In his poem “Prospice,” Robert Browning wrote, “For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave.” Over and over it has happened. You have probably experienced it in your own life as I have.
This last year was a dismal season for the Dallas Cowboys. But there have been dismal seasons before. Let me tell you about the one in 1967. It was Thanksgiving Day. The Cowboys had lost four games in a row, won four in a row, lost a crucial game 28-21 to the Washington Redskins, beat Houston 10-0, and now were hosting the Redskins in Texas Stadium. I
n the fourth quarter, with the Cowboys behind 16-3, the worst happened. Roger Staubach, their star quarterback, was knocked out of the game with 9:57 left to play.
Now, in a crisis, the only replacement for Staubach was an unknown quantity, an untried rookie, Clint Longley. He hadn’t played a down since pre-season. But he was the number two quarterback. Coach Tom Landry sent him in. There was no one else left.
Clint, simply unbelievable, went wild. He wasn’t worried about keying the defense. Simply fading back and hitting any receiver he saw open, he was passing the Redskins crazy. But his performance wasn’t quite enough. With only 35 seconds showing on the clock, the Cowboys trailing 23-17, Dallas fans started filing out of the stands.
George Allen, the Washington coach, had employed the nickel defense in which an extra back replaced a linebacker. Their opposition had completed only about 20 percent of their passes. No team had been able to get behind them all season.
The Cowboys, knowing they couldn’t get behind them, decided to hit a play across underneath the zone and hope Drew Pearson could outrun it. Maybe split it because they were doubling him inside out.
Drew was working a little strategy with Clint on his own. As they broke huddle he said, “I’m going to fake inside and go deep.”
What happened on the next play was amazing. The extra back, Ken Stone, fell for the fake, and by the time he realized what was happening Drew was behind him and was in a footrace with Mike Bass for the goal line.
Clint let go with the bomb. With one last burst of speed, Drew moved just beyond the defense, reached up, took the pass and fell into the end zone for the touchdown. Dallas had won 24-23.
It’s everlastingly true. “For sudden the worst turns to the best for the brave.” So in the words of Robert W. Service:
Carry on! Carry on! Fight the good fight and true;
Believe in your mission, greet life with a cheer; There’s big work to do, and that’s why you’re here.
Carry on! Carry on!
Let the world be the better for you;
And at last when you die, let this be your cry:
Carry on, my soul! Carry on!
Clyde Nichols is a retired minister, having served First Christian Church in Temple for 27 years as senior minister. He is the author of three books of devotionals and writes a religious column for several Texas newspapers, including The Reporter.
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