Detmer Challenge

By Mike Ogle New York Times

DALLAS – Ever wonder what it’s like to get drilled in the head by a pass from an N.F.L. quarterback?

Nah, me neither. But I got to find out anyway last week in Austin, courtesy of two former N.F.L. quarterbacks (one of them a Heisman winner). These are the kind of things Mr. Meyers and I do to amuse you as we truck along on our Going Big road trip for CSTV.com.

Presented with the opportunity to meet up with the Detmer brothers (Ty and Koy) the day before the Texas game, we had the intriguing task of inventing something entertaining to do with them for a video. So naturally, this is how the conversation transpired:
Meyers: Why don’t we have some sort of QB skills competition between the Detmers?

Ogle: Right on. Oh, and why don’t I strap a pillow to my chest and become the target?
Meyers: Did you wear a helmet when you were a kid?

Ogle: Yes, helmet, great idea! I’ll wear a helmet and a pillow and let the Detmers nail me with footballs!
Meyers: Riiiiiiiight.

We won’t give away the winner. You’ll have to watch our Sibling Rivalry QB Competition video to see how it all went down. But needless to say, hilarity ensued, and both Ty and Koy seemed to enjoy themselves just a touch too much as they put bruise after bruise on my body. Next time, we’re using a bigger pillow.

And speaking of Heisman winners, we caught up with another one this week in Houston. Charlie Ward, who also happens to be a former Knicks, is now the quarterbacks coach at tiny Westbury Christian School, as well as an assistant basketball coach. He was an assistant coach with the Rockets last season, but grew tired of the N.B.A. lifestyle and is now living the laid-back life in Texas. And the folks at Westbury couldn’t be happier to have a legend on board, especially one who can play scout-team QB on occasion in practice.

If the Heisman bores you, or you think it’s fascist in a Crash Davis sort of way, we also spent some time with the more proletariat Rimington Trophy in Dallas. The Rimington Trophy goes to the best center in college football each year and is probably the least known of all the legitimate position awards out there. We got to sit down with the trophy itself to talk about the lack of recognition it and the center position receive. No seriously, we interviewed the trophy.

And I haven’t even gotten to all the fun Going Big had in Austin, Tex., over the weekend despite Texas’s collapse against Kansas State at home. We got the straight dope on the famous “Hook ‘Em Horns” hand signal from the guy who started it all 52 years ago, Judge Harley Clark. We got invited to hang out with Bevo, the Longhorns’ beloved live mascot, at his secret cattle ranch. And we helped deliriously excited Texas fans track down Vince Young at a pregame party.

It’s been a great ride the last week on the road, and it’s only going to get better. We’re in Dallas now, gearing up for the Red River Rivalry (it’s no longer a Shootout for political correctness purposes, apparently). It’s Texas. It’s Oklahoma. It’s the Cotton Bowl. It’s the state fair. More ridiculousness will surely follow. Perhaps next week we’ll bring you a fried Twinkie eating contest. Cross your fingers.

We have all the fun for you at Going Big.