A short look at the Texas highlights from the classic shootout... It was called the Game of the Century.. Texas came back from 14 down in the 4th quarter to win the battle of the top 2 teams in college football.
This was the most exciting football game I ever saw (I watched it on TV). When it ended, I went to the bathroom and threw up everything I had eaten that day. I'd love to have a tape of the entire game. The cheerleader turning backflips after Peschel's reception is burned into my memory.
According to Wikipedia the game drew a 52.1 rating which means more than half of all the TV sets in the country had tuned in to at least part of the game! Huge!
Whoa, Nellie!!!..... WHAT a game it was!!!!! "The Big Shootout", AKA "The Game Of The Century", was played by these two legendary teams, with their legendary coaches on this date, Dec 6, 1969, exactly 50 years ago. R.I.P. to all the boys (and men) that have passed away and gone on to Heaven. GOD BLESS OUR BOYHOOD COLLEGE FOOTBALL HEROES FROM A BYGONE ERA.🏈 Thanks for posting this video.
Arguably, the greatest college game of all time! Two Southern teams ranked No. 1 and 2, and it came down to the wire, literally. And, to boot, in the 100th year of college football. There is a great book out there titled "Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming; Dixie's Last Stand". I was just a kid when I watched it on TV with my dad and his friends over (all drinking beer and eating whatever), but I will never forget it. I remember when Street went back to pass on that crucial 4th down play, that everyone present let out a somewhat collective "groan" and variations on "oh, hell no...". Street (may he RIP) was a winner and a half....
@@kdinva Bullshit. Ala/Auburn is already forgotten about. This game played by these two legendary teams is obviously the most famous college football game in history.🏈
@@kdinva The President wasn't there, there was no Freddy Steinmark story to follow, and it was not followed by another critical nail-bitter, with 4th down plays, like the Cotton Bowl game vs Notre Dame.
I wasn't even alive back then, and this is still the greatest football game I've ever seen! The greatest game of my lifetime, of course, has to be Texas vs. USC in the Rose Bowl, Jan. of '06. Hook 'em!
1969 was the 100th anniversary year of college football. Because of it being the 100th anniversary and the #1 and #2 teams playing, many people referred to it as The Game of the Century.
What a great college football game!!! Truly a classic!!!! I wish ESPN Classic would show the entire game sometime!!!! I didn't want Texas to win but both teams were outstanding and Texas showed their mettle by coming from 14-0 down to win on the road
I saw this game when I was a kid on a black and white television. ( we couldn't afford a color one). Bill Montgomery was amazing and somehow Texas was able to fight back. Being a Texas fan, I was depressed through most of the game. The ending was like a story and Texas was victorious. Vince Young brought his own magic to a game that has evolved to a skill level that is difficult to ascertain. To think or trust your instincts could mean the difference between success or failure. I love the game.
One of the things not often talked about was that the wishbone was a great offensive set to throw out of. When Oklahoma fell behind against Nebraska it was Jack Mildren's right arm that brought them back in a hurry.
last game of a tremdous decade of college football, final game of the sixties, great post. I remember watching this as a kid, and giggling with my brother about the Texas kicker's name, Happy Feller.
Howdy and Hook-Em-Horns Huskeral2008! I really do thank you for sharing that memory of that classic game, The "Game of the Century". My brother had seen your question and asked me to respond w/ what did happen. His daughter graduated from UT last spring and we have always been big fans. My brother has a autograph poster of that game signed by the Quarterback #16 James Street and the Tight-end Randy Peschel #40, who caught the 4th down pass.
Darrell Royal had balls. How many coaches nowadays would have the nerve to go for two with that much time left and still behind? Also, notice that back then there was no such thing as the victory formation (taking a knee) as time ran out. He went under center and waited for the clock to run out. Today, they start walking off with 20 seconds left if they know it's the last play.
This game was 8 years before my time, but I have seen the footage of this game and my dad told me how big this game was back in '69. I have this game on ESPN Classic and it was a great game probably the best game played in the 20th century or definately one of the top 2 or 3.
One of the most memorable football games I've ever seen because of Coach Royal's bold -- some might say insane -- play calling. Going for 2 on the FIRST touchdown?! Who does that? Then the most bizarre play I've ever seen. Consider that Texas ran a wishbone offense which almost exclusively featured the run. The qb might throw 4 or 5 passes a game. Yet with 4th and 3 from their own 43 yard line, Royal calls a 40 yard bomb to Peschel. The saying, "Go bold or go home" was invented by Texas that day.
My dad told me numerous times when he and his family first watched this game back in 1969. My dad graduated from North Texas but he still was happy that UT won.
A number of games have been called the game of the century, some deservedly so and some not. The three I think deserved the title were 1.) the 1946 Army-Notre Dame game, a 0-0 tie featuring three Heisman winners and slew of other stars. The two schools absolutely dominated the last half of the '40's. Army was undefeated 4 times with 2 national championships and two Heismans, and Notre Dame was undefeated 4 years straight with 3 titles and 2 Heismans. 2) 1969 Ark.- Texas - continued
A few small people? An estimated half the TVs in the country were tuned into the '69 game, on a non-holiday Saturday (when some people were working). Lots of games were billed in their time as the Game of the Century, not just OU-Neb or UT-Ark. (Army-Navy in the '40s, Notre Dame-Michigan State in the '60s, etc.) I have no issue with anyone saying OU-Neb was the best one--just that it wasn't the only game referred to as the Game of the Century. I like Bing, too (ex-Microsoft guy)! Peace..
This year marks the 55th anniversary of the Game of the Century between Texas and Arkansas. ABC should mark the occasion by airing the game between them on November 16 and present the broadcast as if it was still 1969.
Students erupted onto "The Drag" right in front of the Co-op. It was pandemonium. And beer. The cops just smiled. We were deliriously happy. What a game!
I've seen film archives of that play. Me and my dad always find it really funny how the cheerleader just starts doing flips out of nowhere after the catch. Im suprised there wasn't a penalty for that.
I remember being with my new friends playing touch football that day with one of the kids going into his house to find out what was happening. We all wanted to know!
Whatever you call this game, it ripped the heart out of Frank Broyles. You could see in his eyes that Arkansas was not going to be the same afterwards. Tough loss for the Razorbacks.
The child rapist protector always was a world-class whiner. Texas was ranked No. 1 going into this game. They weren’t going to drop after beating No. 2 on the road. Tricky Dick had nothing to do with it.
Along with NEPA, that was one of the greatest acts of the Nixon Administration. A lot of Penn Staters whine about that deal, but the SWC ruled the land in those days. Elvis was a big Arkansas fan and probably shot his tv when Speyrer caught that pass.
I have really enjoyed the games in 2005 and 2006... Texas wqinning in the Horseshoe and OSU winning at Memorial Stadium... that 2006 game really stung... I expected a little better showing by TX... I was shocked to see the National Title game go the way it did, especially after Holmes ran back the opening kick-off.
With their field gola kicker Arkansas would have most likely made it 17 to 8 but as Coach Broyles pointed out Arkansas had a better than average QB with outstanding receivers so it made sense to go for the TD.
Classic game. The TV ratings and fan interest for this one set the standard for all the classic games we've witnessed since. But check out James Street trying to give away the ball after scoring his touchdown...nobody wants anything to do with it. Finally he just hands it to #24 on the Arkansas team! Imagine getting away with that nowadays without a brawl spilling out all over the stadium. "He disrespected me!!"
Man,I'm not even gonna argue w/you. FILM DOES NOT LIE ! If that happens in a game tomorrow it will be called a clip all day long. Still- we have the ball inside the ten w/ less than 8:00 left . all we have to do is kick a FG but NO Mervin Johnson has to call a pass(another pass)right after Montgomery almost killed by UT rush trying to pass. Is it any wonder that Mervin Johnson ended up at OU ? UT had 6 turnovers and all we got was 14 points. :-(
Texas is like that old girlfriend that was a real bitch to you but 20 year's later you still miss her. I love SEC through and through but miss playing the Horns. This game comes on TV here in Arkansas tomorrow. We can't seem to let it go.
Sooners also loaded, another game between undefeateds. The Army ND game was kind of a dud,, 0-0, but the other two were both classics of sports. I saw both on TV and would not pick one over the other. The so-called 1966 ND- Michigan State game of the century was a joke and Alabama was robbed of a title that went to ND.
Nebraska played Texas only once in the 70's and true OU did own UT in the 70's and it got OU what was it three years probation? The story goes that as he left the field after the 1970 game he swore to himself that starting from that moment on, he was going to do whatever was needed to beat Texas. And guess what he did!! Nothing like getting high school coaches to doctor up a players grades to get them into OU (low standards anyway) and paying them off to do it as well as spying on opponents etc.
Hey Randy: it's Steve C. Long time no see; I remember the telegram we sent you at the end of the game. I live in the Philippines now. Hope you and Sue are well. Steve
"How could Nixon know so much about football and so little about Watergate?" -- Joe Paterno Paterno shouldn't have chickened out of playing Texas in a bowl game.
a 26 yard field goal by the All-American kicker makes it 17-8 and a win....instead we throw a pick in the end zone...the game of the century and the bonehead call of the century.
I got a Orange and White pottery shield of UT signed by those two. Way Cool. And the Last Daily Texan of that year's season. Vince and the 05 team were better but they did not have the grit that the 69 team had. Only a few on that team went to the pros (2 from offense and one or 2 from defense) and compared to the 05 team which put nearly all the starting 22 plus some second teamers in the pros
neither am i, i'm a diehard iowa fan, and they deserved it more because that was the second consecutive year that they went undefeated and didn't win the national championship.
@@RuffRyder_43, big play was a penalty calling back Chuck Dicus td catch..otherwise it would have been 21-0.. Mike Campbell says he was being blocked downfield while the ball was in the air. The game-official well after the play was over, agreed, and then threw the flag. Replay confirms Campbell told the truth.
Arkansas and Texas were the 2nd and 3rd winningest teams in the '60's behind Alabama, 3 national championships between them, both undefeated, last and only game of the 100th season of college football. Texas wishbone offense was the best and Arkansas defense was the best, and the opposite units also excellent. Neither Oklahoma nor Nebraska were anything special in 1969. 3) 1971 Oklahoma - Nebraska. Huskers were one of the alltime great teams of college football, continued
I read somewhere that the plaque presented by President Nixon and taken back to D.C. to inscribe the winning team’s name was never seen again even to this day. 😢 🤘
ok...here it goes again.... does anyone remember what the Texas players did in the end zone AFTER the game? it was shown beofre they headed into locker room to meet the Pres. can anyone guess??
