In 1972, the University of Texas’s dedicated a new modern scoreboard to former Longhorn football player Freddie Steinmark. Steinmark played defensive back for UT during his sophomore and junior years. As a sophomore he was the team’s leading punt returner. In December 1969, a mere six days after helping Texas defeat Arkansas in the “Big Shootout,” Steinmark was diagnosed with cancer in his left leg which had to be immediately amputated.  He went from starring on the field for a National Championship team to never being able to play or even walk normally again within a week.  He was on crutches on the sideline for Texas’ victory over Notre Dame in the 1970 Cotton Bowl.  He died in 1971.

For many long-time UT football fans, the Arkansas game in Fayetteville in 1969 is still the most exciting game in Texas history.  One of the first regular season games to be played in December, it pitted the top two teams in the country in a showdown for the National Championship.  It even featured Richard Nixon flying into watch the game and later declare the Horns to be the National Champions.  The excitement of that game was later tempered by the sad reality of Steinmark’s diagnosis and the end of his career.

The original Steinmark scoreboard was itself a victim of progress and has been replaced by a larger version.