Top 5 Greatest Plays Ever

Y

YoLaDu

Guest
in UT football history.

I am not an astute scholar of the entire history of UT Football, so i know some of you old timers probably have a better perspective but here are 3 that jump in my head

1. Big 12 conference game. Nebraska 4th down play
2. Vince's run to the end zone on 4th down to win the Nat'l Championship
3. Tony Jones' TD catch against Arkansas with no time remaining.
 
Here's 4 that belong in top 5:

1.) Street-to-Peschel on 4th down, UT vs UA '69

2.) Street-to-Speyrer on 4th down vs ND in '70 Cotton Bowl

3.) Phillips-to-Speyrer on 4th down vs UCLA to preserve winning streak in '70

4.) Worster 7-yd burst, running backwards, to beat OU in '68

Vince's TD run vs USC probably all-time best, but almost anti-climactic
 
In chronological order:

-"The Impossible Catch;" 1940 vs. A&M

-"Street to Peschel;" 1969 vs. Arkansas

-"Roll Left;" 1996 Big XII Championship Game vs. Nebraska

-Ricky Williams Breaks All-Time Rushing Record; 1998 vs. A&M

-"4th & 5;" 2006 Rose Bowl vs. USC
 
I would think that Phil Dawson's kick to beat Virginia back in 95 is a candidate.

50 yds into the wind to win UT's 700th game.
First time UT had won on a kick as final play of the game.

From what I rememer that kick almost didn't happen. There were at least a couple of 4th downs on that drive that we had to make.
 
The "impossible catch" play occurred in the 1940 Texas A&M game.

And how about great defensive plays such as Clark's great stop on Oklahoma, three big plays against Arkansas in 1969 and one against Arkansas in 1962 (the fumble) and don't forget Duke Carlisle's great interception that beat Baylor in 1963. So many!
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nothing like watching that ball go up and up - at least 30 feet above the top of the goalposts, then drop like a freaking STONE only 2 yards past the crossbar.....
 
Goose's list is pretty good.

As far as Dawson's kick. I just can't put a field goal into the top 5 greatest UT plays. No matter how difficult or awesome a feat it might have been.

My only misgiving about Ricky's run against A&M is that he no longer hold the record, but I certainly understand why it would be in the discussion.
 
so JR, you are saying 4 of the top 5 plays occurred over just 3 years (1968 to 1970) in the entire history of UT football?
 
Nothing against Ricky, but I wouldn't put that run as one of the Top 5 plays ever. Top 5 moments, maybe. But when I think of top 5 plays, I think of monumental, program-changing events. Ricky's run set an individual record, but it happened in the 1st quarter of a game that we would later end up trailing and needing to rally back to win.

In my opinion, the top 10 plays are factored by: a) criticality of the play to the outcome of that particular game...so basically all of these are game winners/clinchers, b) criticality of the game itself -- how big were the stakes?, c) how great was the play itself, d) is it a piece of longhorn lore ... how many Longhorn fans would know what you're talking about if you only named the players involved (i.e. EVERYONE knows Street-to-Peschel), and finally, as a tie-breaker, e) how crazy did I go when the play happened

This is totally off the top of my head, and it goes back ONLY since 1983 (my first UT home game at age 6).

10. Drew Kelson smashes Justin Zwick, Brian Robison recovers the fumble to ensure Texas victory at Ohio State (I may be overrating this play, but I like it better than Young-to-Sweed and you gotta give the D a little love).

9. Priest Holmes takes to the skies to clinch 35-31 win over Mack Brown's UNC in the 1994 Sun Bowl

8. Major Applewhite to Mike Jones who rumbles through tackles to take a 20-16 lead over Nebraska, 1999.

7. Phil Dawson in, "The Kick that Defied Gravity", Virginia 1995

6. Bret Stafford to Tony Jones to win the 1987 Arkansas game, final play of the game.

5. Peter Gardere to Johnny Walker to win the 1989 OU game.

4. Dusty Mangum, game winning FG over Michigan in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

3. 1990 - Mark Berry blows up Darren Lewis on the 2-pt conversion to preserve a Texas 28-27 victory over A&M (first since 1983).

2. James Brown to Derek Lewis on 4th and inches to shock the world and clinch the first Big XII Championship over Nebraska.

1. Vince Young scores on 4th and goal to defeat USC.


Honorable Mention -
* Stonie Clark holds off OU at the goal line, 1994
* Norman Watkins (?) intercepts one of those stupid UH bubble screens (which had worked all day) and takes it to the house to win 45-38
* Derrick Johnson intercepts Cody Pickett to set up Texas' FIRST go-ahead touchdown in the 2001 Holiday Bowl
* Major Applewhite to Wane McGarity, 97 yards, 1998 TX/OU
* Ricky Williams scores late in 1999 Cotton Bowl, knocking MSU defenders out of the game on consecutive plays
* Ramonce Taylor scores on the reverse to really blow the roof off DKR-TMS during the 2004 TX/OSU comeback game
* Chance Mock to BJ Johnson, 2003 game winner versus Tech
 
YoLaDu:

Yes. Granted, they were in my time, but for sheer drama and what was at stake, they would be hard to surpass. Just consider:

They were all in 4th quarter, and three of them in the last minute (or less) of the game.

The first 3 I listed directly resulted in NCs, and the 4th (Worster's run against OU) damn near resulted in one, but, equally important, validated the Wishbone offense.

The other plays listed in this thread were all spectacular, indeed, but lacked the last-second drama (except Dawson's kick) and generally led to nothing further. JMO.
 
JR69:

Fair enough. I should go back and read up on all of those plays/games. Thanks for the insight.
 
In addition to those listed in the thread, I am also partial to Vince's 80-yard run at Okie Lite. That started the comeback for the VISITORS!
 
1. Street to Peschel
2. Street tot Peschel
3. Street to Peschel
...
repeat....

100th year of college football, Texas No. 1, piggy No. 2, at piggy on a miserable weather day, the only game on national TV, the President arrives in Marine One in the endzone before the game, the wishbone, Royal v. Broyles, piggy stuffing Texas' offense all day long, 4th down and long, Texas trailing late, Royal tells Street to throw deep to Peschel, Street trots back to the huddle...stops...goes back "Coach, are you SURE?", Street knowing piggy has been eavesdropping Texas' huddle all day tells Peschel "I'm talking to you but I'm pointing at ?Speyrer?" to throw off the piggy spies in their D backfield, then.........

the play

Street is almost engulfed in a torrent of pigs fighting their way through the Texas O line, and just before getting slammed to the turf, launches a desperation pass to Peschel streaking down the sideline, two piggys surround him like bread on a sandwich, the ball comes down from its arc over Peschel's shoulders as he looks back just before catching the ball and stepping out of bounds.

The stadium, and most living rooms in the State of Texas erupt in pandimonium. piggys throw empty, and in this case probably half-full whiskey bottles.

The Catch.

Okay, I'm a little biased, having watched it live on TV as a young lad.

Hook 'em
 
Goose's list is worth a gander, and J.R.'s is bigger'n Dallas.
As for a defensive play, how about Richard Peavy bringing the lumber down on Marcus Dupree in the OU game, what was the year...?
 
Goose nailed it. I would order them this way:

1. Street-to-Peschel
2. VY 4th-and-5
3. Roll Left
4. Ricky's run
5. The Impossible Catch

The '06 Rose Bowl was a better game, but no single play in UT history turned a game and season around the way Street-to-Peschel did. Think of it this way: What are the odds of Vince scoring from the 8 vs. that '69 wishbone team completing a 45-yard bomb on a day where it turned the ball over 6 times and only had 1 score?

VY's run was a crowning achievement. Street-to-Peschel was a miracle.
 
Well, I dunno about the GREATEST plays, but I'm gonna pitch in one fer yer consideration as bein' one o' the most ENJOYABLE.

An' I'm gonna guess that those of you who like to twit them Ags are gonna like it... a lot.

I say it was the perfect play, on accounta we was down, but we was movin'. Time was runnin' out, but it looked like we was gonna make it happen. Then... disaster! Then... redemption! All in one play. Can't fooken beat it. Here's how it happened.

1963. Turkey Day. College Station. We're Number 1 (happened a lot in them daze). Aggy is in the toilet - I think they had maybe two wins all year. We are, of course, supposed to kick piss and blood outta them. But they got pumped up, and they put it to us purty good. With the help of a blown call by a ref on a trick play that gave them a TD, they had us down. I think it was 7-3 at the half, and 13-9 late in the 4th - I think it was 3 minutes and change left when The Play occurred. It had sprinkled off and on and the field was muddy. Tommy Wade was qb'ing, and he throwed a intercept. The way things was, about all that ol' boy had ta do was fall down, and Aggy could pretty well run out the clock on us, or at least run it down ta where it woulda been REAL miracle time... but he decided to run it back as far as he could, and right around the fifty he got corraled... and did he go on down? He did not - I reckon the same Gawd that told ol' Reggie in that Rose Bowl game, well, He whispered in that Aggy ear and told him ta lateral it back to one of his teammates... which he did, halfway... he lateraled it, all right, but that ball went rollin' and tumblin' like it always does when it hits the ground - or more like it, the mud on that particular Thursday afternoon. And when the waves subsided and the bodies unpiled, the player holdin' the ball was wearin' visitor's white.

An' ya know what happened, don'cha? That's right. The 'horns stuffed it down their throat and Duke Carlisle (I believe it was the Duke) put it in the endzone with just over a minute left, ta preserve our Number One ranking and set up the Cotton Bowl date with Navy and Roger the dodger... say... that brings up another great play (not one of the Five Greatest, mind ya, but a great one, anyway.)

'Nuff said?
 
A vote for the 4th and inches in the Rose, not 4th and 5. Props to the D for holding SC...otherwise Superman would not have had his 4th and 5 opportunity.
 
All those plays are great but no list is complete without an Earl Campbell run. His TD run against OU in '77 shed an Okie curse that had been around since Mildren/Pruett of '71 and solidified him as the Heisman favorite.
 
Tommy Nobis stops the vaunted Alabam Crimson Tide with a QB named Joe Namath at the goal 4 straight plays....sorry not sure of the year or bowl game.
 
Honorable mention, Applewhite's 2 yard TD pass to McGarity with 2:47 left to take the lead vs. Nebraska in 98. Applewhite gets concussion, McGarity diving basket catch, streak broken... fairly sweet.

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Johnnie Johnson stoppiong OU's Thomas Lott at the UT five yard line sealed the win in the '77 OU game. It was our first win in seven years. It was one of the biggest plays in the history of that series and was bigger than Stoney's stop as both teams were ranked in the top five.
 
BevoDan...it was the 1965 Orange Bowl, the first Orange Bowl (or any bowl, for that matter, I'm pretty sure) to be played at night. To this day, Namath claims he scored. To this day, Tommy says no, he didn't.
 
Overall:
Street-to-Peschel deserves #1 or #2.
VY's MNC winning TD has to be top 5 AT LEAST, probably top 3.
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Ricky's run for the record book is at least top 10.
What about Limas vs. Ohio State? Top 10 or 15 maybe?

Phil Dawson gets best kick for his bomb against the wind to beat Virginia (Mangum's kick vs. Michigan was more meaningful, but much easier).

I know they weren't historically important, but here's a few of my personal favories:
1. 1994 - Stony Clark squishes OU's Allen at the 1 to ice the game
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2. 1996 -Bryant Westbrook destroys the Notre Dame tailback
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(yes, I know we lost that game)
3. Tony Brackens destroys Mackovic on the sideline
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4. Michael Griffin's flying goal line INT in the Rose Bowl vs. USC
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5. 1998 - Major to McGarity for 97 yard TD vs OU
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Okay, how about a separate list for greatest defensive plays?

1. 4-and-2 at the '06 Rose Bowl
2. '62 Arkie (think it was Culpepper and Treadwell)
3. '65 Orange Bowl - Nobis & Co.
4. Stonie's hit vs. OU in '94
5.(tie) Westbrook's hit on Denson and Westbrook's hit on McElroy

Jerry Gray running down Bo Jackson from behind is also pretty legendary. I'm even tempted to put Michael Griffin's INT off of Leinart up there. That play was huge in turning around the momentum in that game.
 
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