Campbell Overcame Flu Against Cougars
Phil Hicks
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ninth in a season-long series commemorating the 30th anniversary of Tyler's Earl Campbell winning the Heisman Trophy.
By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
Not even a bout with the flu or being halted by Bevo after a touchdown run could stop Earl Campbell against the Houston Cougars on a fall day 30 years ago this week.
Campbell rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in the Texas Longhorns' 35-21 victory over the Cougars on Nov. 5, 1977.
The Tylerite scored two touchdowns in the first half on runs of 6 and 2 yards as No. 1-ranked Texas took a 14-13 halftime lead before a crowd of more than 72,000 at Rice Stadium in Houston.
One of the stipulations for Houston's entry into the Southwest Conference was that some of the Cougars' games would be played at Rice Stadium instead of the Astrodome the first two years in the league.
It was a game that Campbell showed his mettle.
"I couldn't breathe in the first half," Campbell said that day. "I always thought I would play but (the flu) was eating me up. I got tired in the first quarter but picked up some strength at halftime."
The Tyler Rose then took over in the third quarter, rushing for 110 yards in the period, including a 40-yard touchdown in which he ended up running into a stunned Bevo just beyond the end zone. Not even the massive mascot could knock Campbell down.
His touchdown gave the Longhorns a 21-13 lead. Later, UT went up 35-14 as quarterback Randy McEachern scored on a 1-yard run and McEachern hit Ronnie Miksch with a 16-yard scoring toss.
The Cougars' touchdowns were by Alois Blackwell (44-yard run) for the first score of the day, and a Delrick Brown to Don Bass pass (2-yards), the final touchdown of the day. Kenny Hatfield had field goals of 27 and 43 yards. Brown also hit Bass for a 2-point conversion.
Texas place-kicker Russell Erxleben had field goals of 56 and 59 yards.
On Campbell's first touchdown, the John Tyler High School graduate side-stepped cornerback Gerald Cook and stiff-armed safety Elvis Bradley, a former Longview standout.
Campbell's totals moved him to No. 6 on the NCAA career list with 3,887 yards. For the season, he had rushed for 1,188 yards and 12 TDs on 189 carries.
With the victory Texas improved to 8-0 on the season and 5-0 in Southwest Conference play.
Next Week: Campbell and the Longhorns tangle with TCU in Austin.
By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor
Not even a bout with the flu or being halted by Bevo after a touchdown run could stop Earl Campbell against the Houston Cougars on a fall day 30 years ago this week.
Campbell rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in the Texas Longhorns' 35-21 victory over the Cougars on Nov. 5, 1977.
The Tylerite scored two touchdowns in the first half on runs of 6 and 2 yards as No. 1-ranked Texas took a 14-13 halftime lead before a crowd of more than 72,000 at Rice Stadium in Houston.
One of the stipulations for Houston's entry into the Southwest Conference was that some of the Cougars' games would be played at Rice Stadium instead of the Astrodome the first two years in the league.
It was a game that Campbell showed his mettle.
"I couldn't breathe in the first half," Campbell said that day. "I always thought I would play but (the flu) was eating me up. I got tired in the first quarter but picked up some strength at halftime."
The Tyler Rose then took over in the third quarter, rushing for 110 yards in the period, including a 40-yard touchdown in which he ended up running into a stunned Bevo just beyond the end zone. Not even the massive mascot could knock Campbell down.
His touchdown gave the Longhorns a 21-13 lead. Later, UT went up 35-14 as quarterback Randy McEachern scored on a 1-yard run and McEachern hit Ronnie Miksch with a 16-yard scoring toss.
The Cougars' touchdowns were by Alois Blackwell (44-yard run) for the first score of the day, and a Delrick Brown to Don Bass pass (2-yards), the final touchdown of the day. Kenny Hatfield had field goals of 27 and 43 yards. Brown also hit Bass for a 2-point conversion.
Texas place-kicker Russell Erxleben had field goals of 56 and 59 yards.
On Campbell's first touchdown, the John Tyler High School graduate side-stepped cornerback Gerald Cook and stiff-armed safety Elvis Bradley, a former Longview standout.
Campbell's totals moved him to No. 6 on the NCAA career list with 3,887 yards. For the season, he had rushed for 1,188 yards and 12 TDs on 189 carries.
With the victory Texas improved to 8-0 on the season and 5-0 in Southwest Conference play.
Next Week: Campbell and the Longhorns tangle with TCU in Austin.
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