1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Well, welcome into a Thursday edition of Texas All Access. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,280 Speaker 1: Well you're hearing my voice on Thursday, which probably means 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: what it does mean that Mark Vanniers on vacation. But 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,000 Speaker 1: I am here. John Harris football an Knowlson sidline reporter. 5 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: But our Thursday guest is here, and I can't tell 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: you how excited I am. First of all, General John 7 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: McClean is in the building. John. How you doing John, 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: I'm doing great. It's great to be on with you. Well, 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: I gotta say this, and I've told you this in person, 10 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: but I haven't really had a chance to talk to 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: you about this on air. You get, you get an 12 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: invitation into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, you getting 13 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: inducted into the Hall of Fame. I just got ask 14 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: when you got that information, when you found that out, 15 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: what what are you thinking at that moment, like, oh 16 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 1: my gosh, I'm in the Hall of Fame. What were 17 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:51,639 Speaker 1: your thoughts when you heard that you were going into 18 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: the Hall of fame. There's only one group of media 19 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,000 Speaker 1: people that have ever been in the Texas Sports Hall 20 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: of Fame. That was Feen years ago, and that was 21 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: true icons of Texas journalism. That was The four writers 22 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:12,240 Speaker 1: were Dan Jenkins, Mickey Hurskwitz from Houston, Blackie Shared from Dallas, 23 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: and Dave Campbell from Waco. And the four broadcasters were 24 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,199 Speaker 1: Verne Lundquist, Kerrn Tips, the late Kerrn Tips, the late 25 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: Frank Fallon, and Jack Dell, who was at Tech did 26 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: Texas Tech Texas Tech Fro for forty years. So those 27 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: were the eight. We voted them in there and we 28 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: said we're never doing it again. We had actually changed 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: the buy laws to do it. And because Dave Campbell 30 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: was our committee chairman and he would never allow media 31 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 1: to be in there because he said, we report the news, 32 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,560 Speaker 1: we don't make it. And one day he couldn't make 33 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: our annual meeting where we go to the Hall of 34 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: Fame and Waco the first Tuesday of every June to 35 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: determine who the twenty modernary of finalists are and who 36 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: the ten senior finals are and he had a funeral. 37 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 1: He asked me to find a chair that meeting. I 38 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: said yes. As soon as I got in there, I 39 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: ask everybody, what do you guys think about us voting 40 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: in a class of media. And we found out they 41 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,800 Speaker 1: had to change the by laws, but they could do it, 42 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: and they did it, and then we changed it back. 43 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: Campbell showed up later. Let's see, Dave's ninety three now, 44 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: so fourteen years ago he'd been eighty nine. He comes 45 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 1: in the way later in our meeting lasted hours longer 46 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,280 Speaker 1: because of that. He came to see who wasn't going 47 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 1: to be the finalist. And when I told him what 48 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: we'd done, he said, oh, no, we're not doing that. Sorry, Dave, 49 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:37,680 Speaker 1: it's been done. Well, we'll change it back now. We're 50 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: not changing it back. And his wife was with him 51 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: and she whispered to me, he loves it, so John. 52 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: We had that ceremony. Then the induction banquet was in 53 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: conjunction with a touchdown Club of Houston at the at 54 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: the Gallery of Marriott, and it was a great event. 55 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: And we're thought, okay, there's nobody on a plane with 56 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: those eight. We'll never do it again. And so the 57 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame told us a few months ago, we 58 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: think it's time to another class and media. And so 59 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 1: I'm on the committee and I recommended. There was a 60 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: subcommittee of five or six of us, and I was 61 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: on it, and I recommended from Houston. I recommended Gene 62 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: Elston late Houston Post columnist Jack Gallagher, and then Milo 63 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 1: Hamilton because Milo and Gene are in the Baseball Hall 64 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: of Fame. And then I recommended Kirkballs from Austin, Dan 65 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 1: Cook from San Antonio who's the late sportswriter broadcaster, and 66 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: then I said Denny Freeman, longtime sports editor of AP 67 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: out of Dallas, written books on the Cowboys, and Brad 68 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: Sham who's been doing the Cowboys for thirty five years, 69 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: and Randy Galloway, the long time sports columnists talk show 70 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: host in Dallas and for Worth. And so I couldn't 71 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: go to our meeting because the Texans may the coach 72 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: is available, and I said, I can't be there. I 73 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: got to be here helping Aaron Wilson get quotes from 74 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: these coaches because we've got to write for Houston Chronicle 75 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: dot Com and Texas Sports Nation throughout the dead period 76 00:04:13,040 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: when the Texans are on vacation. So I couldn't go, 77 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: and I kind of forgot about it, and we went 78 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: in with a list of like a hundred people because 79 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: if you think about it, John, think about the history 80 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: of Texas sports and all the writers and broadcasters who 81 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: have been from our state who have written and broadcast 82 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 1: about our sports, whether it's talk show, play by play. 83 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: There's so many and I didn't even think about being 84 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: on that list. And then Tuesday night, David Barron from 85 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: the Chronicle and Melie Hauser who used to be at 86 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: the Houston Post. She held freelances for us in Texas 87 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: Sports Authority, they're on the committee and they call me 88 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: and I'd been walking. I was sitting on my patio 89 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: and I was soaking wet, and they called and said, 90 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: we need to tell you something off the record. I said, okay, 91 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,480 Speaker 1: And because you don't hear many media people telling the 92 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: media people off the record, and said, well, we voted 93 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: on eight more journalists for the Hall of Fame. And 94 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: I said, oh, I forgot about that. How to go? 95 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: And they said, well for you, it went really well 96 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: because you're on it. I couldn't believe it. I was overwhelmed. 97 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: And they told me, and I said, and they told 98 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 1: me who the others were. The next day the broad 99 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: the writers were Randy Galloway, who I talked about, Shrine 100 00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: Williams from The four Worst Start Telegram, my best friend 101 00:05:39,880 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: in the NFL. She's the first woman on the to 102 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 1: be president of Pro Football Writers America, first woman on 103 00:05:46,000 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: the Text Sports Hall of Fame Selection Committee, first woman 104 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The 105 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: only thing I've ever known bad about her, she's an aggy, 106 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: but she's been she's been able to overcome that, obviously. 107 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 1: And and the other see me Scherene Galloway and Denny Freeman, 108 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: the AP Sports Letter, and the four broadcasters Bradsham, Eric Nidel, 109 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: longtime broadcaster for the Rangers, and then the late Frank 110 00:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: Gliber who was did the Cowboys. I grew up in 111 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: Waco listening and watching Frank Gliber and the other one, 112 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: Bill Murcer. So I'm thinking, Okay, out of those eight, 113 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 1: I'm the only one not from the Metroplex, and I 114 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: think I would have fought like crazy. And we always 115 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: when we talked about doing another one, we said, well, 116 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,080 Speaker 1: we'll do that one in Dallas. So when we had 117 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: our conference call, well, first of all, I went in 118 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: and told I told my wife Carol, I said, I've 119 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 1: just gotten the greatest honor I've ever received. And she 120 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: said what, And I said, I'm gonna be in the 121 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,359 Speaker 1: second class in Texas Sports Hall of Fame. And she 122 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: knew about the first class she was there, and she said, well, 123 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: that's not bigger than you going into the Pro Football 124 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. And two I was in six and 125 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: I said, well it is and she said why. I said, 126 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: you're not from Texas. You wouldn't understand. And then I 127 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,679 Speaker 1: walked back out on the patio and I sat down 128 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: and I cried. I started thinking about my dad and 129 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: how proud he would have been, and all growing up 130 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: listening to the Southwest Conference games and current tips and 131 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: fell in love with Baylor in nineteen sixty when I 132 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: went to a game as a Cub scout and I 133 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 1: loved the Cowboys and sixty and I liked the Oilers 134 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: and then the Astros. I became a diehard Astro fan. 135 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: And first game called forty fives playing sixty two, and 136 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: I thought about growing up in Waco and reading Dave 137 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: Campbell and Blankie Shared and listening to Frank Fallon broadcast 138 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: every Baylor game for decades, and I thought, wow, I 139 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: can't I couldn't believe it. I was going to be 140 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: concluded in that group, and I just my wife, Carol 141 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: came out and said, boy, you're sweating. You need to 142 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 1: wipe your face and I said, well, that's sweat. I said, 143 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: those are tears, and I was I'm still overwhelmed. And 144 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: the actual induction is gonna be in Dallas in conjunction 145 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: with the cotton Ball, either in October and November, because 146 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: the cotton Ball, like texts Houston Touchdown Club, the Great 147 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: Organization does a lot for charity, great marketing arm and 148 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: I know what I make my speech, They're gonna want 149 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: me off the diet days because all the other seven 150 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: are gonna be from the Metroplex and they're gonna want 151 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 1: to hear them. But it is just an incredible honor 152 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: and you send me the nicest text, and I really 153 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 1: appreciate it. I've tried to I haven't even gotten back 154 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: to all the people yet who have who emailed me 155 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: or texted me or call me and to think I'm 156 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,040 Speaker 1: gonna be there. David Campbell asked me to be his 157 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: presenter here and I was, now, I can't ask him 158 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:00,240 Speaker 1: to be mine, because he not he for you years 159 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 1: all and he still gets around and he'll be there. 160 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: And so I've asked Tony Peterson, our long time sports 161 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: editor managing editor editor the Chronicle, who's now the head 162 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: of communications at SMU, and Tony got me hired in Waco, 163 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:16,960 Speaker 1: got me hired at the Chronicle, and he put me 164 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: on the Oilers and I totally, man, I made you 165 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: look really good because you kept getting promotions. So I've 166 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: asked him if he will present me and he said yes. 167 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: So I'm not exactly sure when it'll be, but I'm 168 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: guessing i'll have It won't be on a weekend because 169 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: most like Bradship, most of us still working, so they 170 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 1: said they do it on a Thursday, so I'll have 171 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:41,559 Speaker 1: to take off a day from the Texans. So that 172 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,280 Speaker 1: you hit You said something that struck me. And I 173 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: got here when I was eleven in nineteen eighty three, 174 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: and I remember the first football game I ever saw 175 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: here was willow Ridge versus Jeez, the Oils for seven years. 176 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 1: When you got here in eleventh, I saw willow Ridge 177 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: versus basically, I saw thir Thomas play against Hartley Dikes 178 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: in the Astrodome, and I was like, I'm in a 179 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: different world. I come from Wisconsin and I'm like, I'm 180 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 1: in a different world. When you when you said that, 181 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 1: the Texas aspect of it sort of hit you. When 182 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: people outside the state of Teck. And maybe people outside 183 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: state Texas don't ask you about this because they know 184 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: you're in the Pro Football of Fame. But what is 185 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: it about the Texas aspect that really struck you most? 186 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously you're from here, But when you said 187 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 1: those names, when you said Frank Fowler's name, you said 188 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: Brad Sham's name, and you said Blackie Sheared, And I, 189 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: you know, Mickey Hurskwitz, you know a name that when 190 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:38,120 Speaker 1: I got to Houston, you know, that was a guy 191 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: that I, you know, I grew up reading and I 192 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: obviously read you when I was growing up, um covering, 193 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: covering Oithers. So what is it about the Texas aspect 194 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: of things that really kind of makes it that much special? 195 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,440 Speaker 1: That much more? I guess just you know, I've been 196 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: I was born here, I've grown up here. I was 197 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: born in Hillsboro, thirty miles from Waco. I grew up 198 00:10:57,200 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: in Waco, and I started working, and I, you know, 199 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,760 Speaker 1: and I loved sports. Maybe some other Texans didn't have 200 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 1: done love what I do. I haven't felt like really 201 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:09,959 Speaker 1: I worked. I had a lot of jobs. I worked 202 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 1: for a brick manufacturer or roofer. I was at a 203 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 1: Mexican restaurant that I got fired for stealing waitresses tips. 204 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: It was a buffet that lasted about a month. My 205 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 1: mode yards, starting when I was fourteen, had a more 206 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: for businesses that would pay me so I could save 207 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:30,640 Speaker 1: up for a sound system. Because I was a singer 208 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: in a band and I was so bad. I turned 209 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:35,959 Speaker 1: the sound system so loud nobody could hear me. They'd 210 00:11:36,000 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: hear the guitars and the drums, and so I grew 211 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: up in the whole time, I was a diehard sports fan, 212 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: and uh and I and the Cowboys were terrible. The 213 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:48,800 Speaker 1: first year the Oilers were great. The fl throw it 214 00:11:48,840 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: all over the place. So my dad used to put 215 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: games on NBC and CBS, and we'd watched both. And 216 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:00,439 Speaker 1: then I thought about, you know, Thanksgiving was always so special, 217 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:03,760 Speaker 1: watching the Lions play at Tiger Stadium before they ever 218 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: got to the Silver Dome, and but watching in my family, 219 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:12,160 Speaker 1: especially my dad, being such a sports fan, playing sports 220 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: from the time I was in Little League. I thought 221 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,040 Speaker 1: John for when I was twelve years old and I 222 00:12:18,080 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: got a call from my manager I played for Shell 223 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: Oil that I'd made the All Star team. I thought, 224 00:12:24,120 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: life will never get better than this. And I got 225 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: my name in the paper for the first time because 226 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: I drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and 227 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: helped us win our first game. And I thought, you know, 228 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,040 Speaker 1: I'd seeing my name in the paper. I thought, wow, 229 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: that's pretty cool. The family thought it was cool. But 230 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 1: I never had any idea what I wanted to do. 231 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: And I was too dumb to get into Baylor until 232 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: I saw I went to mcclennan Junior College in Waco, 233 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: and I took all the hard classes that would transfer, 234 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: smartest thing I ever did, and and all this time 235 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: I was at Dollard Sports fantasist. I got my car. 236 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: We could come down here watch the Astros. When one 237 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: of the reasons I wanted to become a sportswriter is 238 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 1: when I was a freshman in college at McLennan, I 239 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 1: was in a mass communications class. I told it was easy, 240 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: and I was a terrible student. To me nextra year 241 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 1: to get out of high school, and I just didn't care. 242 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: My wife, my mother said, you can't remember anything that 243 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 1: you learn in school, but if you read a sporting 244 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,960 Speaker 1: magazine or Sports Illustrated, you can recite everything. And I said, well, 245 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: it's because I care about it. And I used to 246 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 1: buy the Sporting News every Wednesday, ride my bike to 247 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: a grocery and come back and close. We lived in 248 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,800 Speaker 1: a two bedroom, one bath house and my brother and 249 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: I shared a room, and I'd go close that door 250 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: and I'd read the Sporting News from cover to cover, 251 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: and my mother say, are you doing your homework, John Craig, 252 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 1: I say yes, ma'am. And my brother knew he's five 253 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,480 Speaker 1: years younger. He butter and I'd opened that door or 254 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:57,199 Speaker 1: I was going to give him the Fritz van Eric 255 00:13:57,320 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: iron claws sweeze his temples, and so I would read everything. 256 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:05,959 Speaker 1: I would. When I had girlfriends, I would make them 257 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: listen to Astro's pregame, the game and post game. I 258 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,800 Speaker 1: lost a lot of girlfriends. That was at the summers 259 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: and we were really poor. My dad bring us to 260 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:18,199 Speaker 1: one Astro's Game of Year starting the first year for 261 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: the forty fives, and I just loved Houston sports and 262 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: to think like one of my first heroes was Larry 263 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: Derker when he pitched it this Giants and he's seventeen 264 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: and at the Houston Sports Awards Hall of Fame this week, 265 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 1: I was talking to Larry for about thirty minutes, and 266 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:39,960 Speaker 1: we're going to lunch next Tuesday. And I told my brother, 267 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:45,720 Speaker 1: I said, I still get star struck about not people 268 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,600 Speaker 1: that I cover, but people I grew up as a 269 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: fan of them, like Larry Derker, like a lot of 270 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 1: the astros in the NFL, people I see at the 271 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame every year. I still get intimidated by 272 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: a lot of them. Jim around walks up. My knees 273 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: start shaking, and so to be in Texas my whole 274 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:09,240 Speaker 1: career to work. Start working for Dave Campbell to way 275 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 1: contribute arrow when I was a junior Baylor, staying there 276 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,880 Speaker 1: three and a half years, and then coming down here 277 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: in seventy six to cover the original Arrows. I really 278 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 1: don't think I've worked a day since I got fired 279 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: for stealing the waitresses tips, making a hundred dollars sixty 280 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: an hour, and then going on roofs and getting sunburned 281 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: and going to a brick manufacturer and mowing yards. That's work. 282 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 1: Selling men's clothes at at at a department store and 283 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: relying on customers. But that was worked. I have not worked. 284 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: I've been blessed. The Chronicle Sports Radio six ten, everybody 285 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: and all the other radio shows I do, and I've 286 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: just been so blessed. And it seems like now I've 287 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: been doing US since seventy three when I was hired 288 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: full time and go, and it just to think that 289 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 1: it's all been in Texas just makes Texas. I'm always 290 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: this sounds terrible, John. I want Texas teams to win, 291 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: and I want A and M in Texas to lose 292 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: to Baylor and I growing up. But if A and 293 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: M and Texas are playing out of state, I want 294 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: them to win. My friends or anybody but Texas. And 295 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: I want the Cowboys to win. I want the Spurs 296 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:30,479 Speaker 1: and that you know, those are fighting words for Texas, 297 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: for Rockets fans, and I want the Rangers to win. 298 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: I'd love to see the Astros and the Rangers in 299 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:40,600 Speaker 1: a Pennant race crank up at rivalry. And so I'm 300 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: a Texan and I want what's best for our state. 301 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: I want what's best for our city first and what's 302 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:49,840 Speaker 1: best for our state second. Well, as Riggins and his 303 00:16:49,920 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: brother once said, Texas forever, And if you just went 304 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: who's Riggins, I don't know if you and I can 305 00:16:57,000 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: be friends. Friday Lights television show Riggins one of the 306 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 1: best characters ever playing high school football in Texas. Speaking 307 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:08,560 Speaker 1: high school Football, We Get Back, John discusses meeting a 308 00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: Texas legend. Next of Texas Access, Welcome back to our 309 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 1: Thursday night edition of Texas All Access from the Hunday 310 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: Texans Radio studio, John and John Show, John Harris, John 311 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: McClain with you, by the way, when you said that 312 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:26,199 Speaker 1: about stealing tips, I bet we could get people on 313 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:32,119 Speaker 1: here on radio to discuss their everybody's had a moment 314 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: like that. Mine was stealing a Christmas tree from Kroger. 315 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 1: So we've all we all have one of those you 316 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: get caught. No, it was actually it was Christmas Eve 317 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,679 Speaker 1: and it was my senior year and we are my 318 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,760 Speaker 1: football team La Markets Holiday. We had gotten we gotten 319 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 1: pretty far into playoffs and so we didn't finish the season. 320 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: We had jumped right into basketball when we were done, 321 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: and so it was just looked up twenty fourth and 322 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:58,680 Speaker 1: we don't have a tree. We went to Kroger and 323 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: had one tree sitting outside. It's still a good one. 324 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,000 Speaker 1: And my my buddy Corey's like, look, I was like, no, 325 00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna pay for it, and He's like, no, no, no no, no, 326 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: just just just come. I'll pull up the car, throw 327 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 1: it in. We'll go behind our high school and then 328 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: we'll sat in line for like two minutes. It's like, 329 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: I can't believe I'm about to do this. Let's do it. 330 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 1: So we did it. We got away with it. So 331 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: everybody's got some sort of piccadilla like that. I would 332 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: I would imagine, but uh, that was that was mine. 333 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: I'd like to hear others. I met marb bus Mark Scott. 334 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: My buzzboy career didn't last long, and I probably took 335 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,520 Speaker 1: like thirty tips back ten twenty five or thirty cents. 336 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,880 Speaker 1: And obviously I had no conscience because I didn't wait 337 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,040 Speaker 1: on the tables. But the money was there. It was 338 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: changed not dollar bills, so I took it and they 339 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: turned me in. I got fired, and I don't know 340 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: what I did next. I'd like to say, well, then 341 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 1: I became a sportswriter, but it was a long time 342 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,200 Speaker 1: before I became a sportswriter. I gotta tell you a 343 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: quick story. When I was selling men's clothes at Goals 344 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: Team McGill's department store and Waco. One night, this woman 345 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,960 Speaker 1: comes in and she's in a hurry right before we closed, 346 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: and she was looking at men's clothes and she was 347 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:12,439 Speaker 1: asking me questions. What was I said, I was a 348 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: freshman at McLennan Junior College. And she said, what do 349 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: you want to do? I said, I don't really know. 350 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: I said, I I love sports. I've loved sports all 351 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 1: my life. Said what's your favorite? I said, I guess football, baseball. 352 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 1: A close seconds, she said, you know a lot about him. 353 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: I said, I know more football than anybody. WAKEO. She said, 354 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:33,120 Speaker 1: is that right? I said, yes, ma'am I do. She said, 355 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:36,800 Speaker 1: well you're a confident young man. I said, yes I am. 356 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: She said I look here, would you holise five for me? 357 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,719 Speaker 1: And I'm gonna bring my husband let him look at 358 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,040 Speaker 1: these tomorrow And I said okay. So I held him 359 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,680 Speaker 1: for it and write about before closing the next night, 360 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,480 Speaker 1: at nine o'clock, here she comes dragging at her husband 361 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: and you can tell he'd rather be anywhere but having 362 00:19:54,280 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: a look at the shirts, and he'd rather be visiting 363 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: a proctologist than having to do that. And he walks 364 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:04,479 Speaker 1: up my brain the shirts and she talks to me. 365 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: She said, her husband's sitting there tapping his feet and 366 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,679 Speaker 1: his fingers like okay, Reba, hurry up, just get get 367 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 1: the shirts you want. And she said this is a 368 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: nice young man. I told you about it. He said okay, 369 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 1: and she said, uh, young man, She said, what were 370 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: you telling me about how much you knew more about football? 371 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: Leaving my waco. I said yes, ma'am, And she said, well, 372 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:27,920 Speaker 1: my husband knows a little about football. I says that right, 373 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: I said, well good. She said, let me introduce you 374 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: to my husband, Dave Campbell. And I was like porky 375 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: pig because I my dad told him I was like 376 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 1: eight years old. He gives me the paper because I 377 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: had told him I wanted to be a Baylor fan 378 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 1: because I had watched Baylor bea Colorado. Was on cub 379 00:20:51,080 --> 00:20:54,239 Speaker 1: Scout tonight when I was eight, and he said, you 380 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 1: wanted to learn about Baylor, you want to learn about 381 00:20:56,720 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: any other sports? You read Dave Campbell and he didn't 382 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 1: have his picture on there, it's his name, so I 383 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,320 Speaker 1: would read and try to figure out what it meant 384 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: and all and then I So that was when I 385 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: was eight, and this would have been like I was 386 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: eight nineteen, so I had read almost every word he'd 387 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:17,239 Speaker 1: ever written, and then to sit here telling him than 388 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: anybody wake up. Thank goodness, he never remembered. I've told 389 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: him that story and I made it, told of his 390 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,719 Speaker 1: speeches in Waco and that she was there, and he 391 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,320 Speaker 1: claims he didn't remember, but that that was a fact. 392 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:32,359 Speaker 1: And you talk about field, I need to be one 393 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 1: of those things. But you know, do I want to 394 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,360 Speaker 1: get away on Southwest or at LEAs? I stated all 395 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: that in express Or the greatest I had Geico, but 396 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:44,520 Speaker 1: I had nothing as but I was. I made sure 397 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: to keep my mouth shut after that when I when 398 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,639 Speaker 1: I got here in nineteen eighty three, I'll never forget 399 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 1: going to the We went to the grocery store and 400 00:21:52,240 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: I remember seeing Dave Campbell's Texas Football and at that 401 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: point all sports for me were I mean, I loved 402 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: all sports, whatever sport was in season. At that point, 403 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: I was all about it. But I knew that we 404 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,200 Speaker 1: had moved to Texas because my dad wanted a coach 405 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: where high school football was more important, and it was 406 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: it was more important than Wisconsin. And one of my 407 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:15,560 Speaker 1: dad's players was down in Alice, Texas, and convinced us 408 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: to come down on a spring break, and just so happened. 409 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:20,479 Speaker 1: The last night we were there for spring break was 410 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,960 Speaker 1: when NC State beat Houston, and I remember watching that 411 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:26,600 Speaker 1: game in tears and I was not even from Houston, 412 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: but I just you know, here we are in Texas 413 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: and I'm watching I'm cheering for Houston because I'm in 414 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:33,880 Speaker 1: Texas and I don't know much of I didn't really 415 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 1: know much about five Slam a Jam. I had heard 416 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: of them, and I knew they were exciting to watch, 417 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,800 Speaker 1: but I just remember him saying, look, and he's telling 418 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: my dad John. He's like, John, you have to come 419 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,399 Speaker 1: to Texas. You have to come to Texas. And so 420 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,000 Speaker 1: we do. We come to Texas basically Site Unseen had 421 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: never been to Houston, and we go to the grocery 422 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,680 Speaker 1: store and I see this magazine and it's Dave Campbell's 423 00:22:55,680 --> 00:22:57,520 Speaker 1: Texas Football and I'm like, well, I guess this is 424 00:22:57,960 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: this will be one way to learn about, you know, 425 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: ball in Texas. And I sat there and just flip 426 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: page after page after page, and I went, oh, my gosh, 427 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: some bo I mean it had everything. Is somebody trying 428 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: to learn about the different teams in the in the 429 00:23:11,520 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: state of Texas. It was it was my bible. I mean, 430 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: I have every issue of Dave Campbell's Texas Football from 431 00:23:18,840 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty three on, and I mean, it's it's it's 432 00:23:23,320 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 1: just it. And I moved to different places. I moved 433 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: to Florida, I moved to North Carolina. I remember my 434 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,639 Speaker 1: wife's saying to me one day we were in Florida 435 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: and I was contemplating what I wanted to stay in 436 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: coaching and what I wanted to do, and I said, 437 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: you know, I think, you know, if I stay in Florida, 438 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 1: I kind of want to I want to create like 439 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: the Dave Campbell, oh you know, Texas Football magazine in Florida. 440 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: And the more I thought about it was like, you know, 441 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: I just don't think it would work. I just think 442 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: he was the right that magazine and what he's done 443 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,440 Speaker 1: for it is the right piece. It's the right, perfect 444 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: publication for this state. And I don't know that it works. 445 00:23:58,240 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: I don't know that it works in other states. And 446 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:01,639 Speaker 1: I just thought about, you know, could you create that? 447 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 1: And Florida seemed to make a lot of sense because 448 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,959 Speaker 1: high school football is big, and obviously the college football 449 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,640 Speaker 1: scene is big, and at that time, the Jags were 450 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:10,600 Speaker 1: still kind of in their infancy a little bit, and 451 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: I was like, I just don't know that you can 452 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 1: do it. And it made me think about how big 453 00:24:13,920 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: an undertaking that was to create that magazine about the state. 454 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: And it was to your point about seeing your name 455 00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: in the paper. I'd seen my name in the paper locally, 456 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 1: but I'll never forget in the high school section they 457 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,800 Speaker 1: mentioned my name one time as a returning, you know, 458 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:36,440 Speaker 1: player to watch for the Markensolidated for nineteen eighty and 459 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,720 Speaker 1: nine season, and I just remember that thinking that it 460 00:24:39,760 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: doesn't get better than this, Like it doesn't get better 461 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 1: than being in Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine. And there 462 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: have been thousands of players that have seen their name 463 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,800 Speaker 1: just in there for whatever reason. But the way that 464 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,840 Speaker 1: he has always done the college and the high school 465 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: together and put that together, I mean, I just I've 466 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,280 Speaker 1: always thought that has been genius. And I just don't 467 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,359 Speaker 1: know that you can rep located anywhere. It's just I 468 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: have loved that magazine. The fact that he is still 469 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: he's still with us to be able to produce that 470 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: magazine each and every years, I mean, it's it's fantastic. 471 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: It's unbelieved what he's done. So he yeah, you may 472 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: not at that point have known more about football than 473 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,720 Speaker 1: anybody else in Waco, but you definitely have gotten to 474 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: that point and beyond now. When we get back, John 475 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: discusses an assignment that Dave Campbell once gave him. He 476 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: was introduced to a linebacker who eventually turned into a 477 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,640 Speaker 1: running back, like in nineteen seventy three. We'll also talk 478 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,320 Speaker 1: about the Texans. What's next as we sit in the 479 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: desert as Mark would call it, What does John think 480 00:25:40,160 --> 00:25:43,240 Speaker 1: about what happens with the power structure with the Texans 481 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: and looking forward to training? Campbell do that next right 482 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: here in Texans All Access one, final segment of Texans 483 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: All Access on this Thursday evening from Monday Texans Radio Studio. 484 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,280 Speaker 1: John Harris here, John McClain there, and John, you were 485 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,880 Speaker 1: just saying during the break that Dave Campbell once gave 486 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,479 Speaker 1: you an assignment when you were a young pup reporter 487 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: seventy three, my first year there, and I'd read Texas 488 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: football sas first issue with Jack Cotton from Texas on 489 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: the cover, and so Dave comes up to me in 490 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 1: the office and says he call everybody young man. I 491 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 1: don't know if he knew my name. He said, young man. 492 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: He said, would you like to write a story for 493 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:22,760 Speaker 1: the magazine? I'm like Texas Football magazine. He said yes. 494 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 1: Do you have a problem with that? I said no, 495 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:30,320 Speaker 1: I just learned the type. And so he said, I 496 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: want you to check out and do a story. He said, 497 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:38,480 Speaker 1: there's a linebacker that was a great linebacker as a 498 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,399 Speaker 1: junior last year, and all these coaches are telling me 499 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: he's moved to running back and he's gonna be special. 500 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,680 Speaker 1: And I said, what's his name? He said, Earl Campbell. 501 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: I had never heard of him. And he said, well, 502 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: if all those coaches are right what they're telling me, 503 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: and these are Southwest Conference coaches and high school coaches 504 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,240 Speaker 1: from me's Texas, he's got a chance to be special. 505 00:26:59,320 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 1: So I wrote the first story and Dave rewrote it. 506 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 1: That's why he gave it to him, because he's going 507 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: to rewrite it. But it's got my name on it, 508 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: and he liked it so much he included in his 509 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 1: first twenty five year Adversary issue as one of the 510 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: best stories. It's got my name on it, but I 511 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 1: didn't write it. And so that's the first time I'd 512 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: ever heard of Earl's name, and I wish you could 513 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 1: have been As about fifteen twenty years ago, the Houston 514 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: Touchdown Club as a Touchdowner of the Year every year, 515 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: and I believe only two writers have been honored, and 516 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:38,160 Speaker 1: Micky Hurstwoods and Dave Campbell. And when Dave came down, 517 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:44,480 Speaker 1: they invited back cover boys from Texas and there must 518 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:48,639 Speaker 1: have been like thirty of them showed up and everyone 519 00:27:48,680 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 1: of them talked about how much it meant to see 520 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: their story, their name in the magazine and also the 521 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:57,920 Speaker 1: anticipation of when it would come out. One player, I 522 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: think it was Lloyd Wayne Scott who went to Texas 523 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: told did norm boolage family who went to TCU, they're 524 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: both down in Lamarck in Texas City, that one of 525 00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: them couldn't find an issue because others parents had gotten 526 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:15,159 Speaker 1: up in the dark and gone like every store and 527 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,640 Speaker 1: bought all the copies and listening to those guys from 528 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: andre Ware talking about being in Dickinson and then of 529 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: course at you of age and it was special. I 530 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: talked to Clint Starner about this when he was in 531 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:28,840 Speaker 1: Baytown growing up, about what a big deal it was 532 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,360 Speaker 1: for him to be in Texas Football magazine and Dave 533 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:35,639 Speaker 1: has just written a book and it's it has a 534 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: book and it's the it's the greatest, He's greatest stories 535 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: from football in Texas. And then he's written, like each 536 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: one a new thing about it and then run stories 537 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: pictures of the stories. It's just a fascinating book. He 538 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,720 Speaker 1: told me the days he's looking to write another one. 539 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: I said, Dave, you're ninety four years old, why don't 540 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: you take it easy? And he likes doing football books 541 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 1: and that's probably taking it easy for him. Well, that's 542 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: one reason he's able to still drive, although I wouldn't 543 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 1: want to drive with him. But he is a fascinating character. 544 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:12,479 Speaker 1: And I always told, why don't you write something about 545 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: you he was at Guadalcanal in World War Two? And 546 00:29:16,680 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: write about you and all the coaches you've known, Frank 547 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: Brows and Darryl Royal and all those guys. But he 548 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: never wanted to spill any secrets. They trusted him and 549 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:29,040 Speaker 1: talked to him off the record. We used to hear 550 00:29:29,080 --> 00:29:32,360 Speaker 1: his office that the Tribute and Hero phone would ring constantly. 551 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 1: He might come in and say hello to us, and 552 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: we're like God had walked in then all of a sudden, 553 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: the phone ring, he might try to come back, phone 554 00:29:40,160 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: would ring again. And if he ever did write the 555 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:48,479 Speaker 1: stories that he was told throughout the decade, Man, some 556 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: of the ones he told us were pretty incredible, I think. 557 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 1: But now I'm wondering, John, how many people out there 558 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 1: don't even know what the Southwest Conference is. That's why 559 00:29:57,800 --> 00:30:00,320 Speaker 1: it's the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. We have a 560 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: whole wing about the Southwest Conference. All the schools are represented, 561 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,680 Speaker 1: and I never get tired of going through there and 562 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:12,120 Speaker 1: watching highlights, listening to current tipstock broadcast all the games 563 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,960 Speaker 1: and all the things the schools have sent them. I 564 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,840 Speaker 1: would encourage anybody listening, if you love Texas football at 565 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: any level, go to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame 566 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: and wakeo and be prepared to spend hours, because you 567 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: you will have a blast. How that Earl Campbell got 568 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: work out? I think he worked out pretty well. Yeah, 569 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: you know, they went on. Baylor hired his coach at 570 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:39,640 Speaker 1: John Tyler, and Corky Nelson his defensive coordinator, on a 571 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 1: Grant taff. He was going into his third year, and 572 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: then of course he went to Austin, said Baylor, finished second, 573 00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:49,840 Speaker 1: and Quirky helped Baylor beat Texas for the first time 574 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:53,240 Speaker 1: in twenty failure years and when the South Wist Conference 575 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,640 Speaker 1: for the first time in fifty years in nineteen seventy 576 00:30:55,640 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: four when Arl was a freshman. And I still think 577 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:02,200 Speaker 1: think about all the great players have come through our state, 578 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: all the great running backs come through our state, that 579 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:10,520 Speaker 1: there's never been a greater player than Role Campbell High 580 00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: School fifteen year old state Championship Heisman Trophy at UT 581 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 1: designated along with Davy Crockett and the Alamo As by 582 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:23,000 Speaker 1: our legislatures and genuine Texas legend and taking and then 583 00:31:23,080 --> 00:31:25,640 Speaker 1: leaguing the league in rushing, being MVP with the Oilers 584 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:28,880 Speaker 1: taking him a two championship games. Every time I see 585 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:32,760 Speaker 1: Earl at an event, there's so many people there who 586 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 1: couldn't have been alive when he played, lined up to 587 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: get his picture in his autograph. He is still to 588 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:45,960 Speaker 1: me the most iconic athlete the history of our sport. Yeah, 589 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 1: you think about the running back from this state, just 590 00:31:49,800 --> 00:31:53,800 Speaker 1: whether they played college here or not, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, 591 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:59,719 Speaker 1: Ellie SAMs, Ladanian, Tomlinson, Billy. I mean, it's Warren McVay was, 592 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:09,800 Speaker 1: it's an amazing it's an amazing Oh yeah, Ridey Hampton. 593 00:32:10,000 --> 00:32:12,200 Speaker 1: A lot of them left, like Hampton, Georgia. A lot 594 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,000 Speaker 1: of them left and went and made their market other schools. 595 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:17,560 Speaker 1: And as one of the reasons so much fun reading 596 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 1: the high school section, which David Baron from the Chronicle 597 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:25,200 Speaker 1: is edited taxas football for over thirty years. And David, 598 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 1: that's one reason he knows so much about it is 599 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: he's had to edit that for so long. There's no 600 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:35,200 Speaker 1: better historian than David Baron for games and uh, and 601 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:39,120 Speaker 1: Warren McVeigh who went to you of h and and 602 00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: then a lot of those players during segregation were incredible players, 603 00:32:44,720 --> 00:32:47,520 Speaker 1: but they had to stay in the black high schools, 604 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,400 Speaker 1: couldn't play the white high schools. And it uh, you 605 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:58,080 Speaker 1: know Duke Walker going farther back, and I just Kyle wrote, well, 606 00:32:58,120 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 1: he was a receiver, running back. But it is there 607 00:33:01,240 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 1: can't be another states running backs like we put out. Oh, 608 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,360 Speaker 1: I don't think there's any question about the running backs 609 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: the state has put out. It's it's unbelievable. All right, John, 610 00:33:09,120 --> 00:33:11,560 Speaker 1: let's transition into the Texans here. What does your gut 611 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: tell you about what you think the Texans will do 612 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: in the short term and then in the long term 613 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:19,880 Speaker 1: what they want to do with the GM position here, 614 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:22,760 Speaker 1: I believe that they will not have a general manager 615 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:26,840 Speaker 1: this season. I've been writing that since since that came 616 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:30,000 Speaker 1: out that they were not pursuing Casario and the Patriots 617 00:33:30,000 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 1: and dropped the tampering allegations, And so I believe, and 618 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:37,640 Speaker 1: a lot of people got, oh my god. Bill O'Brien's 619 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 1: in charge of personnel. I said Brian Gaine didn't sign 620 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: or draft a player. O'Brien didn't want Bill signed off 621 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:48,680 Speaker 1: on every player. Bill was heavily involved in scouting, so 622 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:53,720 Speaker 1: were his coaches, And so I believe Jack Easterby, who 623 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:57,360 Speaker 1: was going with Josh McDaniels to Indianapolis for a bigger 624 00:33:57,440 --> 00:34:00,440 Speaker 1: role one reason he didn't stay in New England as 625 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 1: he wanted to branch out. He'd been there all that time, 626 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 1: and Bill Belichick had given him a lot of authority. 627 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,279 Speaker 1: He was in on personnel meetings and uh and McDaniels 628 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 1: obviously liked him to take him to Indy. So I 629 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 1: think that Jack will handle the football ops for Bill 630 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: and h those two will work hand in hand. Chris 631 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:26,720 Speaker 1: Olsen continue to do the cap and contracts, Jamie Roots 632 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:30,320 Speaker 1: of course, the administrative side, and the director and player personnel. 633 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: Matt Hey pronounced Basigan, Matt Bazigan, he's he knows on 634 00:34:35,719 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 1: Ryan Well, he's got a twenty two person staff under him. 635 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:42,440 Speaker 1: And so they've got college and they got pro personnel guys. 636 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: And I think they'll all work together and Bill will 637 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:51,200 Speaker 1: have final say, and then if there's a dispute, as 638 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:53,720 Speaker 1: they did with Bob McNair, they'll go to Cal mcdair. 639 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: Cal's been there for every meeting, everything since the get go. 640 00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:03,399 Speaker 1: And I know it was hard for Cal who had 641 00:35:03,440 --> 00:35:07,840 Speaker 1: to pull the trigger on Brian Gaines firing and he 642 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,960 Speaker 1: wanted to make your work, but when something had gotten 643 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:13,319 Speaker 1: to the point that it had, and there's a lot 644 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:17,160 Speaker 1: of responsibilities for a general manager. People don't real about 645 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:21,160 Speaker 1: realize about football operations. You know, you got budgets, you 646 00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:24,160 Speaker 1: gotta hire, you gotta fire, you gotta be you got 647 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:28,439 Speaker 1: a medical you got nutrition, strength, three of equipment. All 648 00:35:28,520 --> 00:35:31,799 Speaker 1: that comes under your jurisdiction, and you've got to learn 649 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:34,160 Speaker 1: to delegate. You got to have good people under you, 650 00:35:34,640 --> 00:35:36,600 Speaker 1: and they've got a good staff, you know, They've got 651 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 1: a good coaching staff. They got a lot of good 652 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 1: people in scouting and personnel, and I think Cal will 653 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:47,040 Speaker 1: see how they work. If everything goes well and everybody 654 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 1: works well together, they may not hire general management. But 655 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: everybody in New England, says Nick Cassario wants out for 656 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,840 Speaker 1: whatever reason, and he wants to come here. So maybe 657 00:35:58,239 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: after next year's draft still comes here. Maybe Bill Belichick 658 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:06,600 Speaker 1: retires and he becomes a Gerald manager, maybe a Nier's McDaniels, 659 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:10,800 Speaker 1: maybe Belichick becomes a team president. So much can happen. 660 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:14,120 Speaker 1: You can't count on anything right now. It's about the 661 00:36:14,280 --> 00:36:17,360 Speaker 1: here and now, and when everybody comes back from the vacation, 662 00:36:18,040 --> 00:36:22,160 Speaker 1: that's gonna be the power structure and they'll all answer 663 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 1: to Cal McNair. I think that's the most important aspect. 664 00:36:28,280 --> 00:36:29,719 Speaker 1: You said a lot of stuff there, but I think 665 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 1: that's the most important aspect that somehow, and I don't 666 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:36,600 Speaker 1: know why people have lost all of this, And maybe 667 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:39,160 Speaker 1: it's because Bob has you know, had just had just 668 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:42,600 Speaker 1: passed away. But in during the season last year that 669 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:47,880 Speaker 1: Cow's in charge. Cow's been in charge exactly, and Bob's 670 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:52,319 Speaker 1: health deteriorated so bad. I think The last major thing 671 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: he did was higher Gain, extend O'Brien and Olson, and 672 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:00,680 Speaker 1: then he had start battling cancer again. And Cow's been 673 00:37:00,760 --> 00:37:03,040 Speaker 1: here every step of the way. You know, he and 674 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: his dad. I interviewed Cal at the league meetings, wrote 675 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 1: a long story and one of the things he talked 676 00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:12,800 Speaker 1: about was he and his dad how they differed. Bob 677 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:16,239 Speaker 1: Blake being out front. You know, he didn't seek attention 678 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,080 Speaker 1: like Jerry Jones, but he didn't run from it and 679 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:23,520 Speaker 1: he was comfortable addressing any situation. Cow's more of an 680 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:27,160 Speaker 1: idea guy, more guy to bounced off of. Every time 681 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:30,759 Speaker 1: there have been meetings, Cow's been there. Bob always consulted 682 00:37:30,840 --> 00:37:34,680 Speaker 1: Cal before he did things, and he consulted Cal before 683 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:38,640 Speaker 1: they made those moves. They give Tyran Matthew, They okay, 684 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:40,920 Speaker 1: we want to sign this guy one year seven million. 685 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:44,000 Speaker 1: And McNair's have not letting money stand in the way 686 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 1: of doing what they are in. They want to be 687 00:37:47,160 --> 00:37:51,360 Speaker 1: informed and they want to make informed decisions. They want 688 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 1: people who work well together. They're not going to all 689 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:58,920 Speaker 1: of a sudden under Cal McNair start signing jerks, guys 690 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:01,759 Speaker 1: who've beaten up When him and some teams will sell 691 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,440 Speaker 1: their souls to the devil to try to win. The 692 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 1: mcnairs will never be about that. And I think I 693 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 1: wrote that apple didn't fall far from the tree, it 694 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:13,879 Speaker 1: fell right next to it, And so Cal McNair didn't 695 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:16,680 Speaker 1: make a knee jerk reaction on Brian Gain. He studied it. 696 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:20,279 Speaker 1: The problems been going on for a long time. He 697 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:22,760 Speaker 1: tried to see if they could make it work. He determined, 698 00:38:22,800 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 1: instead of trying to force it to work, better, go 699 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,200 Speaker 1: ahead and pull the plug. Brian walked away, three and 700 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:30,560 Speaker 1: a half years left on his contract. He'll be paid, 701 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:34,480 Speaker 1: He'll end up working in personnel for somebody because he 702 00:38:34,520 --> 00:38:38,560 Speaker 1: did a good job of that. And so I would 703 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:42,239 Speaker 1: rather see the Texans do this than say, rush out 704 00:38:42,280 --> 00:38:46,279 Speaker 1: and hire a personnel guy. I think it's important that 705 00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:50,640 Speaker 1: the person they hire has as either nose Bill O'Brien 706 00:38:50,880 --> 00:38:54,879 Speaker 1: very well or has worked with him, and I think 707 00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:58,680 Speaker 1: this is a good chance for O'Brien to spread his wings. 708 00:38:58,760 --> 00:39:02,200 Speaker 1: John Lopez said, well, this puts more on his plate. Well, 709 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:06,440 Speaker 1: not not at practice, not on games, and uh, and 710 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 1: Bill's a hard worker. I think he loves more on 711 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:11,720 Speaker 1: his plate. So I can't wait to see how works 712 00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:14,719 Speaker 1: out well. I think to that end, it's when you 713 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,480 Speaker 1: say there's more on his plate. I don't think that 714 00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:21,200 Speaker 1: he'll do any more or any less work than he 715 00:39:21,239 --> 00:39:23,440 Speaker 1: had already been doing. So take, for instance, the draft. 716 00:39:23,719 --> 00:39:27,840 Speaker 1: He'll do the same amount of work that he would 717 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:31,439 Speaker 1: have already done. I mean, he does a ton of 718 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:35,640 Speaker 1: work for the draft. It's just that now maybe the 719 00:39:35,680 --> 00:39:39,080 Speaker 1: final decision for who's going to be drafted is just him. 720 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:41,239 Speaker 1: Maybe it's maybe it's him and others. I don't know. 721 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:43,400 Speaker 1: I don't know that there's gonna be more on his 722 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:48,000 Speaker 1: plate specifically other than okay, maybe a different decision. Maybe 723 00:39:48,000 --> 00:39:49,560 Speaker 1: he's now going to be in charge of making some 724 00:39:49,600 --> 00:39:52,680 Speaker 1: decisions that he wasn't in the past, or he was 725 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:54,680 Speaker 1: a part of, but what didn't have the final say 726 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:59,480 Speaker 1: Maybe yeah that easter Bill come to him and say, okay, 727 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:02,520 Speaker 1: here's this. What do you want to do about it? 728 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,959 Speaker 1: And he may he'll say okay, what do you think? 729 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 1: And they'll run it by other people out now, and 730 00:40:07,560 --> 00:40:11,520 Speaker 1: then Bill'll say, all right, let's do it. Right. I think, 731 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:15,600 Speaker 1: as crazy as it sounds, I think with people that 732 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:20,640 Speaker 1: are now around Bill, I actually think there's there's less 733 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:24,839 Speaker 1: office plate or there's more office plate than on his plate. Yes, 734 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:26,799 Speaker 1: there might be some more key decisions and that kind 735 00:40:26,840 --> 00:40:30,320 Speaker 1: of thing. But I think with Jack here, with Bass 736 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:33,000 Speaker 1: who you talked about, James lift for those guys in personnel. 737 00:40:33,880 --> 00:40:36,720 Speaker 1: I I'm not gonna sit here and tell you, Okay, 738 00:40:36,719 --> 00:40:39,279 Speaker 1: this is the perfect structure, because who knows what is 739 00:40:39,320 --> 00:40:42,480 Speaker 1: the perfect structure for the Houston Texans Because all thirty 740 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:44,440 Speaker 1: two teams have got a different structure, and what works 741 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:46,920 Speaker 1: for one organization isn't gonna work. What works in New 742 00:40:46,920 --> 00:40:49,399 Speaker 1: England may not work here. What works in Atlanta may 743 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:51,920 Speaker 1: not work here. What works here may not work in Atlanta. 744 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:55,680 Speaker 1: So it varies. But I think with the people that 745 00:40:55,719 --> 00:40:59,719 Speaker 1: are around Bill, or with Bill like you mentioned, Chris 746 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:02,879 Speaker 1: Ole and Jack easterby Matt Baskan, James look for whose 747 00:41:02,920 --> 00:41:05,200 Speaker 1: director of college scouting, With those people that are around, 748 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:09,279 Speaker 1: with this coaching staff, Tim Kelly now his offensive coordinator, 749 00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:12,520 Speaker 1: I think what it does is it just transitions maybe 750 00:41:12,520 --> 00:41:15,239 Speaker 1: the role of Bill O'Brien's, you know, just head coach, 751 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:19,839 Speaker 1: play caller into a much more a different role as 752 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:22,279 Speaker 1: opposed to what he was doing last year to what 753 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:24,080 Speaker 1: he's doing now. I don't know that there's more on 754 00:41:24,239 --> 00:41:27,279 Speaker 1: his plate. I just think it's probably changed what's on 755 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,440 Speaker 1: his plate. Well, I think he has definitely has more 756 00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:33,040 Speaker 1: responsibility because Bill is going to be the last word 757 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,279 Speaker 1: before it goes to cal McNair. Things need to go 758 00:41:36,320 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 1: to cal caldn't want to make all the decisions. That's 759 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:42,520 Speaker 1: why he hires them. And I told the guys on 760 00:41:42,640 --> 00:41:45,799 Speaker 1: sports Radio six, Dan think cal should should do a 761 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:49,520 Speaker 1: news conference and face one of those inquisitions like Bill did. 762 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:53,279 Speaker 1: And I'm guessing cal McNair, like most owners don't do that. 763 00:41:53,440 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: And I tell him, I said, most of them say 764 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:57,359 Speaker 1: to the coach, that's why I'm paying you the big 765 00:41:57,400 --> 00:42:00,120 Speaker 1: bucks if you get up there and face that. And 766 00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:03,360 Speaker 1: so we'll see. I think it's gonna be fun to watch. 767 00:42:03,480 --> 00:42:06,160 Speaker 1: One thing is how do you judge it? And that's 768 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: a great points. You want to judge it on wins 769 00:42:08,600 --> 00:42:13,560 Speaker 1: and losses. But sometimes things can be working really smoothly 770 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:16,880 Speaker 1: and very well, but it takes some time to see 771 00:42:16,920 --> 00:42:19,319 Speaker 1: the fruits of the labor on the field. And there's 772 00:42:19,360 --> 00:42:23,120 Speaker 1: also teams that have general managers and head coach determines 773 00:42:23,160 --> 00:42:25,799 Speaker 1: who's coming and going as personnel. So just because the 774 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:28,719 Speaker 1: team's got a general manager doesn't mean he's calling the 775 00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:31,800 Speaker 1: shots on personnel, with New Orleans being a good example, 776 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:35,759 Speaker 1: John Peyton gets everybody he wants. There is the same 777 00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:38,840 Speaker 1: wattle with Pete Carroll, and so that can be that 778 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:40,960 Speaker 1: can be the thing here. The guy everybody gonna be 779 00:42:41,000 --> 00:42:44,480 Speaker 1: watching besides the Bill, of course, is Jack Easterby. Jack's 780 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:48,000 Speaker 1: gotten a lot of attention, uh since all this came 781 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:51,279 Speaker 1: down and people learn more about him, because if you 782 00:42:51,360 --> 00:42:54,759 Speaker 1: google Jack with his time in New England, everything was 783 00:42:54,880 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 1: glowing and uh and people and knowing how much bell 784 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:02,960 Speaker 1: Check trusted him and then how much McDaniels wanted to 785 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:06,319 Speaker 1: take him with him and craft even though I don't care, 786 00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:10,080 Speaker 1: Kraft can't be that unhappy with him if he invited 787 00:43:10,120 --> 00:43:13,200 Speaker 1: him back into his home for the ring ceremony exactly. So, 788 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:17,120 Speaker 1: I'm not sure. If the Texans people ask me, he said, well, 789 00:43:17,120 --> 00:43:19,319 Speaker 1: they're gonna announce all this, so they just kinda kind 790 00:43:19,320 --> 00:43:21,640 Speaker 1: of let it happen. I said, I don't have any 791 00:43:21,719 --> 00:43:26,440 Speaker 1: idea how they're gonna handle the official announcement. If indeed 792 00:43:26,440 --> 00:43:28,520 Speaker 1: that's what they do, well, they'll wait until I'm on 793 00:43:28,600 --> 00:43:31,359 Speaker 1: vacation on Friday for that to happen because for two 794 00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:35,080 Speaker 1: straight weeks. It was for two straight Fridays right before 795 00:43:35,120 --> 00:43:39,440 Speaker 1: I went on Sports Radio sixteen both times, and I said, 796 00:43:39,600 --> 00:43:41,160 Speaker 1: I told him, you're gonna do it next week and 797 00:43:41,200 --> 00:43:43,799 Speaker 1: do it on Thursday because I'll be gone for right now. 798 00:43:43,840 --> 00:43:47,520 Speaker 1: They're all gone. So that's good exactly. John. Appreciate you, Top, 799 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:49,319 Speaker 1: Thank you, John, thank you very much. It was a 800 00:43:49,320 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 1: lot of fun taking a trip down memory lane. You 801 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:55,520 Speaker 1: see tomorrow. Buddings always go Texans