Burnt Orange Spirit: Texas Football Leaders in My Lifetime

This article considers the question of which University of Texas football players have best embodied the “Spirit of Texas Football”.   To address this, I chose a few criteria to help me methodically narrow down the many tremendous possibilities, including:

Ø      Personal familiarity,

Ø      Leadership exhibited on the field, and

Ø      Ability to generate excitement.

I also limited my selections to those on the offense.  Defenders need not be offended by this.  It was just easier to describe. 

So with apologies to my own favorites such as Nathan Vasher, Brian Arakpo, and Steve McMichael, I proceed below with my choices, offering up some game history along the way, designed to support the embodiment of those characteristics that exemplify leadership, courage and ultimately success on the field.

Colt McCoy

According to my sources, Colt McCoy has established himself as the greatest passer in the history of college football, based on his 77 percent completion percentage for the 2008 season. 

His record 29 TD passes as a freshman were part of a story whereby a new kid was able to tentatively hold, continue to earn and eventually secure a leadership position on and off the field.  This was not an easy transition, especially leading older and more experienced teammates. 

Entering his senior season three years later, Colt is not only the undisputed leader for the Longhorns, but his spirit certainly embodies what it means to honor the burnt orange and white.  

Though unverified, Colt probably holds the record for completion percentage within a single game (based on perhaps a minimum of 20 passes attempted).  Certainly, he was nearly flawless on Saturday October 18, 2008 with 29 completions on 32 attempts (91%) for 337 yards. 

On that same day Colt led 5 consecutive drives of textbook perfection in the first half staking Texas to a 35-0 lead against the highly ranked (No. 7) Missouri Tigers.  He finished with two touchdown passes as well as two rushing TDs, demonstrating his desire to put the ball into the end zone any way he could. 

As to his evolution, let’s review his record versus Ohio State.  Of course, I was at both games with a near sideline perspective, so my comments reflect more than just videotape. 

In the September 2006 contest, Colt’s first big test was indeed challenging.  He telegraphed his primary receivers, forced passes into double coverage and missed a couple of wide open receivers downfield that were away from the ball and his narrow field of vision. 

Of course, Texas also fumbled a long drive at the end zone and allowed that ball to be taken the other way—ultimately for an Ohio State touchdown and a 14 point swing.  Texas, already down multiple key pass defenders on suspension for driving illegally with a loaded gun in the car among other things, never recovered. 

His next shot at Ohio State came on Monday January 5, 2009 at the Fiesta Bowl.  Texas was not completely ready for this game, and the offensive line was sluggish.  They failed to open holes for the running backs, who seemed both slow and uncreative, and initially did a poor job of even protecting the quarterback. 

As the game progressed, it became clear that Colt needed to take charge, inspiring the defense to hold and give him two minutes to come back in and score. 

They did and he did, driving the length of the field with no huddle play calls and precision passing—for a very important victory despite the fact that many thought Texas belonged in the National Championship game instead of an Oklahoma team that they dominated for almost three quarters (a 35-14 run) and beat by 10 points (of course not looking to pile on more with the game already put away). 

Colt starts the 2009 season with great expectations, but regardless of the outcome, he lives and breathes the spirit of Texas.

Vince Young

Texas has had more than one quarterback deserving of a Heisman but falling short.  In the case of Vince Young, voters may have changed their minds had they seen the 2006 Rose Bowl.  But let’s back up a year as Texas was also in the 2005 Rose Bowl. 

With a record of two wins and no losses, Texas is the most successful team in the history of the storied Rose Bowl (minimum two games required), and Vince Young is the greatest player in the history of this bowl game.  That says a lot, but it is backed up by more than spiritual leadership, desire to win and competitive excellence.  His stats are amazing.

In the 2005 Rose Bowl against Michigan, Vince led UT to a dramatic 38-37 victory, overcoming true excellence from Michigan with its special teams and receivers.  Vince piled up 372 yards of very balanced total offense, passing for 180 yards and one TD. 

His rushing included TD runs of 20, 60, 10, and 23 yards and totaled 192 yards on 21 attempts.  Most remarkably, his jersey was nearly spotless at the end of the game, reflecting the feeling that he was never really tackled—he either ran out of bounds or into the end zone. 

The 2006 Rose Bowl was for the National Championship versus an allegedly unbeatable USC squad.  Once again, fierce determination, persistence and a spirited leadership that rallied all players to higher levels of play produced a Texas victory. 

This time, his bowl record 467 yards of total offense came from 200 yards rushing on 19 carries with three TDs, and 30 of 40 passes for another 267 yards.

Noting that quarterbacks are subject to sacks and negative yards rushing, can you imagine a quarterback running for 392 yards on 40 carries (and seven TDs) in bowl game competition.  Never. 

His two-game bowl history of 839 yards of total offense is almost as unbelievable.

And that was the epitome of Vince Young as a Longhorn—always ready to tackle the impossible and create the unimaginable. 

Jamaal Charles

Jamaal Charles may be an unlikely candidate for my Texas Spirit award having skipped his senior season to go pro.  However, during the second half of his junior year, he humbled himself enough to look for help from his coaches and seize opportunities to help his team. 

The turning point was the tough loss to Oklahoma, when UT was just yards away from what could have been a 29-28 win.

Jamaal changed three things at that time in my opinion: he stopped trying to go to the outside on every play and outrun the defense, he finally learned the importance and priority of holding on to the ball, and he recognized that he needed to be more of a team player. 

In a nice twist, his team-oriented focus and newfound leadership actually preceded personal stats that were outrageously impressive.  Leading it off was the Oct 27, 2007 game against Nebraska.

In a close contest, Texas held on to beat Nebraska 28-25 with thre rushing touchdowns from Jamaal Charles.  In fact, Charles exploded for TD runs of 25, 86 and 40 yards, which led to a fourth quarter total of 216 yards—not bad for a single quarter. 

For the whole game, he had 290 yards on 33 carries, breaking Billy Simms’ record for the most rushing yards ever against the Cornhuskers.

Major Applewhite

A Longhorn team captain and true leader, Major Applewhite helped put Texas into four straight bowl games—the 1999 and 2000 Cotton Bowls, and 2000 and 2001 Holiday Bowls. 

But it was his performance in the 2001 Holiday Bowl in particular that demonstrated his leadership, his skill, and the willingness of his team to get behind him and follow him to victory. 

Known for his ability to find creative ways to score (for example, making the shovel pass a real weapon), he capped his collegiate career by throwing for a UT record 473 yards and a Longhorn “bowl game best” four TDs.  He was named Offensive MVP in this thrilling 47-43 victory over No. 20 Washington. 

Major started his UT career equally well as he threw for 2,453 yards and 18 TDs, which were Longhorn freshman records (until the arrival of Colt McCoy), and enabled him to claim the Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors in 1998.

As a sophomore (and prior to splitting time with Chris Simms), he was the 1999 co-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.  He set UT records for career (8,353) and season (3,357 in 1999) passing yards, as well as career TD passes (60). Still a favorite, he is now a Longhorn coach. 

Roosevelt Leaks

A fabulous power style running back, Roosevelt Leaks was the first black athlete to earn All-America and All-Conference honors for the Longhorns.  Indeed, he pioneered the change in complexion for both UT football and the Southwest Conference.

Though plagued by a serious knee injury that hampered his senior season and some of his nine-year pro career, Leaks excelled as a running back and as a man who led by example. 

He earned consensus first-team All-America honors in 1973, finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, and was named Southwest Conference MVP while setting the conference record for rushing yards (1,415). A team captain, Leaks guided the Longhorns to two conference titles.

In one of my favorite games, Leaks ran for an unstoppable 342 yards on 37 carries against SMU in 1973, a stunning feat for a UT back despite a history of quality backs, and bested only by Ricky Williams in later years.

Russell Erxleben

On Saturday, October 8, 1977, Texas entered the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas to play Oklahoma and attempt to end a rare losing streak. They did.  Playing a key role was punter and kicker Russell Erxleben. 

With a low scoring game in part because both the Texas starting quarterback Mark McBath and his backup John Aune left the game with season ending injuries, special teams play was critical.  Erxleben and his legend as the strongest leg in football history was critical.  

Having already knocked down a 64 yarder in the first half, Erxleben connected on a 58 yard field goal to put Texas up 13-6 with eight minutes to go in the game.  After holding Oklahoma on the ensuing drive, Texas was pinned at its own six yard line. 

Under pressure and dangerously punting out of his own end zone, Russell blasted a 69 yard punt that pushed Oklahoma so far back that the game was essentially over as a result. 

What was unique for Texas at the time was to see the team rally around his leadership—a kicker not a quarterback—at a time where courage and confidence were sorely needed. 

But 64 yards was not his longest field goal. 

Against Rice (also in 1977), the crowd was stunned to see the field goal unit come out and attempt a 67 yarder, and it was good, making it the longest field goal ever in any football game.  Russell ended his collegiate career with a total of eight field goals of 57 yards or more.  No one else is even close. 

Earl Campbell

According to famed Oklahomacoach Barry Switzer, Earl Campbell was the only high school football player that he ever saw who could have gone straight to the NFL and become an immediate star. 

Earl ran for 4,443 yards and 41 TDs while at Texas, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1977 with 1,744 yards rushing in that year.  He was an All Southwest Conference selection all four years at UT—a first. 

One of his best performances was the Texas A&M rivalry played in College Station on November 26, 1977.  Earl ran for 222 yards and scored 4 touchdowns en route to a Texas win of 57 to 28.  He also caught the only TD pass of his UT career going 60 yards off of a screen pass.   

Reasonably fast, very powerful and extremely determined, Earl regularly requiring gang tackling to bring him down.  Always eager to please the coaches and his teammates, he also set the tone for the 1977 squad which finished the regular season undefeated. 

Priest Holmes

In one of the biggest upsets in history, Texas took on a hugely favored Nebraska team in the inaugural Big 12 Championship and beat them 37-27 on December 7, 1996.  One of the key elements of this startling win was the running game led by Priest Holmes. 

Priest ran for 120 yards and three touchdowns, including an 11 yard TD late in the game that sealed the victory against the two-time defending National Champs (and 21 point favorites to win). 

Priest was also a critical decoy on the key play of the game.  With fourth down and inches, QB James Brown faked a handoff to Holmes and lofted a pass to wide open Derek Lewis who pulled down a 61 yard reception.  This set up the Holmes rushing TD with the clock running out. 

This wasn’t the only big game for Priest Holmes as he ran for 161 yards on 27 attempts in the 1994 Sun Bowl against North Carolina.  Playing alongside Ricky Williams, pro scouts were unwilling to draft him in 1997 based on leadership skills and a few great games.  H

However, he managed to display his determination once again, and eventually joined the pros.  That was also a good call, as Priest became the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002.   

Ricky Williams

In my opinion, Ricky Williams may have been at his best as a Longhorn on Thursday January 8, 1998—not even a game day!  This is when he announced that he would return for his senior season.

He had just led the country in rushing and scoring as a junior and won the Dr. Pepper Doak Walker Award for the nation's most outstanding running back.  He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting, and many pundits expected him to turn pro as he was predicted to be drafted no worse than the No. 5 pick overall. 

At a press conference Ricky said, "When I came to Texas three years ago, I set personal and team goals. I also wanted to get my degree from The University of Texas and that's why I'm staying another year." 

According to various sources, he went on to say he delayed becoming a millionaire for his love of the college experience and that he hoped his decision would set a good example for kids in emphasizing the value of education.

"There's certain things money can't buy, like camaraderie and the team being together and loyalty," Williams added. "Money can't buy those things."  Mack Brown was especially pleased, saying "What a great statement for college football that a guy would turn down all that money to stay in college."

Of course, Ricky was perhaps rewarded as his senior season was even better and this time he won the Heisman!

As it turns out, Doak Walker was more than the name of an award; he was a friend to Ricky Williams and one that passed away shortly before the Iowa State game on October 3, 1998.

An emotional Williams dedicated his efforts to the memory of Walkerand proceeded to run for a UT record 350 yards and five TDs, leading Texasto a 54-33 victory.

This was also part of an ambush on the record books as he set records for rushing in consecutive games (318 yards against Rice gave him a two game total of 668 yards), rushing TDs, career TDs, TDs in consecutive games (11) and became the fastest to reach 1,000 yards in a season, doing it in five games. 

James Street

When one thinks of leadership and guts and sheer force of will amongst the historic leaders of UT football, one player usually rises to the top, namely James Street.  I was very young and just becoming aware of people such as Darrell Royal and President Nixon when Texas traveled to Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks on December 16, 1969. 

Texas was undefeated over its last 18 games and ranked No. 1 in the country, while Arkansas had won 15 straight and was ranked No. 2.  The game also matched the number one rushing offense at UT against the nation’s best defense overall. 

Midway through the third quarter, Arkansas was up 14-0.  Texas QB James Street then led the Longhorns on an 80-yard drive, scoring himself on a 42 yard run.  They went for—and succeeding in getting—a two point conversion. 

Later, with the game on the line, fourth down and 3 from their own 43 yard line, Street executed the play “53 veer pass” and threw a 44 yard strike to Randy Peschel.  Two plays later, Texas scored and went on to win the game 15-14. 

Some people [incorrectly] think that it was Street’s favorite receiver Cotton Speyrer that caught this magical fourth down pass.  Not so.  Cotton’s best game was actually the 1969 Cotton Bowl (how appropriate). 

In this game, Street hit Cotton with not one but two TD passes of almost 80 yards in length.  Thus, these Street to Speyrer completions not only led to a victory over Tennessee and a Championship season, but they also set the record for the longest bowl game pass completions—and from a Wishbone quarterback no less!

In fact, prior to the “Game of the Century” versus Arkansas, UT secured a win that many feel represented the emergence of the “Wishbone” offense.  On Saturday, October 12, 1968, Texas employed this new offense successfully in defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 26-20. 

Trailing 20-19 and at their own 15-yard-line with only 2:37 left in the game, QB James Street stepped under center and revived the offense with four pass completions to get to the OU 21 with 55 seconds left to play.

Then, Texas went to its rushing attack and Steve (Woo Woo) Worster carried for 14 yards one play and seven the next for the winning score with just 39 seconds remaining. The Wishbone had arrived, and the next 28 games ended the same—in victory. 

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