Ramsey, longtime SID for Texas Longhorns, dies

Jones Ramsey, who served as sports information director under legendary football coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant and Darrell Royal and helped two players win the Heisman Trophy, died Monday. He was 83.

Ramsey died after suffering a massive heart attack at an Austin, Texas, hospital, his son Paul Ramsey said.

After spending nine years at Texas A&M, including all four of Bryant’s seasons there, Ramsey went to the University of Texas in 1960.

Bryant contemplated taking Ramsey with him to Alabama when he left Texas A&M in 1958, but Paul Ramsey said the coach told his father he’d have better benefits staying. Two years later, Bryant encouraged Royal to hire Ramsey, and he stayed at Texas until retiring in 1982.

John David Crow won the Heisman Trophy for Texas A&M in 1957, and Earl Campbell won it 20 years later at Texas.

“I think probably the best tribute to Jones was the Heisman Trophy campaign with Earl,” said Bill Little, who became Texas’ SID when Ramsey retired. “Jones believed as we do today that the Heisman should be won on the field.”

There was no campaign for Campbell, but Texas did develop a new statistic — yards after contact.