The phone kept ringing after Tyler Wilson’s fourth touchdown pass two weeks ago against Auburn. I recognized the numbers and answered by screaming, “That’s what I’ve been talking about!” I told Gail I hadn’t had this much fun watching the Razorbacks since Lance Alworth went deep and scored a TD against Baylor on the first play of the game back in 1960.
I’ve boasted about Tyler so much these past three years that all my friends seem to think I get half the credit for his fabulous skills. The following week all I heard up and down the street was, “Your boy was fantastic against Auburn.” I suppose I owe some kind of explanation. I don’t know Tyler well, but I know him a lot better than he realizes.
Most of my faithful readers know I am from Greenwood where Tyler was born and raised, and where he led my beloved Greenwood Bulldogs to two state championships. I first saw him play in the ninth grade when he led the Bullpups to an undefeated season. Folks around Greenwood learned to count on Tyler winning the game no matter what the score. For example, in his two state championship games he brought the Bulldogs from behind, tied the games on the last play, and won in overtime on a two point conversion - both years. He has a gift. He has ice water in his veins and seems to perform his very best under intense pressure.
But that doesn’t explain why I have so enjoyed watching him from afar.
His great-grandfather, Ralph Burgess, was my first barber. In his little barbershop just east of the town square I got my first professional haircut at the age of 6. It cost 40 cents. I sat on a board Mr. Burgess placed across the armrest of the barber chair. High up on the walls were colorful paintings of cartoon characters ofthe time, Popeye, Woody Woodpecker and Dagwood and Blondie. They were drawn by his son, James Burgess, at that time in Dental School in far away Kansas City. Dr. James Burgess, my first dentist, married his pretty highschool sweetheart, Myra, and they had four children. Their daughter Susie married Don Wilson a basketball star at WestArk Junior College who led the 1982 Lions to a National Championship. (Let the record show that Don did not break my single game rebound record, 21 in 1964, which I will claim until someone comes forward with proof to the contrary.) In 1968 James and Myra drove to Enid, Okla., where he was the minister at my wedding. He refused my offer to pay for gas. For 50 years James and Myra have been servant leaders in the town and today are considered the patriarch and matriarch of the community.
When I first saw Tyler play in high school I sensed a special quality in his play.
He took the snap in Coach Rick Jones’ no-huddle, shotgun offense, setup with a quick step and without hesitation or wasted motion found his receiver and fired the ball. It was so simple.
His accuracy was uncanny.
His feathery touch and tight spiral made his throws easy to catch. And, as we have witnessed lately, he has a gun of an arm when needed. He was considered the top baseball prospect by pro scouts with a 90 mph fast ball in high school.
But there is another quality above athletic skill and that is a quiet leadership quality that you can’t teach. Leadership is sometimes found in loud rah-rah stuff. But not always.
Roger Staubach led the Cowboys to three Super Bowls partly because the players around him respected his inner character as well as his skill. Players choose their leader, not the other way around.
When Tyler entered the game against Auburn the other day there was a perceptible rise of energy in the huddle. This is not to say they don’t play hard for any other quarterback.
They do. But something unexplainable happens when that quality we call “IT” takes the field. When Bob Gibson took the mound a hush came over the opponents dugout. When Mickey Mantle stepped to the plate all chatter ceased and all eyes gazed upon a baseball immortal.
Tyler had “IT” in high school and possesses “IT” today and it is seen in the eyes of his teammates who instinctively feel they are in winning hands when he enters the huddle.
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GRADY JIM ROBINSON IS A RETIRED PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER AND FREELANCE COLUMNIST.
Opinion, Pages 7 on 10/31/2010