Switzer tales: Touting Troy Aikman

Former Texas coach David McWilliams attended the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame inductions on May 8. His Longhorn quarterback in 1989-91, Peter Gardere, was among the honorees. Gardere went on to QB for John Mackovic in 1992 and finished 4-0 against the Sooners.

The Texas contingent to support Gardere was limited mostly to McWilliams, who has worked in UT’s administration since he was fired to make way for Mackovic. In fact, a couple of hours before the banquet in Waco, Texas, McWilliams was invited to join the huge OU contingent – Barry Switzer, nine former Sooner players and former assistants Gene Hochever and Rex Norris – that had assembled to honor Thomas Lott, OU’s 1976-78 quarterback who also was inducted.

Troy Aikman had to face a tough Miami defense back in 1985 and suffered a broken leg in the second quarter of OU's loss. Jamelle Holieway went on to help lead the Sooners to the national title. Aikman eventually wound up at UCLA. OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE ORG XMIT: 0709032153572662

McWilliams lingered in the Hilton lounge listening to all the old stories. He chimed in only once, to say he appreciated Switzer. McWilliams said that in spring 1986, when Troy Aikman was planning to transfer from OU, Switzer called McWilliams, who had just become head coach at Texas Tech. Switzer told McWilliams he should give Aikman a call.