Jack Crain
Encyclopedia
Jack Crain was a football
player for the University of Texas at Austin
who later served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives
. He was named an All Southwest Conference player in 1939 and 1940, and was twice selected All-American.
, where he was known as the Nocona Nugget.http://www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n3b.pdf During high school he scored 258 points, and his team won a Class B regional title. Crain's football talents were gaining attention in the media; consequently, he was selected to play in the 1938 Oil Bowl (high school)
. Fifty-six years later, he would be inducted in the Oil Bowl (high school)
Hall of Fame. Jack Crain Football Stadium of the Nocona Independent School District
is now named for him.
thought that Jack (Jackrabbit) Crain helped lay the foundation for the University of Texas at Austin
Longhorn's rise from mediocrity to preeminence in the late 1930's. In the game between the Longhorns and Razorbacks in October of 1939, Crain an unknown sophomore, ran a quick kick
back to help UT later score from seven yards out. Late in the game with only under 30 seconds to play, Crain caught a flip-out pass and ran 67 yards untouched and scored a touchdown to tie the game at 13–13. Finally, as the clock ran out Crain kicked the extra point himself for the 14–13 win. This game became known as the Renaissance Game in Texas football history and the win is credited for revitalizing the football program once again. At the University of Texas, Crain set records that still stand today.
. Following the war, he returned to Nocona, where he lived for the rest of his life. His celebrity status helped him to be elected to three terms in the Texas House of Representatives
from District 61.
In 1978, his wife, Jean Crain, was killed when a building in downtown Nocona collapsed from a heavy accumulation of snow. http://www.noconacn.net/crain/jack_crain.htm This event provided the impetus for Crain to found a church called Jean's Men's Bible Class. This nondenominational church, named after his wife, is still active today. Crain died October 22, 1994, at the age of 74.
http://www.texassports.com/mainpages/001_structure/hoh_pages/hoh_3_cra_ell.html
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College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player for the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
who later served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
. He was named an All Southwest Conference player in 1939 and 1940, and was twice selected All-American.
High school
Crain grew up in Nocona, TexasNocona, Texas
Nocona is a city along U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 175 in Montague County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,198 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, where he was known as the Nocona Nugget.http://www.aafla.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv01/CFHSNv01n3b.pdf During high school he scored 258 points, and his team won a Class B regional title. Crain's football talents were gaining attention in the media; consequently, he was selected to play in the 1938 Oil Bowl (high school)
Oil Bowl (high school)
The Oil Bowl is a high school football game played between All-Star teams from Texas and Oklahoma. The all star game began in 1938, originally between East and West Texas high school football all-stars. It was not until 1945 that the game began pitting Oklahoma against Texas...
. Fifty-six years later, he would be inducted in the Oil Bowl (high school)
Oil Bowl (high school)
The Oil Bowl is a high school football game played between All-Star teams from Texas and Oklahoma. The all star game began in 1938, originally between East and West Texas high school football all-stars. It was not until 1945 that the game began pitting Oklahoma against Texas...
Hall of Fame. Jack Crain Football Stadium of the Nocona Independent School District
Nocona Independent School District
Nocona Independent School District is a public school district based in Nocona, Texas . Nocona ISD provides more than the standard K-12 curriculum. NISD offers extended opportunities for students ranging from Head Start for very young children to college dual credit courses via distance learning...
is now named for him.
College career
Coach Dana X. BibleDana X. Bible
Dana Xenophon Bible was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Mississippi College , Louisiana State University , Texas A&M University , the University of Nebraska , and the University of Texas...
thought that Jack (Jackrabbit) Crain helped lay the foundation for the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
Longhorn's rise from mediocrity to preeminence in the late 1930's. In the game between the Longhorns and Razorbacks in October of 1939, Crain an unknown sophomore, ran a quick kick
Quick kick
In American football and Canadian football, a quick kick is any punt made under conditions such that the opposing team "should not" expect a punt. Typically this has been a kick from scrimmage from a formation that is, or resembles, one usually used other than for punting, or at least not...
back to help UT later score from seven yards out. Late in the game with only under 30 seconds to play, Crain caught a flip-out pass and ran 67 yards untouched and scored a touchdown to tie the game at 13–13. Finally, as the clock ran out Crain kicked the extra point himself for the 14–13 win. This game became known as the Renaissance Game in Texas football history and the win is credited for revitalizing the football program once again. At the University of Texas, Crain set records that still stand today.
After college
When Crain's college career ended, he joined the U.S. Navy as an officer in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Following the war, he returned to Nocona, where he lived for the rest of his life. His celebrity status helped him to be elected to three terms in the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
from District 61.
In 1978, his wife, Jean Crain, was killed when a building in downtown Nocona collapsed from a heavy accumulation of snow. http://www.noconacn.net/crain/jack_crain.htm This event provided the impetus for Crain to found a church called Jean's Men's Bible Class. This nondenominational church, named after his wife, is still active today. Crain died October 22, 1994, at the age of 74.
http://www.texassports.com/mainpages/001_structure/hoh_pages/hoh_3_cra_ell.html
| doi =
| accessdate = 2007-07-05 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070926225148/http://www.texassports.com/mainpages/001_structure/hoh_pages/hoh_3_cra_ell.html |archivedate = 2007-09-26}}
External links
- MackBrown-TexasFootball.Com
- Nocona Community Web
- The Nocona Cowboy by Ray Schmidt
- Bill Little's Commentary (MackBrown-TexasFootball.Com)
- Nocona Chamber of Commerce Web
- Tulsa World Sports Extra
- Oil Bowl Web
- NHS Grad Flirted With Heisman
- Longhorns Men's Athletic Hall of Fame
- H.R. No. 26, Texas House of Representatives Bill
- Jack Crain's Playbook