Super Bowl XLV Also Gave Us ... The Greatest Moment in Texas Football History?

By Richie Whitt Wed., Feb. 9 2011 at 11:00 AM

I was flattered when the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee approached me late in 2009 to help construct and singularly author its prodigious Century in the Making project.

What started with 250 of the greatest moments in Texas football history -- high school, college and pro -- was whittled, thanks to fan and Internet voting, down to the Top 100 during the Super Bowl's stay in the metroplex. And the countdown from 100 to 1 climaxed last week with the release of the Top 10.

Of all the games and players and moments in the pigskin history of our state, there are 10 that stand out. The Hail Mary? Nope. Cowboys' back-to-back Super Bowls in the '90s? Sorry. Not even Masonic Home's 12 Mighty Mites, the Herschel Walker trade or TCU's undefeated season cracked a surprising -- but worthy -- Top 10.

Grab a blanket, pour some hot chocolate and sit a spell for a warm-n-fuzzy trip down memory lane.

10. June 8, 1966: Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm from the NFL and Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt of the AFL merge the NFL and AFL. The meeting famously takes place beneath the Texas Ranger statue in the lobby of Love Field Airport.

9. April 23, 1989: Reaping the rewards of a 3-13 season under Tom Landry, the Dallas Cowboys new brain trust of Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones select Troy Aikman with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. After a rocky start, Aikman goes on to win three Super Bowls in Dallas.

8. January 28, 1996: Two weeks after his interception helped the Dallas Cowboys win the NFC Championship, cornerback Larry Brown intercepts two more as the Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17, to win Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Arizona. Brown, a former 12th-round draft pick afterthought from TCU, picks off quarterback Neil O'Donnell twice and is named Most Valuable Player.

7. December 8, 1948: SMU junior Doak Walker, ultimately a three-time All-American for the Mustangs, caps a magical season by winning the Heisman Trophy. A rare three-way player, The Doaker finished among college football's top five in rushing, scoring, interceptions and kicking while leading SMU to another Cotton Bowl.

6. 1966: Acting on a recommendation by Cowboys general manager Tex Schramm, the NFL awards the Cowboys a Thanksgiving Day afternoon game, giving Dallas the advantage of a home game on a short week and the league with a holiday double-header tradition led by the Detroit Lions.

Tags:

Century in the Making, football, Roger Staubach, Super Bowl XLV

rofm

Football has never been played in Texas south of the Trinity River.

P1Steven

I was there for #3! Lets not forget it was Chad Hutchinson's first start too... on he legacy to greatness... oh wait... um...

Atown

freakin idiotic commenters on this blog... richie witt didnt come up with this top 10, you ignorant, basement dwelling douchebags

Richie Whitt

Bless you my son.

Roadsidecouch

Your list sucks like your radio show. Nothing positive about UT football, the premier football progam in the history of the state, certainly within our lifetimes. No VY touchdown on 4th down? Game of the century not good enough for you? 4th and 3 with 4:47 remaining and Royal calls for a 44 yard pass to a tight end that had not caught a pass all year to sustain the game winning drive. not good enough for ya? Typical RW/

Richie Whitt

Again. NOT MY LIST. Sometimes you people are so quick to rip me you forget to read.

P1Steven

Good list Richie! (I write this tongue firmly inserted in cheek)

BSG

No particular order:

- Vince Young scrambling on 4th down for a National Championship- Alvin Harper's catch and run against the 49ers in the the NFC Championship game- Tony Hill's catch for the win in the final game against the Redskins - Plano East/Tyler John Tyler. Still the most amazing thing I've ever seen.- Hail Mary- The Roy Williams blitz of Chris Simms and ensuing interception. (Not a Texas positive moment, but one heck of a moment.)- "No, Danny, No!" (the only moment Tom Landry seemed like one of us)- The first time Hershel Walker and Tony Dorsett lined up in the backfield together on a Monday night. - Load Left (?). The fourth down play by the UT against Nebraska in the first ever Big 12 Championship game.- The Dale Hansen/Barry Switzer interview at Austin when Switzer kept punching Hansen in the shoulder.- The first Jerry Jones press conference announcing the change of ownership with Tex Schramm sitting in the background acting like the life had been sucked out of him. (It had.)-

Fourpgs

Actually think the '92 NFC championship game (played in Jan. '93) was as big as any. It signaled that the Cowboys were REALLY back. Also, how can you leave out the Hail Mary game against Minny? Gave birth to a nickname for the desperation pass at the end of the game as well as launching what would be a great team for the next several years, appearing in three Super Bowls and winning one. Have to agree with the calls for the '69 Texas/Arkansas game. I am a fan of neither, but what a game with SO MUCH at stake!

Richie's Mailman

Hmmm, not an expert in any way but, Davey Obrien winning the Heisman and National Championship the same year doesn't trump Doak Walker?

me no likee

All Texas football history resides in Dallas? Whatabout Vince Young v. USC? Earl Campbell and Tyler Lee kickin everyone's ass? TCU 1938 national champoinship? UT v. Arkansas game of the century? Sugerland Express?

Richie Whitt

All in the top 100. And remember, these were voted on by fans. Not my list.

Jamesdwalker23

Earl Campbell played high school football at John Tyler High School, not Tyler Lee.

DuckDuckGoose

Earl Campbell - Miami-Houston 1978 - Monday Night Football

Earl goes for 199 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Oilers to a 35-30 victory.

Any top 3 list w/o that game is bogus, let alone a top 10.

East Texas P1

Richie: Is there someplace we can see the complete list of both the top 100 and then the entire 250? What game was it that Emmit played most of the second half with a separated shoulder? I think maybe it was in San Fran so doesn't rank but I think it should.