Happy Feller
No. 1, 9
Position:Kicker
Personal information
Born: (1949-06-13) June 13, 1949
Fredericksburg, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
College:Texas
NFL Draft:1971 / Round: 4 / Pick: 83
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Field goals made:16
Field goals attempted:43
Field goal %:37.2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

James Patrick "Happy" Feller (born June 13, 1949) is a former American football kicker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected 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.

Early years

Feller was nicknamed "Happy" because he smiled often as a child.[1]

College career

Feller played college football 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.[2] In 1968, Feller went 8-of-16 for field goals and 30-of-32 for extra point attempts.[3] He made a 53-yarder against Oklahoma, a school record.[2]

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.[4] In week two against Texas Tech, he converted all seven extra points.[5] He went seven-for-seven for extra point attempts on October 4 against Navy.[6] 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.[7] He had a 24-yard field goal and converted all four extra point attempts against Rice on October 25.[8] Feller made a 32-yard field goal and converted all six extra point attempts against SMU on November 1.[9] Against Baylor on November 8, he made all five extra point attempts.[10] He went five-for-six on extra point attempts against TCU on November 15.[11] Against the Texas A&M Aggies on November 27, Feller made a 43-yard field goal and converted four-of-seven extra point attempts.[12] 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.[13] In the Cotton Bowl Classic against Notre Dame on January 1, Feller went three-for-three for extra point attempts.[14]

NFL career

Feller was selected in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the first kicker selected in the draft. He played in 21 total games. He attempted 20 kicks in his rookie season, making just six. His longest field goal was from 50 yards out. It was his only season with the Eagles, as he spent the other two seasons with the Saints. In his second season, he went 6-for-11 in field goals, with his longest being from 46 yards. The 1973 season was his last professional season. He went 4-for-12 on field goals, with his longest being from 18 yards out.

References

  1. ↑ "Vols Must Crush Flying Foursome". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. January 1, 1969. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  2. 1 2 "Texas Has Most Happy Feller". Ocala Star-Banner. November 23, 1969. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  3. ↑ Pitzer, Julian (December 31, 1968). "Pit's Sports Slants". Middlesboro Daily News. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  4. ↑ "Horn Ground Game Sparks 17–0 Victory". The Victoria Advocate. September 21, 1969. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  5. ↑ "Texas Tech vs Texas (Sep 27, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  6. ↑ "Navy vs Texas (Oct 4, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  7. ↑ "Happy Feller leads Texas past Sooners". Eugene Register-Guard. October 12, 1969. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  8. ↑ "Longhorns Shoot Down Rice, 31–0". The Victoria Advocate. October 26, 1969. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  9. ↑ Fite, Ed (November 2, 1969). "Texas Tames Mustangs, 45–14". Times Daily. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  10. ↑ "Baylor vs Texas (Nov 8, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  11. ↑ "TCU vs Texas (Nov 15, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  12. ↑ "Texas vs Texas A&M (Nov 27, 1969)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  13. ↑ "Pass Gamble Held Key Play in Texas Win". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 8, 1969. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
  14. ↑ "Notre Dame vs Texas (Jan 1, 1970)". Texas Athletics. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
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