Catching up with Casillas
Published: 8/19/2008 5:36 PM
Last Modified: 8/19/2008 5:36 PM
Had a chance to visit with one of the classiest Oklahoma Sooners ever to be named a two-time consensus All-American -- Tulsa's own Tony Casillas.
He was in Oklahoma City Monday night for his induction into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and he went on and on about how much that meant for someone who grew up in state.
He also spoke eloquently about his relationship with "father figure" Barry Switzer. He talked proudly of the youth football league he recently launched in Flower Mound, Texas. And he told the story about a recent visit to his old college stomping (tackling?) grounds...
"I don't get back as much, but I did get a chance to come back when we did the highlight thing they show (at Owen Field) before the game, 'there's only one Oklahoma.' I got to spend some time with Joe Washington. He took me on a tour of the campus. It's amazing what winning does and what they've done to the facilities. The museum, Heisman row, just the (stadium) itself is unbelievable.
"I said, 'We used to play over here on this carpet on one side of the stadium. Some of my skin used to be there. Saw the indoor facility. It was unbelievable."
Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press asked Casillas if he realized he helped build all that.
"I think so. I think every player that's gone through there has played a big part in that. I think that's one thing they've done now. They've really brought that back and made players feel like, 'Hey, this is your home. You're part of this.'
"When you leave, it's not to say, 'Tony who?'"
Casillas should never worry about hearing that.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
