90s Longhorn Football

[westx]

I was watching a few of the replays of past football games this weekend on LHN. They showed a whole series of Arkansas games that we won over different decades. As they were airing some of the 90s games, I began to think of that era where Texas saw 3 different head coaches, a transition from the SWC to the Big 12, and then ending the decade with the excitement of what turned out to be one of the best runs in Texas Football that would last 10 years. This is so eerily similar to the "Twenteens" decade we just concluded. Three coaches, more downs than ups, and now what seems to be the building of a strong foundation for what looks to be a fun 20s decade. Anyway, back to the 90s. I was wondering what @clob94 's recollection of the most memorable games and the happenings around the games, good or bad, he personally witnessed. A&M was still on the schedule for years to come, so I don't know if it was as big of a deal as the announcers made it out be regarding the last SWC game vs A&M in 1996. I know it will be a romantic mackoveckian trip down memory lane.

 

[clob94]

I was watching a few of the replays of past football games this weekend on LHN. They showed a whole series of Arkansas games that we won over different decades. As they were airing some of the 90s games, I began to think of that era where Texas saw 3 different head coaches, a transition from the SWC to the Big 12, and then ending the decade with the excitement of what turned out to be one of the best runs in Texas Football that would last 10 years. This is so eerily similar to the "Twenteens" decade we just concluded. Three coaches, more downs than ups, and now what seems to be the building of a strong foundation for what looks to be a fun 20s decade. Anyway, back to the 90s. I was wondering what @clob94 's recollection of the most memorable games and the happenings around the games, good or bad, he personally witnessed. A&M was still on the schedule for years to come, so I don't know if it was as big of a deal as the announcers made it out be regarding the last SWC game vs A&M in 1996. I know it will be a romantic mackoveckian trip down memory lane.

Last SWC game took place in howdytown in 1995 hoss. As the game ended, the field was flooded with Texas fans. This was the game (I think I've told this story) where two Texas students-- male and female (in case anybody was going to make a gay joke which would be uncalled for) made it to the 50 yard line and she pulled her skirt up and he pulled his Wang out and they went at it right there on aggy's field. Then the Corps decided that average folks shouldn't be on the field and in unison-- un-stayed their swords (un-sheathed? Drew? Presented with malcontent?) And we players were forced to bowling pin them as they happened to be positioned in front of the tunnel to the Texas locker rooms.

Memories? I've got a few. How about the week after Cordell Stewart throws a 70 yard hail Mary with no time left on the clock and number 3 Colorado defeats number 2 Michigan on the last play of the game. Only to have Colorado come to Texas the following week and kick a field goal as time expired to beat us on the last play as well. Let's not talk about the fact that Rashaan Salaam ran for five thousand yards that game and sent us a Christmas card after he won the heisman. Or the fake punt pass from Danaher to Westbrook against Penn State that got us back into the Fiesta Bowl that we should have won--- but for our dumb ass head coach. (Mackovic didn't make THAT call EITHER) side note--- we all shook hands with a Penn State assistant coach named Jerry Sandusky and found out 20 years later that the very night we all shook hands with the opposing players and coaches-- it's alleged that Sandusky diddled a kid in his room later. Yuuuuuuk.

 

[westx]

hen the Corps decided that average folks shouldn't be on the field and in unison-- un-stayed their swords (un-sheathed? Drew? Presented with malcontent?)

In all fairness, the Texas fan going at it at the 50 "drew" his sword first. All kidding aside, I never knew that-holy sh*t. That is unbelievable. And there isn't a Zapruder of that anywhere? I don't know whether I would prefer to see you guys run over the corp or the action on the 50. How good of a salesman do you have to be to talk your girlfriend into doing that?

 

[Bwilk55]

In all fairness, the Texas fan going at it at the 50 "drew" his sword first. All kidding aside, I never knew that-holy sh*t. That is unbelievable. And there isn't a Zapruder of that anywhere? I don't know whether I would prefer to see you guys run over the corp or the action on the 50. How good of a salesman do you have to be to talk your girlfriend into doing that?

Perhaps he was just good with his sword?

 

[outhereincali]

As long as were talking about TX fb and the 90's.
Phil Dawson vs VA 50 yards into the wind on the last play and we win by 1.
TX/NB '96 simply put the greatest upset win in Longhorn history.

 

[westx]

As long as were talking about TX fb and the 90's.
Phil Dawson vs VA 50 yards into the wind on the last play and we win by 1.
TX/NB '96 simply put the greatest upset win in Longhorn history.

Those were some of the good. I enjoyed the 1990 team, but the Miami fiasco loss in the Cotton Bowl overshadowed that team. I remember McWilliams granting them their wish of black shoes for winning the SWC. Other positives were Gardere the overachiever and I really liked James Brown. If Brown's ankle would have been healthy and if clob and company weren't so hungover (joking), Texas could have won the Sugar Bowl against Va Tech. That Longhorn team was loaded.

On the down side, I was review some of the schedules and we were 0-4 against Colorado in the 90s. I didn't remember that.

 

[outhereincali]

Those were some of the good. I enjoyed the 1990 team, but the Miami fiasco loss in the Cotton Bowl overshadowed that team. I remember McWilliams granting them their wish of black shoes for winning the SWC. Other positives were Gardere the overachiever and I really liked James Brown. If Brown's ankle would have been healthy and if clob and company weren't so hungover (joking), Texas could have won the Sugar Bowl against Va Tech. That Longhorn team was loaded.

On the down side, I was review some of the schedules and we were 0-4 against Colorado in the 90s. I didn't remember that.

Actually we're 0/5 against CO but I have it at 0/6 because we also lost to them in '89 I'm not going to nit pick. I know it's sour grapes but CO reached great heights in the 90's but they had so many bad guys during that time guys that had committed felonies and yet they still played.

 

[outhereincali]

Last SWC game took place in howdytown in 1995 hoss. As the game ended, the field was flooded with Texas fans. This was the game (I think I've told this story) where two Texas students-- male and female (in case anybody was going to make a gay joke which would be uncalled for) made it to the 50 yard line and she pulled her skirt up and he pulled his Wang out and they went at it right there on aggy's field. Then the Corps decided that average folks shouldn't be on the field and in unison-- un-stayed their swords (un-sheathed? Drew? Presented with malcontent?) And we players were forced to bowling pin them as they happened to be positioned in front of the tunnel to the Texas locker rooms.

Memories? I've got a few. How about the week after Cordell Stewart throws a 70 yard hail Mary with no time left on the clock and number 3 Colorado defeats number 2 Michigan on the last play of the game. Only to have Colorado come to Texas the following week and kick a field goal as time expired to beat us on the last play as well. Let's not talk about the fact that Rashaan Salaam ran for five thousand yards that game and sent us a Christmas card after he won the heisman. Or the fake punt pass from Danaher to Westbrook against Penn State that got us back into the Fiesta Bowl that we should have won--- but for our dumb ass head coach. (Mackovic didn't make THAT call EITHER) side note--- we all shook hands with a Penn State assistant coach named Jerry Sandusky and found out 20 years later that the very night we all shook hands with the opposing players and coaches-- it's alleged that Sandusky diddled a kid in his room later. Yuuuuuuk.

What do you mean you think you've told this story? You've told this story 2,000 times.

 

[clob94]

What do you mean you think you've told this story? You've told this story 2,000 times.

And they say people that used to smoke a lot of pot have bad memory recall. You go Cali!

 

[oldhorn2]

hey!...I like the story....he can tell it over and over as far as I am concerned

 

[LonghornMM]

I was at the Colorado game in Austin in '94. I remember how pissed I was after that game!

 

[weevilcatch]

The 90s truly was The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good

From beating Neb to Ricky's Heisman. Gardere 4-0 vs. OU to 99's #1 recruiting class which set up the run in the 2000s. It was a good one

The Bad

From the 2-4 bowl record (only 6/10 bowl games smh) to the 3 different coaches. From the 4 straight losses to the aggies to the tie to a shitty OU team in Dallas. Oh, and effing Ron Powlus smh.

The Ugly

I think these two sum it up pretty well. 46-3 and 66-3.

 

[clob94]

John Mackovic---- all you have to say about the 90s.

 

[LonghornMM]

John Mackovic---- all you have to say about the 90s.

I absolutely cannot stand Mackoprick!

 

[outhereincali]

But I will give him credit for the NB game in '96. Like I said the biggest upset win in TX history. And he did recruit some good players.

But he was like Art Briles in that he had no regard for defense. And he hired an image consultant to give him an image more likable to TX fans. That's sad.

 

[westx]

I think these two sum it up pretty well. 46-3 and 66-3.

Yes. I didn't want to overwhelm the negatives in my post but, the UCLA loss was as bad a loss as I have endured. I couldn't look away. I was miserable watching the game alone in my living room until the very bitter end. I can't remember for the life of me which of our defensive guys called out Cade McNowen, the UCLA QB prior to the rematch the following year with some smack talk, but all for nothing because UCLA beat up on Texas again.

Again, there are so many parallels when comparing the 90s to the twentyteens:
90s: We were up to start the decade after a horrible ending to the 80s. Then crashed and burned where we rebounded with Big 12 win only to crash and burn again, where then Mack Brown was hired and the rest is history

2010s: Started strong. The difference here was a long sustained downturn where Strong finished the job by cratering the program. Now, we are in a long building that we have yet to see if we are back. We have had some ups with Herman by beating Georgia and Utah in major bowls to finish the season.

90s: UCLA was the 2010s BYU

90s: SWC to Big 12 where 2010s: Big 12 to a smaller Big 12

90s: 3 different coaches where 2010s: 3 different coaches less any weird fashion statements (ie indoor Porsche sunglasses)

 

[Bwilk55]

Yes. I didn't want to overwhelm the negatives in my post but, the UCLA loss was as bad a loss as I have endured. I couldn't look away. I was miserable watching the game alone in my living room until the very bitter end. I can't remember for the life of me which of our defensive guys called out Cade McNowen, the UCLA QB prior to the rematch the following year with some smack talk, but all for nothing because UCLA beat up on Texas again.

Again, there are so many parallels when comparing the 90s to the twentyteens:
90s: We were up to start the decade after a horrible ending to the 80s. Then crashed and burned where we rebounded with Big 12 win only to crash and burn again, where then Mack Brown was hired and the rest is history

2010s: Started strong. The difference here was a long sustained downturn where Strong finished the job by cratering the program. Now, we are in a long building that we have yet to see if we are back. We have had some ups with Herman by beating Georgia and Utah in major bowls to finish the season.

90s: UCLA was the 2010s BYU

90s: SWC to Big 12 where 2010s: Big 12 to a smaller Big 12

90s: 3 different coaches where 2010s: 3 different coaches less any weird fashion statements (ie indoor Porsche sunglasses)

If Herman can do in the 2020s what Mack did in the 2000s I'll be okay with dealing with the 2010s.

 

[Bwilk55]

I'm a youngbuck so my memories of the 1990s are all near the turn of the century. My family had no Texas ties but one of my best friend's parents both went to Texas. For me, I became a fan of Texas because of Ricky, Major and Roy and I haven't looked back yet.

 

[westx]

I'm a youngbuck so my memories of the 1990s are all near the turn of the century. My family had no Texas ties but one of my best friend's parents both went to Texas. For me, I became a fan of Texas because of Ricky, Major and Roy and I haven't looked back yet.

It was all Cowboys for me when I was young and didn't really pay attention to college football. I grew up at the very top of the panhandle where we would play oklahoma schools in the preseason-kind of a natural okla/Texas rivalry would play out. By default, Texas became my team. My parents weren't into sports or go to college, so I had no loyalty to any other college. Early 80s were great. I am 53 now, so you are lucky you didn't get to experience the last half of the 80s. Ugh!

 

[weevilcatch]

John Mackovic---- all you have to say about the 90s.

The 3rd Mack was definitely the charm, lol

 

[clob94]

But I will give him credit for the NB game in '96. Like I said the biggest upset win in TX history. And he did recruit some good players.

But he was like Art Briles in that he had no regard for defense. And he hired an image consultant to give him an image more likable to TX fans. That's sad.

One of these days the truth will come out about the play call against Nebraska.

 

[weevilcatch]

I absolutely cannot stand Mackoprick!

For the life of me I still cannot figure out how he got the job in the first place.

 

[weevilcatch]

Yes. I didn't want to overwhelm the negatives in my post but, the UCLA loss was as bad a loss as I have endured. I couldn't look away. I was miserable watching the game alone in my living room until the very bitter end. I can't remember for the life of me which of our defensive guys called out Cade McNowen, the UCLA QB prior to the rematch the following year with some smack talk, but all for nothing because UCLA beat up on Texas again.

Again, there are so many parallels when comparing the 90s to the twentyteens:
90s: We were up to start the decade after a horrible ending to the 80s. Then crashed and burned where we rebounded with Big 12 win only to crash and burn again, where then Mack Brown was hired and the rest is history

2010s: Started strong. The difference here was a long sustained downturn where Strong finished the job by cratering the program. Now, we are in a long building that we have yet to see if we are back. We have had some ups with Herman by beating Georgia and Utah in major bowls to finish the season.

90s: UCLA was the 2010s BYU

90s: SWC to Big 12 where 2010s: Big 12 to a smaller Big 12

90s: 3 different coaches where 2010s: 3 different coaches less any weird fashion statements (ie indoor Porsche sunglasses)

Maybe Aaron Humphrey? I do remember Bobby Jack Wrong putting him at MLB and saying the was the best MLB he had ever seen (or some hyperbolic comment) and then UCLA made it very clear he needed to be a DE.

I'll take another 10 years of 9+ wins a year, 4 Playoff appearances and 1 NC for 2020s.

 

[outhereincali]

One of these days the truth will come out about the play call against Nebraska.

Aww c'mon now don't leave us hanging.

 

[outhereincali]

Looking back there really weren't a lot of memorable victories in the 90's at least not for me. For me there are 3.

1. NB in '96. NB was in the middle of a 4 year run where they went 47/2.

2. cow college in '95. The last SWC game, the last SWC championship. Fitting it came against the aggies. I've never seen players and fans from TX rub it in the face of the other teams players and fans like they did that day. But nobody deserved it more.

3. NB in '98 the game where Ricky won the Heisman. Also the first time in 7 years that NB lost at home.

 

[westx]

Looking back there really weren't a lot of memorable victories in the 90's at least not for me. For me there are 3.

1. NB in '96. NB was in the middle of a 4 year run where they went 47/2.

2. cow college in '95. The last SWC game, the last SWC championship. Fitting it came against the aggies. I've never seen players and fans from TX rub it in the face of the other teams players and fans like they did that day. But nobody deserved it more.

3. NB in '98 the game where Ricky won the Heisman. Also the first time in 7 years that NB lost at home.

It may make people wince at the idea of beating Houston being a big win, but the 1990 win over them was a very big win at the time. We had come off of 3 straight years of getting shellacked by them. The defense smothered Klingler all night and Texas paid UH back. I had a football party for that game and we pretty much partied all night.

The North Carolina win in 1994 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso was also a blast. It may not be considered a notable or huge win, but it was a bowl game that had good national appeal. I was there and everybody got there money's worth. I think it was Priest Holmes that had a great day and we beat Mack Brown and the Tar Heels. Excellent game right to the end.

1990s
Texas 7-2-1 vs blowu
Texas 2-1 vs Nebraska
Texas 4-6 vs aggy
Texas 0-5. vs Colorado
Texas 1-2 vs Arkansas

 

[clob94]

For the life of me I still cannot figure out how he got the job in the first place.

I wrote a song about it.

Like to hear it? Here it go:

John Mackovic told all the Big Cigars about how he used to be the Quarterbacks coach for two years under Longhorn Lengend Tom Landry at the Dallas Cowyboys. He talked about the 1981 season where the only reason they didn't win a Superbowl was because of that pesky kid out of Notre Dame that quarterbacked the 49ers named Joe Montana, and the pass he threw to Dwight Clarke in the end zone.

Then he talked about the strike shortened 1982 season where he again lost in the NFC championship to ANOTHER Notre Dame quarterback who won the Heisman and went on to win the superbowl THAT year as well, and eventually made the NFL Hall of Fame-- a guy named Joe Theisman, of the Washington Redskins.

The Big Cigars peed their Sansabelt slacks and hired the fvcking moron.

And as Paul Harvey used to say--- now you know, the rest of the story.

 

[2300 Nueces]

One of these days the truth will come out about the play call against Nebraska.

Na, let it remain an urban legend. Still waiting for the JB statue outside DKR.

 

[weevilcatch]

I wrote a song about it.

Like to hear it? Here it go:

John Mackovic told all the Big Cigars about how he used to be the Quarterbacks coach for two years under Longhorn Lengend Tom Landry at the Dallas Cowyboys. He talked about the 1981 season where the only reason they didn't win a Superbowl was because of that pesky kid out of Notre Dame that quarterbacked the 49ers named Joe Montana, and the pass he threw to Dwight Clarke in the end zone.

Then he talked about the strike shortened 1982 season where he again lost in the NFC championship to ANOTHER Notre Dame quarterback who won the Heisman and went on to win the superbowl THAT year as well, and eventually made the NFL Hall of Fame-- a guy named Joe Theisman, of the Washington Redskins.

The Big Cigars peed their Sansabelt slacks and hired the fvcking moron.

And as Paul Harvey used to say--- now you know, the rest of the story.

Dude...I started laughing before I even got to the song...you're a funny summbich.

 

[Son of Wasatch]

The 90's had some amazing games.

94 Red River I like to call it the Stoney Clark win.
Beating aggsy 51-15 in 96
Winning first Big 12 championship
Ricky's run to glory against aggsy in 98
Beating Nebraska in 98.
Crushing Miss St in Cotton Bowl

Yes the decade came with some horrible year much like 2010 to 2019, but it had some great moments as well.

 

[TexSolo]

90s were off to a pretty good start until the Cotton Bowl. Even the Colorado loss became "acceptable" as they climbed the polls. 91 was a gut punch. So much hope going in to that season. Getting kicked in the bulls nuts by Jackie and crew set the tone and that was it. Even a heroic effort by the defense against UH wasn't enough. I really did love McWilliams, he's as good a person you'll ever meet but either the game had passed him by or the stage was too big or something.

Don't recall feeling overwhelmed with joy with mackovic's hiring but that's who we got, but when he started pulling in Morenz and Mike Adams and some other studs, there were a lot of expectations. His biggest mistake was his arrogance not only of himself, but the way he treated the defense as an afterthought. He could have hired anyone but he hired Darnell who had been run out of every place he'd been and he'd coached some big programs. We had soooo much individual talent on defense, but seemingly could never put it all together until '95. I don't know if anyone else remembers, but there was a LB named Johnson I think. He didn't play much as a freshman, but he tore it up when he did. And come his sophomore year he was gone. Had come in with Brackens and wore #13.

I think Mack1.0's biggest win early was the 10-10? tie against #6 Syracuse. I actually thought we were back and even called in to Bill Schoening post game excited that we were on our way to a NC! He was like..uuhhhh slow down there hoss. He was right. We limped to another mediocre year and aggy loss. 93...did 93 even happen? Syracuse torched us, even with Adams and Lavell Pinkney going off. I think that was the year we lost to tcu for the first time since 65 or and Mackovic was like, yeah it's a game, people lose. That was the first big nail in his coffin.

If Morenz doesn't get hurt against CU, I think we win that game in '94, but we may never have heard about James Brown because I don't think he sticks around waiting. OU that year was something else and it ultimately gave us Brown while losing Morenz for good.

Fast forwarding to 97, again so much expectation and excitement, but when we played like crap the first game against New Mexico despite Humphrey's three INTs, I knew we were in trouble. People thought I was crazy, but you could see it. I used to work in the athletic department back then, and the week of UCLA, someone had mailed a copy of the LA times preview of the game for each player and coach and had hilighted any mention of Texas in pink. I was like, do I send this on up the line? I mean it was pretty bad what was said on the copies as I recall. But I also thought, well if this doesn't fire them up, nothing will. Sadly, you could see how lethargic the team was coming out on to the field. I remember telling my brother, we look like shit, we're in trouble. And they were. It's the only time I've ever left a game early. Spent half time making our way to Conans on the drag and eating pizza and getting blitzed the second half.

 

[Son of Wasatch]

I really did love McWilliams, he's as good a person you'll ever meet but either the game had passed him by or the stage was too big or something.

McWilliams was a great defensive coach, he didn't know offense to save his life. Had he did some homework and hired a top notch OC he would have been a great coach and the 90's would have never seen Mackovic. He survived from 87 to 92 because of Keith and Kerry Cash. when they left he was exposed, as was Peter Gardere.

That 91 defense was great but without any offense they just got worn down.

Don't recall feeling overwhelmed with joy with mackovic's hiring but that's who we got, but when he started pulling in Morenz and Mike Adams and some other studs, there were a lot of expectations. His biggest mistake was his arrogance not only of himself, but the way he treated the defense as an afterthought. He could have hired anyone but he hired Darnell who had been run out of every place he'd been and he'd coached some big programs.

I'll let Clob handle this one. I'll just say when we fired McWilliams, the idea was to hire an offensive mind, and we did, the problem was still the same, we hired the polar opposite of McWilliams. He was an arrogant prick who couldn't coach defense to save his life.

I always thought if we could get McWilliams as our DC and Mackovic as our OC we would have had the best of both worlds. Under McWilliams we had some of the best defenses I can remember, and under Mackovic we had some of the best offenses including some great running backs receivers and offensive lines.

 

[TexSolo]

Now that I recall, I think we basically convinced Mack1.0 to keep Leon Fuller who was the DC of some amazing Defenses from Akers to McWilliams. We had a tough year on defense in 92 because we had a lot of new guys and the team was in disarray, and that gave Mackovic cover to get rid of him and bring in his own guy, Darnell. I think if we had kept Fuller, things might have been different.
And yeah, the offenses were really opening up around that time, and tho Amadee had a decent balanced offense, Gardere was just very average and couldn't hit anyone. He fluttered half of his throws. You're right the Cash twins saved him many times just from their height and abilities. Even Walker's catch to beat OU in 89 was not a great pass, just a great catch. But sometimes that's all it takes.

 

[westx]

McWilliams was a great defensive coach, he didn't know offense to save his life. Had he did some homework and hired a top notch OC he would have been a great coach and the 90's would have never seen Mackovic

I liked Mac 1.0 quite a bit. However, I am more in the camp that the game had past him by-even on defense. The late 80s was the coming of age of a new style with teams like Miami. This new style was speed. McWilliams would have been great in the early 80s, but his defenses lacked team speed and he didn't seem to care or just wasn't good at getting the inner city kids.