Memory - The Big Shootout
- Thread starter HornHuskerDad
- Start date
Lowery21,Nope, never was assigned to Luke. For everyone else out there, Luke and Williams are (were) both in the Phoenix area. Luke is on the northwest side of Phoenix, and Williams is on the southeast. Willy is now closed - victim (as was Bergstrom) of BRAC.
After Pilot Training at Willy, I went to Tyndall AFB to upgrade into the back seat of the T-38, then went to Vance AFB (Enid, OK) as an Instructor Pilot. Then to Hurlburt Field to upgrade into the OV-10. Off to NKP, Thailand, as a FAC for the rest of the war. From there. took OV-10 to Osan AB, Korea. T-39s at Kirtland AFB, NM, supporting a weapons test program. Separated from active duty; moved to Fort Worth, but kept a Reserve commission. Finished my USAF career as a reservist at Carswell AFB and Bergstrom AFB.
Although I did not graduate from UT, I have been a Longhorn fan since I was a little kid growing up in Texas. I was fortunate enough to be appointed to the Air Force Academy, and graduated in 1968 (gosh, that sounds like a long time ago!). By and large, service academy cadets/middies tend to have another favorite school - the school they would have chosen had they not gone to USAFA/USMA/USNA. Thus, since my first choice would have been UT, I have been a Longhorn fan for a long time. One of my sons did go to UT. Another went to Nebraska; hence my screen name - HornHusker Dad.
If we've met somewhere along the way, let me know and we can renew.
Meanwhile, haven't all these memories of The Big Shootout been FANTASTIC?
HornHuskerDad
After Pilot Training at Willy, I went to Tyndall AFB to upgrade into the back seat of the T-38, then went to Vance AFB (Enid, OK) as an Instructor Pilot. Then to Hurlburt Field to upgrade into the OV-10. Off to NKP, Thailand, as a FAC for the rest of the war. From there. took OV-10 to Osan AB, Korea. T-39s at Kirtland AFB, NM, supporting a weapons test program. Separated from active duty; moved to Fort Worth, but kept a Reserve commission. Finished my USAF career as a reservist at Carswell AFB and Bergstrom AFB.
Although I did not graduate from UT, I have been a Longhorn fan since I was a little kid growing up in Texas. I was fortunate enough to be appointed to the Air Force Academy, and graduated in 1968 (gosh, that sounds like a long time ago!). By and large, service academy cadets/middies tend to have another favorite school - the school they would have chosen had they not gone to USAFA/USMA/USNA. Thus, since my first choice would have been UT, I have been a Longhorn fan for a long time. One of my sons did go to UT. Another went to Nebraska; hence my screen name - HornHusker Dad.
If we've met somewhere along the way, let me know and we can renew.
Meanwhile, haven't all these memories of The Big Shootout been FANTASTIC?
HornHuskerDad
Nobiswasbest
< 25 Posts
I was at the game sitting in section A which was on the West side and on the South endzone line. I have too many memories to renumerate all but the pass to Peschel was something special. I am sorry to admit at the time I was furious when Royal decided to go for it on 4th and 3 on our own 43 with about 3:40 left. I was screaming punt the ball as was most of the Longhorn fans around us. We felt that the risk was too great and that we could hold Arkansas after the punt and have enough time left to score. DKR ddin't agree with us and after the time out we all held our breath as the team broke the huddle. The play was right in front of me. What you can't see on TV is Peschel running with his head down. The two Arkansas DB's broke for the line of scrimmage to stop the run and Randy shot by them. They realized their mistake and turned to chase Randy. They were faster and were closing the gap when James threw the ball. Randy had never looked up from the time he left the line of scrimmage. He was slow so he couldn't afford to look back. My heart was in my throat as I saw the ball in the airand he couldn't see it with his back turned and head down. I was screaming look up look up. He raised his head and hands at the same time as if he knew exactly when it would arrive. As you all know and have seen on replays, the ball hit him right in the hands just before the two DB's crashed into him. They all bounced three feet off of that rock hard turf but Randy held on to the ball. I can close my eyes and still see Randy running down that field with his head down and the two DB's just behind. There was still some heroics left such as Koy's 11 yard run on the next play thru a stunned Arkansas defense and then the defensive pass interceptions. A previous poster was mistaken however about us going for two after the last TD. We had gone for two after James's run for the first TD. James made the two point run as well after faking to Worsterup the middle and faking a pitch to the trailer. We only had to kick an extra point after the second TD. I was staying with some Arkansas friends at their home in Fayetteville. It was a quiet evening as they were depressed and very disappointed. I know how bad I would have felt if we had lost so I stayed low key but was smiling on the inside. The most satisfying game that I have ever attended. Thanks for listening.
Nobiswasbest - that was a great post to read about your recollections of the game and especially watching Peschel with his head down for so long on the big catch - I have never heard anyone remark about it.
I remember my father, mother, and I sitting aroung the tv watching the game. We were stunned for the first three quarters.
Down by 6 points and 4th and 4, James threw a beautiful, unbelievable pass to Randy Peschel. My heart went up to my throat. Randy was well covered - and he caught it. We all shouted. I had goosebumps when that happened.
I was afraid that Arkansas was going to rally. They drove down the field. When they threw an interception we all jumped up down.
For other classic games, what about the comeback against A$M in 1963? Or the Orange Bowl win over Alabama and Joe Namath (great games)! All are great memories.
Down by 6 points and 4th and 4, James threw a beautiful, unbelievable pass to Randy Peschel. My heart went up to my throat. Randy was well covered - and he caught it. We all shouted. I had goosebumps when that happened.
I was afraid that Arkansas was going to rally. They drove down the field. When they threw an interception we all jumped up down.
For other classic games, what about the comeback against A$M in 1963? Or the Orange Bowl win over Alabama and Joe Namath (great games)! All are great memories.
HornHuskerDad - BTW, hope your feeling better... all of us are feeling well reading this thread you started. Brings back some great memories of Dec. 6th, 1969.
lowery21 - have I told you that you have a clever and appropriate signature line?
lowery21 - have I told you that you have a clever and appropriate signature line?
Lowery21 - got the PM. Be patient with me; being new to HornFans, I'll have to learn to check the control panel every now and then. I'll get you a PM reply shortly.
WorsterMan - Yup, doing well. Two days removed from the surgery and walking pretty well with the crutches. It's amazing what they've done with modern technology - I'm flabbergasted at how easy the arthroscope procedure really was.
All - being new to HornFans, I've got a lot to learn about posting and administration, but it hits me that this thread really struck a responsive chord among you all. How does LHG go about determining when a thread merits going onto Classics?
HornHuskerDad
WorsterMan - Yup, doing well. Two days removed from the surgery and walking pretty well with the crutches. It's amazing what they've done with modern technology - I'm flabbergasted at how easy the arthroscope procedure really was.
All - being new to HornFans, I've got a lot to learn about posting and administration, but it hits me that this thread really struck a responsive chord among you all. How does LHG go about determining when a thread merits going onto Classics?
HornHuskerDad
I was 14 years old and living in Hereford Texas where my dad owned a dry goods store at the time. My first memories of my becoming a Hornfan were watching that game with Alabama. Also, I spent a lot of my childhood watching the Cowboys and remember fairly vividly those years of '66 and the '67 Ice Bowl. The Dallas games were discussed on the playground and the lunchroom of the parochial school I attended, every Monday.
I watched the "Shootout" on the black and white set in the living room of our small red brick home in Hereford. Like many of you, I and my brother went completly nutzs when Randy caught that ball. Luckily, that day we had the house all to our selves since mom and dad were running the store.
Nobis, you really emphasised something important with the way Randy had his head down so long and then got his hands and head up at the precise moment to make the catch. It was an incredible over the head catch on a dead run.
Another thing that impresses me was the intensity on that offensive tackles face, whos name is Wuensch, I believe, when they kicked the point after. He is really leaned into the opposing defender and has an Arky flying in over the back of his legs!
That scene in the lockerroom with Nixon was something so big that I knew I would remember it for decades to come. At that point I was completly HOOKED on TEXAS football. I left Hereford with my family in August of '72 to move to Tulsa where relatives were. When I arrived at my uncles house, his three very young daughters were trained to say "BEAT TEXA" after seeing me come through the front door. They all thought they could convert me to being a Sooner. Its been 33 years since I got here and I am still 100% BURNT ORANGE. ALL CONVERSION ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED MISERABLY!
I wonder if that clarinet girl reads these boards? She has to be one of the greatest TEXAS fans of all time.
By the way, I took pictures directly off that same TV when we landed on the moon. I still have all the photos!
baokhorn
I watched the "Shootout" on the black and white set in the living room of our small red brick home in Hereford. Like many of you, I and my brother went completly nutzs when Randy caught that ball. Luckily, that day we had the house all to our selves since mom and dad were running the store.
Nobis, you really emphasised something important with the way Randy had his head down so long and then got his hands and head up at the precise moment to make the catch. It was an incredible over the head catch on a dead run.
Another thing that impresses me was the intensity on that offensive tackles face, whos name is Wuensch, I believe, when they kicked the point after. He is really leaned into the opposing defender and has an Arky flying in over the back of his legs!
That scene in the lockerroom with Nixon was something so big that I knew I would remember it for decades to come. At that point I was completly HOOKED on TEXAS football. I left Hereford with my family in August of '72 to move to Tulsa where relatives were. When I arrived at my uncles house, his three very young daughters were trained to say "BEAT TEXA" after seeing me come through the front door. They all thought they could convert me to being a Sooner. Its been 33 years since I got here and I am still 100% BURNT ORANGE. ALL CONVERSION ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED MISERABLY!
I wonder if that clarinet girl reads these boards? She has to be one of the greatest TEXAS fans of all time.
By the way, I took pictures directly off that same TV when we landed on the moon. I still have all the photos!
baokhorn
I was 11 yrs old, the youngest of 4 kids. We lived in Euless and my whole family gathered around to watch on our new entertainment center, a giant piece of furniture containing a 25" color tv, am AND FM radio, and STEREO phonograph.
I remember being so nervous that my feet were freezing and I had to go take a leak every commercial. Somehow, I guess due to youthful ignorance, I always knew we were going to win. When we finally scored I figured it was over, the comeback was on and we would probably score 4 times and put them out of their misery. I remember that while thrilled with the dramatic victory, I was a little embarrassed that we let them hang around so long, and mainly just relieved that we didn't blow it. I also figured that we would probably win every game as long as Coach Royal was around.
Thoughts while watching that espn replay:
Chris Schenkel sounds like my Mom describing the action.....after the 2 pt conversion "and Jimmy Street has just made eight points!"
and describing the 4th down pass...."and Texas comes up with the big play!"
Bud Wilkinson's comments on Street's 42 yd scramble.........that's what drives coaches crazy, you have the play defended and someone scores on outstanding individual effort.
and Nixon..........the fact that you won a tough one, to be behind fourteen to nothing, and not to lose your cool, to come back and win, that proves you deserve to be number one........and that's what you are!
I remember being so nervous that my feet were freezing and I had to go take a leak every commercial. Somehow, I guess due to youthful ignorance, I always knew we were going to win. When we finally scored I figured it was over, the comeback was on and we would probably score 4 times and put them out of their misery. I remember that while thrilled with the dramatic victory, I was a little embarrassed that we let them hang around so long, and mainly just relieved that we didn't blow it. I also figured that we would probably win every game as long as Coach Royal was around.
Thoughts while watching that espn replay:
Chris Schenkel sounds like my Mom describing the action.....after the 2 pt conversion "and Jimmy Street has just made eight points!"
and describing the 4th down pass...."and Texas comes up with the big play!"
Bud Wilkinson's comments on Street's 42 yd scramble.........that's what drives coaches crazy, you have the play defended and someone scores on outstanding individual effort.
and Nixon..........the fact that you won a tough one, to be behind fourteen to nothing, and not to lose your cool, to come back and win, that proves you deserve to be number one........and that's what you are!
I was 12. There was such a build up with the game being moved from October, teams ranked 1 &2, and NO other game being played that weekend (game was moved to the weekend after the end of the season). This gave this game the buildup of the championship games we have today. . I remember the huge pep rally before the game. Watched the game on our black and white TV.
Then I went to the airport to greet the team on their return. I have never seen anything so wild in all my life. Back then the airport was small. People were out on the runways. Never got to see the team but it was a pep rally atmosphere.
Then I went to the airport to greet the team on their return. I have never seen anything so wild in all my life. Back then the airport was small. People were out on the runways. Never got to see the team but it was a pep rally atmosphere.
Statalyzer
10,000+ Posts
My wife & I watched the game at my parents' home in South Austin. Later that evening after dinner she & I decided to go to the airport (old Mueller) to see the team arrive - the radio station had given their charter flight arrival & encouraged fans to greet them.
Anyways, we had to park a couple of blocks west off Manor Road and walked across the open grounds (later an expanded parking lot) to the terminal. The crowd there was almost unbelievable, as the entire place inside & out was packed with hysterical fans, drunks, and bewildered airline travellers. Back in those days, the concourse to the gates was just an open but covered passageway, with a waste-high metal fence separating the walkway from the open "parking" pad for the aircraft - no security at all then.
It was later estimated that there were upwards of 10,000 excited/drunken Hornfans roaming all over the place. I can vouch that the estimate was probably close, as there were thousands of people packed into the concourse and outside surrounding the aircraft parking area. There were even scores of idoits climbing on the concourse roof to get a better view.
Finally, airport workers got the crowd to move back enough to allow the Team's charter Boeing 727 to taxi up to the gate, which it did reeeaall slow. Almost immediately, the crowd surrounded the plane, but at a few yard's distance. We waited several minutes until the rear exit ramp located below the tail opened & the stair came down. It looked like Darrell Royal who walked halfway down the stairs, but when the frenetic mob surged forward, he ran back up inside the plane. Guess it looked like a scene from Dante's Inferno, and noisy as hell to boot!
A few minutes later, the airport people got the mob to move back & clear a path for the Team's charter buses to get up close. I vaguely remember DKR saying something to the crowd and everybody cheering, but hey, that was 36 years ago.
Local radio jocks reported that some flights were delayed because there were drunks running up & down the runway, which had to be closed temporarily until they were cleared off. It was easy to believe that, since the airport mob looked like the crazy Drag mobs in later years.
It was awesome, mind-bogglin', and a huge moment in 'Horn history. I'm glad we were there.
BTW - I got to meet Randy P. at a "back to school" night - one of his daughters was in my class. He grinned when I just said, "The Catch", as we shook hands.
Anyways, we had to park a couple of blocks west off Manor Road and walked across the open grounds (later an expanded parking lot) to the terminal. The crowd there was almost unbelievable, as the entire place inside & out was packed with hysterical fans, drunks, and bewildered airline travellers. Back in those days, the concourse to the gates was just an open but covered passageway, with a waste-high metal fence separating the walkway from the open "parking" pad for the aircraft - no security at all then.
It was later estimated that there were upwards of 10,000 excited/drunken Hornfans roaming all over the place. I can vouch that the estimate was probably close, as there were thousands of people packed into the concourse and outside surrounding the aircraft parking area. There were even scores of idoits climbing on the concourse roof to get a better view.
Finally, airport workers got the crowd to move back enough to allow the Team's charter Boeing 727 to taxi up to the gate, which it did reeeaall slow. Almost immediately, the crowd surrounded the plane, but at a few yard's distance. We waited several minutes until the rear exit ramp located below the tail opened & the stair came down. It looked like Darrell Royal who walked halfway down the stairs, but when the frenetic mob surged forward, he ran back up inside the plane. Guess it looked like a scene from Dante's Inferno, and noisy as hell to boot!
A few minutes later, the airport people got the mob to move back & clear a path for the Team's charter buses to get up close. I vaguely remember DKR saying something to the crowd and everybody cheering, but hey, that was 36 years ago.
Local radio jocks reported that some flights were delayed because there were drunks running up & down the runway, which had to be closed temporarily until they were cleared off. It was easy to believe that, since the airport mob looked like the crazy Drag mobs in later years.
It was awesome, mind-bogglin', and a huge moment in 'Horn history. I'm glad we were there.
BTW - I got to meet Randy P. at a "back to school" night - one of his daughters was in my class. He grinned when I just said, "The Catch", as we shook hands.
ScoPro - thanks for sharing those memories at the airport - I wish I had been there. You did see Longhorn history at the airport and you met a Longhorn legend in Randy Peschel.
I was at the game, set with in 10/15 yards of Nixon and Bush.
It was after my kids being born healthy the greatest thing ever, 2005 Rose bowl next.
I was very fortunate to have flown back to Austin after the game and went to "The Drag" and saw the greatest party in UT history as far as I know. It's too long to share everything...
I drug a bench off the field and up to the Horns dressing room window.
I was 5 feet from Nixon when he presented the trophy, which by the way, theyABC took about 3/4 shots.
It was after my kids being born healthy the greatest thing ever, 2005 Rose bowl next.
I was very fortunate to have flown back to Austin after the game and went to "The Drag" and saw the greatest party in UT history as far as I know. It's too long to share everything...
I drug a bench off the field and up to the Horns dressing room window.
I was 5 feet from Nixon when he presented the trophy, which by the way, theyABC took about 3/4 shots.
SantaRita - wow, you saw history up close and personal. Nothing like seeing a President of the United States of America getting the honor of meeting The University of Texas Football Head Coach Darrell K. Royal
A funny thing on the sidelines when Coach Royal made the call on 4th and 3. Coach Campbell was with the defense several yards away and had kind of sidled over to where Coach Royal was talking with James. Upon hearing the call he raced back over to the defensive players and said, "defense get ready."
I was so inspired after reading this thread this past week, that I searched for my ESPN Classic video copy of the game and re-watched it this afternoon.
I still get goosebumps at times watching the game - especially the sequence where the LHB chick is stressed out right before lightning strikes and Street hits Peschel with the Right 53 Veer Pass. They switch back to the LHB chick and she is just so stunned and excited she cannot play her instrument.
Then Koy rips off tackle for 11 and Bertelsen for 2 yds. and a TD to tie the game. The LHB is playing Texas Fight... then Happy Feller made one of the most important, if not the most important extra point of his life and in all of Longhorn history.
Truly a game for the ages.
I am already ready for fall and we have a long summer ahead...
I still get goosebumps at times watching the game - especially the sequence where the LHB chick is stressed out right before lightning strikes and Street hits Peschel with the Right 53 Veer Pass. They switch back to the LHB chick and she is just so stunned and excited she cannot play her instrument.
Then Koy rips off tackle for 11 and Bertelsen for 2 yds. and a TD to tie the game. The LHB is playing Texas Fight... then Happy Feller made one of the most important, if not the most important extra point of his life and in all of Longhorn history.
Truly a game for the ages.
I am already ready for fall and we have a long summer ahead...
I watched this classic as a 15 year old high school sophomore with my dad, a UT grad and a huge, obsessive longhorn fan at our home. My chief memory from this, the greatest victory in longhorn history; is a personal one. Immediately following the game and trophy presentation, etc.; my dad went to the hall closet and got out a bottle of whiskey that he had saved for special occasions (he virtually never drank) and took a pull right off the bottle. He then handed it to me, his 15 year old worshipping son, and I took a pull! I think we both knew that we had witnessed something that we would remember for the rest of our lives and might never be repeated! It wasn't just that we had won; it was HOW we had won! We had trailed the entire game on the road; had turned the ball over numerous times, and had to convert a miraculous 4th down play in the fourth quarter to take a ONE point lead! Then we had to intercept a pass in our red zone as time was running out to preserve the victory!
Truly a legendary moment in longhorn history !!
Truly a legendary moment in longhorn history !!
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