Earl Campbell did more for solving race relations in the State of Texas than any man, including Martin Luther King, Jr. , Jackie Robinson, Abe Lincoln or Ulysses S. Grant. We loved him at UT and the entire State of Texas (Aggies and Cowboys even) loved him as an Oiler....Everybody Loved Earl.
After Mack won the NC, before the next season he was honored at the Touchdown Club in Houston (which is a tremendously respected club and a great honor). On the head table were Mack, Darrell, Chris Gilbert and other UT football legends. Earl was not up there.
He arrived after the banquet began with a cane. The speaker stopped. The entire room stood up for Earl (including Mack and Darrell) for over 5 minutes. Nobody said a word. It was stone silence. He moved methodically and slowly and shook some hands as he walked to his table. I have never seen such reverence for any man in my entire life.
PS--I always suspected Earl was not at the head table because it would have required him to climb a short set of steps. It had nothing to do with any disrespect.
PPS--I always thought it was unusual DKR did not speak during the ceremony. After his death when it became public of his battle with Alzheimer's it became apparent why he had not.
After Mack won the NC, before the next season he was honored at the Touchdown Club in Houston (which is a tremendously respected club and a great honor). On the head table were Mack, Darrell, Chris Gilbert and other UT football legends. Earl was not up there.
He arrived after the banquet began with a cane. The speaker stopped. The entire room stood up for Earl (including Mack and Darrell) for over 5 minutes. Nobody said a word. It was stone silence. He moved methodically and slowly and shook some hands as he walked to his table. I have never seen such reverence for any man in my entire life.
PS--I always suspected Earl was not at the head table because it would have required him to climb a short set of steps. It had nothing to do with any disrespect.
PPS--I always thought it was unusual DKR did not speak during the ceremony. After his death when it became public of his battle with Alzheimer's it became apparent why he had not.