He accepted a football scholarship from Indiana University, but ended up transferring after his freshman year to Coffeyville Junior College.
He passed up his senior year in 1966 to sign with an NFL team, when he became eligible because he was a redshirt player whose class had graduated.
The fumble was picked up and returned for a touchdown by defensive end George Andrie, scoring six of the Cowboys' seventeen points in the loss.
[11] Townes played in only five games during the 1968 season, after suffering a serious hamstring injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Larry Cole, who would not relinquish the position back.
Cole moved to tackle in 1975 following the retirement of Bob Lilly, allowing Ed "Too Tall" Jones, the number one overall pick in the 1974 NFL draft, to start at left end.
[12] Citing health and weight problems as a major reason for their decision, the Cowboys traded him to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a fourth round draft choice (#80-Joe Carter) on September 9, 1970.
[13] The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sacks as an official stat until 1982; however the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982 season.