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1982 Texas-Alabama: Drawing Up One Perfect Play

Posted by srr50 on January 3rd, 2010 under Football

In 1954, Junior Quarterback Charlie Brewer threw two touchdown passes as Texas defeated Bear Bryant and Texas A&M 22-13. Twenty eight year later Bryant was still coaching and this time Charlie sat in the Cotton Bowl stands and watched his son Robert help Texas pull off a 14-12 upset of Bryant’s Crimson Tide.

The 1981 regular season had been a mixed bag for the Longhorns. Texas started the season ranked #8, and after defeating the Jim Kelly-Led Miami Hurricanes and Oklahoma in back-to-back games the Longhorns were ranked #1.

Then came a disastrous trip to Arkansas. Due to a travel mixup the team arrived at the stadium hours ahead of schedule and spent the extra time in the cramped quarters of the visitors locker room.

The Horns, flat from the opening kickoff, were routed 42-11 by the Razorbacks. Robert Brewer, a walk-on and the third team QB, got in for mop up duty in the final moments.

A few weeks later, with Texas trailing the University of Houston 14-0, Coach Fred Akers inserted Brewer into the lineup. He led Texas to a 14-14 tie, and won the starting job. Texas entered the 1982 Cotton Bowl 9-1-1 and ranked #6 in the nation.

Alabama meanwhile was also 9-1-1 and ranked #3 in the AP poll.


Bear Bryant entered the 1982 Cotton Bowl after having broken Amos Alonzo Stagg’s record of 314 career head coaching wins.

Bryant in his 37th season as a head coach, had tied Stagg’s record with a win over Joe Paterno and Penn State, and then set the mark with a win over archrival Auburn. Alabama also held out some hope for the National Championship, depending on how other bowl games turned out.

The game started out as a defensive struggle and was scoreless after the first period. Then midway through the second quarter, ‘Bama QB Walter Lewis completed a six yard touchdown pass to receiver Jesse Bendross. Those would be the only points for either team for three quarters.


For 3 quarters Texas tried everything, including a leaping John Walker, to try and establish a consistent ground game against Alabama.

Early in the 4th quarter, Alabama stretched the lead to 10-0, and then Texas finally got on the scoreboard. Brewer, who had thrown for less than 100 yards in the first 3 quarters, suddenly began to find receivers like Donnie Little and Lawrence Sampleton. The Horns soon faced a 3rd and 10 from the ‘Bama 30-yard line, and as he stepped to the line, Brewer saw Alabama’s defensive setup, and he quickly called timeout.

“I saw their safety (Tommy Wilcox) move up, and I knew if we ran the play I would be sacked,” said Brewer. Having already been sacked 7 times in the game, Brewer was well versed in the ‘Bama blitz package.

The play Akers and OC Ron Toman came up with during the timeout was simply called “One.” It was a QB draw that had been used when Donnie Little played the position, but it wasn’t in the game plan.

Alabama had been playing man all game, sending linebackers with the Texas running backs and corners with the wideouts. The play had Rodney Tate and Terry Orr both swing out of the backfield while Little and Herkie Walls ran deep routes.

Mike Baab had the key block as he had to handle All-SEC nose guard Warren Lyles. “When Robert called it, I thought, ‘Oh shit,” said the Longhorn center. “The whole play basically comes down to my block.”

Lyles helped out when Baab raised up as if to pass block, he made a move to the left. Baab just influenced him out that way, and Brewer easily scored.


The field was so wide open for his QB draw, Robert Brewer remarked that “my mother could have scored.”

That cut the Alabama lead to 10-7, and the next time Texas got the ball, Brewer led them 80 yards to the winning score. Brewer hit four straight passes of 37, 10, 19, and 10 yards before Terry Orr bolted over from the 8-yard line for the touchdown.

Alabama had one more chance as Joey Jones ran the ensuing kickoff all the way back to the Texas 38. Longhorn safety William Graham stopped that threat on the very first play from scrimmage.


William Graham stepped in front of ‘Bama receiver Tim Clark to help preserve the Cotton Bowl victory.

Graham’s interception came on the 1-yard line, and after three Brewer sneaks, punter John Goodson took an intentional safety. Texas punted and Kiki De Ayala sacked Lewis to end the game. Of course what most fans carried out of the Cotton Bowl that day was the memory of the QB draw.

Texas finished 10-1-1 with a final #3 National Ranking. Alabama saw its record against the Longhorns go to 0-7-1, where it stands as we get ready for the BCS championship game on Thursday.

POSTSCRIPT
Taking a look back at the most recent meetings between these two college football powers is, for me at least, more than a nostalgic trip through history.

When two tradition-rich programs meet for high stakes, there are invariably backstories revealed in time that bring an added texture to the game and helps make college football the sport we all love.

The 1965 Orange Bowl was a classic contest, and years later Joe Namath and four of his Longhorn adversaries became teammates and played in one of the most significant games in pro football history.

In 1973 the Texas-Alabama clash showcased two true legends of the sport squaring off on the field, while also showcasing their life-long friendship

Today, Randy Edwards is a successful attorney in Atlanta. In 1982 Edwards was a defensive end for Alabama, and he spent most of the Cotton Bowl contest trying to get around, and fighting with UT offensive lineman Bryan Millard. Edwards admits that they didn’t like each other much that week. But the two eventually became teammates in the NFL and today they call each other best friends.

As for Robert Brewer, his backstory is one of my all-time favorites – as it involves the qualities of perseverance and loyalty. As mentioned, Robert was a Longhorn Legacy, a walk-on who followed his father to the 40 Acres.


Robert Brewer’s career at Texas is a prime example of what makes College Football a unique sport.

I was traveling with the Longhorns during this time, and thanks to a connection through the sports photographer at my station, I got to know Robert in 1981. In fact we all sat in the back of the plane on the way back to Austin from that miserable trip to Fayetteville.

Robert talked about trying to balance studies and Longhorn football, and since he was third team he was beginning to think it might be time to just concentrate on the academics, and forget about football.

The next week we ran into Robert at practice and the asked about his plans.

“I’m going to stick it out,” Brewer said. “It means to much too me to be a part of the team, the friendships are too important, and it isn’t going to last forever anyway.”

Two weeks later, Robert Brewer was the starter for a Top Ten football team. Two months later he was the Offensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl. In 1982 Brewer was the triggerman for a dynamic offense that averaged over 35 points a game as he set the then-school records for yards passing and touchdowns in a season.

28 years after playing for Texas, Charlie Brewer had the chance to sit in the stands and watch his son achieve at a high level for the school that he loved.

Now 28 years later it is Robert’s turn as he sits in the stands and watches his son, Michael lead his Lake Travis High School team to a state championship. The symmetry in that is very appealing to me.

Thursday’s Texas-Alabama matchup for the BCS Championship promises to add to the short but intense history between these two teams.

It should be one helluva game.

And in time, there should be one helluva backstory to enjoy as well.

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15 Responses

  1. Sailor Ripley said:

    January 3rd, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    More great stuff, SRR.

    See you THU.

  2. burnt orange outrage said:

    January 3rd, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    These posts have been a lot of fun to read, srr. The ‘82 Cotton Bowl is the one and only Texas-Alabama game I’ve been able to watch as it happened, and it only further solidified my love of the Longhorns, which began when I went to my first game at Memorial Stadium in ‘77 to see Earl Campbell tear through Baylor on his way to the Heisman Trophy.

    That ‘82 CB game resides in my hazy memory as possibly the high point of Texas football in the long, dry era between national championships (a few other contenders in there, like the ‘73 CB over Bama, the ‘96 Big 12 title over Nebraska, the ‘05 Rose Bowl over Michigan). Great memories.

    Let’s hope we can add a few more on Thursday night.

  3. t1climb1 said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 7:30 am

    I love reading these SRR. See y’all Thursday!

    Hook ‘em!

  4. derryl said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 8:18 am

    Further proof Akers couldn’t see a starting quarterback when he walked into the room…I was there in 81 and 82 and knew Brewer was the guy just from watching practice..everything Little did was rationalized if wrong and encouraged if correct. Brewer just walked up to the line of scrimmage and made a play and walked back with nothing being said.
    Akers blew the 83 national championship by starting McIvor against Georgia…we were undefeated with Rob starting and he had to go and fuck with it…and I’m not going to mention putting a fucking safety at punt returner….did I just type that out loud?

  5. Art Vandelay said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Thanks srr50.

    I was in the stands in the ‘82 game. Lots of interesting tidbits from the Robert Brewer story. Robert’s younger brother was a frat brother of mine at Texas. Also, Robert married Laura Moerschell (high school classmate of mine) and sister of…. you guessed it – Rob Moerschell (QB that won every game he started that year, and should have started in the 1983 Cotton Bowl).

    Good blood lines for Michael Brewer or what?

  6. Woody Bombay said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 10:34 am

    I vividly remember jumping around Turn the Page, Fred’s living room when Brewer cut up the middle on the draw. Man, it was a thing of beauty. By the time I got to campus two years later, the Glory Days were over.

  7. SL Xpress said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 10:58 am

    It’s funny. I always remember that QB draw as the play that put Texas ahead. Mistakenly, obviously. But it was that pivotal, and that memorable. Like srr50 said, without a doubt the signature moment of that game.

    I loved Robert Brewer. Texas didn’t have a lot going for them at the QB position — really, until James Brown came along, although I liked guys like Bret Stafford plenty. It was just a position Texas never recruited all that well.

    While I agree about the decision to start McIvor against Georgia was a mistake, he did have that otherworldly game against A&M, which is the reason it happened.

    There have been a lot of heartrending memories over the years, particularly from 1984 to 1997, without a lot of feel good moments to balance them out. That Cotton Bowl win over Alabama was certainly a high point.

    Kenneth Sims was a member of that Texas defense. Other than Leroy Selmon, he’s the most dominating defensive player I ever saw play in college. It just seemed like he had his way with the OL on every snap.

    Regarding Michael Brewer, unfortunately it looks like Texas is going to look in another direction, and at this moment they’re not taking two. I know there hasn’t been any final decision in this regard, so I’m still hoping Robert Brewer’s son finds a way on the team. I’m not a big fan of legacies at all, but Robert Brewer will always have a special place for me — not just for that Alabama game, but because for the longest time, he was the only QB that gave me any confidence in the position at Texas as far as being someone who could win a game, rather than just not lose it.

    BTW, the last I heard, Robert Brewer works for UT athletics to this day. I can’t imagine that’s changed from when I was told last year.

  8. magnusbleuviegner said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 11:00 am

    Soooo, you’re saying we should start Michael Brewer on Thursday?

  9. tree said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 11:17 am

    I was at the Cotton Bowl on that cold overcast day in 1982. Both UT touchdowns were scored going into the north endzone. Brewer first then Terry Orr. Orr went on to become an outstanding TE for the Washington Redskins. Orr’s touchdown was similar to Brewers’, both right up the middle.
    I will take a repeat this Thursday night!

  10. srr50 said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 11:17 am

    SLX — Robert is a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch out in Lakeway.

    I always thought Fred started Rick against Georgia because of his A&M performance, and because he thought coming out throwing would surprise the Bulldogs.

    Of all the screw-ups and weird plays in the 1984 Cotton Bowl, the biggest IMO, may have happened on first series. Rick took Texas right now the field and on third and goal, he drifted to his left, saw Terry Orr coming open and just before the pass got to Orr, the Bulldog defender grabbed his jersey. The back judge was right there, but left his flag in his pocket. Orr bitched about it to no avail. I have to think that an early score would have been hard for Georgia to overcome. Our defense was so dominant, it was two deep with a helluva lot of players who went on to the NFL.

    I ran into a Georgia player from that team years later and he said Vince Dooley’s entire mantra for the game was, “keep it close until the 4th quarter, and we will think of something.”

  11. SL Xpress said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    Huh. Well, unsurprisingly, he has something to do with UT Athletics. I’ll have to ask to get a better handle on what it is, since he’s not a direct employee like I thought.

    It was two deep with a RECORD amount of players who went on to the NFL, actually.

    Even after the fumbled punt, I just knew the defense would hold them. Instead, there was that famous hold on Georgia’s part that helped them score.

    Such a frustrating game, only made eternally embittering when Miami pulled off the miracle upset later that night. Who knows what would have happened if Texas had won that game, but it’s impossible for any Texas fan to think anything but it cost the Longhorns a national championship.

    People love to complain about the BCS, but it’s a shame those Nebraska and Texas teams couldn’t play against one another in the final game. It ended up not mattering, but if both teams had gone undefeated we all would have been left with one heck of a “what if?”

  12. srr50 said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Who knows what would have happened if Texas had won that game, but it’s impossible for any Texas fan to think anything but it cost the Longhorns a national championship.

    Well, my theory, one I adopted in order not to go into an even deeper depression after the loss, was that we would have finished #2.

    We win in the afternoon, and Miami has no shot at winning the title, they were not going to pass an unbeaten Texas. As it is, with everything on the line, they still had to survive a Nebraska two-point conversion try at the end of the game.

    I firmly believe that a Texas win would have kept Nebraska alert and taken away Miami’s hopes for an upset. I have to believe, in order to not go insane.

  13. Turn the Page, Fred said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    I’m going to have to pull that DVD out and watch it again.

  14. Cricketslayer said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    I just got around to reading this. Thank you, Steve. A great trip down memory lane.

  15. trkhorn said:

    January 4th, 2010 at 10:22 pm

    Another classic. Thanks always srr. I may also have to adopt your line of thinking re:1984 Cotton Bowl.

    SLX, I’m pretty sure Robert Brewer worked for the Foundation for a short time in the early 90s.

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