterback Drew Brees, who won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints.