Texas: A Playoff Cockroach

[Aaron Carrara]

"They are like a cockroach. It isn't what he eats or totes off, but what he falls into and messes up."

Those were the words of Darrell Royal on Nov. 18, 1961. The legendary head coach was speaking of the TCU squad that had just knocked off his top-ranked Texas team, a 24-point favorite, by a score of 6-0 -- and on a trick play, no less. The upset ended the Longhorns' national title hopes and also dashed UT running back James Saxton's chances of winning the Heisman Trophy.

The '61 Horned Frogs posted a paltry 3-5-2 record, but two of those three wins were over top-ranked Texas and eighth-ranked Kansas, and one of those ties was against third-ranked Ohio State. Those tussles with TCU kept each from competing for a national title and damaged the Heisman hopes for players hailing from all three: Saxton, Buckeyes fullback Bob Ferguson and Jayhawks QB John Hadl.
That's some serious cockroaching.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/11903944/texas-longhorns-florida-gators-potential-spoil-college-football-playoff-contenders-resumes

 

[Etex Horn]

TCU game 1961?  The game was played on a rainy, muddied field.  The TCU "trick play" was a halfback pass from around the 50 yard line.

James Saxton's chances of winning the Heisman?  Ended by a cheap shot by a TCU DL into Saxton's knees after the whistle had blown.

Not my opinion, a matter of fact. That's the way it was.

 

[Topstarr]

This is a thoughtfull thought........Hook'em

 

[java]

Texas isn't a cockroach.  Texas is a team that was underdeveloped for years.  Thanks to a bonafide strength and conditioning program, phenomenal coaching, and a team that has developed confidence and an unrelenting attitude, we have an opportunity to beat anyone.  Will we?  I don't know, but we have an opportunity to do it.

I have unwavering faith in our coaches.  We will have a great defensive game plan that should keep us in the game.

That's why they play the games.

Hook 'em!

 

[HornNdriftwood]

The  quote is:

"They're like a bunch of cockroaches," Royal said. "It's not what they eat and tote off, it's what they fall into and mess up that hurts."

It wasn't rainy and I don't remember the field being particularly muddy but it was cold. Saxon was hurt on a controversial play. He tried to come back but wasn't the same.

The pass was from Gibbs (QB) to Buddy Iles from 50 yds. Gibbs lateraled to the HB & then got the ball back on a handoff.

 

[bcherry168]

TCU game 1961?  The game was played on a rainy, muddied field.  The TCU "trick play" was a halfback pass from around the 50 yard line.

James Saxton's chances of winning the Heisman?  Ended by a cheap shot by a TCU DL into Saxton's knees after the whistle had blown.

Not my opinion, a matter of fact. That's the way it was.

I was there. Texas took the kick off and marched down the field quickly, with Saxton leading the way. Then he was forced out of bounds inside the red zone, took a tumble, and was almost back on his feet when Bobby Plummer hit him under the jaw with his knee. Knocked him cold, and no flag. It was the most flagrant foul I have ever seen in football, and I have been a student of the game for 7 decades. (Close to the next worse was when DE Ray Stone of Texas slugged the Aggies' fullback Bob Smith at the bottom of the pile in 1949. Knocked him colder than a wedge, and took him out of the game. He was all conference at FB that year. Ray was ejected, of course. I was on the sideline not 10 yards from the play.)

The injury to Saxton so shook the team that all the wind went out of their sails, particularly the offense. The defense played well, but without the offense, TCU eked out a win costing us the National Championship that year, and costing Saxton the Heisman.

I hope we butt stomp them Thursday.

 

[Etex Horn]

I was there. Texas took the kick off and marched down the field quickly, with Saxton leading the way. Then he was forced out of bounds inside the red zone, took a tumble, and was almost back on his feet when Bobby Plummer hit him under the jaw with his knee. Knocked him cold, and no flag. It was the most flagrant foul I have ever seen in football, and I have been a student of the game for 7 decades. (Close to the next worse was when DE Ray Stone of Texas slugged the Aggies' fullback Bob Smith at the bottom of the pile in 1949. Knocked him colder than a wedge, and took him out of the game. He was all conference at FB that year. Ray was ejected, of course. I was on the sideline not 10 yards from the play.)

The injury to Saxton so shook the team that all the wind went out of their sails, particularly the offense. The defense played well, but without the offense, TCU eked out a win costing us the National Championship that year, and costing Saxton the Heisman.

I hope we butt stomp them Thursday.

I posted that Friday night and closed the post with "That's the way it was"....I regret I closed with that remark

because I got some facts wrong!  I was only 5 years old in 1961 and I didn't attend that game.  I have read

numerous accounts about that game...thought I had studied it enough, felt knowledgeable about it.  It was

not raining that day...I was wrong about that, but I do think the field was somewhat muddy? Maybe not; I'll

defer to those who actually attended the game. And I was wrong about the nature of Saxton's injury, thought

it was a hit in the knees.  I pride myself on having a great memory; I'll try to be more careful with future posts,

especially if I'm going to close a post with "That's the way it was" (a little bourbon induced cockiness there). 

 

[streettopeschel]

When bcherry posts...people listen.

 

[java]

What happens when streettopeschel posts?  

 

[JimR]

TCU game 1961?  The game was played on a rainy, muddied field.  The TCU "trick play" was a halfback pass from around the 50 yard line.

James Saxton's chances of winning the Heisman?  Ended by a cheap shot by a TCU DL into Saxton's knees after the whistle had blown.

Not my opinion, a matter of fact. That's the way it was.

this is way, way wrong. it was a bright sunshiny day. I was there siting in the Knothole section. the pass play was a "flea-flicker." QB Sonny Gibbs threw the pass after a lateral from a RB. Saxton broke a long run early in UT's first drive and was injured by a pursuing lineman after a clean tackle. It may have been a cheap shot, but Saxton's practice of bouncing up immediately contributed. the lineman's knee to the head knocked him silly, but he did return to the game. He had a key fumble on TCU's 5 with a hole Slim and I could have walked through today. UT blew more than one good chance to score.

Still, to this day, my worst day as a Longhorn fan.

 

[armadillo slim]

What happens when streettopeschel posts?  

farts all around.  followed by compliments.

"aw, man"

"nice one"

"c'mon, man"

"anybody got a match?"

that kind of thing.

 

[armadillo slim]

this is way, way wrong. it was a bright sunshiny day. I was there siting in the Knothole section. the pass play was a "flea-flicker." QB Sonny Gibbs threw the pass after a lateral from a RB. Saxton broke a long run early in UT's first drive and was injured by a pursuing lineman after a clean tackle. It may have been a cheap shot, but Saxton's practice of bouncing up immediately contributed. the lineman's knee to the head knocked him silly, but he did return to the game. He had a key fumble on TCU's 5 with a hole Slim and I could have walked through today. UT blew more than one good chance to score.

Still, to this day, my worst day as a Longhorn fan.

i was there too.  also in the knothole section.  50 cent tickets if i remember correctly.  i was crushed, and stayed crushed for an entire year.  still am, for that matter.  that's also the way i remember it.  i was 13 years old.  i'm surprised they let an old f##ker like jim in the knothole section.

 

[JimR]

I was an usher, Slim. I remember you.

 

[Worster1]

I posted elsewhere that over the years, my Dad who is 88 and a UT grad, has commented often about that horrid 6-0 loss to the toads.  I was 8 when the game was played and I have no recollection of it.  My Dad lamented how bad the toads were that season, how good a team UT had that year and how a NC was lost.  I think the game still haunts him over 50 years later... perhaps like many of you.

 

[java]

I was an usher, Slim. I remember you.

They had ushers in the knothole?

I remember the knothole!  Daddy would take me there as a little girl.  My goodness it was fun.  I first fell in love with the idea of going to UT sitting in the knothole.

 

[streettopeschel]

For those of us who never heard a fireside chat live, perhaps some of you could elaborate on exactly what this knothole thing was.

Cheap seats in the horseshoe when it was half mile from the field I assume?