Greatest Play in Texas History

[GetHooked]

Street to Peschel

-or-

4th and 5

Both were 4th down plays and both were instrumental in winning National Championships.

I can't make up my mind but if I had to choose one, I would say Street to Peschel.

 

[HookemDTX]

I have to go with the biggest play in the best game ever in CFB!

 

[ut1978]

4th and 8. Remember that ESPN et al had made USC look like Jedi Knights against whom we had zero chance.

 

[Randolph Duke]

Street to Peschel.

The Horns against. USC is the greatest game I ever saw, but Street to Peschel was the greatest individual play.

 

[BiggUggly]

I was fortunate to see both in person.

The difference IMO, is the fact that 4th and 8 effectively won the game. Street to Peschel was unbelievable, but only contributed to the final result.

Again, I went Bat Shit Crazy both times.

 

[Hiwood]

Street to Peschel was a great play....BUT had Street not busted loose and scored earlier on his long scamper the UT would have even been in the game

another consideration has to be the Street to Cotton Spreyer completion in the Cotton Bowl a few weeks later which led to the game winning TD vs ND

 

[GetHooked]

I was fortunate to see both in person.
The difference IMO, is the fact that 4th and 8 effectively won the game. Street to Peschel was unbelievable, but only contributed to the final result.

Again, I went Bat $#@! Crazy both times.

The thing for me was that Vince tucked it and ran several times. In 2005, we had come to expect it. Street throwing long passes in 1969 was largely unheard of. The play was a complete surprise to me. Vince's scamper to the corner of the end zone was not a surprise at all.

 

[pringlelake]

I have to agree with GetHooked. I pretty much knew that Vince would make it. Street was a shock. Truthfully, he couldn't throw that pass that accurately more than 1 out of 5 or 6 tries.

 

[Horn78]

Street to Peschel had a much higher degree of difficulty.

 

[JimR]

S to P, and it is not close.

 

[Juan]

Not exactly responding to the question posed, but the most memorable play I saw in person was Jerry Gray running down Bo Jackson from behind in 1984. Auburn was the pre-season #1 that season and we beat them 35-27 in Austin.

On the play in question, Bo had already covered 50-60 yards and seemed destined for the endzone. But Jerry Gray said, "hey wait a minute there young fella."

I was in the upper deck west side and had perfect view. I still see it now as if it were live. It's etched into some neurons.

People always say Jerry had the angle. OK, that is true but it but it was only slight. Plus this is Bo f'n Jackson we are talking about and Gray had to run a long way to catch him.

Once he caught him, Jerry grabbed him high from behind and slammed Jackson onto his shoulder, which caused a separation. Just like that, 2nd game of the year for them, Bo was gone for the season, sadly.

I remember reading in the AAS the next morning, a quote from Bo that he was really happy the doctors said he would be back in time for baseball season.

We all sort of LOL'd about his quote (over migas at Taco Village). At the time, Bo's pub was mostly about football and even track -- we didn't know how serious he was about baseball. That was his junior year, he came back for a full senior year and won the Heisman.

The #2 that stands out is 1977 ou game. Our QBs were dropping like flies. Johnny Jonson muffed a punt which almost cost us the game. But 3rd stringer Randy McEachern and Big Earl Campbell did just enough to win the game and keep us undefeated. Oddly what stands out is Russell Erxleben's punts. They were incredible on a day we punted alot. He just kept booming the holy crap out of the ball. I've never seen anything like it since. The pros changed his punting technique and he was never as good there. And then later he had lot of other, bigger problems. But vs. ou in October 1977 he was the man.

 

[HornsFan]

I would have to add the 4th & 1 Roll Left against Nebraska in the Big 12 championship to this list as well. That is definitely one of the greatest plays in Longhorn football history

 

[TheWaterboy]

It was 4th and 5 from the 8 yard line. Small detail, but essential UT fan knowledge.

That said, I would actually put the 4th and 1 stop of Lendale White as being the biggest. We had not stopped that cat all night long! USC was so confident, they took the Heisman winner off the field because White was running down our throat with ease.

Once that stop was made, there was absolutely ZERO doubt in my mind Vince would lead us for the score.

I was not alive for Street's pass, but have watched that game several times. Absolutely gutsy call by DKR and remarkable pass and catch with fantastic coverage by Arkansas DB. Freaking impressive to say the least.

But since I sat in the very corner of the Rose Bowl VY ran to for the victory, and if I was forced to choose from those 2 plays rather than the defensive stop I mentioned earlier, I would have to go with 4th and 5 in Pasadena! But it is admittedly a very biased selection.

 

[Jettrink]

Once that stop was made, there was absolutely ZERO doubt in my mind Vince would lead us for the score.

This.

 

[beevomav]

They are both such greatness.

The thing about S to P is it came out of nowhere. For sure one of the best play calls ever. Vince's fourth and five is more of a culmination to the greatest championship game performance I have ever seen.

But, if I am forced to select one it s the Street pass.

 

[lilMAC25]

VY. No question, IMO.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Not exactly responding to the question posed, but the most memorable play I saw in person was Jerry Gray running down Bo Jackson from behind in 1984. Auburn was the pre-season #1 that season and we beat them 35-27 in Austin.On the play in question, Bo had already covered 50-60 yards and seemed destined for the endzone. But Jerry Gray said, "hey wait a minute there young fella."

I was in the upper deck west side and had perfect view. I still see it now as if it were live. It's etched into some neurons.

People always say Jerry had the angle. OK, that is true but it but it was only slight. Plus this is Bo f'n Jackson we are talking about and Gray had to run a long way to catch him.

Once he caught him, Jerry grabbed him high from behind and slammed Jackson onto his shoulder, which caused a separation. Just like that, 2nd game of the year for them, Bo was gone for the season, sadly.

I remember reading in the AAS the next morning, a quote from Bo that he was really happy the doctors said he would be back in time for baseball season.

We all sort of LOL'd about his quote (over migas at Taco Village). At the time, Bo's pub was mostly about football and even track -- we didn't know how serious he was about baseball. That was his junior year, he came back for a full senior year and won the Heisman.

The #2 that stands out is 1977 ou game. Our QBs were dropping like flies. Johnny Jonson muffed a punt which almost cost us the game. But 3rd stringer Randy McEachern and Big Earl Campbell did just enough to win the game and keep us undefeated. Oddly what stands out is Russell Erxleben's punts. They were incredible on a day we punted alot. He just kept booming the holy crap out of the ball. I've never seen anything like it since. The pros changed his punting technique and he was never as good there. And then later he had lot of other, bigger problems. But vs. ou in October 1977 he was the man.

Excellent post. Before he left Texas, they should have created a bronze mold of Erxleben's foot and made a centerpiece out of it. IMO, his foot/leg was that special.

 

[BiggUggly]

It was 4th and 5 from the 8 yard line. Small detail, but essential UT fan knowledge[/b]

I knew that. Stupid mis-type.

For three quarters in the 69 game, I was freezing my ass off. After Slick made his long run, I forgot all about the cold.

It is true, after the game, they would not sell us gas. The one and only time I have ever been glad to get to Oklahoma.

 

[DougNTexas]

Street to Peschel. Never forget it. Once in a lifetime play and beating Arkansas was just another plus.