Oofty Goofty
10-13-2014, 11:36 PM
http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/files/2014/10/TOMMY.lEWIS_.cropped.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoCf3WqVyx4
Former Rice football star Dick Maegle had fond memories Monday of the man who joined him in college football lore more than 60 years ago via the famous “bench tackle” play – Tommy Lewis, a former Alabama player who died Sunday in Huntsville, Ala., at age 83.
Maegle was en route to a 95-yard touchdown run in the 1954 Cotton Bowl when Lewis came off the Alabama bench and threw a rolling block that stopped Maegle in his tracks. Maegle was awarded a touchdown by officials, and the Owls won 28-6 as Maegle rushed for 265 yards.
The two later appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and other TV programs in New York to talk about the play, and Maegle said they talked as recently as eight to 10 years ago.
“He called and asked if I remembered him, and I said, ‘How could I ever forget you?’ and he just laughed,” Maegle said. “He was a good guy who got caught up in the moment and the excitement. He always said he was ‘too full of Alabama.’”
Born in Greenville, Ala., Lewis played in the Canadian Football League and was a coach in college and high school before becoming an insurance salesman in Huntsville, Ala. He was active in local charities and was on the selection committee of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Maegle, 80, said he never had ill feelings about the bench tackle.
“He was very remorseful, and I thought he was sincere. I liked him,” Maegle said. “We became friends.”
Lewis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Trader Lewis, as daughter, two sons, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Services will be Wednesday in Huntsville, Ala.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoCf3WqVyx4
Former Rice football star Dick Maegle had fond memories Monday of the man who joined him in college football lore more than 60 years ago via the famous “bench tackle” play – Tommy Lewis, a former Alabama player who died Sunday in Huntsville, Ala., at age 83.
Maegle was en route to a 95-yard touchdown run in the 1954 Cotton Bowl when Lewis came off the Alabama bench and threw a rolling block that stopped Maegle in his tracks. Maegle was awarded a touchdown by officials, and the Owls won 28-6 as Maegle rushed for 265 yards.
The two later appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and other TV programs in New York to talk about the play, and Maegle said they talked as recently as eight to 10 years ago.
“He called and asked if I remembered him, and I said, ‘How could I ever forget you?’ and he just laughed,” Maegle said. “He was a good guy who got caught up in the moment and the excitement. He always said he was ‘too full of Alabama.’”
Born in Greenville, Ala., Lewis played in the Canadian Football League and was a coach in college and high school before becoming an insurance salesman in Huntsville, Ala. He was active in local charities and was on the selection committee of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Maegle, 80, said he never had ill feelings about the bench tackle.
“He was very remorseful, and I thought he was sincere. I liked him,” Maegle said. “We became friends.”
Lewis is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Trader Lewis, as daughter, two sons, four grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Services will be Wednesday in Huntsville, Ala.