What an episode of the DWWBYa podcast! In honor of the Horns going to Fayetteville this weekend to hopefully break some more pig hearts, I had the privilege of getting to discuss the 1969 National Championship game with Longhorn Legend Tom Campbell. I wrote about this game in oral history form before the 2021 matchup in Fayetteville (hopefully this game is better than Sark’s first trip there). For the article a few years ago, I was able to interview the late Steve Worster and Bill Little among others. I’d encourage you to check it out. Tom was gracious enough to help me with that story as well as my article earlier this season about memories from Red River. Campbell was a defensive back on the 1969 National Championship team and he sealed the game with his late interception. Tom’s twin brother Mike Jr. was also a starter on the tough Longhorn defense and their father Mike Sr. was Darrell Royal’s longtime defensive coordinator.
We talk about the game’s impact 55 years later, James Street becoming friends with Elvis, the buildup to the game, Richard Nixon being there, the slow start and the comeback, plus of course 53 Veer Pass, Tom’s interception and Freddie Steinmark. Also, Tom would tell you his late pick wasn’t actually the biggest play in the game: that occurred much earlier on a conversation with a referee. Stay tuned for that one.
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