Cards: UT UD 2011 National Champions 1970, UT UD 2011 ATA, UT UD 2011 Icons, UT UD 2011 NCAA AA.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home. Trade 2015.
Sent: 3/16    Received: 3/27  (11 days)

Bruising fullback Steve ‘Woo-Woo’ Worster was part of a devastating backfield that included  such talent as Chris Gilbert, Jim Bertelsen and Ted Koy. To accommodate all of those skill players, Coach Darrell Royal implemented the Wishbone system at the University of Texas.

While at UT Worster ran all over opposing defenses, running for 806 yards on 161 carries, and chipping in 13 TDs in 1968. In ’69 Steve had 136 carries and 9 TDs. It’d be in 1970 that he had his true signature year, leading the Longhorns to the National Championship. During that season, Big Woo galloped 160 times for a career high 898 yards, a 5.6 yard per carry average, and 14 TDs. Over his time at UT, Worster was a 3 time SWC champion, a 2 time All-American, and a 2 time National Champion (1969, 1970). His cumulative totals were 457 carries for 2,353 yards, a 5.1 yard per carry average,  36 touchdowns, and  11 receptions for 113 yards.

Steve was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 4th round of the 1971 draft, but did not play for the team.  Unable to agree on a contract, Steve headed North to the CFL and joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, but after 4 games he grew disenchanted with the game and decided to leave the game behind.

He returned to Texas, completed his degree, and got into sales. He’s currently retired and lives outside of Beaumont.

Thanks to Zevonfan on Sportscollectors I was able to find an address for him. He signed every card I had of him, minus his UT Upper Deck 2011 base card. On it was a note indicating that the photo from the front of the card was not his. The photo was of Jim Bertelsen and not of Worster and is considered an unreported error card.

A few months after that Zevon on SCN proposed a trade with me.   He really, really wanted a Haywood Jeffires from my collection and  in exchange he dangled the Worster base set card I needed. (The problem is, no matter how many I get of Jeffires, it’s become this bizzare tradition that I treasure.) Well luckily enough I ran into him at the Oilers 25th Anniversary Party, where he signed everything I had.  This allowed me to consummate the trade, thus allowing me to knock out a potentially difficult Worster card off my list.

EPITAPH:

On 8/13/22 Steve passed away at the age of 73, after battling health problems over the past few years.