Earl Campbell grabbed Michael Downs by the neck, carried and slammed him before, brutal.
Orange crushed by Earl Campbell
Oct 2, 2009
ESPN.com Illustration
Editor's note: This is the first installment of an occasional Page 2 series entitled "Behind the Highlights," which will examine the details of compelling, obscure, breathtaking and stupefying video clips, as told by the figures in and around the action.
The story begins with a YouTube clip. It's six seconds long.
Texas running back Earl Campbell takes the pitch to the right side of the line, sidesteps a collision and heads around the right end. He follows a textbook block from his wide receiver at the opponent's 10-yard line and sets his sights on the end zone.
Then it gets good.
Only a lone safety stands between Campbell and the goal line. He's taking long, swift strides and gaining a head of steam. The safety darts toward the sideline and prepares to engage the breakaway halfback just inside the 5. Campbell has a significant size advantage on the defender.
Impact occurs at the 4. Campbell explodes on the valiant but undersized defensive back, who is lifted, taken for a ride and thrown all the way into the end zone. The touchdown that immediately follows is anticlimactic by comparison.
The clip is played over and over and over in hopes of learning the details around the play. When did it take place? Which team was the opponent? Who's the unlucky player on the wrong end of that hit … and did he survive?
Page 2 set out to answer these questions. We tracked down the figures in and around the play and asked them to tell the story.
Fred Akers was embarking on his first season as coach at Texas in 1977. Akers had been an assistant in Austin for nine seasons under the legendary Darrell Royal, and after serving as head coach at Wyoming for two seasons, he returned to succeed his retiring mentor. Akers benefited greatly from having one of the most talented players in the nation in Campbell.
AKERS: "I've never seen a running back like Earl. He had everything that you needed. He had the speed, the quickness, tremendous leg strength. He didn't offer you much of a target. He was so flexible, he could bend over, and all you're gonna hit -- as a linebacker or defensive back -- all you're gonna hit are those big ol' forearms and knees. He didn't give ya much room to hurt him. I tell ya what, he's the only guy I've seen that I would've bet could've skipped college and gone from high school to the NFL."