My all time favorite play - the year before Natty, at KU, and the Longhorns can't get out of their own way. An awful performance and monumental upset in the making. Facing 4th and 18 about a minute to go, Vince saves the day with a 19 yard run. I'm convinced that without that play, they never would've won it all the next year given the negativity towards Mack and the positive confidence that came from beating Michigan in the Rose Bowl. No doubt - when it comes to CFP, Vince is the GOAT.
Just prior to that game, Greg Davis (especially) and Mack had been trying to get Vince to fit into Greg's little "box" of how a QB is supposed to play. Mack saw the writing on the wall and finally begged him to "let Vince be Vince" and Greg agreed.
Of course, Greg had to slowly give up the reigns to Vince and his freelance style of play-- but he finally did--- about midway through that game. Though Davis would never fully admit it- the kstate game was the moment when he realized that Vince wasn't just "special"----- but that he could do things, as a player, that Davis had never seen done.
Mack talked about it in a Sports Illustarted interview many years ago- but Greg never commented on it.
Pride?
Ego?
Maybe.
The reality is that Vince had a better than decent arm. He had moves and shakes. He was stronger than he looked. He was faster than he looked. His balance was insane.
But above all---- the dude just had this innate desire to gut you like a fvcking fish.
