Hall of Fame
Bill Butler was an All-American halfback for the Mocs from 1953-58. He led UC in rushing from 1956-58 and was a leader on the team that posted a 14-6 win over Tennessee on Nov. 8, 1958.
Butler totaled 1,621 rushing yards and five scores on 361 carries in his career. He also hauled in 50 catches for 773 yards and nine touchdowns in four years of action. His 15.4 yards-per-catch is still fifth all-time at UTC and his 3,168 all-purpose yards are ninth on the Mocs’ all-time list.
Butler earned Honorable Mention Little All-American each of his last three seasons and was a Methodist College Second Team All-American in 1956. He was also a high jumper on the track & field team and played freshman basketball.
Butler saved some of his biggest plays for the biggest games. He scored his first career touchdown in a 15-6 loss to Auburn on Sept. 24, 1955. He had two scores in the 1956 game against Tennessee and a 73-yard kickoff return in the 1958 game against the second-ranked Tigers.
In the famed 1958 win over Tennessee, Butler and Jonny Green hooked up for a 30-yard play on fourth down that put the ball on the Vols’ 2-yard line. Green punched it on the next play for a 7-0 lead the Mocs rode to a 14-6 win.
Butler was drafted by Green Bay in 1959 and played in 75 games over six seasons with the Packers, Cowboys, Steelers and Vikings. He had 11 career interceptions and two punt returns for touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboys took him in the 1960 NFL Expansion Draft and he became the first starting free safety in franchise history. He had five INTs and a score for the Vikings in 1962.
