Top 5 Plays seen in person.

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by IvanDiabloHorn, Jun 29, 2020.

  1. IvanDiabloHorn

    IvanDiabloHorn 1,000+ Posts

    How about 5 of the top plays you saw while in person at a game:

    In no order:

    October 3 1970
    Texas - UCLA Fourth Quarter , everyone stomping on the aluminum seats, Cotton Speyrer catches TD pass 12 seconds left. When Speyrer scored, it is still to this day the loudest roar I have ever heard in Memorial Stadium. Texas wins 20-17. Winning streak continued.

    January 1, 1973
    #4 Alabama - #7 Texas Texas down 10-13 with 4:22 left in the fourth quarter, QB Alan Lowry executes a 34 yard TD run. Texas wins 17-13
    No, Alan was not out of bound on the run because the ref said so.

    January 1, 1982
    #3 Alabama - #6 Texas. Texas down 10-0 with 10:38 left in the fourth Quarter QB Robert Brewer runs 30 yards up the middle for a TD.
    Texas wins 14-12.

    October 17, 1987
    Arkansas - Texas. Little Rock Arkansas. Texas down 14-10 with 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter Stafford passes to Jones for a TD with no time left on the clock. After dodging ice in the stands and whiskey bottles going to the concession stand and watching the hogs working themselves into a game ending frenzy, this play puts a smile on my face every time I think of it. The ref seemed to hesitate before signaling Td which made the piggies start a huge yell, then fell to silence. Texas wins 16-14.

    January 4, 2006
    #1 USC - #2 Texas Rose Bowl. Vince Young and you know the play. Texas wins 41-38
     
    • Like Like x 7
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
  2. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    So good to get back on a Horns football topic! My in person off the top of my head & not in order:

    Jan. 1, 1970 Cotton Bowl - a very cold day: #1 UT vs ND. 4th qtr. Minutes left. Horns 4th down and 8 on ND 10 yard line down 17-14. I was breathless as Street hit Spreyer for a key 8.1 yard low nail biting pass for a 1st down. Billy Dale goes on to score on the next play so the Horns go up 21-17 and win the game & NC.

    Dec. 2004 Rose Bowl: UT vs. Mich. Horns trail late. VY engineers a drive to Wolverine 19. Key Dusty Mangum FG barely clears but beats Michigan 38-37.

    Oct. 1977 vs. ou. Key play: Earl takes a hand-off from McEachern heads to the left side, gets a key block from TE Steve Hall, hurdles an ou DB and scores an exlererating 24 yard TD. Horns go on to win 13-6. Exerleben had a huge day kicking and punting. A day I saw grown Horn fans men weep with joy after beating the sorry bastard sooners.

    Oct. 2004 Horns vs. Okie Lite. Horns get down 7-35 but Vince rallies them to win 56-35. Key play Vince TD pass to Scaife before the half cutting pokes lead to 35-14. Horns D gives up 0 points the 2nd half.

    Oct. 2018 vs. ou, Horns grind out a 21 point lead in the 4th but ou ties it late 35-35. Sam engineers a long drive and Dicker the kicker nails a key & clutch FG to win it 38-35 with no time left... IIRC.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
  3. Horns11

    Horns11 10,000+ Posts

    Some randos for Texas:

    Halloween 1998 - last play of the 3rd quarter in Lincoln - 76-yard pass to Bryan White after Nebraska had just taken a FG lead. It's kind of when the "lights came on" for the team for the first time in a LONG time... that being down in Lincoln on 3rd and 10 wasn't a death sentence.

    September 2001 - Major taking the knee on the PAT to stop the scoring at 44 points against UNC in memory of Cole Pittman. Memorable because some old dude behind me screamed in disbelief that the game wasn't over and how dare they quit hustling with time left on the board.

    December 1995 - Any number of "minor" plays against A&M to secure the last SWC game, but the one that stands out was Robert Reed's TFL in the 1st quarter, showing that we just weren't going to let them near the damn end zone that day. Westbrook's hit on McElroy was bigger, but somehow we just "knew" that A&M wouldn't be able to capitalize on the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

    OU 1985 - It's probably my earliest "play" memory from a football game. I know I had been to games before that, but all I really remember were sounds/emotions. Kip Cooper nabbing the ball out of the air on what basically should have been an easy play for OU and scoring when we were probably 20-point underdogs... it gave me hope. We still lost and I remember being sad the following week when my dad said OU lost to Miami, because it tarnished Kip Cooper's TD. Now I want OU to lose every week.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  4. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    Johnny Walker beats OU 1989
    Phil Dawson beats Virginia with 50 yarder in wind
    Ricky breaks the record
    Hadnot running all over Houston 1990
    Vince Young 2005 Rose Bowl
     
    • Like Like x 4
  5. SlothHorn

    SlothHorn 25+ Posts

    I just realized that, in all my years as a fan and student of UT... all the preseason magazines I've purchased every year .... all the tantrums and tears that I've shed... all the times I've feigned illness to watch a game...,
    I've never seen a last-second or memorable UT play in person. Wow.

    It began with the 90 Cotton Bowl while I was still in high school.
    Went to almost every game during the 91 - 94 years.
    I did see the UNC game in Chapel Hill in 2000.
    After moving back to Texas 3 years ago, I did get to see the Iowa St game 2 years ago. Of course, I had to leave the K State game last year early as my kid got sick.
    That's it.

    Dang it.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  6. Run Pincher

    Run Pincher 2,500+ Posts

    I think my list would be more of a bottom 5 that I won't go in too. That said my most memorable UT sports moment was having goal line seats and watching Ricky lunge across the goal line on his record run against the agroids.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  7. FWHORN

    FWHORN 10,000+ Posts

    Most memorable five plays I saw in person:

    Start with honorable mention Dawson beats UVA in '95 with a 50 yard kick into stiff wind that hung in air forever before just making it over the crossbar.

    5. Dusty Mangum's game winning field goal on last play of 2005 Rose Bowl to beat Michigan.

    4. Keith Cash game winning TD catch against OU in 1990 (RD Lasher missed FG on last play of that game a few minutes later).

    3. Priest's game winning TD as he went superman from about the five yard line to beat UNC at the '94 Sun Bowl.

    2. Ricky's record breaking run for a TD against aggy in 1998.

    1. VY's game winning run at 2006 Rose Bowl to beat USC.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  8. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    Not sure "top" five, but off the top of my head:
    1. I saw the Cotton Speyrer 1970 play. Crazy. Everyone threw their little orange seat cushions in the air like it was the end of all time. (It almost wasn't the end of UCLA's chances, ....)
    2. Vince hitting Billy Pittman down the left sideline in the RRR in 2005. When he lifted up his arm to the crowd as he ran into the UT end of the field, it was pure magic, and etched into my memory.
    3. Earl Campbell catching a wheel route down the left side for a TD at College Station in 1977 to take over the momentum and the game. They were ranked, we were undefeated, and their crowd was so hostile that I was actually afraid to be there. We fell behind, but that play turned everything around.
    4. Cliche, perhaps, but I will never forget Ricky Williams' record-breaking run. Tony Dorsett was at the game to watch. That one play showed almost every trick and talent he had--speed, moves, vision, power, determination--just awesome.
    5. I'm partial to Edwin Simmons' 67 yard TD against OU in 1983. There weren't enough examples of it, but when he ran at full speed, he was one of the most beautiful runners I have ever seen, a pure joy to watch.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  9. AC

    AC 2,500+ Posts

    Off the top of my head.

    OU game 77’ Earl ran wild. First time I saw him live. I was 9. One of my first games in person. I watched the cheerleaders a lot! Even back then. Our tickets were not so good so everyone looked small! Texas won. I think 13-6.

    A&M game in 2003. Cedric ran wild. What was the final of that one? 45-16?

    Alabama Cotton Bowl 1982. I got to see Robert Brewers big run and leading us in a comeback win. 14-12?

    Texas Bowl against Missouri in 2017. First game after which I thought Herman could turn around the program. Sam showed his skill and leadership as well. 33-16.

    Tech game in 95’. Got to see Ricky as a freshman tear it up with Schon Mitchell. Got to see Tony Brackens destroy Field Stovall on a fake punt! Can’t recall the final, maybe 35-14?

    #1 A&M game in 1998. Got to see Ricky break the record from the front row on the goal line right where he crossed. My brother & I got on TV for 1 second. Awesome!
     
    • Like Like x 4
  10. Ajo Macho

    Ajo Macho 500+ Posts

    For the most part, we've been making lists of most important plays, or in some cases, most important games.
    I'll try to look more at most impressive/fun plays, regardless of the situation or the stakes. But big games and big moments always feel more impressive and fun, don't they?

    I was a student mostly during the Vince era and haven't been to many games since. You'll be able to tell.

    5. Jamaal Charles 87 yard TD run, Nebraska 2007
    Charles absolutely went off on Nebraska in the 4th quarter. Good gravy, that guy was fast.

    4. Ramonce Taylor 48 yard TD run, Oklahoma State 2004
    It's really the whole comeback, but this play stands out the most.

    3. Vince's 3rd rushing TD vs. Michigan, 2005 Rose Bowl
    "No...No!! How in the world??"
    I couldn't say it better myself.

    2. Vince to Pittman, Colorado 2005
    The play didn't go for a TD, and the game was a blowout, but I've never seen an improvised play work out as beautifully.

    1. Brian Robison Bomars Bomar, Rodrique Wright dashes 70 yards for TD, OU 2005
    It's always fun when the big guy scores. Two more plays from this game nearly made the list.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
  11. bystander

    bystander 10,000+ Posts

    More than five off the wall I've seen (any sport, but lots of baseball):

    1) Hate to start with bad stuff but... I witnessed Rashaan Salaam running for over 300 yards against UT. It was like watching a track meet. I believe this was the game Tony Brackens knocked John Mackovic out cold. It may have been another game but I did see it happen. I also witnessed the 66-3 debacle loss to UCLA.
    2) Brandy Perryman intercepting the in-bound pass to preserve UT's victory over a Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison and Dean Smith North Carolina. I've never heard the Drum so loud as when he did it. In that same game, Vince Carter put a rebound back in for a dunk. That HARDLY describes it. It was as if he flew in from the rafters. The entire place was stunned. Literally. "Dang ma... I ain't never seen that before!"
    3) Bo Jackson hitting a home run to dead center field off of Nolan Ryan. I was sitting behind home plate. I believe Bo came into the game having struck out something like nine straight times against Nolan. Then he caught one and baby it flew.
    4) Don Mattingly setting a major league record for most consecutive games hitting a home run. This was against the Rangers. The stands were packed in anticipation of witnessing a baseball record being set and Donny Baseball got a standing ovation.
    5) Witnessing Troy Aikman get sacked eleven times (and mauled on seemingly every play) by the Reggie White, Clyde Simmons Philadelphia Eagles. That was when I knew Troy was a man.
    6) Standing about ten feet from Dennis Eckersley as he waited patiently to enter the game and shut the Rangers down. He was dispassionate while Gary Glitter was blaring over the loud speakers. And of course, he mowed the Rangers down. That same game, Jose Canseco hit the hardest ball I've ever seen. It was a single straight to the wall. It got there so fast the outfielder managed to hold him to one base. It was incredible.
    7) Watching Ken Griffey Jr. taking batting practice. HOLEEEE SH*T!
    8) Watching Larry Gottfried (younger brother of pro Brian Gottfried) defeat John McEnroe (for his only loss during college) at Trinity University from where I graduated. I was on the roof of a dorm adjacent to the court and college tennis and cocktail hour being what it is, John was clearly distracted by our antics. Later Larry came up and thanked us profusely. He played well but it was an out of body experience for him. See pic below.
    9) Watching Peter Gardere lead UT to victory in his first start which was against Rice. Back then the fans could go on the field after the game and as it so happened, Gardere was signing autographs right next to me. I heard him say, "I need to go to the locker room." I sidled up and said, "Enjoy it while it lasts." He looked at me, didn't say a word and ran off the field. My friend said, "I can't believe you said that." Gardere would never remember that moment but it happened.
    10) Watching UT defeat a then undefeated Houston Cougar team led by David Klingler.
    11) Turning down an opportunity to meet Troy Aikman in a restaurant because I didn't want to be that guy who interrupts a star in his personal life.
    12) Having sex in a Texas Tech girls dorm the night after watching possibly the worst football game ever played; a game won by Tech over aggy, 3-0.

     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
  12. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    Honorable mention to Bryant Westbrook changing momentum against Notre Dame.

     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
  13. nashhorn

    nashhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Best hit I ever saw live.
     
  14. SlothHorn

    SlothHorn 25+ Posts

    @bystander.
    Yep. #1 was one of my first games as a student. Didn't Texas allow another guy, Curtis Ennis?, to do the same in another game?

    Does anyone recall a bball game around '92 when Benford Williams (I think) hit a game tying in regulation and a game winning shot against Majerus and Utah?
     
  15. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    Great thread. I thought we were talking Longhorn football. I was in the Dome for 1986 NLCS.

     
  16. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    I can't remember dates, but I do remember plays.

    1) Stonie Clark goal line stand in the cotton bowl.
    2) Phil Dawson 50+ yd game winning FG against a 20+mph wind vs Virginia. No way he should have made that kick.
    3) Ricky Williams record setting TD run against poor aggy.
    4) Can't remember the DB name right now, but an absolutely vicious hit against a TT wide receiver. I was on the opposite side of the field and heard the hit over the crowd noise.
    5) probably 50+ plays.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  17. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    No particular order, probably these:

    Cotton Speyer’s catch, watched from the Press Box. That was the greatest fan reaction I ever saw.

    VY - “He’s going for the corner. He’s GOT IT!”

    78 - Applewhite’s game winning miracle TD pass in Lincoln that he never saw...because he was knocked out on the play.

    Dawson’s FG. I almost started crying because it was...impossible.

    VY’s Pass to Sweed at The Shoe. I watched it on a black & white TV in the infirmary below the stadium because my wife had become dehydrated. (There much more to that story...)
     
    • Like Like x 2
  18. orngblud

    orngblud 1,000+ Posts









     
    • Like Like x 7
  19. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Nobody has a picture/video of the kickoff of the 1980 season on Labor Day against Arkansas? Set the tone for a great career.
     
  20. Hoop

    Hoop 500+ Posts

     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Winner Winner x 1
  21. BevoJoe

    BevoJoe 10,000+ Posts

    #1 Vince Young tucks the ball and heads for the corner of the end zone, scoring a TD and adding a 2-point conversion to give the Horns the lead 41-38 with 0:19 left to play in the 4th Qtr if the 2005 NCG vs USC.

    #2 Ricky Williams run vs aggy in 1998 for a TD and to break former Pittsburgh star Tony Dorsett's 22-year-old record.

    #3 Brewers game winning 30 yard run up the middle in the 4th Qtr and a 14-12 win in the 1982 Cotton Bowl. (already mentioned above)

    #4 The first B12 Conference Championship vs Nebraska, 4th Quarter Mackovic went for the first on 4 and 1 inside the Horns 30 yard line while leading 30-27 with 2 minutes left. James Brown rolled left and found a wide open TE Lewis for the completion moving the ball inside the Nebraska 10. The Horn's scored shortly after and iced the win 37-27.

    #5 Earl Campbell's TD run when a Texas Tech player came over to stop him at the 5 yard line and Earl sent him sailing in the air into the end zone, and Earl Scored.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  22. theiioftx

    theiioftx Sponsor Deputy

    It was during a low point, but a great play I saw as a student. Thank god there was not replay back then, but an absolute great effort by Cash.

     
    • Like Like x 1
  23. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    Musberger: “There’s no question what’s about to happen....”
    NU was actually on both the dive play and was all over Brown even if it had been a bootleg. Ricky Williams was there to block the chaser so Brown could set his feet and make the throw. Ricky was awesome in everything he did.
     
  24. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    #5 - That was against Rice, not Tech. Great play though.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  25. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    “Hey you, yeah you, the 160-pound walk-on physics major... our starting safety is feeling sick at his stomach... it’s a piece of cake; just look for #20, he’ll have the ball, just get in front of him, you know, wrap up and all that...good luck!”
     
    • Winner Winner x 1
  26. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    I may be misinformed here, but it is my understanding that guy was Freshman DB Michael Downs, who went on to a pretty good pro career with the Cowboys.
     
  27. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    Well, Earl lit up a lot of good players in the league, too, so it’s quite possible. I was just trying to imagine what it was like from the other perspective—even if he was a high quality freshman in his first couple of college games, he had never encountered anything like Earl.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  28. 4th_floor

    4th_floor Dude, where's my laptop?

    My favorite play of all time. I still get goosebumps watching the video. I really regret not going because everyone I asked to go said we were going to get killed. I wish I would have jumped in the car and drove up there.
     
  29. HornDawg1957

    HornDawg1957 100+ Posts

    1) 2005, Vince to Limas Sweed for the go-ahead TD at the Horseshoe, at night, in a non-conference game. Ohio State never loses those games, right? I lucked into face-value tickets five days before the game, so I flew out from Seattle and my best friend and fellow Longhorn flew up from Austin. We were in the nosebleed seats on the goal line on the opposite side of the field from where Limas caught the pass. Good times.

    2) In 1980, Jeff Leiding flying over the Arkansas blockers on a kickoff to bury the return man in his tracks. (Honorable mention to Donnie Little's keeper around the right side to clinch the game.)

    3) 2005, back to the Horseshoe. Late in the third quarter, Justin Zwick throws what should have been a TD pass to Ryan Hamby, the OSU tight end, which would have extended OSU's 3-point lead to 10. Hamby juggles it way up into the air, and as the ball falls back into his hands, from out of nowhere Cedric Griffin delivers a big hit to jar the ball loose. Ohio State has to settle for a field goal, keeping the game within a TD, and we all know how that turned out. The play begins at 5:19 left in the 3rd quarter. If you watch a replay, notice the enormous distance between Hamby and Cedric. There were three other Longhorns not covering somebody who were closer to Hamby as he started to juggle the ball, but only Cedric reacts quickly enough and runs all the way from his coverage assignment near the sideline to make the touchdown-saving hit.

    4) In the '83 Texas-SMU game at Texas Stadium, SMU scores a TD with 2:47 left to cut the lead to 13-12. SMU rolls the dice and goes for 2. Lance McIlhenny throws a pass for the lead, but Texas knocks it away (at least that's what I remember happening) to hang on to the lead, then scores a last-minute safety to secure the 15-12 win. My same Longhorn friend (from #1 and #3) and I were sitting in the first row on the goal line on the opposite side of the field, so we couldn't see the play exactly, but before the conversion attempt the SMU crowd was going crazy in anticipation of taking the lead.

    5) In 1984, Texas vs. Penn State at the Meadowlands. Todd Dodge to William Harris for an 84-yard touchdown pass, at the time the third-longest TD pass in UT history. (Probably not the case anymore, but it's still tied for the ninth-longest reception in UT history. It's also the longest reception by a tight end in UT history.)

    I really haven't been to that many UT games (and certainly not as many as I'd like to have been to), but I've lucked into some exciting moments.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2020
  30. Statalyzer

    Statalyzer 10,000+ Posts

    That was one of the first UT basketball games I went to; I think I was 10 years old at the time and didn't know who Vince Carter or Antawn Jamison were and actually never realized until your post just now that that's who Texas beat that year. I just remember 6'6" Sonny Alvarado playing center and outplaying their 7-foot tall center. Looked it up just now - turns out that guy was actually 7'3' (!!), Serge Zwikker, played with the Rockets for a year and in Europe for a while.
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020

Share This Page