1981-1984 Rob Moerschell
The TLSN oral history as viewed through the eyes of texas rob moerschell from 1981 to 1984 is below.
Click on Podcast in black rectangle listed below.
Rob’s podcast is sponsored by the Austin Based law firm of Minton, Bassett, Flores, & Carsey.
Quarterbacking by committee- On the Road to 1983 -A story about Todd Dodge, Robert Brewer, Rick McIvor, and Rob Moerschell’s years as Longhorns!
As an amateur Longhorn historian, I try to capture sports history without prejudice. It is important to share facts and not to judge decisions made with the benefit of hindsight. For me, the football years from 1981 -1984 tested my ability to not say “but what if” for decisions that cost Texas the national championship in 1983.
Rick McIvor
The Road to 1983 begins in 1981 when starting quarterback Donnie Little chooses to move to split-end ceding the quarterback crown to Rick McIvor.
After Rick suffers a serious injury in the 1981 Houston game, walk-on Robert Brewer replaced him, and Robert’s exploits as starting quarterback for the remainder of the 1981 season and all of 1982 are legendary.
Rick’s injury hurt his forward momentum as a talented quarterback.
· In 1979 Rick starts 3 games winning 1 and losing 2.
· In 1980 Rick starts 2 games winning 1 and losing 1 .
· In 1981 Rick starts 8 games for a 6-1-1 record before getting hurt.
· In 1983 Rick starts 1 game and loses.
McIvor placed a positive spin on all the quarterback competitors. McIvor said “Somebody didn’t know who was going to start. I can tell you that. That happened a lot.” Rick said “in some games we did not know if we were going to start until 10 minutes before kick-off. “ We weren’t selfish. We were here to win a ballgame.”
Robert Brewer
In 1982 a conservative offense throws the long passes. Brewer breaks four school records.
![robertbrewer[1].png](http://texaslsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/robertbrewer5B15D-3.png)
Robert is the MVP of the Cotton Bowl beating Alabama 14-12. Texas finishes #2 in the nation. Robert Started 15 games winning 13 and losing 2. for a .867 winning percentage.
When Rick McIvor got hurt and Robert Brewer got the call to start the second half against Houston, Herkie Walls reminds Robert Brewer “Brew baby remember the cream always rises to the top.”
First-string Quarterback Robert Brewer breaks his thumb during a passing drill just before Texas meets North Carolina in the Sun Bowl. His replacement is Todd Dodge, who has thrown only 20 times all year. Texas loses to North Carolina in the Sun Bowl. “We couldn’t bust a grape in that game,” says Davis.
Robert says “most of the guys that end up playing quarterback, they look it as an opportunity,” Brewer told KVUE. “They’re just trying to get on the field and make something good happen. Pressure is sitting there on the bench. The fun is getting on the field. I never felt the pressure other than to do for your teammates. It’s a blast, not pressure.”
Todd Dodge- 1981-1984
Todd says “I can remember Robert Brewer breaking his hand the day we were leaving.” for the Sun Bowl. “He broke his thumb on a helmet. And so I go from carrying a clipboard, being his caddy, to having a press conference when we get there at the airport.”, and then started every game in 1984.
TODD DODGE STARTED 15 GAMES WINNING 9, LOSING 5, AND TYING 1 FOR A WINNING PERCENTAGE OF .633
Through the eyes of #8 Rob Moerschell-1981-1984
As told through podcast, text and photos.
Rob started his career at Texas as a backup quarterback but, because he was a good runner, and Texas already had good quarterbacks he was moved to a return specialist for punts and kick-offs for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. He set some records at those positions that remain in the UT football record book.
#8 Rob Moerschell
When Brewer graduated the quarterback dilemma reached a crescendo with 8 quarterbacks listed on the Roster- Danny Akers, Bret Stafford, Todd Dodge, and Rick McIvor were part of the quarterback committee. Coach Akers still believed there was room for one more competitor in 1983 and for intuitive reasons chose to move kick return specialist Robert Moerschell to quarterback.
The 1983 team
1983 team
David McWilliams was the defensive coordinator in 1983 and what a job he did!!!!.
This team still holds the record with 17 NFL draft picks. The 1983 Defense Produces Impressive Numbers, Giving Up Just 9.5 Points A Game, And 212 Yards Per Contest. Opponents Convert 3rd Downs Just 29% Of The Time. The Texas Defense Has More Pass Interceptions (13) Than Touchdowns Given Up (10).
It is the first Longhorn team in 40 years to have 4 All- Americans.
The Longhorns allowed fewer yards per game (179.8) than any other team in the nation.
Lou Holtz said, “In all my years of coaching, this is the best defensive team (Texas) I’ve ever seen.”
That Texas defense takes on Leiding’s personality – cocky to the point of arrogance, but backing it up with a physical style of play that simply wears opponents into submission.
Guard Doug Dawson is back, and Davis says, “He’s stronger than a garlic milkshake.” James Lott, who high jumped 7’4″, 4.34 sprinter Tony Tillman, 6’4″ tailback and speedster Edwin Simmons, and tailback Michael Brown add greatness to an already great team.
Jerry Gray runs a 4.25 40. He is All American two years in a row, and a first-round pick by the LA Rams. He led the Longhorns in tackles with 116 and he had 4 interceptions.
Gray joined fellow defensive back Mossy Cade as one of seven All-Americans on the Texas team in 1983.
The leading rusher for the Longhorns was Ronnie Robinson, who gained 479 yards, while Brent Duhon added 13 catches for 344 yards and five touchdowns.
Rob leads the team to victory against Auburn in the centennial year for Longhorn football.
Many factors pointed to an Auburn victory against Texas in the first game of 1983. Auburn was preseason #1. It was obvious from the start of the 1983 season that Todd Dodge was the quarterback of choice for the starting job, but destiny stepped in 12 days before the first game Todd suffered a left shoulder separation and Rob started and won the game. This victory was 1 of 9 for Rob as a starter. History states that Rob Moerschell was the last undefeated Longhorn starting quarterback of the 20th century. Moerschell proved he could run the option and throw the ball. He ran the offense efficiently with a special assist on an 80-yard pass from Rick McIvor to Kevin Epps. After the game Coach, Akers stated that “McIvor and Moerschell will continue to share starting duties until Todd Dodge can return.” Todd started two games after recovering from his injury and wins both. During the season McIvor, Dodge, and Moerschell spent time under center, but Moerschell started most of the games. This was the year that it was “quarterback by committee”.
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated commented that starting quarterback Rob Moerschell was a “so-so thrower who lacks the speed to be a threat on the run-pass option.” I had to laugh at that assessment of Rob since as the kickoff and punt return specialist in 1981 and 1982 he entered the Longhorn record book.
Punt returners need an internal mute button to turn off all the footsteps and charging noises surrounding them so they can focus on the earth’s gravitational pull on the object that he needs to catch. Once the punt is received great punt returners are blessed with slow-motion videos but who have the ability to make decisions at the speed of mind and at warp speed.
You can’t do what Rob did for two years without possessing five innate qualities -speed, cutting ability, concentration, field awareness, and quickness.
In fairness to Rob, Sports Illustrated was really not that impressed with any of the Longhorns quarterbacks in 1983. The sports magazine said, “Todd Dodge, can pass, but can’t run; and Danny Akers, the coach’s son, does most things well but none superbly; and redshirt freshman Bret Stafford, can run, pass and scramble but lacks experience.” Rick McIvor was not mentioned.
With all of these quarterback variables in mind and a musical chair format for quarterbacks in 1983, I asked Rob Moerschell to share his story for posterity. Rob agreed and his story is both compelling and enigmatic.
Highlights of Rob are in the video above are at 17:08, 26:46, 31:46, 33:08, 34:41
Gameday January 1, 1984
Rob was in a position to win the National Championship for the Horns. His story had the makings of a Cinderella story except Coach Akers thought the shoe fit Rick McIvor’s foot better than Rob’s. Rob’s lack of playing time in the 1984 loss to Georgia leads to a lot of “what ifs” but to speculate is not the purview of this article.
Rob Moerschell did not get the chance to capture the attention of the world with his national championship heroics. Life is unfair and destiny is fickle. In one moment he is 9-0 as a starter for the Horns preparing to enter the field of battle in the Cotton Bowl. 10 minutes prior to the start of the game he is told he would not be the starting quarterback. McIvor quarterbacked the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.
The historical fact is that Texas lost the national championship because there was confusion on the Texas bench. Some thought Georgia might fake — so the Horns sent out the Fake punt unit, then that team was called back, but not everyone got in. Craig Curry was left in as the up back and tried to catch a bad kick. The Horns lost that game on a play that will live in infamy caused by errors and miscommunications that forced Craig into a position that should never have occurred.
That muffed punt cost Fred Akers and Texas a national title, and Akers went 20-14-1 over the next three seasons, including a 5-6 season in 1986 that would be his last at Texas.
A link to a worthy read through the eyes of Craig Curry.
1984 Season
In his senior year, Moerschell was featured on the cover of Athlon’s 1984 Annual Southwest Football preview, however, he would not play much his senior year.
Injuries at tailback and the emergence of Dodge as the starter, led to Moerschell being moved to tailback – a position he had played as a high school freshman. He also was the team’s punt returner. Later in the season, Coach Fred Akers did consider moving him back to quarterback when Dodge was injured in the Rice game. In the tie against #3 Oklahoma he played a key role, controlling a high snap on the last play of the game and made the placement for Ward’s game-saving kick. He played in every game but had fewer touches at the end of the season.
Horns up to a Longhorn brand builder Rob Moerschell.
A 4-year letterman,
Captain of the team his senior year,
A top 10 punt returner in the Longhorn record book, and
The last Longhorn quarterback in the 20th century to go undefeated as a starter.
