MARBLE FALLS—It’s a family name about as successful on the University of Texas gridiron as McCoy and Shipley. Robert Brewer followed father, Charles, as quarterback for the Longhorns. Uncle George didn’t attend UT—but—he played in the same backfield with someone named Royal at some place called Oklahoma in the 1940s.

Robert Brewer spoke to Fellowship of Christian Athletes members, February 29. He had high praise for Charles, who “always pointed out the good things I did,” and left a legacy to follow which was headlined by character and faith with humility also in the playbook.

Robert’s parents have been married 60 years.

The walk-on

The son, who went to Richardson High, was a walk-on for Head Coach Fred Akers (now living in Horseshoe Bay) in 1980. “It wasn’t all that difficult,” said Robert. “I was last in line, same as any other freshman.’’

The starter

After midseason, 1981, Brewer got his chance. “Go in,” receiver Herkie Walls urged, after Akers had called his number with Texas down 14-0 to Houston. “You’re not number two,” added Walls. “Don’t play like it.”

Brewer was soon the only walk-on QB to start for UT, and the Longhorns tied U of H that fateful day, 14-14.

Cotton Bowl

Number-six Texas was 9-1-1 but down 10-0 to third-ranked Alabama at Fair Park on New Year’s Day, 1982. At the Tide 30, Brewer called timeout. “I was sacked five or six times in that game, so we knew we couldn’t block it. Coach Akers pulled {the play} out of a hat. It was called #1—we had never used it.

“Akers was gambling they’d come back in the same blitz defense.” The alternative to the pass was a quarterback draw. Brewer took the snap from under center. “I took three steps back, and it was like the parting of the Red Sea.”

“Look at that hole!!” bellowed the broadcaster, as the audience in Marble Falls watched the near-40-year-old film.

“Nothing but green Astroturf in front,” continued Brewer. “All I could think of was ‘Don’t trip.’ ”

The 30-yard run for a TD preceded some fine passing by Robert, and Texas won, 14-12. Listen to this: he had beaten the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant. In 1954, Charles had become the originator of the Father-Son conquest, when he beat Bryant who was then Head Coach at Texas A&M.

Here Come the Sons

Robert Brewer wound up 13-2 as a starter. His son, Michael, went to Texas Tech but transferred to Virginia Tech for the 2014-’15 seasons, and, “He and Tech Coach Urban Meyer and Ohio State, 35-21,” soon to be national champion with a 14-1 record.

Younger son, Charlie, is the outstanding quarterback at Baylor. “He’s doing really well,” Robert said, concerning Charlie suffering a concussion late in 2019. Praising the Baylor medical staff and Scott & White as “phenomenal,” he beamed, “He’s fine; he’s good to go.”

Texas vs. Baylor? “I lean more to Charlie, without a doubt. Blood’s thicker than water.”

And faith may be the thickest of all.