Another Fan Teaser Doubleplay! IYKYK this pair of decorated 20-somethings.
In honor of this week’s Red River Showdown (Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl) we’re turning the clock back to the 1970s when a pair of running backs – both wearing No. 20 and both hailing from east Texas – ran rampant through the old Southwest Conference.
First on the scene was the University of Texas’ Earl Campbell, from Tyler, TX. The 1977 Heisman Trophy winner and consensus All-American, Campbell finished his time in Austin with 4,443 yards rushing and 40 rushing touchdowns. He became the No. 1 pick in the 1978 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers.
Earl Campbell (left) and Billy Sims made life tough on Southwest Conference defenses during the 1970s. (Photos from the University of Texas and Oklahoma University)
Meanwhile, Billy Sims (from Hooks, TX) matriculated Oklahoma University and though he was slow to get started, by the time he was a junior (1978 Heisman Trophy winner) and senior (1979 Heisman runner-up) he was hard to stop. Sims left Oklahoma with 3,813 yards rushing and 48 rushing touchdowns during his 4-plus years on campus. He became the No. 1 pick in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
For what it’s worth, Campbell finished 1-2-1 in Red River Showdown games and Sims 2-2-1.
Just to review, The Fan Teaser was the creation of former Ann Arbor News Sports Editor Geoff Larcom. Longtime friend and fellow Ann Arbor News alum, Pat Schutte, took it to heights previously unknown. We aim to keep it alive here at The Sports Fan Project. The cropped photo and the accompanying clue give you an idea as to who or what the image is of. We invite you to use the Comment option to take a crack at solving the Teaser and, if you’re so inclined, participate in some good-spirited banter with your fellow sports fans. The Fan Teaser will appear each Friday morning with the reveal coming to you Sunday.