[Husker] Family Being Torn Apart (Football Family That Is)

[Kenneth McKillip]

I was at Reliant Stadium yesterday when Vince Young came back home for the
first time as a Pro.  Some things reminded me of the Husker family.

 

Native son who grew up 6 miles from the stadium, played for the beloved
Horns, lead them to their first NC in 35 years.  Vince stated that he wanted
to be drafted by the home town Texans.  Of course the Texans didn't want him
because he wasn't the prototype NFL passing QB.  So they passed.  Vince went
to the Titans (Houston's old team with new name and the same owner - Bud
Adams - that took his team and left the city).  The Titans struggled early
in 2006 so they decided to toss their new QB into the fire.  They have done
nothing but win since.

 

Yesterday the stadium was a stew of nerves.  Fights breaking out.  Texan
fans wanting their team to win, but wanting their hero Vince to get some
measure of I told you so satisfaction.  About as many Texas Longhorn and
Titan jerseys as Texan jerseys.  It felt like a family being torn apart.

 

The ending couldn't have been more dramatic.  Overtime.  Titans 3rd and 14
on the 39 yards line.  Vince drops back and the Texans come hard.  Then the
magic that only a mobile QB can add.  Vince steps up, breaks a tackle, and
runs straight down the field just like it was the Rose Bowl for a walk off
39 yard touchdown.  You see something like this in college once in a while,
but to see it in the pros takes your breath away.  Imagine almost any other
pro-QB doing this Peyton, Eli, etc.  No way.  Maybe Senica Wallace or
Micheal Vick - maybe.  But you almost knew it was going to happen with
Vince.

 

All I heard afterword was McNair (the owner) is a dumb*ss and,
sarcastically, "maybe someday we'll have a chance to draft a guy like
Vince".  A home town hero.  One of our own.

 

I don't know how these fans will ever heal.  Maybe going to the Superbowl -
maybe not.  This guy is loved by so many fans.  I would have brought season
tickets if they had drafted him because I'd like to see a mobile QB succeed
in the NFL - just a lot of fun to watch (although I don't like Micheal Vick
ever since Va Tech blocked us from playing for the NC in 2001 and I don't
think he is nearly as good as Vince - Vince is so commanding and cool under
fire).  Even if he would have flopped drafting him would have been the right
marketing move.  The love for a hometown legend would have meant so much -
made the Texans so special to Houstonians.  Fans want a team that they love
deep down in their hearts for some reason (like a local hero, one of our
own, etc.) and then is when the fun starts, when they really truely enjoy
seeing them win.

 

Bud Adams is going to rub Houston's nose in their decision for the next 10
years.