Randy Vataha

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Randy Vataha
No. 18
Position:
17
 / Pick: 418
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:188
Receiving yards:3,164
Receiving TDs:23
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Randel Edward Vataha, (born December 4, 1948) is an American former professional

1971 NFL Draft and spent the first six years of his NFL career with New England. He finished his career after a season with the Green Bay Packers
.

Early years

Born in Santa Monica, California, Vataha lettered in four sports at Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove; he was a quarterback in football and graduated in 1967.[1]

College career

Vataha made the transition to

Pacific-8 Conference in 1969 under head coach John Ralston and became one of quarterback Jim Plunkett's favorite receiving targets. As seniors in 1970, they connected on a 96-yard touchdown pass,[2][3][4] a Stanford record which stood until 1999 (by a 98-yard pass from Joe Borchard to Troy Walters).[5]

At the end of that season, Vataha scored the last touchdown in Stanford's 27–17 upset of #2

1971 NFL Draft; Stanford climbed to eighth in the final AP poll with a 9–3 record.[11]

Vataha was nicknamed "Rabbit" for his moves on the field and worked one summer at Disneyland in costume as one of the Seven Dwarfs (Bashful).[12]

NFL career

Vataha was selected in the

17th round of that NFL draft (418th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams. Released in training camp, he was signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots, where he was reunited with Plunkett. He was named to UPI's AFC all-rookie team in 1971 and played six seasons with the Patriots. Vataha caught 178 receptions for 3,055 yards. He also had 23 touchdown receptions while with the Patriots.[13] He was waived by the Patriots before the start of the 1977 season and signed with the Green Bay Packers.[14] He ended his career with the Green Bay Packers in 1977.[15]

Vataha, along with Stanley Morgan, was one of two wide receivers named to the New England Patriots 1970’s All-Decade Team.[16]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Receiving
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
1971 NWE 14 13 51 872 17.1 88 9
1972 NWE 14 14 25 369 14.8 44 2
1973 NWE 14 4 20 341 17.1 48 2
1974 NWE 12 10 25 561 22.4 59 3
1975 NWE 14 14 46 720 15.7 47 6
1976 NWE 12 8 11 192 17.5 44 1
1977 GNB 6 3 10 109 10.9 20 0
86 66 188 3,164 16.8 88 23

After football

After retiring from football, Vataha was a founding member of the United States Football League (USFL) in 1983, owning 50% of the Boston Breakers. He is now the president of Game Plan LLC, a company that specializes in the buying and selling of professional sports teams.[1][17][18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Randy Vataha: President, Game Plan LLC" (PDF). (St. Louis, Missouri): Washington University in St. Louis. Olin Business School. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Missildine, Harry (October 18, 1970). "Passin' Jim Plunkett sets yardage mark, leads Stanford rout". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  3. ^ Vogt, Tom (October 18, 1970). "Stanford bombs Cougars 63–13". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 13.
  4. ^ "Indians rout WSU, 63–16". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 18, 1970. p. 4B.
  5. ^ "Stanford Football History Individual Records" (PDF). Stanford Football Media Guide. 2006. p. 140. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  6. ^ Turran, Kenneth (January 2, 1971). "Stanford jars Buckeyes, 27–17". Milwaukee Sentinel. (Washington Post). p. 1, part 2.
  7. ^ Sons, Ray (January 2, 1971). "Stanford upsets Ohio State in Rose Bowl, 27–17". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). (Chicago Daily News Service). p. 11.
  8. ^ "Stanford shakes up Buckeyes". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 2, 1971. p. 6.
  9. ^ "Stanford upsets Buckeyes, 27–17". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 2, 1971. p. 1B.
  10. ^ Jenkins, Dan (January 11, 1971). "The one-day season". Sports Illustrated. p. 10.
  11. ^ Thomas, Ben (January 5, 1971). "Nebraska wins the vote as nation's best college club". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 3B.
  12. ^ Reid, Ron (September 29, 1975). "Pats' Rabbit who turned tiger". Sports Illustrated. p. 56.
  13. ISBN 9780996992121
    .
  14. ^ "Heisman winners axed in final NFL cutdown". Chillicothe Gazette. September 15, 1977. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-10-18 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Kupper, Mike (September 23, 1977). "New Packer Vataha plays ball off the wall". Milwaukee Journal. p. 19.
  16. ^ "Patriots All-Decade Teams | The Patriots Hall of Fame". www.patriotshalloffame.com. 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2022-06-13.
  17. ^ Wertheim, L. Jon (February 21, 2000). "Marriage broker Randy Vataha will help you buy a team or sell it". Sports Illustrated. p. 30. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  18. ^ "Randy Vataha – Official New England Patriots Biography". New England Patriots website. Archived from the original on 2006-04-28. Retrieved 2007-03-19.

External links

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