LOL! What a night. Never dreamed Kerrville would be celebrating a local Heisman winner. History was made. I need to drive by the clock tower to see if it's still there. ;o)
Posted on 12/08/2012 5:33:30 PM PST by TXBlair
Saturday night, Kerrville residents across town huddled around their TV’s or gathered at one of the numerous Heisman watch parties around town, eyes glued to a moment 1,588 miles away.
Johnny Manziel, the Kerrville kid who dazzled the nation in maroon in white, was standing side by side — and a few inches shorter than — Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein, hoping to hear his name called as the recipient of College Football’s most prestigious award — the Heisman trophy.
Manziel was cool and collected on screen, but his supporters at home were anything but. Butterflies fluttering, Tivy fans who watched Manziel work his magic on the field of Antler Stadium just two years ago bit their fingers, sipped their beers and nervously tittered amongst themselves, making the case for why they dared to believe Manziel could shock them all again by becoming the first freshman to win college football’s most coveted award.
“It’s exciting that somebody from Kerrville is a Heisman finalist,” said 28-year-old John McClellan. “It’s fun for the whole community to be out here to witness this.
“I’m a little nervous because he’s a freshman, and there’s a lot of traditional barrier that freshman can’t come out and play as great. He’s definitely disproven that you don’t have to be a certain age to play as well as he’s played as long as you get that chance and do something with it.”
For every fan who was afraid, there was another with confidence.
“I’m pretty positive he’s going to win, because he’s played an amazing season,” said Leslie Snyder, a Texas A&M graduate class of 2010. “He has great stats, (and) he’s a great guy, so I think he has a high chance of winning.”
Believer or not, every time Manziel’s face came on the screen, the crowd broke out in applause. Camera crews from San Antonio roamed the crowd at Wing King, collecting the moment for their audiences down south. All through the night, the anticipation grew.
Then the moment arrived, bringing Manziel maniacs to their feet in suspense.
Heisman Trustee Anna Donahue took the stage and started talking about the candidates.
And talking.
And talking.
“Come on lady!” — Kerrvile was antsy.
Finally, she opened the envelope, read Manziel’s name out loud, and sent Kerrville into jubilation.
As the hometown crowd honked horns, cheered “Tivy Fight Never Dies,” and generally lost its mind, Manziel held his emotions in check — as cool as he was in the face of Alabama’s pass rush — and claimed the stage to give his speech.
Then everyone quieted (a little) to listen.
Then he said this: “To the 12th Man, to Texas A&M, to Kerrville, Texas, this trophy is for you!”
And Kerrville lost its mind all over again.
Either was Denard Robinson (Michigan Wolverine) who shattered NCAA combined running/passing yards as an underclassman but got injured his senior year this season. Not even mentioned.
So looks like Johnny beat Denard’s records - yet Denard crushed every QB record at Michigan (most winningest team in college football of all-time) in its history (and that’s a lot of great NFL QBs too) including Wolverine Tom Brady who holds 4 Super Bowl rings.
You just never know.
Congrats to Johnny Football. You’ve made us proud down here in the great state of Texas. Our granddaughter will be going to A&M next year. Great school! Gig ‘em Aggies!
Thanx for the ping, LV..yeah, I was gonna hit the panic button on my car when they announced his name..then I thought, “If everyone in town does that, the clock tower might collapse”.
Now that made me smile. I got my engineering degree from Bama. We always knew we were doing it right when opponents said things like that. I think Bama is on the eve of a dynasty so ROLL TIDE!!!
LOL! What a night. Never dreamed Kerrville would be celebrating a local Heisman winner. History was made. I need to drive by the clock tower to see if it's still there. ;o)
I'm only glad that a Domer didn't win it.
BTW, great-grandfather Manziel was among those who developed the East TX oil fields.
The Manziels aren't on food stamps!
http://hlrgazette.com/wchistory090107.htm
Why... is it true?
Roll Tide!
They were going to move to Oregon when he was planning to go there. They seem to be able to live without income from a job but aren't on welfare. LOL!.
The great grandfather discovered oil in East TX
We fixed the field. ;o)
Hello I was happy he won ..My dad was a college assistant at a&m while Bear Bryant was there..he got his masters there.
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