Mark McDonald

 Mark McDonalds shares his story about the definitive book he wrote on the 1969 Big Shoot-out .

That game — before, during and after — was one of those seminal moments that we can never forget. For Arkansas fans, it’s something akin to the assassination of a president. Orangebloods treasure the memory, each in his/her own intensely personal way.

Me? My sophomore season at UTEP had just ended the week before, so that magical day in Fayetteville found me on a yellow-dog school bus with a bunch of strangers. So happens, my geology professor chose Shootout Saturday, of all days, to schedule a field trip in the Franklin Mountains between El Paso and Las Cruces. The trip was 20% of our grade — so I could not afford to skip it. 

Fast forward nearly 50 years, I was already deep into research for “Beyond the Big Shootout: 50 Years of Football and Life Lessons” when I realized I had never actually seen the game. 

I scrambled around, found an online video archive service, including the likes of Amelia Earhart posing in front of her plane, D-Day and Babe Ruth winking at the camera. I subscribed, and watched the flickering old Shootout footage over and over and over. To this day, I remain aghast that the Texas defense made Bill Montgomery and the out-coached Arkansas offense look so bad, that the run-oriented Longhorns could somehow overcome six turnovers. Who does that?

But I was struck most, not by the football (it was riveting), but by the social change brought on by the past 50 years … the Razorback band playing Dixie, Confederate flags everywhere, no blacks on the field, none on the sideline, precious few in the stands. 

The telecast itself was a trip back in time, a study in today’s television techniques. ABC never gave us a tight sideline shot of DKR or Frank Broyles, two golf friends, bitter rivals, icons in the college game. No instant replay. Awkward commentary by Chris Schenkel, hambone comments from Prez Nixon, only minimal audio from a raucous crowd screaming for blood. 

I must have watched the video 50-75 times. Even now, every time I replay it, my eyes catch something different. I didn’t realize that, for the game-winning PAT, the center snap was high and inside. Luckily, Donnie Wigginton, my old peewee football QB from Spring Branch youth, was there to snag the ball, set it on the tee in rhythm. Maybe you have seen a classic Hollywood feature film that leaves you like that?

Sorry, fellas. This ran long, proving once again that every editor needs an editor. 

Christmas blessings to you guys and your families. I wonder what the 2023 Longhorns might have in store for us this playoff season?

McD