Captain Comeback--Major Applewhite and the Holiday Bowl, ten years ago tonight!

(San Diego CA) Dec. 28, 2001: Holiday Bowl-Texas 47, Washington 43

Master magician QB, Major Lee Applewhite, then a 23 year old senior at UT, engineers a thrilling comeback, showing once again his gritty heroics in the fourth quarter, leading the Longhorns to victory with 27 points in the final period.

The game was played before 60,548 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, but one very serious and very tired fan was listening on a small alarm/clock radio in Houston TX. My family and a large moving van spent the day on Branard Street, unloading lots of “stuff;” packing it all into a tiny rental house. Moving all day from Dallas, the driver gave me his business card confidently as he jumped up into the truck saying, “For when you decide to move back.” (I think he was a solid Dallas-boy?!) Well, we stayed! We've loved it...

Even though underdog Univ. of Washington held tightly to a 36-20 lead at the start of the 4th quarter, QB Applewhite, who now coaches for the Longhorns, led his offense to 4 last-frame touchdowns, the final thrust occurring with just 0:38 left on the fancy scoreboard, forever cementing his place in NCAA bowl history. It was his last game in burnt orange & white, assuring another top-ten finish for Texas in the BCS voting.

Exhausted by the time we put our 6-month old daughter down in her crib, we collapsed on our queen-mattress amidst the piled brown boxes. But I awakened later in the night, remembering the big game! Frantically searching for a radio, because the TV was not anywhere near an electrical outlet; I found a small alarm/clock radio and sitting with it in my lap, I listened to the miracle comeback. It turned into a Longhorn keepsake.

Simms versus Applewhite dominated the discussion that fall in Austin, the future coach as disparate from the future bust as could be. Always rooting for a redhead when I can, Major Applewhite burned a place in my memory unlike any other Longhorn legend.

A lot has happened during the decade that has slipped by without realizing it. During the ten-years elapsed, the family was given a boy to raise also, the Longhorns won a national championship led by another unique QB, the most popular Houston corporation is gone, and I am beginning a new career, in another business from that which caused me to move in the first place.

Hard to believe that on the tenth anniversary of that day, the Texas team with an historic RB coach, Major Applewhite, returns to the same field he dominated a decade earlier.

Starting another life in one of the most dynamic southern cities in the US, ten years ago tonight, Major Applewhite finished his fabulous career as a Texas player with one of the best comeback victories in the annals of UT sports. It was one of the most stirring radio broadcasts I have ever heard; I went to sleep happy that dark night in Houston! #hookem Major.

[Texas plays California tonight on ESPN in the Holiday Bowl. Longhorns are favored by 3 points.]

©Mark H. Pillsbury

Tebow top ten list

Sunday 12.11.2011:

I saw another Tebow miracle tonight, and at our house we can’t stop talking about this remarkable young man. But what makes him different than any other professional athlete interviewed at the end of the game?

What about his "persona" seems to lift the Broncos to a higher level of performance, if not at least in the fourth quarter?

What he lacks in pure skills he more than makes up with team leadership, confidence under pressure, humility in success, fierce competitiveness, and an other-worldly ability to rally the troops to not quit.

Watching Tebow interviewed after the victory (7th in a row, 5th coming from behind) over Chicago made me think that his interviews in postgame are very different than one normally sees. (My top ten list how, below)

10.  He seems shocked that he won again. Tebow claims the other guys on the offensive side of the ball make him look better than he really is. Really?!

9.  His smile starts the interview off with a disarming glow.

8.  He acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ first, before he answers the initial question.

7.  Tebow’s overall attitude is one of sincere thankfulness, not "expectation."  He is evidence that God can make even weak men successful if that is God's will. (other examples: David, Joseph, Moses, Peter). But does God have anything at all to do with the NFL?

6.  After the first question, about 80% of viewers are uncomfortable, but is it because this sort of attitude is so unusual?!

5.  The other players are given credit, not his performance, even though the other players are not asked the questions.

4.  Tebow assumes that teamwork is the higher calling resulting in the success of the last 8 weeks, not his own role as the most important position on the field.

3.  He uses jargon like “belief” “faith” “special” “god bless you” “encouragement” “team” (these are words that most professional athletes do not use!)

2. “Christianity is like smoking," said Larry Taunton, "You can do it, but only in the designated areas. Don't bring it into the public arena.” (see #6 above)

But the number one reason the Tebow effect is so interesting:

1. People are praying for this young man. The power of prayer is subversive, anti-worldly, and mysteriously engaging. Thinking prayer is worthwhile takes faith, and watching the secular world blanch at Tebow is almost as much fun as watching his comebacks!

©Mark H. Pillsbury