That is how you are supposed to move the team down the field. And when my coach told me that, I knew then, OK, it is not all about what the crowd is saying. ''He believed in me as a baby, as a young man, and I was up here with grown men,'' Holieway said. 4 Days Until @OU_Football . He remembers the knock on black quarterbacks in the old days, that they weren't smart enough to lead. Though he came back to play the following season, he saw limited action and reinjured the leg on October 8, 1988 versus the Texas Longhorns. And I had some success in moving the ball against them. He grazed it, but enough to see my head turn the other way. I loved it because when they talked about Michael Vick, Jamelle Holieways name got brought up, Holieway said. If you have heard of Holieway, you have heard the story. The loss dropped the Sooners from third to 10th in the Associated Press rankings. 4. Oakland Raiders from 1989-1990, and the CFL's BC Lions from 1991-1992, February 1989 article in Sports Illustrated, Investing in Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate, More. Holieway had worked some with the first team the week of the Miami game that Aikman was injured in, so he was prepared. MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma -- Former University of Oklahoma quarterback Jamelle Holieway is in the Muskogee County jail after being arrested on warrants out of McIntosh County. But with Penn State leading in the second quarter, 7-3, and Oklahoma facing a 3rd down and 24 yards to go from its own 29-yard-line, Holieway made his mark. He was such a unique, genuine person. LOS ANGELES SEPTEMBER 24: Fullback Leroy Holt #39 of the USC Trojans runs out of bounds against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Coliseum on September 24, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. HS coach Chris Ferragamo older brother of Vince Ferragamo Nebraska QB @OU_Football https://t.co/69xZp61LSR, Barry Switzer (@Barry_Switzer) June 9, 2018, I said, Mama, I can get a scholarship,' Holieway recalled. He didnt have electricity in his home until high school. Oklahoma won seven straight to close out the regular season, then beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl, making Holieway the only true freshman quarterback to lead a Bowl Subdivision team to a national title. When Holieway took the field, he dazzled with his quickness and wiggle. He is the former OU quarterback, the wishbone legend, and in 1985, he became the first true freshman since at least the leather-helmet days to quarterback a team to a national title. Youre in! And holy crap, he had wheels. If you are looking for former OU football greats, go to our website www.formersoonergreats.com for our new publication. I wanted the ball in my hand, Holieway said. He is the only one who has silver shoes like nobody else. That threw me back, and then I saw Thomas Lott with the bandana. In looking at the history, it appears he paid the price for this scrambling ability -- a couple of leg injuries in his junior and senior seasons hampered the tail end of his college career, and possibly factored into limited success in the pros, with the Oakland Raiders from 1989-1990, and the CFL's BC Lions from 1991-1992. After one game, while waiting by the ramp in the arenas garage where the players parked their cars, he came face-to-face with one of his idols and the man who would later come to symbolize that flashy substance of the L.A. athletic aesthetic, a rookie from Lansing, Michigan who was fresh off of winning the National Championship at Michigan State University by the name of Earvin Magic Johnson. As a quarterback, Holieway was the polar opposite of Aikman. The 5-foot-11 field general stepped in after Troy Aikman went down with a broken leg during a loss to Miami early in the season, and the Sooners didn't miss a beat after that game. ''It's amazing that he has the same initials,'' Holieway told The Associated Press by telephone. An Aikman-led victory over Texas (14-7) set the stage for the well-documented October 19 visit from unranked Miami. Jamelle Holieway Net Worth. But I believe he wants to. Holieway returned for the 1988 season and passed up the chance to take his redshirt year and continue rehabilitating his knee in large part because the Sooners were visiting his hometown Southern California in the third week of the season against the fifth-ranked Trojans. Because you get to dress up, this is the time where everybody gets to dress up and show what their style is and what part of the neck of the woods they are from. #Gatewood @GotBoz44 #EddieWally #1987OUNeb @Barry_Switzer @SpenceTillman @EarlJoh26055677 pic.twitter.com/hTzhvYx5id, Wallis Marsh (@WallisMarsh) August 30, 2022. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY NETWORK. We went 11-0 the next year and I ran for 325 yards in the city championship, but we wound up losing. He is still involved with youth sporting activities and continues to support . Clad in his original Oklahoma road-white 1986 Orange Bowl jersey which was used just for a bowl week photo opportunity as the Sooners wore their crimson jerseys in the game that year Holieway gathered before the scrimmage at midfield with all of the other former players as Venables spoke passionately about their importance to the program. He was arrested yesterday in McAlister, OK, for shoplifting at Walmart. I got to step in and run my stuff. Aikman was an Oklahoma native with a strong arm and pro potential, so chances were good that Holieway would have to wait a while to play. And when he was talking and his motivation and the way he was speaking, man, he was speaking to us. 22, scoot over and start coming down and I just said, Red, red, Y Go, Y Go and that means, (Oklahoma tight end) Keith (Jackson), go run as fast as you can down the middle of the field and I am going to throw it as far as I can and hopefully we connect. That is how that play came about., 88 days until Sooner football. I dont care if there are no ticks on the clock and it is the last Hail Mary, we have to think that we are going to win that. Holieway was named the backup quarterback during the preseason, which began on August 15 and consisted of an incredible month and a half of two-a-day practices four or five days a week.Once the season-opening home game against SMU was moved to December 7 to accommodate a national television broadcast by ABC, it meant the 1985 season would not begin until September 28 at Minnesota and, amazingly, the home-opener would not be until October 19, a week after the annual clash with Texas in Dallas. As Aikman dropped back to pass, Miamis defensive lineman Jerome Brown tore through the Oklahoma line and violently sacked him, breaking the giftedquarterbacks ankle in the process. His mother taught him, at an early age, the need to be mobile and self-sufficient. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Have a look at Troy Aikman running Oklahoma's wishbone offense in 1985 against The U. A series of arrests over the years has tattered Holieways reputation, but hes trying to restore it. Redshirt freshmen QBs have won it all, including Jameis Winston just a few seasons ago, but Holieway stands alone as the only true frosh to pull it off from the most important position on the field. But on that glorious 1985 fall Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma, Miami walked in with an arrogance and swagger that would help them to later bully all of college ball like Debo did Red in the movie Friday. She let us go in there to talk, but instead of sitting on the couch, Coach Switzer laid down on the floor. She hated to chase me around the house, because Id be giving her stutter-steps and jump backs. Judging by the practice routine in the week leading up to the game, one had to wonder if an appearance from Holieway was the plan all along. We know we played OU football., NORMAN, OK APRIL 23: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners kneels with former players before the teams spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022, in Norman, Oklahoma. And Holieway says his three proudest moments are 1) winning the national championship; 2) graduating in four years and getting his political science diploma; and 3) sitting with Lee Roy Selmon during the 2000 national championship Orange Bowl, watching OU beat Florida State. You are not going to change. I didnt believe it. Maybe Holieway felt invincible in Oklahoma. Alabama's Jalen Hurts is two wins away from joining Holieway. He was about to pull off in his Mercedes when I knocked on his window and told him that hed left his bag. I am playing with grown men that have babies. He was by far the best wishbone quarterback every to play the game. This is how long we have to practice.'. Holieway was the first true freshman quarterback to lead his team to the national title.[1]. Coach Switzer, he never has changed, Holieway said. And I would have given it all I could. She showed me how to transfer to different buses and I learned how to get around on my own, said Holieway. Holieway was a fan of the USC Trojans growing up. Holieway likes the intelligence Hurts brings to the game. Tim Lashar kicked four field goals, Sonny Brown intercepted two passes and Holieway etched his name in the history books forever as the first true freshman starting quarterback to lead his team to a national championship, 25-10. Holieway still regularly attends Oklahoma games in Norman he will be at the Texas El-Paso game on Saturday and continues to be amazed at the number of fans who approach him with words of appreciation and youthful tales of how he was admired and emulated. The decision proved wise. ''It's amazing that he's a true freshman. But rumors of his skills soon reached his science teacher at Banning, Chris Ferragamo, who also happened to be their legendary and accomplished varsity football coach. It was remarkable because my mom and them got to see at home. The flashy, charismatic and likeable true freshman from Los Angeles was jabbering away and running his mouth. Hurts has won over the Crimson Tide the same way Holieway won the Sooners over - by handling business in big game after big game. ''The part that entered my mind was, `It's your time.' Holieway graduated with a 31-3 record as a starter, was a two-time all-Big 8 quarterback and totaled over 5,000 total yards (2,713 rushing, 2,430 passing). Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports. But with 9:18 remaining in the half, everything changed in an instant. But he says no. Who do you think got to ride around in a cart to drive Coach Switzer around? I met Mr Holieway at a little league baseball game he was very open to speaking and mentoring the kids on the team, which a lot of professional athletes wouldn't take a minute of their time to do! But Charlie Evans would be pleased at the sight of the Spirit of Oklahoma Football Camp, with Jamelle Holieway . I wish him much success. He feels a connection to Hurts, yet they've never met and he wondered if Hurts even knows who he was. When he got to Banning High School, he decided to keep playing on his recreation league team in Inglewood as opposed to playing on the schools junior varsity squad. Jamelle Holieway has the and the s vote, Tune in at 6:30 CT on @FOXSportsOK for the full debate! Barry Layne Switzer (born October 5, 1937) is a former American football coach and player. And this one was pretty good, but man, do you ever read what you've written before hitting the "send" or "submit" button?? We had the best defense in the country. . Aikman gets off to a great start, then breaks his left leg in the second quarter with the Sooners trailing, 14-7, and Holieway trots out to assume control of the offense for the rest of the season. Another one of the great plays in #Sooners history. My mother was working so many jobs, but she would come to my games and holler my name, he said. Those are good times.. And that is what I did. On the ensuing play, a 35-yard Holieway completion to receiver Derrick Shepard (decd. There are a lot of people out there pulling for him and other former players. His favorite players included Marcus Allen, Ricky Bell, Anthony Davis, Charles Whiteand The Juice, O.J. You couldnt make that pivotal mistake. And coming from the gang-infested streets of Los Angeles, he was never intimidated or nervous playing football, regardless if a mountain of a defender like Jerome Brown was trying to separate his head from his limbs. Miami led by as many as 20 points that day in its 27-14 victory. The recipient of the Sparks phone call was 1980s national championship quarterback Jamelle Holieway. Despite never being teammates, a player from the 1990s reaching out to an icon of the 1980s served as a fitting testament to the sort of brotherhood that comes with being an Oklahoma Sooner. I always wanted to surprise my mother with things, so Id knock on peoples doors and ask them if they wanted their bottles, which you could turn in and get money for, said Holieway. During his senior year of high school, his father was sent to prison after being convicted for the illegal trafficking of alcohol. Trailing41-35 with two minutes to go, in front of 35,000 spectators, Banning took control of the ball at their own 5-yard-line. That is when reality set in, Holieway said. He said, Get your ass on the bus. (Sooner Magic) was born before me, but to be a part of it, to have a game or two in Sooner Magic, (was great).. Through the air, he threw 257 times, completing 117 passes for 2,430 yards with 22 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. I rushed for over 1,200 yards and passed for over 1,200 yards as a senior and got what we called the Baby Heisman, the city Player of the Year trophy. He picked up his mothers limp body, cradled her in his arms and carried her inside, overwhelmed with shock and grief. To me, that was Sooner Magic,' Holieway said. Eric Bailey Oct 22, 2021 Oct 22, 2021 Updated Nov 27, 2022; 0; 1 of 2 . He's come to this Okfuskee County hamlet to teach a little football and spread a little inspiration and maybe teach these boys of all ages a thing or two about life. That opened up a lot of doors for me and I got to travel to places in Los Angeles and California that I normally wouldnt have seen. ''Winning cures all symptoms. So, how much is Jamelle Holieway worth at the age of 55 years old? He has a lovely young wife who assists him and a beautiful young son. creation festival 1997 lineup. It's a shame he didn't get a fair shot in the pros. On the defensive side of the ball, there was an embarrassment of riches headlined by three All-Americans defensive end Kevin Murphy, linebacker Brian Bosworth who would win the Butkus Award as the nations top linebacker, and tackle Tony Casillas, the eventual Lombardi Award winner asthe countrys premier interior defensive lineman. I am going to be cold. , At the end of this clip, Jerome Brown helped to break Aikman's ankle, which led to his transfer to UCLA. 1999) brought Oklahoma to the Nebraska 32. And given the opportunity, I did pretty well.''. And of course it's Keith Jackson again. Holieway lost for just the second time as a starter, 23-7, that day and started two more games while alternating playing time with Thompson before his limitations health-wise made it clear that Thompson was the faster, more effective option going forward. And if I can still be relevant in college football 30 years later, were pretty good., Trevor Lawrence is the 2nd true freshman starting quarterback to win a National Title and the first since Jamelle Holieway led Oklahoma to a title in 1985 after Troy Aikman went down with a season-ending injury. I am always the last one on the bus, Holieway said. I dont care who is the coach, we know we put on that crimson and cream. He could pass the ball when needed, but his strength was in his lightning-quick feet, assiduously making an inordinate amount of correct split-second decisions, his greasy slickness in the open field while darting through defenses, and overall mastery of operating the rapid-fire action of the wishbone option an offense that Oklahoma had de-emphasized to take advantage of Aikmans arm. At Oklahoma, he took over for an injured Troy Aikman in his freshman year in the Miami game when Jerome Brown and Dan Sileo broke Aikman's leg. He is gone be Jamelle part II on this level :-D :-D, That great year in '85 I had just moved to the D.C. area after high school.Having spent a lifetime proudly celebrating any accomplishment the Sooners had I so needed that team in order to feel my ties were close,being so far from home.Just to see Coach Switzer in interviews describing this remarkablr young man was awe inspiring.The look in his eyes waxing lyrically about Holloway as only Coach Switzer does still thrills me as if it were yesterday.The Good Lord not gining any. Five plays later, following an Oklahoma time out, Holieway threw to the goal line to tight end Keith Jackson for a 17-yard touchdown. But the ironic thing about that is, here they did change, and my cousin (1990 national champion) Darian Hagan goes there a year later. Colorado won the game 10-9. I get on that bus to get on that plane, and Coach Switzer says, Where did you get that jacket from? I said, Coach, it is going to be snowing up in Lincoln. He served for 16 years as head football coach at the University of Oklahoma and four years as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Hes made a name for himself in this state., A name both good and bad. So as the diminutive, speedyoption-savant stepped into the huddle with a beaming smile in the second quarter of the game against the Hurricanes, with his Los Angeles swag and confidence emboldened in front of 75,000 screaming people, many of whom were deflated Sooner fans who thought their National Championship dreams were fractured right along with Aikmans ankle, the first thing Holieway calmly uttered, before calling the first play of his Oklahoma career was, Alright then. Sorry Berry, I also thought Jamelle had the liver for dinner that night that Terry mentioned. I immediately upon reading your version of the above, visualized an internal organ flopping around on a highway. My first time I saw Joe Washington with those silver shoes, I am like, Aw, man, that is sweet. Youre not moving like you used to.. When the starter returned from his injury the next week, he was moved to wide receiver. With 1:22 to go, Switzer elected to kick the tying extra point that would secure Oklahoma the Big 8 championship and the Orange Bowl bid, while the Nebraska crowd was seemingly left with the consolation tie. Holieway played professionally for the National Football League's Los Angeles Raiders (19891990) and the Canadian Football League's BC Lions (19911992). We will get together once a year in September, but not this year, at my moms house, and when people know that I am coming into town, we will have a five-day party. Holieway had hoped for a chance to voice his appreciation for Hurts' game. Jamelle Holieway Banning HS Wilmington, California. Holieways mother, Charlie Mae Evans, worked three jobs to support him when he was growing up in South Central Los Angeles. The Sooners started at their own 34-yard line with 50 seconds left, but only got to their 45 with just 18 remaining ticks on the clock. It is not all about the cheering. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. From 1985-87, the Sooners finished 33-3 with three conference championships and one national title. Troy broke his leg, Switzer told him. Hands down. Jamelle was the Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for 811 yards and eight touchdowns and throwing for four TDs. At the time, 5-foot-9, 175-pound Sooner Jamelle Holieway was on the sideline doing what he did best. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a national championship in 1985. It is really cool to have Banning and Carson get together.. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery shortly after the injury, and rehabilitated in the offseason. Jamelle Holieway's income source is mostly from being a successful . I wrote about Holieways quest in the Sunday Oklahoman. All I know is he was a good qb and nobody could stop him or ou that year. From that point forward, henever came out of the starting lineup. So by the time I jogged into the huddle, I couldnt help but be prepared. Ligament and cartilage damage ended his season, but Holieway was enough of an asset moral-wise that Switzer brought him with the team to Lincoln for the second-ranked Sooners matchup with No. It is not the same, just like everything in the world is. There was something about playing Miami, because I knew that we had to give our best, Holieway said. Holieway starred at Banning, helped a Pilots team with 13 future major-college players win a Los Angeles City football title as a junior, then was named the LA. His cerebral competencies were a manifestationand byproduct ofyears of dedicated film study. Throughout the remainder of this college football season, The Shadow Leagues series, The Black College Quarterback, will examine some of the most talented and impactful signal callers of the 80s and 90s. Now Im grown up., Holieways lifelong friend, former Southern Cal fullback Leroy Holt, said hes glad Holieway never returned to California. To give people awe like that is a great feeling. Jamelle Holieway is considered one of the greatest option quarterbacks in NCAA Division I-A history. He is to have surgery which will enable him to speak. http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/artic Jamelle is a personal friend of mie and he is currently living in Mcalster, OK, where he works for a home health care business, he is married to a very nice lady her name is Brandi. As a kid, he would walk out of his home with a .22 pistol and a kerosene lamp to escort his mother and grandmother to the outhouse, protecting them against venomous Copperhead snakes. 12 Oklahoma State in Norman. I am going to be sitting on the bench. It was a distinction that Holieway shared with no one for the next 33 years. All Rights Reserved. About a month ago he found out that he had a heart attack at some time. Hurts has only spoken to reporters once so far this season and isn't expected to be available until next week before the Peach Bowl. He won three national championships at Oklahoma, and led the Cowboys to win Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. And here I am, just a little 18-year-old snotty-nosed freshman. Holieway capped the opening drive with a five-yard touchdown run, and a his 36-yard run set up an R.D. ''Winning, just like Dak Prescott in Dallas,'' Holieway said. ', Top 50 OU Football Players of the Modern Era, 30 Best OU Football Games in School History. He also practiced those moves within the tight confines of his small home. (Joe Skipper / Associated Press) By David Wharton They were hard times. And maybe, hopefully, hes figuring it out. As he got to the Oklahoma State sideline, he collapsed to the turf and clutched his left knee with both hands. Holieway, now 49 and living in Quinton, Oklahoma, has enjoyed watching Hurts from afar and sees similarities in their skills and situations. Now knowing that I touched that many people out there, young men, to wear No. I could run that offense in my sleep. NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Jamelle Holieway dazzled the college football world as a true freshman who mastered Oklahoma's dynamic wishbone attack and led the Sooners to the 1985 national championship . Jamelle was an amazimg college player. Holieway has raised his family in Oklahoma and is a long-time resident of McAlister. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. That was the best time., January 1, 1988; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Miami Hurricanes receiver Michael Irvin reacts against the Oklahoma Sooners during the 1988 Orange Bowl. Switzer had beenan assistant coach at the University of Arkansas when Johnson wasan All-Southwest Conference defensive lineman there in the early 1960s. Holieway's favorite moment of the 1985 season came in the Orange Bowl, when he tossed a perfect, 71-yard touchdown strike to Keith Jackson that gave Oklahoma a lead over the Nittany Lions for good. Jamelle Holieway was a 18 Year old True Freshman who answered the call and led OU to a National Championship. Your email address will not be published. Before we got off the plane, he told me, Son, if you can emulate everything you just told me on the field, youll be my starting quarterback by mid season of your freshman year. ''I didn't want to stay in Norman when they had away games because it was a ghost town back then, and everybody went their separate ways.''. NORMAN, Okla. (AP) Jamelle Holieway dazzled the college football world as a true freshman who mastered Oklahoma's dynamic wishbone attack and led the Sooners to the 1985 national championship. Thats probably where all my moves first came from. During his junior year, Banning was returning its starting quarterback, so Jamelle was relegated to being a backup. In a way, Holieway believes Hurts winning a national title would be a greater accomplishment that his leading the Sooners to the championship. Lashar field goal later in the quarter. He spent all day with the team and never asked for anything in return! As the kid from Los Angeles sat staring out of the window, dreaming about his future and the places that he would go one day, Switzer walked to the back of the plane and they started talking football. ''Now, because of the parity, because of the equality across the board - back then, you might have had six powerhouses. If I had thought about it, I wouldve kept that bag and told Magic to come to my house, he says playfully. So you can basically weed them out and figure out who's going to win the national championship. As if the existing racial tensions and economic shifts werent harmful enough, the citys service sector began supplanting many black workers with immigrants from Central America and Mexico. (Photo by Bernstein Associates/Getty Images), I was playing against my best friend, Leroy Holt, who was a starting fullback for USC, Holieway said. After Testaverde lofted a beautiful 55-yard pass to a streaking Michael Irvin for the games first score midway through the first quarter, Aikman engineered an 89-yard drive that was highlighted by his 50-yard pass to Keith Jackson. I didnt know any different, Holieway said. Colts 72Glad we never had to face Holieway at QBonly Ferragamoand he was a handful Banning high great, he was from the low lows ecc 190's. I dont know what this man knew that I didnt know, but he knew something.. The Orange Bowl featured No. Within 11 months of our dinner, he had quarterbacked OU to the national title and himself into Sooner lore." Jamelle Holieway (born June 25, 1967) is an American former college and professional football player who was a quarterback for the University of Oklahoma. Now, he sees Hurts using his brains and athleticism at the highest level of college football, and he's proud. The overall unit was one of the most punishing and ferocious in all of college football. That would arrive November 23 against third-ranked Nebraska. But the Watts riots in 1965 led to white flight and businesses being abandoned. Just a bit of constructive criticism Only thing missing was the fur coat & purse. The face mask on fourth down on the short side of the field where Broderick Thomas grabbed by face mask. I was paying attention to what was going on in the game, but I didnt know that Troy got hurt. "Holieway obviously was a liver in the fast lane, even back then. But during his recruitment, USC told him that they didnt want him as a quarterback or running back. It was a performance that prompted ABC studio host Jim Lampley to remark to legendary play-by-play broadcaster Keith Jackson in the fourth quarter, Frightening, isnt it Keith, to think how good Holieway could be if he plays for three more years and stays healthy and develops with that offense?. Hed considered many other schools, including Oregon, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Colorado. So my father came home and had to find a way to feed his family. Especially this time, because I am on crutches. A name both good and bad. So my name got brought up enough to keep my name in the loop and for me to be relevant in these times of college football. 1 and won its first eight games, which set up a Bedlam matchup against No. You cant jump offsides when it is 4th and 1. The ancillary effects of the abandonment, rising unemployment, escalating crime, violence and poverty, along with the distending narcotics trade, were all critical elements in the augmentation of the Bloods, Crips and overall gang culture. Just to see where we are on the radar.. "He's made a name for himself in this state.". Or Id go and help people wash their cars so I could gather up enough money to get her some flowers, some type of trinket, or a candy dish that you could sit on the table. We could communicate and understand everything without having to talk to each other because we worked on it so much. If you are looking for former OU football greats, go to our website for our new one of a kind magazine, "Former Sooner Greats - Where Are They Now?
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