University of Tennessee Athletics
Gault Named UT???s SEC Football Legend
November 27, 2007 | Football
Since 1994, the Southeastern Conference has honored one legend from each of its member schools during the week of the football championship game. This year, Tennessee selected Willie Gault, a wide receiver and kick returner for the Vols from 1979-82.
The Griffin, Ga., native was a jack of all trades, serving as a receiver, kick returner and punt returner on the football team while also hurdling for the track and field team.
As a receiver, he caught 89 career passes for 1,482 yards and 10 touchdowns. His senior season was his best as he hauled in 50 passes for 668 yards and four scores en route to All-SEC and All-America honors. He also returned 20 punts for 145 yards and 23 kickoffs for 549 yards and a touchdown that season.
As a return man, Gault???s career totals are 78 punt returns for 659 yards and a touchdown and 78 kickoff returns for 1,854 yards and four touchdowns. His career marks for kickoff returns and kickoff return yards are school records. His 662 kickoff return yards in 1980 are a single-season school record, as are his 28 kick returns in 1981.
On the track, Gault lettered four seasons from 1980-83 and held two school records for more than 20 years. His 110-hurdle time of 13.26 stood from 1982 until 2006 and his 60m hurdle time of 7.76 stood from 1983 until 2003.
Gault will be honored at the SEC Legends Dinner on Friday night and will attend the championship game Saturday with 11 legends from other SEC institutions. The other 2007 honorees are Ken Stabler (Alabama), Ken Hatfield (Arkansas), Ken Rice (Auburn), Ralph Ortega (Florida), Rex Robinson (Georgia), Larry Seiple (Kentucky), Tommy Casanova (LSU), Wesley Walls (Mississippi), Billy Jackson (Mississippi State), Duce Staley (South Carolina) and Chuck Scott (Vanderbilt).
Tennessee???s past SEC legends are Bob Johnson, Doug Atkins, Condredge Holloway, John Michels, Richmond Flowers, Steve Kiner, Steve DeLong, Stanley Morgan, Johnny Majors, Reggie White, Frank Emanuel, Larry Seivers and Chip Kell.
For Tennessee fans attending the championship game, Gault will participate in SEC FanFare activities at the Georgia World Congress Center on Saturday afternoon.
