Most heartbreaking play when it comes to Texas?

[Joe Zura]

@Gerry Hamilton picking his Aggies to beat us this last year is the most heartbreaking to me 

[NothinButDaHorns34]

Recent memory won’t let me forget watching cam getting abused all game in pass pro just to lose that game to a strip sack he gave up because our coaches weren’t competent and/or confident enough to play goosby 

[ElCafetero]

ONLY ONES THAT I REMEMBER AND SAW LIVE (not in order)

- This years SECCG

- CFP vs Washington 

- 2018 vs WVU

- scoop n score vs tOSU

-pretty much any RRR close game of the last 5 years 

 

Edited Thursday at 01:58 AM by ElCafetero

[TTaylor2135]

-Crabtree

-Goal line vs Washington (bc I was there) 

-Northern Iowa half court shot 

-2018 WVU

-Loss vs Abilene Christian as 3 seed (just awful game to watch)

[goattalk100]

3 hours ago, Noah Ellis said:

The missed extra point against Cal in 2015.

I can still remember how hyped I was when Jerrod Heard ripped off that huge run to tie it & then how stunned I was when we missed the extra point.

[goattalk100]

Definitely Tech but last year to Washington with 4 tries in the red zone still pains me. No question in my mind we beat Michigan last year. They hadn’t played a team more equipped to take away everything they wanted to do than us. I’ll die on that hill forever.

[Sasquatch3027]

Missed punt block, 2024. Just feel bad for the guy!

[Philip Barber]

4 hours ago, GoHorns1 said:

Fumble punt against Georgia in 81 Cotton Bowel 

The loss to Tech doesn’t come close because there were more games to play.  Plus,  the defense of 81 was elite, perhaps the best Texas D ever.  Then, if Texas had won the championship, the SWC would have been chasing Texas throughput the decade.  

[Hashtag]

How can bad teams losing be your biggest heartbreakers? 

[horns96]

2001 Big XII Championship was awful.  I dropped everything during finals to make that game in person.  Watching the UF vs. Tennessee game on the monitors in Texas Stadium before kickoff, getting an early lead, then the complete team-wide meltdown. Then that awful roughing the punter. Why?

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/213350251/colorado-texas

...but there's nothing like 2008.

2008 vs. Tech without a doubt. Down by 2+ TDs at half, coming back to take the lead with fewer than 90 seconds, Gideon's dropped INT and then that stupid play. Took me weeks to get over that loss.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/283062641/texas-texas-tech

No other loss has ever been worse.

Edited Thursday at 05:34 AM by horns96

[TexasMDcoach]

8 hours ago, GoHorns1 said:

Fumble punt against Georgia in 81 Cotton Bowel 

This. Hands down.

[Jc Dobbs]

7 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Cotton Bowl after the 1977 season.  Texas was undefeated and ranked # 1, Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy, DT Brad Shearer won the Outland Trophy, Fred Akers won Coach of the Year.  QB Randy McEachern started the season 5th string and considered switching to DB, went into the OU game 3rd string, and became the starter as the two guys ahead of him were injured and out for the season.  We were heavily favored against Notre Dame, whose QB was Joe Montana, and I remember an article in Sports Illustrated proclaiming us one of the best teams ever in college football.  Then we fumbled 3 times and threw 3 interceptions and the defense crumbled.  We got beat 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl and it didn't seem that close watching it unfold.  "The Agony of Defeat" for sure.

Cotton Bowl after the 1983 season.  Texas was undefeated, with perhaps the best defense in Texas history, and ranked # 2, facing # 7 Georgia.  Texas seemed in control most of the game but kept stalling in the red zone and settled for field goals.  Made 3, missed a couple, but Georgia couldn't sustain anything against our defense.  Score was 9-3 Texas in Q4 and Texas drove to within FG range again, and I figured 12-3 would no doubt be enough for the win.  Instead we threw an INT deep in Georgia territory.  Georgia had to punt but the returner muffed it (our 4th turnover of the game!), giving the Dawgs good field position and damned if they didn't punch it in and win 10-9.    # 1 Nebraska would lose later that night so in theory this cost us a national championship.

Nothing else comes close to the empty feeling of watching those two games.  Two opportunities to win National Championships gone in gut wrenching fashion.

Unfortunately I was in attendance at both games.

When Notre Dame beat the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl I recall being really disappointed that Texas played so poorly in such a big game situation. I remember driving away from the game with my friends and we just couldn't believe the team seemed so flat and unmotivated that day with so much on the line.

Regarding the other Cotton Bowl loss... that one to Georgia, I remember Craig Curry muffing the punt in Longhorns territory late in the game. That edition of the Texas Defense was one of the best in the history of the program and after the dropped punt I thought since the Defense had shut down the Bulldogs the entire game there was no need to panic. It was about then Georgia ran an option play to the right and it opened up for the Touchdown... Georgia 10 and Texas 9. The defeat was crushing because of what could have been for the Horns that New Year's Day 1984 in the Cotton Bowl.

My final awful memory was the Crabtree catch in Lubbock. That one...was just stupid. My memory of that game was how unbelievable it was that the Longhorns lost that game with such a clear talent advantage.

Thanks for posting...I think!

Hook 'Em!

 

 

 

[Jc Dobbs]

8 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Cotton Bowl after the 1977 season.  Texas was undefeated and ranked # 1, Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy, DT Brad Shearer won the Outland Trophy, Fred Akers won Coach of the Year.  QB Randy McEachern started the season 5th string and considered switching to DB, went into the OU game 3rd string, and became the starter as the two guys ahead of him were injured and out for the season.  We were heavily favored against Notre Dame, whose QB was Joe Montana, and I remember an article in Sports Illustrated proclaiming us one of the best teams ever in college football.  Then we fumbled 3 times and threw 3 interceptions and the defense crumbled.  We got beat 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl and it didn't seem that close watching it unfold.  "The Agony of Defeat" for sure.

Cotton Bowl after the 1983 season.  Texas was undefeated, with perhaps the best defense in Texas history, and ranked # 2, facing # 7 Georgia.  Texas seemed in control most of the game but kept stalling in the red zone and settled for field goals.  Made 3, missed a couple, but Georgia couldn't sustain anything against our defense.  Score was 9-3 Texas in Q4 and Texas drove to within FG range again, and I figured 12-3 would no doubt be enough for the win.  Instead we threw an INT deep in Georgia territory.  Georgia had to punt but the returner muffed it (our 4th turnover of the game!), giving the Dawgs good field position and damned if they didn't punch it in and win 10-9.    # 1 Nebraska would lose later that night so in theory this cost us a national championship.

Nothing else comes close to the empty feeling of watching those two games.  Two opportunities to win National Championships gone in gut wrenching fashion.

Unfortunately I was in attendance at both games.

When Notre Dame beat the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl I recall being really disappointed that Texas played so poorly in such a big game situation. I remember driving away from the game with my friends and we just couldn't believe the team seemed so flat and unmotivated that day with so much on the line.

Regarding the other Cotton Bowl loss... that one to Georgia, I remember Craig Curry muffing the punt in Longhorns territory late in the game. That edition of the Texas Defense was one of the best in the history of the program and after the dropped punt I thought since the Defense had shut down the Bulldogs the entire game there was no need to panic. It was about then Georgia ran an option play to the right and it opened up for the Touchdown... Georgia 10 and Texas 9. The defeat was crushing because of what could have been for the Horns that New Year's Day 1984 in the Cotton Bowl.

My final awful memory was the Crabtree catch in Lubbock. That one...was just stupid. My memory of that game was how unbelievable it was that the Longhorns lost that game with such a clear talent advantage.

Thanks for posting...I think!

Hook 'Em!

 

 

 

[Jc Dobbs]

7 hours ago, Blake Munroe said:

Dang right! Gotta keep you all in check from time to time. 

Blake... the more I thought about this, the more bad memories kept popping up.

The Decade of Doom that Coach Sark and recent Longhorns players have pulled the Texas program out of is hopefully a permanent part of the team's history.

I got truly depressed at times during the Decade of Doom because I just didn't see the Horns getting back to prominence... when Baylor and Okie Lite had our number along with KState and it seemed like Stoops could beat our starters with his backups. The years when we celebrated recruiting a single five star player ...

Thank goodness for Coach Sark and the recent players he's recruited and developed.

The future is finally looking bright.

Hook 'Em!

 

[Clint Baros]

14 hours ago, Blake Munroe said:

We always talk about the good times on here, but let’s go the opposite direction. 

When it comes to the Longhorns, what is your most heartbreaking play/game/etc that you can remember?

2021 Oklahoma. I was Senior in HS and we had a game that day so in the locker room before we go out to start the game I peak my phone and see the score was 35-17. At that point I "knew" texas wasn't gonna lose and forgot about the game after kickoff. Well eventually during the game the PA announcer at the stadium says out of nowhere "Texas has just tied OU 48-48 with 1 minute left". I thought he was reading the wrong game until He said OU won 55-48. Right after the game on the bus ride back i watch the highlights and was sick to my stomach. Thankfully my team at least won so it made things a little better but feeling beat up after a game and then watching that was tough.

Edited Thursday at 01:05 PM by Clint Baros

[Wabi Sabi]

Gideon dropped INT > Crabtree TD was about as big of an emotional let down as it gets.

The Roy Williams Superman move took all the life out of that game.

Recency bias: Watching Texas "attack" MSST's 2-2-1 full court pressure, en route to multiple 10-sec violations, was about as frustrating as it gets. Not heartbreaking re: the season, but definitely heartbreaking re: overall ineptitude.

[Bobby Burton]

11 hours ago, goattalk100 said:

I can still remember how hyped I was when Jerrod Heard ripped off that huge run to tie it & then how stunned I was when we missed the extra point.

It felt like North Dallas Forty had come to life. 

[Bobby Burton]

I think we should do this by decade. About every 10 years, there’s one that the sting never really goes away. 

[Jack Lala]

14 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Cotton Bowl after the 1977 season.  Texas was undefeated and ranked # 1, Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy, DT Brad Shearer won the Outland Trophy, Fred Akers won Coach of the Year.  QB Randy McEachern started the season 5th string and considered switching to DB, went into the OU game 3rd string, and became the starter as the two guys ahead of him were injured and out for the season.  We were heavily favored against Notre Dame, whose QB was Joe Montana, and I remember an article in Sports Illustrated proclaiming us one of the best teams ever in college football.  Then we fumbled 3 times and threw 3 interceptions and the defense crumbled.  We got beat 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl and it didn't seem that close watching it unfold.  "The Agony of Defeat" for sure.

Cotton Bowl after the 1983 season.  Texas was undefeated, with perhaps the best defense in Texas history, and ranked # 2, facing # 7 Georgia.  Texas seemed in control most of the game but kept stalling in the red zone and settled for field goals.  Made 3, missed a couple, but Georgia couldn't sustain anything against our defense.  Score was 9-3 Texas in Q4 and Texas drove to within FG range again, and I figured 12-3 would no doubt be enough for the win.  Instead we threw an INT deep in Georgia territory.  Georgia had to punt but the returner muffed it (our 4th turnover of the game!), giving the Dawgs good field position and damned if they didn't punch it in and win 10-9.    # 1 Nebraska would lose later that night so in theory this cost us a national championship.

Nothing else comes close to the empty feeling of watching those two games.  Two opportunities to win National Championships gone in gut wrenching fashion.

The Cotton Bowl loss in 1971 truly hurt. 30 and 0 record and we don't show up. 

[richtinthe903]

16 hours ago, GoHorns1 said:

Fumble punt against Georgia in 81 Cotton Bowel 

I was there and I agree on this play.  That was our NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP....OURS!!  Jitter Fields and Mossy Cade = OUCH!!

[richtinthe903]

16 hours ago, TarrantCoHorn said:

2008 Tech

This is a GREAT one that still hurts.  Gideon catches that INT = game over, we win.   Instead...bad miracle beats us. 

[Dolphorn]

1984 Cotton Bowl - fumbled punt cost us NC. My daughter was 2 weeks old - neighbors unknowingly stopped by to meet the baby during the 4th quarter.  When the fumble occurred, the dude said…..we better go….(once he saw my hands on my face).  I proudly did not harm anyone or break any furniture. 

[watty7796]

2009 Colt McCoy getting hurt 

[Purplehorn3]

18 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Cotton Bowl after the 1977 season.  Texas was undefeated and ranked # 1, Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy, DT Brad Shearer won the Outland Trophy, Fred Akers won Coach of the Year.  QB Randy McEachern started the season 5th string and considered switching to DB, went into the OU game 3rd string, and became the starter as the two guys ahead of him were injured and out for the season.  We were heavily favored against Notre Dame, whose QB was Joe Montana, and I remember an article in Sports Illustrated proclaiming us one of the best teams ever in college football.  Then we fumbled 3 times and threw 3 interceptions and the defense crumbled.  We got beat 38-10 in the Cotton Bowl and it didn't seem that close watching it unfold.  "The Agony of Defeat" for sure.

Cotton Bowl after the 1983 season.  Texas was undefeated, with perhaps the best defense in Texas history, and ranked # 2, facing # 7 Georgia.  Texas seemed in control most of the game but kept stalling in the red zone and settled for field goals.  Made 3, missed a couple, but Georgia couldn't sustain anything against our defense.  Score was 9-3 Texas in Q4 and Texas drove to within FG range again, and I figured 12-3 would no doubt be enough for the win.  Instead we threw an INT deep in Georgia territory.  Georgia had to punt but the returner muffed it (our 4th turnover of the game!), giving the Dawgs good field position and damned if they didn't punch it in and win 10-9.    # 1 Nebraska would lose later that night so in theory this cost us a national championship.

Nothing else comes close to the empty feeling of watching those two games.  Two opportunities to win National Championships gone in gut wrenching fashion.

On the Georgia TD.  LB Jeff Leiding was in position to stop the Georgia QB, only to be tackled/ held by the OL enabling the QB to scamper for the score

[Jc Dobbs]

3 hours ago, Bobby Burton said:

It felt like North Dallas Forty had come to life. 

Bobby - Memories are strange things... after posting here about being at the two Cotton Bowl games...I was at the game against Cal and I totally forgot the botched PAT. My memory of that game was how I just couldn't believe the Longhorns lost that game to a middling PAC 12 team... the only thing I recalled was just an overall subpar effort by Texas, which was beginning to happen too frequently.

You mentioned that you were just a kid who hated that Texas lost to Notre Dame on New Year's Day 1978. I was a graduate student at Texas and sold my student ticket and sat with friends... they had said their ticket location wasn't great. Turned out that we were on the very top row row and my left arm was against the south wall of the Cotton Bowl press box. After Texas lost I was glad I didn't watch from my seat in the student section on the 40- yard line. Another memory of that day was ND wearing the bright green jerseys.

Cotton Bowl seating was always a different experience from the OU game because you just got used to sitting in the North End of the stadium for the OU game. Always felt weird sitting in other locations for the New Year's Day games.

North Dallas Forty created quite a stir, BTW. Pete Gent.

Thanks!