PonyFans.com

I just recieved this thru my Letterman e-mail list. If anyone is in the area and wants to go, pm so that we could have plenty of SMU people there. Great for Jerry and SMU.


Former SMU All-America Jerry LeVias will be honored by the Touchdown Club of Houston at 7 p.m., Wed., Aug. 15, at the JW Marriott, 5150 Westheimer in the Galleria. LeVias will receive the IW Marks Touchdowner of the Year Award, which is given annually for extraordinary contributions and outstanding achievements reflecting honor and sportsmanship to football over a lengthy period of time. A Beaumont native, LeVias was the first person of color on a football scholarship in the defunct Southwest Conference, and played for the Houston Oilers.

Past Touchdowner winners include Kyle Rote (1968), Darrell Royal (1969), Bear Bryant (1971), Dutch Meyer (1975), Matty Bell (1976), Sammy Baugh (1977), John David Crow (1979), Bobby Layne (1980), Doak Walker (1981), Roger Staubach (1984), Bill Yeoman (1987), Forrest Gregg (1991), Dave Campbell (1996), Earl Campbell (1998), Spike Dykes (2001), Ken Hatfield (2002), Hayden Fry (2005) and Mack Brown (2006).

Currently scheduled to speak at the gala are former SMU teammate Rufus Cormier and former SMU coach Hayden Fry.

Tickets are $40 each. Tables are $400 (regular table), $500 (bronze table sponsorship), $1,000 (silver table sponsorship), $1,500 (gold table sponsorship) and $5,000 (platinum table sponsorship). All tables are 10 seats each. Bronze, silver, gold and platinum sponsors will have their names in the event's paper program and meet with Jerry in a private reception.

A 501-c-3, not-for-profit organization, the TD Club has given out approximately $130,000 in weights and weight equipment to 24 Greater Houston high schools in the past six years, and has awarded about $125,000 in scholarships to high school kids in the past eight years.

"Past Touchdowner winners include Kyle Rote (1968), Darrell Royal (1969), Bear Bryant (1971), Dutch Meyer (1975), Matty Bell (1976), Sammy Baugh (1977), John David Crow (1979), Bobby Layne (1980), Doak Walker (1981), Roger Staubach (1984), Bill Yeoman (1987), Forrest Gregg (1991), Dave Campbell (1996), Earl Campbell (1998), Spike Dykes (2001), Ken Hatfield (2002), Hayden Fry (2005) and Mack Brown (2006)."

That's is quite a group to be included with. Congrates to Jerry...a very high honor to say the least.

Six former Mustangs (players & coaches) will soon be on that list with the addition of LeVias. Correct me if I'm wrong but won't that make S.M.U. the school with the most recipients on the list?

Congratulations, Jerry LeVias! You should have been on this list a long time ago!

Congratulations JERRY :!:

What in the world is Spike Dykes doing in that group? This is like that old Sesame Street song "One of these things isn't like the others..."

I guess Spike did take the Raiders to the Cotton Bowl one year, and other bowl games, but seriously - does anyone mention Spike Dykes in the same company of other SWC greats?

Based on Spike's achievements, I guess David McWilliams will be the honoree next year. Hell, why didn't Fred Akers get this honor before Spike Dykes?

And even IF you think Spike is worthy, he got this award 6 years before Jerry LeVias? Unbelieveable.

I don't think that list of past winners is all inclusive assuming it is an annual award...so maybe some of the folks you have mentioned have also been winners, but just not mentioned in this particular notice.

Jerry LeVias and Chuck Hixson prior to the 1968 S.M.U. v U.T. game. The Mustangs were undefeated in the SWC entering the contest.

Mack Brown has no business being on there, either, except for as an ace recruiter. I know, there are a billion UT alums out there, and his give-the-ball-to-Vince-Young-and-get-out-of-the-way title makes him a legend. OK, whatever.

But DAVE CAMPBELL? Is this thing put together by a Baylor fan club? That's nothing short of comical!

OK, venting aside: CONGRATULATIONS TO JERRY. One of the all-time greats, at SMU or any other school, a real legend on and off the field.