Tiny Tuscola going crazy over homegrown McCoy
TUSCOLA, Texas (AP) _ To the rest of the world, he's simply a great collegiate football player.
But here, in the tiny town where he played at Jim Ned High School, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has become a symbol strong enough to break traditional loyalties.
For the people in Tuscola, a farming community of roughly 700 people located 21 miles south of Abilene, the ultra-successful McCoy still reflects the small-town values they were raised with.
On the other hand, the Heisman Trophy hopeful is also a source of pride, having proven that great athletes can be found in the lower classifications.
The bond between McCoy and his hometown remains tight, and it may be difficult to find any sign of life within the Tuscola city limits Saturday night when the top-ranked Longhorns take on No. 6 Texas Tech.
"Tuscola is where I was raised; it's where I'm from," McCoy said Monday. "I still keep in touch with a lot of people at the school - a lot of the administrators.
"I actually had breakfast with (Jim Ned boys basketball coach) Hunter Cooley the other day. So I keep in touch with all of those people, and it's such a blessing to have them continue to watch me play."
In Tuscola, McCoy's progress is monitored religiously. His name and jersey number are a common sight on T-shirts, and he has even inspired traditional UT haters to do the unthinkable: root for the Longhorns.
"Our whole community is excited for Colt and for Texas," said Jim Ned assistant football coach Vince Lavellee, who was part of the staff when McCoy played for the Indians. "I've got friends who live in this area who are die-hard A&M fans, but they're rooting for Colt McCoy.
"He's just a great story - a small-town kid making it big."
Already named a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien Award (presented to the nation's best college quarterback), McCoy is also a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, given to the nation's most outstanding player.
The numbers illustrate why.
Thus far, McCoy has completed an eye-popping 198-of-242 passes (81.8 percent) for 2,285 yards and 21 touchdowns against just four interceptions.
His completion percentage leads the nation, his 186.5 passer rating ranks second nationally, and he even leads the team in rushing with 412 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 carries.
"I knew he was going to be one heck of a quarterback, but to see him shooting for the Heisman is pretty amazing," said Jim Ned running back Hayden Holson, whose older brother, Cameron, was a McCoy teammate in high school. "Pretty much everyone I know here is going to watch the Tech game. I haven't heard any plans otherwise."
McCoy has seldom disappointed his following since starting as a redshirt freshman in 2006.
His 158.1 career passer rating is tops on UT's all-time list, and he is already the Longhorns' career leader in total offense at 9,232 yards, just ahead of Vince Young's tally of 9,167.
Two more wins and McCoy will join Young in a first-place tie on Texas' career victories list for starting quarterbacks at 30. All of this from a junior who played at a high school with an enrollment of less than 400.
"A lot of my old staff is still in Tuscola, and that place has just gone Colt-crazy," said McCoy's father, Brad, who coached his son at Jim Ned and is now coaching at Graham. "They're taking this stuff really to heart, and Graham is the same way.
"There's a huge group of Tech alums here, but when Colt's home, people here think this is Colt's hometown now."
Added Lavellee: "Our high school is buzzing. We've got a lot of people here who love Texas Tech and the University of Texas, but we have a lot of Tech fans who are rooting for Colt.
"There are plans all around town to watch the game. People will be getting together to have barbecues, wearing their burnt orange or their red and black."
There will be plenty of red and black.
Tuscola is largely considered a Texas Tech town, making Saturday's matchup all the more important to the people here.
With Texas Tech having arguably its best season, the thought of pulling for any Texas player to do well would normally be unthinkable for Red Raider fans. The McCoy factor, however, is altering the equation.
"Everybody is behind Colt," said Jim Ned lineman Jaron Yarbrough, the younger brother of Jace Yarbrough, a former McCoy teammate in high school. "I'm going to go to Texas Tech and I hope Tech wins, but I hope Colt has a big game to help him win the Heisman.
"He was always very down-to-earth and took the time to talk to us when we were (younger), so I've always looked up to him."
By all accounts, McCoy's personality has remained unchanged, despite astonishing success and the media circus that surrounds him.
"Everything you see with Colt is genuine because of how he was raised in his family," Lavallee said. "His mom and dad are great people, and Colt has a focus. That focus is to give all the glory to God, and everything else is icing on the cake for him."
The Heisman race is only making things more hectic, but McCoy is doing an efficient job of deflecting that attention.
"For us, my focus is on this team and the most important thing is winning," he said. "I think if you look at our team and everybody in the locker room, it's their focus as well."
Not that McCoy isn't having his share of fun with it all.
The attention is fun, to a point. Perspective, however, remains a priority.
"I think that comes along with being a quarterback and being a part of a No. 1 team," he said. "It's fun and it's exciting, and you just have to go out and put a smile on your face and enjoy it. It's a fun time right now and the Austin fans are great. I think across the board, everyone in the locker room is enjoying it."
