Go Roos: January 2017

“An all-Texas Super Bowl? His will be done.” – Hank Hill

In Texas, football is king. Friday Night Lights talent at the high school level power teams across the nation. In any given year, you can expect to find multiple Texas universities in the top 25. And we take it for granted that the Dallas Cowboys should bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy. But an All-Texas Super Bowl? That would be a sight to behold. It would be the equivalent of a Subway Series in New York (which has happened) or a UNC/Duke NCAA title game in basketball (which has not).

The possibility has not gotten much press in 2017, in part because of the NFC dominance of the Cowboys and the AFC South mediocrity of the Texans. But don’t look now. The Texans are division champs and have a playoff win under their belt. Both teams are in the playoffs together for the first time in nearly a quarter century. And fittingly, the Super Bowl will take place in Houston, Texas this year.

I know what you are thinking. A professional football title game in Texas featuring two teams from Texas. Wouldn’t that be a first? I got news for you. It would not be a first. It has happened before.

And Austin College is involved.

The last time Dallas & Houston were in the playoffs together was in the early 90s. In 1991, both teams advanced to the divisional round but were just a bit too young. 1992 was supposed to be the year. But the Bills wrecked the party in the wildcard round with an historic comeback win in Buffalo. In 1993, the Cowboys were Super Bowl champions once again. But the Oilers fell in the divisional round to a down-but-not-out Joe Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Still painful to watch. The Bills come back and deny Texas a Cowboys-Oilers matchup.

The best opportunities actually came during the Cowboy-Oiler glory years of the late 70s.

Dallas was on its way back to the Super Bowl in 1978, and Houston almost joined them. But Pittsburgh shut down the Oilers in the AFC championship. Both teams fell in the 1979 playoffs to Super Bowl participants. Dallas lost to Vince Ferragamo and the Rams in the divisional round. The call of a game tying Mike Renfro TD catch late in the third quarter against Pittsburgh was botched, and the Oilers never recovered in the AFC championship game rematch against Pittsburgh.

Renfro's TD is denied and Houston loses in the AFC championship game for a second straight year.

Houston traded for Ken Stabler in 1980 as a final piece of the puzzle. But even this 1968 Cotton Bowl buddy of 1981 AC Roo Russ Roden couldn’t get the Oilers past the Wildcard round. Dallas fell in the NFC championship game anyway.

1981 Roo Russ Roden gives Ken Stabler some pointers at the 1968 'Bama-A&M Cotton Bowl.

Even one of the most famous games in Cowboy football history is involved.

The Oilers and Cowboys advanced to their respective league title games in 1967, where both came up short. Dallas did so in dramatic fashion, losing to Green Bay in the Ice Bowl. With wind chills around -36F, Bart Starr’s QB sneak with seconds remaining sent the Cowboys back home. Vince Lombardi and his crew would move on to Super Bowl II, where they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys and Packers face off tomorrow, nearly 50 years after their famous frigid meeting. Go Cowboys! #FinishTheFight.

Lombardi was nothing more than an assistant coach at Army when Odessa native Gene Babb arrived in Sherman in 1953. First year Coach Joe Spencer began to play him almost immediately, to great effect. The Sherman Democrat would write frequently about Babb’s “bull-like running” for the Roos over the next 4 years. Babb led the Roos to 3 winning seasons in independent, non-conference play, the highlight of which was an upset of East Texas State……AC’s first victory over the school since the days of Pete Cawthon.

The professional scouts began to show up in Sherman. The Eagles were interested, as were the Lions. But the 49ers drafted Babb first in 1957. According to Babb, “I sat there in the corner of Hughey Gym and signed a contract for $6,000 for my first season……..all the money in the world.”

Roo Gene Babb scores a TD for the 49ers against the Baltimore Colts on December 8, 1957 in San Francisco. One year later the Colts would win the NFL championship in "The Greatest Game Ever Played".

Y.A. Tittle and Gene Babb lead San Francisco to a 35-31 victory over Bobby Layne and the Detroit Lions in 1957.

Babb played in the NFL for 7 seasons and 3 teams. The 49ers used him as a running back, as did his second team……….a new 1960 expansion squad in Dallas coached by a young Tom Landry. But Houston needed a linebacker in 1962, and converted Babb to the defensive side after acquiring. One Oilers assistant coach probably had some influence in the decision to acquire Babb; Joe Spencer had moved on from AC and was in charge of Houston’s offensive line in 1962.

The George Blanda-led Oilers were two time defending AFL champions in 1962, and with Babb backing the defensive line advanced all the way to the AFL title game for a third year in a row. Waiting for them in the championship game? The Dallas Texans.

Hank Stram’s squad had a hall of fame quarterback in Len Dawson, and were looking to dethrone the defending champs. Just as in 2017, the title game took place in Houston……..at UH’s Jeppensen Stadium (since rebuilt as TDECU Stadium). It was a professional football championship game in Texas between two Texas teams. Curt Gowdy called the game, and Jack Buck was on the sidelines. Among their topics of discussion was recently approved financing by the city of Houston for some new “domed” stadium.

The Texans started strong, and held a 17-0 lead at the half. But Babb and the Oilers defense shut down Dawson in the second half, and Houston tied the score late at 17-17. Just like the famous 1958 NFL championship game, this contest would be decided in overtime. But unlike 1958, the 1962 AFL title game would need two extra periods.

From the 4th quarter into the 6th, Babb and the Oilers would continue to bend but not break. But eventually the Texan attack became too much. A long Dallas drive led to a championship clinching field goal. Stram and Dallas celebrated. Babb and Houston left the field in disappointment. Texas was the center of the football universe. See Gene Babb highlights from the 1962 title game in the video found in the comments below.

Change has been a constant since that 1962 game. The Dallas Texans left for Kansas City. The AFL and NFL merged. The Oilers departed for Tennessee. And the Houston Texans arrived in their absence. A Dallas or Houston team has been in the playoffs for 39 of 51 years since the inception of the Super Bowl, and both teams have been in the playoffs for 9 years. And yet, since 1962, an All-Texas title game has remained elusive.

We know the odds. Even with home field advantage, the Cowboys have much work to do. And their path is easier than Houston’s. The Texans route back home to Houston will require tremendous upsets in Foxboro & Pittsburgh or Kansas City.

But as of the time of this writing, Hank Hill’s fondest wish still exists. If an Austin College Kangaroo can live the dream of signing with the NFL in Hughey Gymnasium, then surely we can at some point experience the dream of an All-Texas Super Bowl. Ideally in Texas in the year 2017. But if not, at some future date in our lifetimes. His will be done.

Founded in the 19^th century, this southern school began to officially participate in collegiate football in the year 1896. After 86 years of competition, this college finally secured its one and only national championship in 1981. To date, it remains the only national championship for the school.

The Austin College Kangaroos? You bet.

But not just AC. The same paragraph applies to the Clemson Tigers.

This week, Clemson celebrates the 35^th anniversary of its national championship clinching victory over 1981 AC Coach Larry Kramer’s Nebraska Cornhuskers. I bet ol’ Larry was watching that game with disappointment, comforted only by another game played just 20 days earlier.

Clemson football glory came early with the hiring of Coach John Heisman in 1900. Heisman led the Tigers to three SIAA (an SEC precursor) championships, and his .833 winning percentage remains the best in school history. Heisman’s success in the Palmetto state was the first of many tenures for the iconic coach.

The 1896 Austin College Kangaroos (left) and the 1896 Clemson Tigers (right).

In 1924, Rice University was dedicated to turning its fortunes around and lured Heisman to Houston. The former Clemson coach responded quickly in his first season by defeating the rival Texas Longhorns 19-6 at home. But pride goeth before a fall. The next week, Heisman’s Owls fell at home……to Pete Cawthon’s Austin College Kangaroos.

Former Clemson Coach John Heisman, before his loss to Austin College in 1924.

Jess Neely was a star half-back in 1924 at Rhodes College, a future 2017 SAA Conference rival of Austin College (and also the next challenge for Austin College President Marjorie Hass. Good luck Marjorie, we will miss you!). Neely was hired to coach the Clemson Tigers in 1931, leading them to an appearance in the 1940 Cotton Bowl.

At that same time, Rice’s fortunes were waning once again. And just as before, they looked for help from a former Clemson coach. Neely came from Clemson to Rice in 1940 and presided over what can only be described as “Rice’s glory years”. Over the quarter century that followed, Neely’s Owls won 4 Southwest Conference championships and played .500 football with the arch rival Longhorns.

But Neely had help.

Austin College Kangaroo star Cecil Grigg had played against the Longhorns in 1912, and had coached his alma mater in Sherman in 1931 at the time of Neely’s hire at Clemson. By the time Neely arrived in 1940 at Rice, Grigg was already there………..as a Rice offensive assistant coach. Neely remained head coach of the Owls for an amazing 26 years, and Grigg was at his side every step of the way.

Former Austin College coach Cecil Grigg (far left) and former Clemson coach Jess Neely (far right) lead Rice during the Owl glory years.

Back at Clemson, Neely was replaced by Frank Howard. You may have heard, the guy had a “rock”.

Like the 1981 National Champion Kangaroos, Danny Ford’s Tigers were unranked at the beginning of the season and ended the campaign with the best record in school history. The 1981 championship is a part of Clemson lore. But don’t take my word for it. Ask any Clemson fan. For example, Frank & Rebecca Adams.

Your humble author and my wife Dianne traveled throughout China with Clemson alumni and Greenville, SC natives Frank & Rebecca, as we all experienced the journey of a lifetime and brought our daughters home. While in places like Beijing & Guangzhou, we became more familiar with the passion that is Clemson Tiger football. On Monday, Frank & Rebecca will be glued to the game.

Clemson has a daunting task. We are all familiar with the work of Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. Alabama has won 4 national championships in 7 years, and is heavily favored in Monday’s championship game. Most certainly would be reluctant to pick against arguably the best college football program in the nation’s history. Surely the Tide will prevail.

And yet, I still can’t shake that feeling.

Maybe it’s because of the 35^th Roo/Tiger anniversary. Maybe it’s because of Heisman & Cawthon. Maybe it’s because of Neely & Grigg. Maybe it is because Roo Pete Cawthon was an Athletic Director at Alabama, and Tiger Coaches Frank Howard, Danny Ford and Dabo Swinney all played for Alabama. Maybe it is because all reigns must end, just as USC learned on a warm night in Pasadena in 2006.

Or maybe it’s as simple as wanting my Clemson friends to experience a national title. Whatever the reason, this Roo will be pulling for a Tiger win and joy for Frank, Rebecca and others in South Carolina.

Go Tigers, Go Roos, and Go 1981.