Oct 8, 1977; Dallas, TX, USA FILE PHOTO; Texas Longhorns running back Earl Campbell (20) carries the ball against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
DOG ASIDE:
No coach in the history of college football has ever come into their 1st season of coaching at any school that had more talent or upside than the 1977 Texas Longhorns….when Coach Fred Akers took over at the helm of Texas football….for anchoring this outstanding football team that the 1st year coach inherited were Heisman Trophy winning RB Earl “The Tyler Rose” Campbell….as the best player in college football in 1977….along with DT Brad Shearer, the year’s Outland Trophy…..as the most outstanding defensive player in college footbal….as the Longhorns would finish the season with an 11 – 0 record…..and ranked as the # 1 team in the country.
In the course of this outstanding undefeated season….the Longhorns would defeat # 2 ranked Oklahoma at the Red River Shootout at the Cotton Bowl by a score of 13 – 6….then travel to Fayetteville, AR the following week to take on the # 8 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks….whom they beat by a score of 13 – 9…..followed by a defeat of the # 14 ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders at UT’s Memorial Stadium by 26 – 0…. and finally topped-off the season with a 57 – 28 shellacking of the Aggies of Texas A & M at College Station on Thanksgiving Day.
Simply put, this video provides the best view of the amazing season compiled by RB Earl Campbell….who won the Heisman Trophy in 1977…..who led the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards….and also became the first recipient of the Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy….which was awarded to the most outstanding player in the now-defunct Southwest Conference. He was selected as the Southwest Conference running back of the year in each of his college seasons and finished with 4,444 career rushing yards….which makes this video MUST SEE TV for any and all Longhorn fans….and dang near all fans of college football….for The Tyler Rose was truly something very special.
