This was sent to me this afternoon from a gentleman who wishes to just be known as an anonymous fan. I read where Steve Worster had passed and it brought a flood of memories. I'm 69, and growing up in an area that was once home of the "little southwest conference" (our high school song was Texas fight) became a lifelong fan of Texas football in large part because of Mr. Worster. On a good day (no sandstorms) we could get NBC but usually just ABC and CBS but we had radio. There was a game on the radio, from Austin, between Texas and not sure if it was UCLA or USC where Steve may have invented the three yards and a cloud of dust. It was a hard fought close game. I was rooting for Texas and could not understand why the crowd seemed to be booing my team. The alert announcer explained the crowd was not booing but yelling Worster. Memory skidders, but I think the horns prevailed that day and I was hooked. I was also exhausted from the emotional ride. I still enjoy college football and truly hope the longhorns get back to being the terror of the gridiron as I am fiercely proud of being from Texas. That said, fate caused me to become an Aggie. At the age of 19 a college professor at the little college I was attending promised me a job if I graduated there. He was true to his word. At the time I knew guys with engineering degrees that were spreading asphalt with a shovel which was a huge incentive. I'm proud of my education, the traditions etc.. but obviously do not bleed maroon. I enjoy hornfans as the posts are intelligent, insightful and often hilarious. I use quotes from this site like, "pooped a hammer" and "there is that" etc.. Dionysus, thank you for the job you do and letting me share thoughts.
Being from the Golden Triangle area, Port Arthur, you couldn't help but be a Texas Longhorn fan with Steve Worster from Bridge City (next door) along with home boy Cotton Speyrer a Port Arthur Jefferson graduate. They gave all of us young football players hope that, with the right talent, we to could wear a burnt orange jersey on Saturday afternoon. RIP Steve. Thanks for the memories!
He was my hero when I was 10. My first game to see in person was the Texas/UCLA game in 1970. That amazing comeback is still vivid. He played the end of 1970 season injured. I still say that if he is not injured, we do not lose to ND in the 1971 Cotton Bowl. One of my favorite all-time players.
How many of you lined up in the wishbone to practice the triple option in your grandmother's back yard on say, a cool fall Saturday afternoon in 1968-69 with your friends, and you wanted to be Worster so you could get into a four point stance?
RIP I have the Dec 14 1970 Sports Illustrated Cover framed and hanging in my game room. I look at it and remember watching him play. The crowd yelling woo woo on third and two. The whole crowd, the opposing team, the opposing head coach and the fans knew he was getting the ball. He did and picked up the first down. Over and over. Young running backs could learn how to run tough and not go down by watching his film. We lost a great one, makes me sad.
