Burnt Orange Nation

It wasn't a win...

but the first thing that comes to mind was Durant’s performance against Oke St. in the 3-OT instant classic. I don’t think it really compares to last night, but I think that goes to show how unbelievable Wood’s performance was. My hat’s off as well.

mattyj - May 31, 2009 reply

Awesome performance by Austin Wood

Great thread, 54b! This game will forever be high on my list of gutty Longhorn efforts. Since I’m older than most of you guys, I’ll highlight one from the previous generation: my top “refuse to lose” Longhorn team effort was this ’69 performance, led by a regular ole baseball dad:

Still down 14-8, Texas began a desperate drive for the end zone that appeared to stall with 4:47 remaining when Royal opted for yet another gamble on fourth-and-3 from their own 43-yard line. During a timeout that Texas took before the fateful play, Royal shouted at Street, “Right 53 Veer pass.” The play was a deep pattern throw to the tight end. The play wasn’t in the Texas game plan package. “Are you sure that’s the call you want?” Street said. “Damn right I’m sure!” Royal snapped. Street had noticed Arkansas defenders looking into the Texas huddle, so he fixed his gaze on split end Cotton Speyrer while explaining the play to Randy Peschel, saying “Randy, I’m looking and pointing at Cotton, but I’m talking to you.” Street then hit Peschel on the dramatic play, with Peschel making a difficult catch over his shoulder in double coverage. It not only converted on fourth down, but also gained 44 yards, putting the Longhorns on the Razorbacks 13.

Two plays later Jim Bertelsen ran in for the game-tying touchdown. Donnie Wigginton, the third-string quarterback who was the holder, made a big save on a high snap and Happy Feller booted the extra point for the winning score with 3:58 remaining.

Arkansas made a push into Texas territory, hoping for a field goal from All-American kicker Bill McClard. Arkansas was down to the Texas 40 when Tom Campell intercepted Montgomery on the Texas 21-yard line with less than a minute left. -wiki

Hook ’em Austin Wood and the rest of the Longhorn squad!

horndude - May 31, 2009 reply

That was a great game for Wood I think he just improved his draft status last night! Keep it up Wood

kcmorse - May 31, 2009 reply

3 threads, 1676 comments.......

From the beginning when I was beergutting the thread til Bevo and Kreiss joined in and 6 hrs later, I fell asleep listening to Craig Way.
Too bad the game wasn’t over yet….it went over 7 hours and 25 innings, damn!
Austin Wood’s pitching performance was the best I have ever seen and Augie said that in his 41 years of coaching that was the best that he had seen.
Let’s not forget what Chance Ruffin did. He pitched 6 1/3 and only gave up 2 runs. I think only one of them was earned. He was efficient.
The offense is still a concern and as GBR pointed out in the thread, Augie’s move to let Moldy pinch hit for Keyes early on in the game was puzzling. We were then without our only offense for the last 18 innings or so…..
All in all, a classic game. Austin Wood is a man and I have a good feeling about this team. Hook em!

SneezyBeltran - May 31, 2009 reply

Another football curtain call...

Chris Simms in 2000 against A&M filling in for an injured Applewhite…18-24, 383 yards (234 in the 3rd Qrt alone)

54b - May 31, 2009 reply

Wood also struck out 14

(And Cameron Rupp whiffed 6 times on his own)

Caradoc - May 31, 2009 reply

too incredible to believe

and kudos to the BONers who gamethreaded all night. Also a magnificent feat.

jc25 - May 31, 2009 reply

Augie called it the finest pitching performance he has ever seen

Hard to disagree

40AS - May 31, 2009 reply

The thing that blows my mind...

…is that he’s been a RELIEVER the entire season. Yes, he’s been extended in some games for several innings, but it’s not like he’s been throwing 6-8 innings for 15+ starts. If Ruffin pulled this off, it would still be incredible, but closers dont throw 5 innings. They dont throw 7 innings. They sure as hell dont throw 13 innings.

In my opinion, what separates this performance from the others listed is the implications for his post-UT career. With as much literature and discussion over pitch counts, pitcher’s health, and the danger to pitchers who throw when tired, even middle schoolers know they should be careful throwing curve balls or shouldn’t throw over 90 pitches. Will Carroll probably shook his head and rolled his eyes when he saw this line. Throwing 170 pitches in a game doesn’t happen anymore, and it isn’t because pitchers aren’t “tough.” It’s because throwing that many pitches just isnt safe. The fact that Wood kept asking for the ball every single inning when he was well past his comfort zone is just incredible, but I hope it doesnt wind up leading to arm troubles somewhere down the line.

I know UT pitchers have had a penchant for throwing an insane number of pitches—especially under Gustafson—but that was still before the pitch count mantra had been universally accepted and fully proven. The only thing I can think of that immediately compares to this was when Colt McCoy came back to play against A&M after his neck stinger against KSU, but even that was debateable, as many people (myself included) thought Mack should have protected Colt from himself.

Another factor is that he ptiched nearly 1.5 games all by himself. This would have to require a 4-OT football or basketball game, and our crown jewel in that department is the 3-OT game in Stillwater.

I dont really know how you can compare this effort to other sports because of those two factors…

txtwstr7 - May 31, 2009 reply

I fell in love with baseball again last night.

I was following it on twitter and could not pick up the feed because I was not at home. Finally in the 20th innning I went out to my car and listened to the game.

Was on the edge of my seat the whole time. As Augie said afterwards, these kind of things are what make people national Championnship. Sure its a huge win but what the team will get out of this win will pay off in weeks and years to come (Individually)./

Congrats Mr. Wood, and congrats Longhorns you earned this victory

blazzinken - May 31, 2009 reply

Austin Wood showed true "Pitching" last night.

   In an era when pitchers are limited by pitch counts or their own attitudes because they do not feel like pitching. Austin Wood showed what it meant to be a pitcher. If any of us had been around during the eras of Cy Young or Walter Johnson and all those great pitchers of the past. It would have just been like watching Austin Wood last night. Instead of saying “coach I am a closer” or complaining about his arm being tired.
   He just went out and probably pitched the greatest game in NCAA history. I am not quite 30 yet, but it seems forever since watching guys like Nolan Ryan and Greg Maddux going out and doing what they did on a regular basis. So to Austin Wood I thank you as I know every Longhorn fan thanks you for not just leading our beloved Horns to victory, but also for showing us that there is still a generation of athletes that are not all premaddonas, but actually put their team first and can show us that the lost art of “pitching” still does exist.

HornsRiverine - May 31, 2009 reply

Come on, Austin "Morning" Wood?

we don’t have a better nickname than that?

It’ll be interesting to see if this effort has any long-term implications on Wood’s arm as far as permanent damage goes. This is absolutely absurd. A lot of managers in little league, college, and pros simply wouldn’t allow one pitcher to throw 150+ pitches for future health concerns.

goingforthecorner - May 31, 2009 reply