Over the last three years, Longhorn fans have learned how to appreciate Texas quarterback Colt McCoy.
“I remember my first game was actually the Ohio State game,” says Chelsea Eldridge a student at Texas. “I watched that game I was like oh my gosh, my team is going to be horrible for the next four years, but he's been awesome!”
To find even more appreciation for the Texas quarterback, all you have to do is travel 125-miles North West of the Cotton Bowl to Graham, home of the Steers.
“We came in and we did change the logo a little bit,” says Brad McCoy, Colt’s father. “But they've been the steers forever here. But the logo is a little Longhornish, right now!”
Colt's father is the high school football coach in Graham.
“He's the same nice young man, a good son, you couldn't as for a better son,” he says. “Colt loves to come home, still loves to play and fish, help out and out and do things. He hasn't gotten the big head and out grown his status as a son in the family. We love him for that.”
Colt was coached by his dad in Tuscola, Texas just south of Abilene, but when he graduated and moved to Austin, his family picked up and moved to Graham.
“My dad was a great coach, a great teacher. he taught me everything I know about football,” says Colt. “He would just tell me to stay focused, relax, have fun, enjoy and just do what you do. go out there and just play the game.”
“He got a lot of criticism from friends, and people growing up because there were a lot of things he didn't do,” says his father. “He didn't stay up late. He didn't party at night. He just gave a lot of things up socially to put himself in position, he had a goal and he knew where he wanted to be.”
What he has turned out to be is a model citizen who is focused on football. Two years ago, Colt swam across a lake to save the life of a Graham resident who was having a seizure.
Colt's mother, Debra is a teacher at Graham High School. Her nephew died after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and this year, Colt has dedicated his season to his cousin.
“I'm not surprised by Colt, dedicating his season,” she says. “This is the first time that he has dedicated a season to anybody, and so I think it was with a lot of thought, and coach Mack Brown does a good job with that.”
Case the youngest of Colt's two brothers, is following in his foot steps. He's only a junior at Graham, but like his big brother, wants to become a big time quarterback.
“Colt has been my role model since I learned how to play football,” Case says. “Just looking up to him and trying to follow in his footsteps, and do everything he does from his achievements to almost his failures.
“God has blessed me, he's given me this opportunity,” says Colt. “I'm so thankful for it, I’m loving it. I love being in this position. I love being able to play in a big game like this. I look forward to it. I can't wait until Saturday.”
McCoy family tries to see all of Colts games, and that's why this weekend is so special. Sure its Texas-OU, but it's only a two hour drive from Graham to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
