Photo Courtesy of bigshootout.com
By Chris Barber
In honor of the “The Game of the Century,” the famed 1969 Texas-Arkansas battle for College football’s number 1, filmmaker Mike Looney and writer George Francisco recently produced a documentary entitled The Big Shootout: The Life and Times of 1969.
The film’s coverage of President Nixon’s attendance at this gridiron matchup, viewed by more than 50 million football fans across the country and around the world, is just but one of the many enticing themes shared. For any football fan, the film reminds us that life is like football–it ought to be played with all the strength, passion and imagination that could be mustered by one who wants to win.
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On December 6th, 1969, in the wintry landscape of Fayetteville, Arkansas, The Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks met in what was heralded then and in the decades since as the game of the century. The game coined “The Big Shootout”, by Texas coach Darrell Royal, was the brainstorm of television, foreshadowing televised sports’ heavy hand in major sporting events in years to come.
On December 6th, 1969, in the wintry landscape of Fayetteville, Arkansas, The Texas Longhorns and Arkansas Razorbacks met in what was heralded then and in the decades since as the game of the century. The game coined “The Big Shootout”, by Texas coach Darrell Royal, was the brainstorm of television, foreshadowing televised sports’ heavy hand in major sporting events in years to come.
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For President Nixon, football meant more than entertainment–he credits his time playing high school and college football as a time that instilled in him a “competitive spirit and determination to come back after you have been knocked down or after you lose.” His coach in college at Whittier, Wallace Newman, particularly made a strong impression on the future President. More than anything the “Chief,”–as players referred to him–a proud American Indian, taught RN that character above all else is what truly matters. Football shaped RN’s character, especially his resiliency in the political arena.
1969 represented the 100th anniversary of college football. To celebrate the centennial of the sport that launched the popularity of American football, President Nixon accepted an invitation to attend the Texas-Arkansas football game. He boarded Air Force One on December 6 of that year, and set off for Fort Smith, Arkansas where, upon disembarking, he told Governor Winthrop Rockefeller excitedly that all he knew “was that we are going to see today, on this 100th anniversary of college football, one of the great football games of all time, and both of them I wish could be Number 1.”
He, along with all football fans across the country would not be disappointed.
The first “national championship” game made by television, it was nothing short of spectacular from prelude to conclusion. So iconic was it that three future, past, and current presidents attended the game.
“This was a huge political event, while it was a great sporting event…Big,” said President Nixon’s chief advanceman, Ron Walker, about the game attended by the RN, then Congressman George H.W. Bush, and former President Lyndon Johnson.
RN at “The Big Shootout” game between Texas and Arkansas, flanked by Arkansas Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, Arkansas Governor Winthrop Rockefeller, Arkansas Senators J. William Fullbright and John Little McClellen, and Texas Congressman George H.W. Bush.
The game itself was one worthy of college football lore. The Razorbacks took a 14-0 lead into the start of the 4th quarter and appeared well in control of the game. However, the cruel mistress known as momentum turned its back on the Razorbacks when Longhorns quarterback James Street scrambled in for a touchdown on the first play of the 4th quarter.
After forcing the Razorbacks’ first turnover of the game with an interception in the endzone with a little less than half the time remaining in the final quarter, the Longhorns took the lead on the ensuing drive. The defense sustained the lead, and the Texas Longhorns beat the number 2 ranked Arkansas Razorbacks 15-14.
After the game, President Nixon visited the Longhorn’s locker room to congratulate the victorious team and presented them with a Presidential Plaque.
RN presenting the Presidential Plaque to Longhorn’s coach Darrel Royal post-game.
Close-up of the Presidential Plaque.
Watch President Nixon present the Presidential Plaque to the victorious Texas Longhorns coach Darrel Royal:
In an act of sportsmanship, President Nixon then visited the losing Razorback’s locker room. He conveyed to Arkansas’ players a sense of gratitude for performing the way they did, that they shouldn’t feel all had been lost. Drawing from his own experiences, he told the players this:
I would like to say something to the team, because I know how you feel.
In my field of politics, I have lost some close ones and I have won some close ones. But I want you to know that in the 100th year of football, in the game to prove which was to be Number 1, we couldn’t have had a greater game. Arkansas was magnificent throughout the game, and Texas, in order to win, had to beat a great team.
On any Saturday, if we were to make a bet, I would say we wouldn’t know which team to choose, whether it would be Arkansas or Texas.
I also want you to know this: I think you can be awfully proud of the way your fans are with you. I have never seen stands so full of life. The whole State was behind you. There was a spirit there about it, Coach, and that means that your team has done something that is really great for this State.
With the influence of “Chief” in his mind, President Nixon recognized the strong character displayed by both teams, and as a result, made a very strong impression on all sports fans watching that day.