SMU Texas 1980

[Treadway21]

Just saw this tweet - today is the anniversary of our victory over UT in 1980 (also my wedding anniversary):

@dfwsportspast: Oct. 25, 1980: Unranked @SMU_Football scores 17 unanswered points, including Craig James' 53-yard TD run, to upset No. 2 Texas, 20-6.

Ponyte, you remember this game?

[mrydel]

Oh man. Now I am going to have to listen to him relive it all the way to Dallas tomorrow. Come on. He made a block that allowed the run that scored the TD that started the momentum to victory over the #2 longhorns. Was it really that big of a deal?

Yes it was and I was there to see it.

[Treadway21]

It is a great story no matter how many times you hear it!

I just saw this also on twitter - today is the day Payne Stewart passed away.

"@AD_RickHart: “@bencranegolf: 14 yrs ago today we lost a role model & a legend. You made the world a better place, Payne. http://t.co/aVVmb9jCXX ” #PonyUp"

That was a sad day that I remember well. It was a spooky event.

I never realized my anniversary date was such a big day in SMU athletic history.

[Stallion]

A great moment indeed but not as good as that 1994 Tie with Texas A&M in San Antonio!!!!!!! Ha! I remember when that List of Greatest SMU Moments came out and how angry I got at the utter ridiculousness of trying in vain to make the post DP era seem relevant.

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-foo ... ts-22.html

[AusTxPony]

Remember hearing that game on radio...in LA! At least that's the way I remember it. Can't even think why it would have been on out there. Was it a televised, National game or something?

[BigT3x]

A great moment indeed but not as good as that 1994 Tie with Texas A&M in San Antonio!!!!!!! Ha! I remember when that List of Greatest SMU Moments came out and how angry I got at the utter ridiculousness of trying in vain to make the post DP era seem relevant.

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-foo ... ts-22.html

"Miracle on Mockingbird" always makes me think the same thing. It sounds like it was a thrilling game, but I don't know if a one point victory over a team that was I-AA at the time should really be one of the stories we tell the freshmen at AARO.

[Stallion]

well I agree but you are going to make a lot of people under 40 mad. Don't mention the victory over UH for the Seniors who lost 95-16 or whatever the score. Nice moment-not one of the Top 100 Greatest Moments in SMU History-oh the victory over UH might come in at No. 65 or so. A [deleted]' tie against A&M as the No. 17 moment in SMU history is an insult. At the time that list was created there had been maybe 2 Top 100 Greatest Moments in SMU History since DP. I'm sure the truth will [deleted] many off.

[ponyte]

I want to enjoy the ride home today the same way I enjoyed it 33 years ago.

And I hope the weather is the same as it was 33 years ago (at least no rain)!

[mrydel]

Remember hearing that game on radio...in LA! At least that's the way I remember it. Can't even think why it would have been on out there. Was it a televised, National game or something?

ESPN in the early (perhaps fist year) of the station. They only had one game a week and it was the Saturday afternoon game. Then they replayed it several times during the next week until the next game. It was great. I saw it about 10 times after being there in person.

[SoCal_Pony]

A great moment indeed but not as good as that 1994 Tie with Texas A&M in San Antonio!!!!!!! Ha! I remember when that List of Greatest SMU Moments came out and how angry I got at the utter ridiculousness of trying in vain to make the post DP era seem relevant.

http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/m-foo ... ts-22.html

I agree 100% and said so at the time. To me 'Miracle' & Opening of Ford would be the only 2 to make my Top 90 list, one to throw the post-DP a bone (rank it #83), the other for historical reasons of truly bringing football back on campus (rank it #50).

Also, Thomas Morstead is the only player post-DP that makes my all-SMU team.

As to the 1980 UT game and specifically the 'Pitch'; while I would never argue with someone saying the Bobby Wilson catch is the greatest play in SMU, for me it is the 'Pitch'. I say it for several reasons. First, it was simply a perfectly executed play. Secondly, we defeated a UT team in Austin that had serious aspirations of a NC. Finally, and most importantly for me, it ushered in the Pony Express era. After that game, the whole nation knew we had arrived.

I always love to look at that play. Lance is arguably the greatest option QB the state of Texas has ever seen, but that pitch was simply flawless. The block by our TE, our own Ponyte, was perfection. CJames simply had to catch and run, and of course Craig had the wheels to run. It was a dagger in the heart of UT.

In was, in my humble opinion, the Greatest Play in SMU sports history. And this is from someone who has watched SMU athletics for over 45 years.

[Stallion]

I know the play exists in SMU archives but I don't think its on the internet like ED's run in 1982, the Miracle on 4th Street and the Fumble-Rooskie against Texas in 1985. That needs to get done-for historical purposes. In fact, the next time that List comes out say in 2016 it needs to be a Video List where possible. Who knows maybe today's big game against 1-6 Temple makes the list

[mrydel]

Stop it. I have already heard "The Pitch" story 3 times and we are just past Texarkana. Got my grandson with me and even he is tired of hearing it.

Seriously, however, interesting fact. The Pitch was not an option but rather a called pitch. Lance was not yet versed enough in the offense to run the true option. All plays were precalled.

And now you know the rest of the story. And I will hear it 4 or 5 more times on the trip.

[Stallion]

the only guy that hates the Pitch story other than you and your grandson is Mike Ford

[mrydel]

Great now the Mike Ford stories begin.

[Treadway21]

He is dropping names in another thread.

Have to agree with stallion and So Cal. The Miracle on Mockingbird was great but just showed how far we had fallen.

I am a Bobby Wilson $85k catch man myself.