My All-American Page #5

Even ABC is anticipating a number

one versus number two showdown

at the end of the season.

And right now that would

be Texas versus Arkansas

for the 100-year anniversary

of college football.

JOE:
Steinmark. A loss of three.

The Campbell twins showing up on a tackle.

PHIL:
Street, scrambling again.

He's in trouble, but he

gets out of it. Touchdown!

Yeah, baby.

You all right?

I'm fine.

JOE:
Final score: Texas 17 to nothing.

A great defensive effort,

led by Freddie Steinmark.

(chattering)

Your leg's still bothering you.

It'll be okay.

You got to see Medina.

He never healed anybody.

His whole job is to tape

you up and send you back out.

I'd hate to see you play at 90%.

Good stuff, man.

Texas Tech has gotten the better of

the Longhorns in the last two years,

but with James Street at the helm

and Freddie Steinmark in the secondary,

this Longhorn team has a

completely different look.

JOE:
It's 28!

Steinmark again, with another interception.

Revenge is sweet.

Texas crushes Tech 49-7.

PHIL:
And they'll next

face archrival Oklahoma,

led by power back Steve Owens.

It's a war of wills now.

Power versus power.

And the Sooners are counting on

Owens to carry the bulk of the load,

but Freddie's got

something to say about that.

Come on!

And the Longhorns prevail in a slugfest,

27-17.

(groaning)

Smell that?

Yeah?

Wait. Isn't that illegal?

- Why are you still limping so badly?

- I'm not.

Don't act like you're

not in pain. I know you.

- I'm getting better.

- It's not getting better.

You have to go see a doctor.

I'm doing all right out there.

I see you, trying to hide

your limp on the field too.

Look, if I wasn't doing the

job, I wouldn't be playing.

If it's still a problem

after the Arkansas game,

I'd have someone take a look at it.

- That's not for another month.

- I'm not gonna miss this season, Linda.

It's gonna be special.

I know it.

Stubborn.

Stubborn boy.

JOE:
It's Speyrer on the reverse.

He's gonna throw it. It's

a long one to Peschel.

What a grab. Touchdown!

PHIL:
Steinmark took a big hit there, Joe.

It looks like he might be hurt.

JOE:
He's gonna shake it off.

PHIL:
Well, he's a tough kid.

Set! Hut!

Street with a keeper.

Scrambling again. Touchdown!

Steinmark on the coverage.

Freddie got beat on that one, Joe.

How's it feeling?

It's fine.

What a catch! Touchdown!

Texas has this wrapped up 49-12.

And now they are the

number-one team in the land.

Arkansas is number two.

Phil, this could be the

game of the century.

Hey, Freddie.

Didn't know you came in this early.

What happened to you?

You look like you've

been run over by a truck.

It's this way after every game.

You know what it's like out there.

It's different for me. I'm the

one who's doing the hittin'.

Yeah, I got 11 of you bastards

coming at me every play.

And most a hell of a lot bigger than you.

How's that leg of yours?

Pain is pain.

Comes with the territory.

You got that right.

All I care about now is the Arkansas game.

That's why we're here.

To play for all the marbles.

(inhales, exhales)

- (sighs)

- (sighs)

(knocking)

How's the leg, Freddie?

It's not bad. It just

keeps getting banged up.

I'll be fine.

Seems like it's getting worse.

Everyone's a little beat

up this time of the season.

Montgomery is the best

quarterback we play against.

When he watches film, he's

gonna see that you're vulnerable.

And he will attack.

I know all his tendencies.

I'll be in the right

place at the right time.

I promise, Coach. I will not let you down.

(sighs)

Even at 90%, I want you out there.

You're the heart of our defense.

And hell, you boys only allowed

three touchdowns all year.

After we win this game, we'll have

three weeks before the Cotton Bowl.

If it still hurts, you see a doctor, okay?

Yes, sir.

My leg will be perfect New Year's Day.

(crowd cheering)

PHIL:
Welcome to The Big Shootout!

Or as many have been saying, college

football's Game of the Century.

CROWD (chanting): Texas! Fight!

- There's not an empty seat here in hostile Razorback Stadium.

- CROWD:
Whoa!

Two undefeated teams.

Number one Texas versus

number two Arkansas,

battle for the National Championship.

JOE:
Arkansas present the Longhorn defense

with their toughest challenge of the year.

PHIL:
But no team this year has figured out

- how to stop the potent wishbone offense.

- Go.

What we got here, Joe, is two great

offenses versus two great defenses.

JOE:
And despite the bitter rivalry,

coaches Darrell Royal and

Frank Broyles are good friends.

PHIL:
Maybe not from the opening

kickoff to the final gun today, Joe.

And this game has

received so much attention

that even the president

is expected at any moment.

JOE:
I have never seen one

game receive so much publicity.

Hey.

Can you hold up one more game, little dink?

Wouldn't be here if I couldn't. (chuckles)

If you wanna help, keep their

defense on the field, huh?

I'll see what I can do.

(slaps butt)

PHIL:
The helicopter,

Marine One, is landing.

President Nixon will soon be

joining this raucous crowd.

Here we are.

- Wheat Ridge boys.

- Woof.

Playing in front of the president of the

United States in the biggest damn game ever.

All part of the plan.

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you.

Let's go, boys!

We're gonna set the tone of

this game right here, right now.

On three. One, two, three.

ALL:
Texas!

JOE:
And here we go. Texas,

first series on offense.

Set! Hut!

JOE:
James Street.

Hands off to... Fumble! Arkansas recovers.

PHIL:
Holy cow. First play

right off the scrimmage.

I'd hate to say the crowd was

already a factor, but maybe they are.

And just as the president arrives.

Glad he didn't see that.

I wish I hadn't seen it.

Unbelievable.

- (grunts)

- (whistle blows)

JOE:
Touchdown!

Arkansas draws first blood.

STREET:
Hut!

JOE:
Street going back for

his first pass of the day.

Going for Speyrer.

Underthrown and intercepted!

(groans)

JOE:
Street rolls to his

left. Completion to Speyrer.

Fumble!

A scramble for the ball

and Arkansas recovers again.

- Steinmark with a big hit.

- (whistle blows)

Let's go! Come on!

(straining)

JOE:
Street going for Speyrer.

And again, interception!

PHIL:
What a disastrous

start for the Longhorns, Joe.

Damn it!

There's two interceptions and two fumbles,

and the first half isn't even over.

(cheering)

(grunts)

JOE:
And Texas, stuffed

once again at the line.

Set! Hut!

JOE:
Montgomery to Johnny Rees.

- Tackled by Steinmark. A gain of five.

- (whistle blows)

There you go. Nice hit, Freddie. Nice hit.

(groaning)

Darrell, Steinmark is really struggling.

I'm thinking about it.

JOE:
Third and 10 on the Texas 22.

Down!

Set! Hut!

PHIL:
Montgomery... He's looking downfield.

Great protection.

Dicus is right there, wide open.

And he lets it go.

Touchdown, Arkansas Razorbacks.

There is nothing going right

for Texas right now, Joe.

Mr. Referee, he was blocking on

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