For BOSSHOG: More on the "Big Shootout of 1969"

[El Supremo]

Frei: Untold stories in "Big Shootout"
By Terry Frei
The Denver Post
Posted: 12/07/2009 01:00:00 AM MST

ST. LOUIS — Sunday was the 40th anniversary of the "The Big Shootout," matching No. 1 Texas with No. 2 Arkansas in Fayetteville's Razorback Stadium.

In the past week, I've been on the other side of the table, responding to questions in interviews about the Dec. 6, 1969 game, won by Texas 15-14, because of my 2002 book, "Horns, Hogs, and Nixon Coming."

After signing the contract to expand my 1994 magazine piece on the game into a book, I was hoping to find enough material. I ended up having to cut the manuscript considerably. I came across much material that had gone underplayed, unreported or ignored for years.

That day, in the same row in the stands, President Richard Nixon sat with U.S. Reps. George Bush of Texas and John Paul Hammerschmidt of Arkansas, close friends who had been World War II pilots; plus Arkansas Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller....

the rest at: http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_13941913

I stayed in Austin that weekend. Couldn't afford the tickets or the trip.

[joeybee12]

1. Ugh! Nixon and Bush together...

..and I bet those others were similarly slimy repukes.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Thank you

I was in Fayetteville that rainy Saturday hanging out with Bill Clinton protesting and stuff. The only thing anyone talked about the week before the game was the game. It was Frank Broyles toughest loss. John Paul Hammerschmidt didn't belong with that band of Pirates, he was a very good man.

Thanks SWC for some awesome memories.

[El Supremo]

3. Freddie Steinmark

I often saw Freddie Steinmark on campus. He stayed in Moore Hall with all the other athletes next to my dorm. He would walk around on his crutches going to class. Then I didn't see him anymore.

A big award is given here in Colorado that's named after him.

[BOSSHOG]

4. He was a big part of the Book!

[El Supremo]

5. Don't you think Obama should go to Pasadena and present the award too?

Nixon had this one made up special.

All I can say is thank goodness Texas went on to beat Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. If they hadn't, this blatant political grandstanding would have turned into the biggest joke of the decade.

[BOSSHOG]

6. What I recall about that presentation

(I was 15 at the time) was the whining coming out of Happy Valley. Paterno (remember him? From way back in 69?) was pissed that Nixon proclaimed Texas National Champs. And yet, If I recall, Penn State declined an invitation to play Texas in a bowl game that year and ended up playing Kansas if memory serves.

Nixon, ever the politician, spent some time in the Razorback lockerroom after the game. At least he got rained on.