Where I Come From: Favorite Players
by Peter Bean on Jul 8, 2010 12:54 PM CDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
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PrintThis is the fourth post in a week-long series sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
We continue exploring the contours of our Longhorns fandom with a discussion of all-time favorite Longhorns. Along with the obvious guys who inspired us all and can be identified by their first name alone -- Vince, Earl, Ricky, and the like -- we've all got our favorites who especially stand out in our minds years later.
Casey Hampton & Lamarr Houston -- I'm grouping these two together because I love them both equally, and for similar reasons. Big Snack was arguably the finest defensive tackle ever to play at Texas, and he's been just as good in the pros with Pittsburgh, where he's been a five-time Pro Bowler and won two Super Bowls. Houston, of course, was a late convert to DT who built on a solid junior campaign to anchor the nation's stingiest rush defense as a senior. For reasons I can't fully explain, I love nothing more than watching a great defensive tackle do his thing -- even when his job is just to eat blockers. There's something aesthetically awesome about a 300 pound man successfully bypassing another 300 pound man with a swim move -- makes me grin ear-to-ear, every time. Of course, so does discarding a 300 pound man with your left arm alone.
James Brown -- We mostly talk about the failures of the Mackovic era, but it wasn't all bad, and James Brown represents the best of it. One of the unlikeliest heroes in program history, everything about the position Brown was thrust into was difficult, and though he was far from the most talented QB to grace the 40 Acres, he generally made the most of it. In fact, you might say that he was Major Applewhite before it became cool. Just the second African American to start a game at quarterback for Texas, Brown was a fearless gamer who took an unexpected starting role and found ways to make plays. It wasn't always pretty, but especially before he got worn down by injuries, he found ways to get it done.
Tony Brackens and Bryant Westbrook -- While the next generation of Longhorns bloggers will one day write about growing up losing their minds over defensive wunderkinds like Brian Orakpo and Michael Huff, for those who were kids with me, it was Tony Brackens and Bryant Westbrook. And no single play better encapsulates why then this one:
Kasey Studdard -- I'm not sure I would have realized just how much I loved a guy like Kasey Studdard if our offensive line play hadn't fallen off a cliff in recent years, but here we are, and... well, yeah. I appreciate him. A lot. Studdard would rather bite off whole the ankle of a rusher than let him have a hit on his quarterback, and though he wasn't even one of the top 50 most talented linemen to don the burnt orange, few gave as much, as hard, for as long as Studdard. Football at the college and professional levels is so extraordinarily physical a game as to generally limit who can play and contribute, but it also takes something more to be special. A lot of hyper-talented guys don't have it, and a few barely talented enough guys are so saturated with it that they excel nonetheless. Studdard represents the latter breed as much as anyone. I miss that kind of ferocity, fearlessness, and pride.
Vince and Ricky -- I don't need to say anything about these two. But neither can I faithfully publish this post without a tip of the cap to my two favorite Longhorns of all time. The absolute best of the best.
And now it's your turn. Who are your favorite Longhorns of all-time?
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Lebron.
What’s that? Oh… Lebron.
Roommates, Earl Campbell, Ricky, Acho Bros, Orakpo, Derek Lewis.
by Infield Elephant on Jul 8, 2010 1:09 PM CDT reply actions
Wait -
This isn’t football only is it?
TJ Ford, Kevin Durant, Huston Street, Brooks Kieschnick, Keith Moreland
by Infield Elephant on Jul 8, 2010 1:13 PM CDT reply actions
Major Applewhite?
I was in the stands when Brackens’ leveled that Tech kicker and despite being inebriated, I could have sworn I heard the hit from the student section.
Major remains one of my favorites, if you can believe it even over Phil’s son
totally agree
I remember that penalty. Major should have always been the starter of Simms, who got the job because of his name.
Mountain West Connection The best site for MWC sports!
Earl
made me a Longhorn. But excluding him – and throwing some new names in the mix – Priest, Shon Mitchell, Mike Adams, Wane McGarity, and Aaron Humphrey.
I truly believe Aaron Humphrey never got a lot of the credit he deserved. He punished opposing offenses and his motor never stopped.
That's where my list starts and stops
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.
David Thomas
I love that guy, especially in the Rose Bowl.
I remember seeing him catch the ball six yards behind the marker, take a hit, spin off, take another hit, spin off, and then stetch the ball out over the line for a fourth down. You can’t teach effort or toughness like that.
Because Vince and Ricky are givens
Vasher, Roy Williams, Babers, D. Johnson, and Cosby.
And one DT just about every year going back for a decade. Mike Tolleson for the win.
proud to swim home
I'm an Aggie so in general
I dislike all Tx players but I’ve always liked Hampton. Thought he was far and away the best DL the Big 12 ever saw until Suh came along. Also think he never got the credit he deserved from the media or Horn fans. Media was busy hyping Leonard Davis as an OT (where he was quite average in college) while Hampton was killing people.
After him, I’d have to say Roy Williams b/c i respected his talent so much. He has been a huge disappointment to me in the pros. McGarity is up there too. Just played great and didn’t talk about it.
by miketag on Jul 8, 2010 1:59 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Blasphemy!
It’s ok, I’ve got my list of Aggies I liked as well: Dat Nguyen (Asian pride!), Jamar Toombs, and Jeff Fuller immediately come to mind.
I dislike the aggies and the cow pokes
but Dat Nguyen was a guy that I had to support….great player.
Which you still see about once a year
which is about how many TD’s he scores a season.
Sports is man's joke on God, You see, God says to man, 'I've created a universe where it seems like everything matters, where you'll have to grapple with life and death and in the end you'll die anyway, and it won't really matter.' So man says to God, 'Oh, yeah? Within your universe we're going to create a sub-universe called sports, one that absolutely doesn't matter, and we'll follow everything that happens in it as if it were life and death.'" - Sam Kellerman
Also is this an inappropriate place for me to say how much I hate the Tebow pictures in the NCAA ad on the side, given that this is a post sponsored by EA?
Never ask a man if he's from Texas. If he is, he'll tell you soon enough. If he's not, don't embarrass him.
I use it on my laptop
But during the day I’m on my work computer rocking the IE and not being able to download the slightest thing.
Never ask a man if he's from Texas. If he is, he'll tell you soon enough. If he's not, don't embarrass him.
Some guys I love
Tim Crowder, who was a terror off the end
Michael Griffin — that MNC interception coming out of nowhere was a thing of beauty
The “other” receivers: Nate Jones (Who?!), BJ Johnson, The Quan
Ahmard “the Enforcer” Hall
Derrick Johnson for the fumble punch
Dusty for the first Rose Bowl kick
Kevin mother effin Durant and Colt McCoy
represented our university better than any other athletes
"We'll be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"
My list
Leaving off the obvious VY and Ricky:
Jordan Shipley
Colt McCoy
Kevin Durant
Quan Cosby
David Thomas
Derrick Johnson
Brian Orakpo
I think I should stop now before I list everyone on the 2008 and 2005 football teams.
by TheElusiveShadow on Jul 8, 2010 2:45 PM CDT reply actions
Stoney Clark
I know not how much I ate . . .except an OU QB at the 1-yard line!
nice
need to find a video of his poem from the bowl game.
by unknownidiot on Jul 8, 2010 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Before Vince, it was #4 Roy Williams.
He needed the ball in his hands more but for some reason it never happened. It seems like his head has never fully been on straight (as witnessed in this pro career too) and that’s part of the reason he never reached his full potential.
Before Vince, I always believed Roy Williams would be the man that could defeat OU. They just dominated our offense each year though.
"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite
I've actually made a list of this sort before:
keep in mind that I’m young, and I’m only including players that have finished their time at Texas:
1. Colt McCoy
2. Vince Young
3t. Jordan Shipley
3t. Quan Cosby
5. Aaron Ross
6. Chris Hall
7. Sergio Kindle
8. Michael Huff
9. Brian Orakpo
10. Earl Thomas
Ross
Ross would definitely be on my list because of his play his last 2 years, but also for what we went through just to get on campus. Had clearinghouse issues, but instead of going Juco he sat out a year to try to get them cleared up. Story then goes that he was told the issues were fixed, but then they surfaced again the second time he tried to enroll. Ended up sitting out 2 full years between the end of high school and getting to enroll at UT.
How many other players would have stuck with it through that?
Studdard
One thing he never seems to get credit for is following the play and covering fumbles. Remember the year that VY had a bunch of fumbles but no fumbles lost? Bet Studdard landed on half of those.
He had a huge one in the comback game against Tech (2006?) when Charles fumbled on UT’s last drive. Want to say he had 3-4 other huge ones during his days on the 40.
Mike Adams, WR
I’ve heard how other WRs never get the credit they deserve, but Mike Adams is the king of underrated UT WRs. Dude was “The Man” for the offense while I was at the 40 acres. I know he’s been forgotten because of the talent at that position that has rolled into Austin since then, but the Mike Adams is the only WR I have seen while at UT and since I left that was triple covered on a deep pass and went up and got it. Dude was huge!
It's fun to do bad things. -Latarian Milton
interesting
mike was my neighbor one of my senior years. he lived with lovell pinkney. comparably, mike was tiny. seeing LP carry two kegs at once (one in each hand) up a flight of stairs is as impressive as anything he ever did on the field.
mike was a great guy with me. IMO didn’t deserve the reputation he got.
by unknownidiot on Jul 8, 2010 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Eric Metcalf was pretty amazing on some subpar Texas teams. Great RB but big-time returner in the NFL.
Ricky was the best RB I’ve ever seen, on any level. Loved the Heisman year but was disappointed when he switched from #11 to #34. Derek Johnson was pretty amazing in every aspect as my top defender ever. If I ever thought any Horn would be a slam-dunk pro, it woulda been Westbrook. That surely didn’t happen but he was lights-out on the corner at UT. I love Colt & he may be my favorite of all-time but every time I say he was the best UT QB ever, then I watch a highlight reel of Vince … and come to my senses.
I echo everyone mentioned so far (esp. James Brown, thanks for that, PB) so I’ll have to put a nod out to Phil Dawson. Clutch, then and now.
by cheevyjames on Jul 8, 2010 4:13 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I was at the Virginia game Dawson won
65 yarder against a gale force wind with no time left on the clock. Dude was clutch!
It's fun to do bad things. -Latarian Milton
by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 8, 2010 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions
I was there too...
and was the best UT memory I saw live before Mike Jones willed himself into the end zone against Nebraska
Now that I think about it....
It was a 80 yarder vs. Virginia in a driving hurricane with winds over 220 mphs against the ‘85 Bears defense. The sonic BOOM from his foot when it hit the football could be heard all the way in space! Yeah, that’s the ticket.
It's fun to do bad things. -Latarian Milton
by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 8, 2010 7:24 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Too many good players to rank.
However, If there was one hit that stands out in my mind is the Brackens hit on tTech kicker. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zorwg3ZtGEg
During my era in no particular order: Metcalf, Cash Brothers, Major, Brackens, Ross, Vasher, Campbell, Ricky, Humphries, D Johnson, Jammer, Huff, Roy Williams, Orakpo, VY the list goes on and on….
ATX
Steve Wooster and James Street
Showing my age here, but those two guys were responsible for making me a Longhorn fan, even growing up in the heart of “Bear” country at the time.
From the “modern” era, (aside from the obvious), I’d say Quan Cosby. We could always depend on that guy.
Do you know what would happen if you typed 'google' into Google? You'd break the internet!
The IT Crowd
I second Wooster and Street and throw in Cotton Speyrer
And for you younger guys, let’s not forget Limas Sweed.
Peter Gardere
Anyone who goes 4-0 versus Oklahoma is pretty high in my book. Granted, both Texas and Oklahoma were mediocre at best during those years, and he was I think only 1-3 against the Aggies, but, still, 4 wins over OU is never a bad thing.
Actually
Granted, both Texas and Oklahoma were mediocre at best during those years
OU was ranked every year Gardere beat them, including #4 in 1990 and #6 in 1991.
Bought that man a beer
everytime I saw him in the bars while I was at Texas in the ’90s. Least I could do for someone who owned all of oklahoma.
It's fun to do bad things. -Latarian Milton
by TexasGarcia37 on Jul 8, 2010 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Did not realize OU was ranked that high
My bad. I guess that explains my hazy memories of those Longhorn wins being somewhat of a big deal.
Gardere does belong on the list...
I guess that Miami beat down in the Cotton Bowl still resonates.
ATX
Earl...
anybody who was there when he was just about has to have him at #1, both on and off the field.
And Vince, just because when somebody’s the very best college football player who ever strode the earth, and you’re lucky enough he plays for your team, well, he’s got to hold a special place in your heart.
And then… and this one I don’t really know why, but something about the way he carried himself just made him one of my favorite players through the years – Robert Brewer.
My favorites
Earl, first and foremost. The discussion starts with him. I was in the second grade in his senior year. I was a fan before Earl but I became a diehard, true believer during the ’77 season.
Who else?
Brad Shearer
Ken Simms
Steve McMichael (I wanted to be him as a football player in Junior HS)
Russell Erxleben (I wanted to be him as a football player in HS)
Peter Gardere (Major before there was Major)
The Jones brothers (Ham, Lam, and Jam)
Todd Dodge, Rob Moerschell, and Rick McIvor (I remain bitter about this period in UT football history)
One of my favorite moments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EVsqL7ps8o
I would have put Randy McEachern right below Earl but Texas lost the ’78 Cotton Bowl.
Brad Freaking Shearer
Hell yes.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
My all-time favorite:
Derrick Johnson.
After him, there’s a tied group including guys like VY, Ricky, Roy Williams, Jammer, Major, Leonard, Kasey Studdard, and most definitely Big Snack. If I had to pick a second-favorite out of that group, it’d probably big Hampton, VY, or Ricky, but I have no idea how I could possibly choose from amongst them.
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
Favorites
QB-VY, McCoy
RB- Earl, Ricky
WR-Roy, Ship
OL-Studdard, Leonard Davis
TE-Dave Thomas
DL-Hampton, Rak,
LB-DJohnson,Kindle
DB,ET,Westbrook,Vash, Ross
SP- Eric Metcalf, Ship, Hunter Lawrence
In the next four years ask me again and some of the names that may be added
Gilbert
Malcolm Brown
Darius white
Mason Walters
Barret Matthews
Jeffcoat
Hicks
Vaccaro
Goodwin, Monroe,
You Ese! You Ese! You Ese!
Non Football Players
Can’t believe no one has mentioned yet, but this is obligatory:
by jc25 on Jul 8, 2010 8:48 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Where's SwimTexas?
I’m sure his lsit would include Olympians: Josh Davis, Aaron Peirsol, Ian Crocker & Gary Hall, Jr.
You Ese! You Ese! You Ese!
Just got home, sorry I am late to this list!
but you are right. My swimming list would include the above plus Jill Sterkel, Neil Walker, and my all time favorite Shaun Jordan. For my money, the best college sprinter ever.
But my football list starts with Earl. The legend of Earl Campbell rather (I never saw him play at Texas) hit me growing up in Houston. Vince, Ricky, Major, Colt are all pretty obvious. But it seems all my favorites are on defense. I always loved Jammer, Hampton, Rak, Johnson and Westbrook. I love it when our defense just kills.
And of course, Cat should be on every list. Thanks jc for making sure that error was caught.
"A lot of people look for the easy way to do anything, in swimming there is no easy way." - Eddie Reese
Maybe Lance Armstrong?
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.
by burntorangehorn on Jul 8, 2010 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions
1. Major Applewhite— If Simms wouldn’t have come here…Major would have won a championship. Body by Opie. Heart of a Bulldog.
2. Peter Gardere- Pulls games out of his backside with regularity. Not the biggest or strongest QB but the man just won in clutch fashion
3. Kasey Studdard- what PB said.
4. Dave Thomas- We don’t win the championship without him.
5. Britt Hager- Captain Insane-o. Someone to love on some really subpar teams.
6. Nathan Vasher- A knee injury kept ESPN3 from being even better
7. Earl- nuff said.
8. Jerry Gray
9. Adrian Walker. I can’t say he was overly productive but that guy just glided across the field.
10. Johnny Hagy- Brought it on every hit.
Some of my favs/broken record.
1. Major: I would name my kid after him but my buddy beat me to it. I would have named my kid Apple, but Chris and Gwenyth beat me to it, and I can’t name my kid White. I find it funny Major has both been compared to James Brown and Peter Gardere.
2. Roy Williams: My rallying cry from 2000-2003 was “Just throw Roy the damn ball.”
3. Dave Thomas: Always made the one extra yard came up with they key catch at the key time.
4. Derrick Johnson: Loved how he played and loved when he honored Tommy Nobis and wore his number.
5. The roommates: Everything about this has Disney written all over it, even to the point where Alabama shoots our yellow dog.
Some of my other favorites rarely mentioned
1. Frank Okam: Awesome story
2. Dusty Renfro: Ranked 5th in all time tackles, Athletic Director’s Honor Roll all eight of his semesters at UT
3. Aaron Humphrey: ranked second on UT’s all-time tackles for loss list (50.5) and eighth on the Longhorns’ career sack chart (24.5)
4. Kris Stockton: Ranked first on UT’s career field-goal accuracy list (.753), second in field goals (58) and third in scoring (308 points)
5. Drew Kelson/Chris Ogbonnaya: Played wherever they were asked and never complained, great students that represented UT well.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
Earl!
Vince. (I was sitting in THAT corner of the endzone at the end of THAT game. He ran right at us. AMAZING!)
Rick Carey (Awesome swimmer)
Eric Metcalf
Tommy Nobis
Diron Talbert
This is a favorite list not a best list. I was fortunate enough to hunt pheasant with Tommy and Diron, and they are pretty cool guys.
Big Bill "You never lose a game if the opponent doesn't score." Darell K. Royal
Johnny "Lam" Jones
Gold medalist and my first favorite Longhorn as a youngster. And ditto to everyone who said David Thomas – numero uno class act.
Gotta get Ricky’s TD to break therushing record. The 1996 Big 12 Camp Game. Texas/Ark that sealed the Title.
"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try."
- Yoda
by ElongatedHorn on Jul 10, 2010 12:10 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
My favorite players
I’ll throw a few out there.
How about Peter “The Great” Gardere 4-0 versus OU
Britt Hager
Phil Dawson
Priest Holmes
David Thomas
Pat Fitzgerald
by amarillohornfan on Jul 10, 2010 1:49 PM CDT reply actions
Non-football favs
Scott Bryant, Kirk Dressendorfer, Chance Wheeless, J Brent Cox, Drew Stubbs, Connor Rowe, etc etc etc
by amarillohornfan on Jul 10, 2010 1:57 PM CDT reply actions
From an old timer
Earl, of course, and Tommy Nobis. A little trivia for you younger fans. Nobis is the only player in history to get a documented “call from above” concerning his pro future. As he finished at UT before the merger of the AFL and NFL, he was drafted by both Houston and Atlanta. When an astronaut circling the earth was asked if he had anything to say to the folks back home, he replied “Yeah, tell Nobis to sign with Houston.” Unfortunately for Oilers fans, Tommy didn’t listen to him.
.
by Longhorn in Canada on Jul 10, 2010 11:44 PM CDT reply actions
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