The Man That Saved The Streak

Some records might never be broken.

One of those records, the consecutive win streak in college football, is held by the University of Oklahoma. From 1953 to 1957 the Sooners won an amazing 47 games in a row. That streak, however, might have died in its infancy it not for a player named Johnny Crouch.

It was in the TCU/Oklahoma game of 1954. As the game wound down, Johnny Crouch, a tight end, burst open in the end zone making a sliding catch of an underthrown ball. The officials raised up their arms in the signal for a touchdown.

But moments later the men in stripes were huddled up discussing the play. Fifty thousand Oklahoma fans waited in hushed agony. The call would decide if they won or lost. Don’t think there wasn’t a worry. One of the officials making the call was a TCU alum. Then the call… the touchdown was nullified and the crowd went crazy. OU had just won the game 21-16!

That’s right, won the game. Johnny Crouch played for TCU. The ball had been trapped on the surface by Crouch. The ruling kept the win streak alive but it wasn’t Crouch’s error that gave the Sooners the victory that day however, it was his honesty.

You see the only reason the officials overturned the call was that Crouch went up to them after the play and said, “Ref, I didn’t catch it”. The TCU coach thought that the former TCU alum turned official had succumbed to the pressure. He replied ‘No Sir, I succumbed to your own boy. He’s the most honest lad I have ever seen’. [1]

We might think virtues like honesty always benefit us. However, sometimes doing the right thing may cause us misery.

How painful are honest words!

Job 6:25

That doesn’t mean we should have them. Right and wrong is bigger than any single moment. Integrity isn’t made from what is good for me but what is right. Truth does not cease to be the truth because we would like it not to be or it would make things much easier for us. A momentary lie might bring us quick ease but can reap eternal destruction.

Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

Proverbs 12:19

A lot of great Oklahoma players helped put the Sooner into the record book, but I believe that it should never be forgotten that an opponent did something great as well to make it happen.

Johnny Crouch might not be remembered for his hands, but he should never be forgotten with what he did with his lips!

[1] Source: The Undefeated: The Oklahoma Sooners and the Greatest Winning Streak in College Football By Jim Dent

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