Jack Crain's UT Days: Saving the UT Football Program
Before Jack Crain came, The Texas Longhorns Football Program was in the dumps after running up 5 losing seasons, and showing little promise after a 1-8 year in 1938. The Texas-Arkansas game, already a big rivalry, was held at Austin that year, and most of the 18,000 fans did not really expect Texas to win their first conference opener. Earlier in the game Crain had returned a quick-kick for an 80 yard touchdown. With only a minute left to play, Arkansas still lead Texas by 13-7, and fans were heading to the exit. Texas only had five first downs and only 75 rushing yards with time running out. The next play may have been designed in the huddle as a last act of desperation. The plan was for Crain to slow down the pass rushing defensive end, and slip past him into the flat for a screen pass. On the snap, fullback R. B. Patrick took the ball and dropped back to pass, while Crain pretended to block the defensive rusher. Once behind the defensive end, Crain caught the pass, and zigzagged for 70 yards to clinch the victory. As Crain scored with only seconds left, elated fans had to be removed from the field so that remaining game-time could be played. D. X. Bible credited that one play with turning his troubled program around. The Longhorns had their first winning record in six seasons.
