Sam "Sammy" Ansley, had been a unanimous all-district quarterback in high school and had made the All-Greater Houston team in 1976.
The other freshman quarterback, Sanford Coggins, had been moved to flanker in the summer meaning that in the TCU game his backups were sophomore defensive back Ricky Churchman, who had played quarterback in high school, and Constanzo who was only partly recovered from his surgery and still being held out for a medical redshirt.
[2][3] Against TCU, Ansley and the Longhorns relied on eventual Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell to lead them to a 44-14 win.
[4] The following week, against Baylor, he led Texas to an early lead, scoring one touchdown, and then alternated series with a recovering McEachern and, in the fourth quarter, Costanzo, who used a whole year of eligibility to fill in as punter.
[5] McEachern recovered and reclaimed the starting position, and Ansley took a few snaps the next week against Texas A&M, but that would be the end of his playing career.