Baylor Athletics Hall of Fame
RON BURNS, Grand Prairie, Texas (Football, 1974-77) – 2002
Baylor’s first freshman to earn All-Southwest Conference honors, Burns made an immediate impact in helping the Bears go from last to first and claim their first conference championship in 50 years. He also earned Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honors that season.
In the “Miracle on the Brazos,” Burns came up from his cornerback position to force a fumble by Texas quarterback Marty Akins that led to the go-ahead touchdown in a come-from-behind 34-24 win over the Longhorns on Nov. 9, 1974. Named to Baylor’s All-Decade team of the 1970s, Burns added All-SWC honors each of the next three seasons and served as the team captain as a senior in 1977.
A high school All-American at Arlington Sam Houston, Burns was a blue-chip recruit who picked Baylor over Oklahoma. The two-way standout and track star caught the winning touchdown pass in a win over Grand Prairie that clinched the district championship for the Texans in 1973.
