Where I Come From: Memorable Moments
by Peter Bean on Jul 9, 2010 9:00 AM CDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
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PrintThis is the fifth post in a week-long series sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
Before pivoting on Monday to the upcoming 2010 season, we wrap up what's been a fun week talking about what it means to be a fan of UT football with a thread dedicated to our favorite moments and plays over the years. There are no rules or parameters here: whatever stands out to you as personally special. I suppose, if you're so inclined, you can include heartbreaking moments, but I'm focused on the good stuff, of which there is plenty. The offseason is long and hard enough without reliving the first half of the 2001 Big XII Championship Game...
Though you could easily fill an entire book with unforgettable moments in UT football history, I'll limit my contribution to ten personal favorites and open the floor to you. (This isn't a Top 10 list; just a grab bag of ten from a long, difficult-to-rank list.)
1. Stafford to Jones (1987: Texas 16 Arkansas 14)
2. Stoney Clark's "Stone Cold Stuff" (1994: Texas 17 OU 10)
3. Bomar'd (2005: Texas 45 OU 12)
4. Sweed in the Shoe (2005: Texas 25 Ohio State 22)
5. Smooth Like Matt Nordgren (2005: Texas 62 Baylor 0)
6. 4th and 18 (2004: Texas 27 Kansas 23)
7. The Forced Fumble (2006: Texas 22 Nebraska 20)
8. Mack Goes Berserk (2007: Texas 38 Oklahoma State 35)
9. The Return (2008: Texas 45 OU 35)
10. 4th and 5 (2005: Texas 41 USC 38)
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I honestly had no memory of Stafford to Jones
Feel free to temporarily revoke my Longhorn card while I read more about it, but it was 1987, when I was an eight-year-old boy who lived with my mother during the school year (and therefore football season). But man, what a play!
I’m a little surprised to see no DJ plays on there, like perhaps this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Gq3ZZ8ZuE
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.
There wasn’t much to love about Texas football during the mid to late 80s, but that was a great moment.
this sums up my 4 years at UT, 1985-89...
few things to be stoked about at all, but ah its sooooo very sweet now! ;-)
great choices PB, I remember nearly pee’ing myself on 4th and long v. Kansas but VY made it look like a dive play!!!
I remember having to be pried from the ceiling after that one.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
From the other side of the field...
…I can tell you that the Stafford to Jones play officially sucked. I was at that game, and was sitting near the UT visitors’ section…no fun.
I can imagine the deflating feeling
That’s sort of the feeling I was beginning to feel when I thought maybe the clock had run out against Nebraska on Colt’s lobbed pass out of bounds.
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 9, 2010 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Same here
Although I was two and running around in Baylor cheerleader outfits, so no surprise I wasn’t familiar with it.
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 was barely crawling. ;)
3/19/2009 & 12/15/2009 - Games Where Dogus Balbay Made a Three-Pointer. Never Forget.
You don't happen to run around in Texas cheerleader outfits, do you?
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 13, 2010 6:21 AM CDT up reply actions
Just how fast was/is Ship? I mean it is scary how quickly he left OU in the dust.
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." ~ Will Muschamp
"I always felt like, and I paid a price for it, that it didn't seem right for one guy to bring me down." ~ The Tyler Rose
"I'm Colt McCoy and I Am Second." ~ Colt McCoy
by Mulliganville on Jul 9, 2010 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I remember him running a 10.6 in the Texas Relays 100m dash early in HS.
Not Lam Jones (10.05), Jamaal Charles, DJ Monroe (PB 10.31) or Marquise Goodwin (4.38, in HS in 100m while his 4×100m team ran 40.26, both in the state track meet).
Shipley had fine football speed and great acceleration. He really zoomed on the OU kick off return.
In a HS game against Shoemaker, a real speed program from the time they formed, Shipley left all 11 defenders on the ground on a punt return. That combo of speed and cutting ability was lethal.
Few have seen the field better than Ship. Very few.
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." ~ Will Muschamp
"I always felt like, and I paid a price for it, that it didn't seem right for one guy to bring me down." ~ The Tyler Rose
"I'm Colt McCoy and I Am Second." ~ Colt McCoy
by Mulliganville on Jul 9, 2010 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions
It's not a Top 10 list
Just 10 of my favorites, and though that play is certainly one of them, I included that YouTube clip in yesterday’s post. Just wanting to add variety here.
You ain't hurt...
That's what I figured
Its a great list. Its nice to back a program with so many great moments to choose from.
'Til Gabriel blows his horn...
Michael Huff's 4th down and 2 stop against USC?
I’d have to put this one up there also. Without this stop, we don’t win the championship or give Vince Young a chance to work his magic.
Excellent point
Much as I expected Texas to win, we’re down 12 in the middle of the 4th quarter and USC has scored four second-half TDs on us like they were running plays against against an 8-man defense. When we made that fourth-down stop, I really believed we could win.
Somewhere, there’s a post written by a USC source that parses the play you mention, and that critical USC drive, better than anything else I’ve seen. Writer was straight-on about our execution and the Trojans’ failures. As I recall, from that and other sources, I believe our DE, Brian Robison, as well as Huff, vacated their assigned responsibilities on the play. Our defense was pretty sure what the play would be, and where, and Robison pinched in toward DT Rod Wright as the play began. That clogged up the hole, kind of stymied the line charge, and LB Aaron Harris and Huff (who was supposed to stay back) finished the play. The rest, as they say . . .
Too bad they're still the better team, right?
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.
Great List
I didn’t watch the Kansas play but I remember Craig going berserk on the radio.
The Nebraska fumble was just so… Nebraska has provided BON with so much:
Mike Jones dragging Huskers into the end zone
Roll Left
The horsecollar on Jordan then Hunter’s “for everything” kick
That Halloween game in ‘98 (White’s reception, Major’s off balance throw to McGarity, Ricky runs for 1 Fiddy)
I know it was mentioned in your previous post but I was at DKR for Phil’s 50 yarder against UVA, that was pretty special too.
Ricky’s record-breaking run against tamu
Colt’s run up the gut against the ags!
There’s so much…
4th and 18 was the play that basically showed me Vince would win a title
Nick Reid was playing out of his mind that game, and was by far the biggest reason KU came so close to upsetting the Longhorns. To watch Vince’s improbable scramble on 4th and 18, just evading Reid’s grasp, to convert and drive for the touchdown with so little time left on the clock…well, it was just amazing.
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 9, 2010 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions
Amazing is right!
That was the first Texas game my wife and kids attended with me. Kansas had our number most of the game and it wasn’t looking good. That play, and that drive, was nothing but pure grit and a refusal to lose. I knew then what Vince and that team was made of, and capable of. It was so devestating to the KU fans, I almost felt sorry for them…almost.
"I always thought Superman was white and wore an S, but now I know he's black and wears number 20."-opposing coach applauds the Tyler Rose.
My first Texas game in person:
True freshman Roy Williams had four catches for 180yds. and two touchdowns…in the first half alone. The yardage was the freshman record for an entire game, and he also had a touchdown on a reverse run.
That was a cold, cold day for all the Jayhawks fans grumbling around me in Lawrence.
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 9, 2010 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, and I think that's still the UT record for receiving yards in a half
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 9, 2010 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions
I had forgotten that game
I had to look up the stats. That would have been quit a show to see. I noticed the game-time temp said 32 degrees. I’ll bet with the Kansas winds thrown in, it was a balmy 20ish wind chill.
"I always thought Superman was white and wore an S, but now I know he's black and wears number 20."-opposing coach applauds the Tyler Rose.
Yep, it was a tough sell to get any one of my friends to go to the game with me
I went to college in the area, and you’d think there would’ve been some KU fans who would’ve jumped on a free ticket, but of course that was back before Mangino arrived and brought the program to respectability.
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 9, 2010 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions
You know those old clips of Babe Ruth running the bases after a home run?
I mean where it looks like this fat guy is running really fast, like they actually sped up the film? Like at the 1:10 mark in this clip?
That’s exactly how Wright looks after Bomar’d. Hilarious.
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.
Great moments, here are some I want to add...
Not in any particular order…
1. VY’s pump fake and 80 yard TD run versus Ok St. in 2005 (or 04?…both games were mounumental)
2. Jamaal Charles’ 80 yard TD run versus OU in 2005
3. Major Applewhite leading the comeback to beat all comebacks versus Washington in the Holiday Bowl
4. Quan Cosby’s soul crushing block to spring Shipley for a TD versus OU in 2008
Too many more for me to think of off the top of my head
Clip
As to number four on my list, in case anyone doesn’t remember it, here’s a link…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhAzFEZehYs
LOL..man I can watch that clip a 100 times and not get bored
The Matt Nordgren clip is one of my faves
I think the only way it could be better is if we added the Benny Hill music to it, and played it forward and backwards at 2x speed. Hilarity.
Not mentioned yet
1989 Texas/OU under two minutes left to play Gardere to Walker 25 Yard TD pass. Texas wins 28-24.
Kindle smokes Potts
Potts can’t remember it but I’ll never forget it. No explanation necessary.
Also, the last Colt to Quan completion. A fitting send off for Mr. Cosby.
Finally, a little pop from Colt vs Rice in 08. He turned into a man during that offseason and it showed.
by Magnificent Bastard on Jul 9, 2010 10:44 AM CDT reply actions
Adding to that list, another Colt gem:
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 9, 2010 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions
fumble fingers
Vince converts 3rd and 30 against Mizzou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x91cuqTv1TI
And I couldn’t find a video of Peter Gardere’s long quarterback “sneak” for a touchdown against the Aggies in 90. Or maybe I’m making that up.
Thanks for setting me straight
I only remember watching it live, probably drunk, while I was still in school. I prefer to remember it as a sneak, though.
Three memories that go way back:
3. Last-quarter rally from 13-3 down to beat Texas A&M and wrap up the 1963 national championship. Bowls weren’t included in the final polls at that time (Texas blew out Navy in the Cotton Bowl anyway).
2. Winning drive in the final two minutes against OU in 1968 . . . at that time, ’Horns were 1-1-1 on the season, the wishbone was still a work in progress, and James Street was making just his second start. Most of drive was PASSES, until UT got into field goal range, then FB Steve Worster covered the final 20 or so yards in two plays to provide a 26-20 win. That was win No. 2 in a streak that eventually reached 30.
1. Street-to-Peschel. If you have to look up opponent and year and circumstances, shame on you.
I was there for that drive against OU in '68
The amazing thing was that so many OU fans had left the CB thinking they had won and when Worster finally scored and we emerged, there were all these okie fans lined up giving us hell…not realizing they had lost…suddenly a shutter went thru them as the word spread and with 15 minutes there wasn’t an okie to be found.
The first three passes on that drive were the very same play, look in passes to Pete Lammons, the tight end. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Texas run the same play three times in a row (except very latter day goal line, esp. at KSU). Truly a smart and well execute drive…the final holes for Worster were enormous.
My recollection was that two of the passes
(it could have been three) were to the TE. It was the identical play. Lammons was long gone (by several years). Believe this TE was Deryl Comer (sp?) . . . One of the completions was to Bill Bradley, who had moved to SE or FL when Street replaced him at QB.
Darrell Royal said later that after reaching FG range, around the 20-yard-line, the plan was to run dive plays, burn the clock, and kick (score was 20-19), but when the coaches told the kicker, Happy Feller, what was up, he sort of went deer-in-the-headlights, and Darrell decided to go for the touchdown.
Boy, I just got that wrong on Lammons.
Checked the roster and he’s gone. You’re right, it was Comer (that’s the correct spelling, too). Wish someone could create a video of that drive, truly a pivotal moment in the history of the wishbone. I remember the three passes in a row on the look-in because it was so unusual and so clever..but that time in the game my hangover from a fifth of Jack the night before had pretty much worn off. The first half really, really hurt.
Don’t remember the story on Feller, but that would have been a butt clenching kick.
I'm a little too young for Street-to-Peschel
but it undeniably ranks in the top 2 of UT football’s iconic moments.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
It was such a bizarre scene in so many ways
Texas was beat. It was 14-0 after three quarters. Arkansas was stuffing the run. Other than a few Arkansas pass plays, nobody was getting more than three, four yards a play.
It was chilly, cold, raw, at times misting. It was NOT the weather to fling a 50-yard pass.
Texas was a long way from desperate. There were four minutes left and the ball was at UT’s 43; a punt and good defense would have forced Arkansas to punt it back with 2:00 or so left, even preserving 1-2 timeouts.
The fourth-and-3 play that became Street-to-Peschel was doable out of the standard rushing attack. Dicey, perhaps, but definitely doable. Barring a punt, a short pass was the probable call.
Texas passed sometimes, but usually to the split end. Randy Peschel was a former wingback (more blocking back than receiver) who was playing TE in 1969 because the expected returning starter — Deryl Comer — got his knee wrecked in the previous year’s Cotton Bowl win over Tennessee.
James Street was very accurate on the short stuff but, by reputation, did not have a particularly strong arm. And Texas NEVER threw deep.
Royal called a play with just one receiver involved; the SE was never an option and all three RBs were in tight.
When Royal called the play, his defensive coordinator got the defense together and said “Coach Royal just went nuts; we’re gonna have to stuff ’em right where the ball is, no yardage, and get the ball back for the offense.” When Street got the play from DKR, he asked, “Are you sure”, and Royal is supposed to have said, “Damn right.”
Legend has it that Arkansas was fooled on the 44-yard completion. If so, they weren’t much fooled. The hands of the Razorbacks’ cornerback and safety are visible within a few inches of the ball is it descends to Peschel’s hands at the Arkansas 13.
There was more to the game than that play. After Texas went on top 15-14, Arkansas was within a completion of FG range when Texas intercepted to seal the victory.
I bet the celebration after the game made the pre-game traffic tie-up well worth the frustration.
Unless you’re a hillbilly Hog-back fan. This game was my very first memory of football on TV.
How about the gutsy DKR call to go for 2 after Street’s long run for the Horns first TD? While not necessarily a glitzy play, how big was that? Game of inches with Street squeaking in for the conversion. And the game ending interception by Campbell…you just can’t write this kind of script. And long-time Hog fans are still complaining about the refs.
Your fond memory, and thanks for sharing btw, of the Street-Peschel pass and catch is shown at the 2:30 mark of this clip. And nice blurb found on team’s website.
GREAT MOMENT
#1 Texas 15, #2 Arkansas 14
Saturday, December 6, 1969
Razorback Stadium (Fayetteville, Ark.)
It was fourth-and-three with Texas down 14-8 when head coach Darrell Royal called for the “53 veer pass.”It was a play that had been called only a few times all season with tight end Randy Peschel in the game and it hadn’t met with much success. “Although this pass is supposed to be long, if you can’t get open, cut outside or do something to get enough for a first down,”Street said to Peschel in the huddle. “But if you can get behind him [the halfback], run like hell.”Peschel ran by Arkansas defensive back Jerry Moore and the ball arrived in the UT tight end’s hands 44 yards later. The play deflated the Razorbacks and gave the Longhorns the momentum to pull out the victory.
- mackbrown-texasfootball.com
Damn, even the war-time President of the United States was in the house. Has there been a bigger game in CFB history? Certainly difficult to point to one prior to this game. And certainly hard pressed to argue against the top 2 CFB championship games of all time….and the Horns won both. Of course that is a very biased, but privileged, statement given my Texas birth certificate indicates blood type of BO.
Darrell's two-point call was made
early in the week leading up to the game. That is, he and the staff decieded on it way early.
The SWC rule at the time was that if two teams tied for the title and played to a tie when they met, the team that had been away from the Cotton Bowl the longest got the bid. Texas had been the year before . . . so Darrell (who hated such things anyway) knew he had to avoid the tie. (A tie also might propel Penn State past Texas and Arkansas to No. 1.)
His logic was if we got far enough behind — in any game — he’d go for two. He did that in 1965 vs. Arkansas and in the 1971 Cotton Bowl vs. Notre Dame. Both 2-point tries succeeded, but Texas lost both games. DKR’s logic was that he would coach diffferently depending on the success/failure of the two-point try.
A few more Old School ones
Two in which Cotton Speyrer was a major contributor. The first is captured below in a Wikipedia blurb. It was a diving catch on 4th down in the waning minutes of UT’s victory of Notre Dame in the 1970 Cotton Bowl. That one I watched on TV as an 8th grader.
—Also the last-minute long bomb from Street to beat UCLA in Austin earlier that season. I was there at that game and thought it was the end of the winning streak.
—The last is Tommy Nobis’ goal line stop late in the game of Joe ‘Willie White Shoes’ Namath. When UT took over the ball was spotted the length of a Hook ‘Em outside the end zone. The final score was 21-17. It was the first football game I recall seeing on a ’color’ TV and the only thing separating UT from back-to-back National Chapionships was a 14-13 loss to Arkansas in October in Austin where Royal went for two after the 2nd TD not the 1st as he did in 1969. Having missed the two point conversion in ’64 inspired Royal to instruct Street on the bus to the ’69 game that when they scored the first TD they would go for two after it.
Cotton Speyrer
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Cotton Speyrer Date of birth: April 29, 1949 (1949-04-29) (age 61)
Place of birth: Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.
Career information
Position(s): Wide receiver
Jersey №: 28, 82
College: Texas
NFL Draft: 1971 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38
(By the Washington Redskins)
Organizations
As player:
1972-1974
1975 Baltimore Colts
Miami Dolphins
Playing stats at NFL.com
Charles Wayne Speyrer (born April 29, 1949 in Port Arthur, Texas) was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts and the Miami Dolphins. He played college football at the University of Texas.
Speyrer was a key play-maker in what is considered by some to be the most famous drive in Texas history. Texas was fresh off its famed 15-14 come-from-behind victory over No. 2 Arkansas in the “1969 Shootout”, and was eager to avoid a letdown over the eighth-ranked Irish in the 1970 Cotton Bowl National Championship game between Notre Dame, featuring Joe Theisman, and the University of Texas at Austin. But the early proceedings had the makings of one of the decade’s biggest upsets when Notre Dame charged out to a 10-0 lead.
Starting on their own 24-yard line, the Longhorns embarked upon a fourth-quarter, 17-play march that included a pair of fourth-and-two conversions, the last coming at the Notre Dame 10 when James Street completed a clutch pass to a diving Speyrer that took the Horns to the two. From there, it took three plays before Billy Dale pushed the ball over the goal line to cement UT’s second national title – Texas 21, Notre Dame 17.
Speyrer is also known for his last minute touchdown catch for a come-from—behind win in the Texas-UCLA game in the fall of 1970. That victory cemented Texas’ third National Championship year.
Pardon the typos. Where is the splchec?
All new states are invested, more or less, by a class of noisy, second-rate men who are always in favor of rash and extreme measures, but Texas was absolutely overrun by such men. --Sam Houston--
Good memories, all
I was in HS when Nobis made his stop. I was in the stands, and not far away, when Speyer made his diving grab against Notre Dame.
Speyer’s catch to beat UCLA was thrown by Eddie Phillips; James Street was a senior in 1969, and Phillips QB’d Texas in 1970 and 1971, though he was hurt much of the ’71 season.
Chance Mock with the comeback against TTU
in 2003. Gorgeous! One of my favorite moments. Also Major in the Holiday Bowl was amazing as well. Mangum FG at the Rose. Colt’s 31 yard run to guarantee a win at Tech in 2006, capping off another great comeback. When Joel Klatt got Drew Kelson’d in Houston in 2005. Too many to count. Hook em!
Stumpy: It's called the '80s. Ford was president, Nixon was in the White House, and FDR was running this country into the ground. I was bummin' in a hole-in-the-wall town in what is now called "Utah".
2007: JC beats Nebraska all by himself
The most spectacular 4th quarter I have ever seen a running back produce.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
2001 Big XII Championship
This is both one of my favorite and most hated moments. It was heartbreaking to see what could have been had Applewhite started all season and lose after coming so close to a comeback.
On the other hand, it was awe inspiring to see Major coolly take the field and, ignore the slights from his year on the bench, refuse to accept defeat and rally the entire school. This was the same attitude that left me so proud of the team after the Alabama game.
The 2001 Holiday Bowl.
WILD game. Seems to me to be the inception of the Horns’ comeback craze.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
A few more.
Best quick kick ever by SuperBill Bradley. Texas was facing third and long from its own 20 at Lubbock and Bradley went under center, suddenly dropped back three or four steps and did a simple one-step cross-over kick. The ball traveled 60 yards in the air and started bounding end-over-end and rolled to a stop six inches from the Tech goal line. One of DKR’s favorite plays and Bradley, who kicked left-footed, was the master of it. This was the fourth best kick in Texas history.
The 1968 A&M game was also one of redemption for Bradley. Street had replaced him as QB after the loss to Tech in the second game. He played a little at wide receiver but finally went back to safety, his natural position it turns out (he was All-Pro at Philadelphia). In his finally game at Memorial Stadium, he intercepted the aggies four times, the standing record for interceptions in one game.
UCLA game, 1970. Texas was down 17-13 with time running out. With 19 seconds left Eddie Phillips passed to Cotton Speyer from the UCLA 45. Two UCLA players went up for the ball but knock each other down as it just sailed over their heads…Speyer snagged the ball and spun to his right and caught the safety leaning the wrong way and took it in with 12 seconds remaining…the kick made it 20-17 to continue the win streak. This was not only an exciting game, this play happened right in front of me sitting low on about the five-yard line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjpap8If1OQ
Poor quality and no sound, about like my memory, but the play is there.
In 1994 James started for the first time against OU and scrambled around right tackle and made a great cut to the EZ to put the Horns up, 17-10, in the fourth. But Texas still had to make a great goal line stand which ended with Stony Clark’s tackle noted in the video upstream. If Brown doesn’t make that run, Stony would never get the chance to make the play he did.
Brown, in the final SWC league game, played one of the truly heroic games on bad ankles to beat A&M, 16-6, and break their 31-game home winning streak.I don’t know why no one has done a youtube tribute to James Brown with James Brown’s music. I have a t-shirt printed after the game as a memorial to the last SWC championship. beergut still doesn’t believe they won that game. hehehe
Robert Brewer’s quarterback draw against Alabama in the ‘77 Cotton Bowl finally got Texas on the board in the fourth quarter down 10-0 and the Horns went on to beat Bear Bryant, 14-12. The 30-yard run untouched up the middle shocked even Texas fans. Alabama fans said a ref blocked the path of a potential tackler…tough break…we know about those. Texas hadn’t run the play all year. Alabama should have known something was up…four years earlier in ’73 QB Alan Lowry had scored the winning TD against the Tide in the CB on a 34-yard bootleg run to win 17-13.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EVsqL7ps8o
Finally, the magnificent Randy McEachern game when he came in after Mark McBath and Jon Aune, the number one and two QBs went down in the first quarter against OU, and led the Horns to a 13-6 victory. Of course, coming into a backfield with Earl Campbell would give you a little confidence.
There’s such a long history here of great players and plays…Tommy Nobis and the left side of the Texas defensive line rolling back Alabama and Joe Namath in the Orange Bowl in ‘64 to preserve a 21-17 victory…the brilliant runs of James Saxon, Chris Gilbert (the first Texas RB to break 1,000 rushing) and Eric Metcalf…I loved the bull rushes of Butch Hadnot, expecially aganst Houston which you’ll see in the first minute or so. That was such a fun game. So much great football…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lhZZX6eVTg
If Whaley makes a RB, I want to see him run like this.
Gilbert was not only the first UT back to reach 1,000 yards rushing
He was the first back in NCAA history to reach 1,000 three times. He did not play as a freshman because frosh were ineligible for the varsity at that time. Gilbert played two years as a tailback, mostly running INSIDE, between the tackles, behind a fullback. He maybe weighed 185. His senior season, he had to share carries with the fullback, the quarterback and another halfback. In one game in 1969, I believe, ALL FOUR BACKS rushed for 100+ yards.
1969, at SMU: Jim Bertleson 137, Steve Worster 137, Ted Koy 128, James Street , 523 yards rushing total.
That was a pretty fine day. What the youngsters today didn’t get to experience is how devastating such a rushing attack was at its peak. That 69 team had the same sense of threat that the VY 2005 team had – they could hurt you so many ways and when they got inside you trouble, it was trouble with a big orange T.
Texas had three rushers over 100 twice, once in ’68 against Baylor with Chris Gilbert 212, Steve Worster 137 and James Street 108. The other time was in 1953 against A&M: Gib Dawson 134, Billy Quinn 127 and James “T” Jones 108.
Ricky holds the single game rushing record, 350 yards (98 vs Iowa St.), just ahead of Roosevelt Leaks with 342 (73 vs. SMU). Chris Gilbert is third with 245 vs. Baylor in ’66.
In addition Gilbert has the single longest run vs. TCU, 96 yards, in a losing cause. That was a horrible game. Texas had only two plays all day, both long TD runs by Gilbert (the short one was over 60)…one of the reasons the wishbone came about in the first place.
Strangely enough, in his very first game vs. Hawaii Ricky nearly tied that record, but they called the play back for a penalty.
I was there for Gilbert's runs vs TCU
Of course, I had blocked the game result out. Sometimes a fading memory is a blessing!
.
by Longhorn in Canada on Jul 10, 2010 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions
another stat
At times that year, the 2nd string backfield of Eddie Phillips, Billy Dale, Bobby Callison and another HB (whose name I do not recall even after reviewing the roster) when aggregating their rushing yards were the 4th-6th top ground game in the country. A true juggernaut.
Pardon the typos. Where is the splchec?
All new states are invested, more or less, by a class of noisy, second-rate men who are always in favor of rash and extreme measures, but Texas was absolutely overrun by such men. --Sam Houston--
Jim Bertelsen, I believe, was the other HB
He was a starter in 1970-71 and later played in the NFL
I had also read that the second team was the 31st scoring team in the NCAA.
The first team ranked number 1 even when you took out their points. You know, I never looked it up to see if it was completely accurate but that second bunch scored a lot of points. From our distance now, you’d have to research the newspapers and magazine issues of the day to validate that claim but it does goes with the mythic nature of the time.
One of the effects of the 63, and especially the 69 and 70 MNCs was to pump up the Austin American-Statesman…their inside stories and reports got published much more widely as a result of Texas’ emergence as a national power and the flowering of the wishbone.
Just curious
As an "SC guy, how come you have the 4th & 5 play the lowest at #10?
Follow me on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
Eleven freaking snaps
And what was amazing was that on the contact/DPI penalties, they were judiciously made to stop touchdowns. There was the one play with the Owl just didn’t catch the ball when he was open, but ten out of the eleven snaps, UT defenders did what had to be done, even if it meant a penalty.
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 9, 2010 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Great list
I remember all of those distinctly (well, except #1 and #2. They were a little before my time here). I definitely remember Sweed’s catch at Ohio State because I was watching ti at a friend’s and while we were losing, I decided to do the rally cap for luck. One of the guys there got belligerently angry and proposed we go fight outside because “rally caps are only for baseball.” Fortunately, that catch happened about 30 seconds later and he shut up and I was saved.
Other moments:
Malcolm Williams’ long TD at Tech that put us back in the game: Because everyone in the rookm had lost hope at that point and that TD excited us. It also caused my roommate to jump up, throwing his plate of chicken strips and ranch dressing across the room, leaving an unremovable stain on the wall. When the landlord later asked for an explanation, all we said was “the Texas Tech game” and he seemed to understand.
Hunter’s kick in the Big XII Champ game: Why? Because I was at work and snuck away from a function to watch in the break room. After the kick, I went crazy, running down the hallways, yelling at the top of my lungs. Needless to say, I was written up, but my boss (being a huge UT fan) recognized how much this school meant to me and later tore it up. He did that because it wasn’t my first infraction for over-exuberance or melancholy following/during a UT game.
Every time I feel down and depressed, I think of seven simple words by a true wise man, Matt Leinart: "I still think we're the better team" and I usually end up hurting myself by laughing so hard.
Big XII Championship 2009
I will do my best to refrain from tying too much emotion into memory of this most recent Big XII CCG, because there have been far more sentimental records memorable moments in this series. But…
Certainly the 4th & 5, Roll Left, and Shipley’s Kick Return are in there. In the ‘08 season, the wife and I were glued to every moment of ball with anticipation of the long awaited national championship between Texas and her family’s Crimson Tide. There was actually a really funny email argument that the old lady had with Jeff Sagarin about the validity of computer rankings and such. I’ll try to find it and share with you guys. Anyway, we know how that turned out. Aside from the obvious in Bama losing to FL in the SEC game, we know all about the outcome of our season that year. Not to bring us down about all that, but another memorable moment – not a good one – was that Crabtree catch and Gideon’s dropped INT. I kicked and broked a piano bench leg. Anyhow, that season was heartbreaking, and while we knew there was a prospect of our dream match-up the following year, our optimism tank was on E.
So, all the planets aligned again in the ‘09 season and along comes the Big XII game vs the Huskers. My folks come into town for my daughter’s birthday (mom) and the game (dad). Anticipation was maxed out and we paced the house nervously awaiting what was to be one of the greatest moments. The old man and I are 6 inches from the projector screen after Colt’s 1-second-I-knew-what-I-was-doing second chance, and there it was: MORE SIREN! My dad and I jumped into a jumbo man hug and the house erupted. The wife and I celebrated for the long-awaited Horns/Bama game and my dad and I curse Fowler for saying TCU should get it.
Hunter Lawrence, I love you. I hope it doesn’t come to that again, but I feel good if it does.
by Infield Elephant on Jul 9, 2010 8:23 PM CDT reply actions
You came by it honestly.
When Street connected with Peschel in the 1969 Texas Arkansas game of the century, I leaped so high and came down so hard that I broke my mom’s couch.
What time is it?
Lucky you!
I was in an Army day room watching the game with a roomful of Penn State fans (they were competing with Texas and Arkie for No. 1) and Ohio State grads (they were No. 1 until knocked out by Michigan two weeks before UT-Arkansas). I was the sole Texan. I celebrated quietly, excused myself, and went to find a phone and make Cotton Bowl ticket arrangements.
Props on the Norgren clip
I can’t think of too many things more insulting to Baylor than naming the play that stretched the lead from 55 to 62 as the Play of the Game.
Bam! Stoney Clark!
ESPN showed the Stoney Clark stop on it’s highlight package using Bill Schoening’s radio call, one of my favorite plays and radio calls of all time.
What time is it?
Nathan Vasher. Texas Tech. Fake Punt.
I literally felt this one from the upper deck. Maybe not literally, but still….
Can't find any video
but I had the great pleasure of watching Earl run for a 58 yd TD against SMU in 1977. As I remember, it was 3rd and short, and SMU put 10 in the box against the call everybody in the Cotton Bowl knew was coming. After he blew through the line like a bowling ball, we got to see just how fast he was. I think there is a still picture out there of Earl stiff-arming the poor SMU safety who was left out there 1 on 1 with him. The background shows a couple of members of the SMU band watching the carnage.
That play showed the incredible combination of power and speed that made Earl so great.
.
by Longhorn in Canada on Jul 10, 2010 12:50 AM CDT reply actions
I have chills as I post this--only one word is necessary
FREDDIE
http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=197499
If you do not know the story, you need to learn it. Each time I watch the Jumbotron before a game and I see the brief clip of Freddie and I ask the people around me if they know the story: almost to a man they do not, which is sad.
The courage of Fred Steinmark is a memory of UT football i will always carry. Seeing him on the sidelines of the 1970 cotton bowl after his leg was amputated was amazing. there will never be a better symbol of a student athlete than Fred Steinmark.
As an aside, can you imagine the legend which would surround him if he had been an aggie. UT needs to never let us forget the courage of Freddie.
Pardon the typos. Where is the splchec?
All new states are invested, more or less, by a class of noisy, second-rate men who are always in favor of rash and extreme measures, but Texas was absolutely overrun by such men. --Sam Houston--
Thanks for this memory, Tex34as
I do remember him. I may have been the first one in Austin to interview him — when he was on the Freshman Team in 1967 and I was covering freshman football for The Daily Texan. Broke my heart when I read about his passing — I had been away from the city for two years and was in VN when I read about it in Stars & Stripes in June 1971.
Fine story on Freddy.
That night when the call came around midnight, I was working on the evening shift at the American-Statesman as a rimmer, and I got to go to the backshop to yell “Stop the presses.” Of course, we had a set-up obit but the sports staff jumped into gear to make the relevant calls to Coach Royal and his team mates and family for quotes for the next day paper.
It was a sad, sad moment and everyone had been touched by his valiant fight.
chills
reading what each of you wrote in response gives me chills still…there is something there which is so very powerful…it goes beyond a memory…thanks for the replies
Pardon the typos. Where is the splchec?
All new states are invested, more or less, by a class of noisy, second-rate men who are always in favor of rash and extreme measures, but Texas was absolutely overrun by such men. --Sam Houston--
The WAC pushed
The WAC pushed hard to get Hawaii into the BCS, with WAC coaches bumping the Warrior’s ranking by over five spots. Not stopping there, they also boosted Boise State’s ranking by an average of 4.8 spots. Only Dick Tomey of San Jose State was closely in line with the majority of ballots; he boosted Hawaii and Boise State by more typical numbers (+2.9 and +1.3 respectively).
San Diego Movers
I remember how the atmosphere of the game completely changed
With Shipley’s return TD. I was sitting close to the field, and we were all wondering if Stoops was going to run Texas off the field again. And then Shipley busted out that return, and everything changed. The rush of that play was indescribable. OU still scored the very next series, but we knew our boys would not back down from this fight as we had seen in the past.
by TheElusiveShadow on Jul 10, 2010 2:05 PM CDT reply actions
We might have (had) better receivers
But you’re not going to find two better Longhorns than those two young men right there. Two of my all-time favorites, for sure. Both of them epitomize the term “class act.”
Do you know what would happen if you typed 'google' into Google? You'd break the internet!
The IT Crowd
by beast in bama on Jul 10, 2010 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions
This was my laptop wallpaper for like a year
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.
let the old guy second...
The ‘69 Street-Peschel pass. In the ’80s, a friend suggested I move my business account to the new Cattlemen’s State Bank, across from Callahan’s on 183. Make an appointment, go on and see the banker. The T Man ring wasn’t that big a deal, until I also saw the Cotton Bowl watch and realized that “Randall Peschel, VP” was RANDY Freakin’ Peschel. What a great guy — very humble and unassuming. Street’s accuracy, and his athleticism, made that catch every bit the equal of Sweed in the Horseshoe (which I had the honor to see in person). Watch that YouTube video link, and look at that clarinet players face, and you will see the emotional attachment all true Longhorn fans share.
Also add Tommy Ford and Scott Appleton’s performances in the ’63 #1 Texas vs. #2 OU 28-7 beatdown of the land thieves. We had just moved to OKC, I am the FNG in the fifth grade, and a Longhorn to boot. Extra memorable to me — but forty five days later, it lost a little luster when JFK was assassinated, also in Dallas.
You're right. Great camera work on the clarinetist after the catch.
How about the jubilant UT cheerleader somersaulting out of his mind onto the field? Game of the ‘20th’ Century is a fitting tag. And you’re screen name is a fine tribute.
here's a couple more...
Dusty Mangum last second FG to beat Michigan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmb7x6AAmPg
Cedric Griffin hit on USC fullback sets the tone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o04Iqincn8Q
How Is 4th and 5 not higher on the list.
I mean I get that you grew up in a slightly different era but still man, with the Nat’l championship on the line
Marcel Darius better watch his back in 2010
It's not a Top 10 list
As explained in the introduction, this is just a grab bag of 10 memorable moments among many on a long, difficult-to-rank list.
And yes, if I were to rank them, 4th and 5 would be #1.
You ain't hurt...
What about Ricky
You guys have such short memories…
Oh it is so easy to forget about the past. What about Ricky Williams breaking the NCAA rushing record. I was at the game on the 30 Yard and watched him running over an Aggie and scoring a touch down. 4th and 5 may be the best because it won the game and a national championship but
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