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RIP Tommy Lewis
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Fort Bend Owl Offline
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RIP Tommy Lewis
A part of Rice folklore is gone as Tommy Lewis (the bench tackler) died yesterday in Alabama. He did a lot of good things with his life, so it's a bit unfair that he is probably best known for tackling Dicky Maegle in the 1954 Cotton Bowl coming off the bench to do so.

RIP from a Rice fan.
10-13-2014 07:47 AM
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I45owl Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
That was one more thing that I'm well known for.

The story is a great part of Rice lore. I always felt kind of sad when I found that it took a toll personally for him and that it seemed to hurt whenever someone would ask about it. He did not deserve to be haunted by a one-time fit of bad judgement ... I think the periodic stories about him did reveal that he was a pretty good person.
10-13-2014 08:27 AM
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Almadenmike Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
10-13-2014 11:22 AM
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georgewebb Offline
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Post: #4
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
(10-13-2014 08:27 AM)I45owl Wrote:  That was one more thing that I'm well known for.

The story is a great part of Rice lore. I always felt kind of sad when I found that it took a toll personally for him and that it seemed to hurt whenever someone would ask about it. He did not deserve to be haunted by a one-time fit of bad judgement ... I think the periodic stories about him did reveal that he was a pretty good person.

It's certainly hard to imagine any prominent figure today having that degree of remorse about their actions.
10-13-2014 12:05 PM
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wrysal Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
Sad for his family, but glad it wasn't Tommy Lewis, my punting compadre from 1976. He was the first person that came to mind for me.
10-13-2014 01:07 PM
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rice1931 Offline
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Post: #6
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
An all time great game for Rice. Probably the second best Rice football team. As a 10 year old boy I was sitting with my family about 20 rows directly above this tackle.
10-13-2014 05:12 PM
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Owl 69/70/75 Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
RI P Tommy Lewis.
10-13-2014 06:15 PM
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TazOwl Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
In the 30-for-30 special called "Roll Tide, War Eagle", the Alabama fan who poisoned the Toomer Oaks at Auburn, when asked why did he do it, he referenced that play saying that like Tommy Lewis, he was full of Alabama. Lewis' family did not really care for the comparison at all.
10-13-2014 06:59 PM
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DFW Owl Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
Didn't know he lived in my hometown.

Hope we play Alabama again someday. Or Auburn.
10-13-2014 08:02 PM
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MrMxyzptlk Offline
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Post: #10
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
Dallas Morning News posted grainy film-to-video transfer and 12 b&w stills of the play:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college...y-dies.ece
10-13-2014 09:27 PM
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gsloth Offline
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RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
Here's another video I've kept favorited on YouTube since I first saw it.



RIP, Tommy.
10-13-2014 10:38 PM
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Memphis Owl Offline
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Post: #12
RIP Tommy Lewis
(10-13-2014 07:47 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  A part of Rice folklore is gone as Tommy Lewis (the bench tackler) died yesterday in Alabama. He did a lot of good things with his life, so it's a bit unfair that he is probably best known for tackling Dicky Maegle in the 1954 Cotton Bowl coming off the bench to do so.

RIP from a Rice fan.

RIP Tommy Lewis

I remember reading in Sports Illustrated (1973?) that Lewis coached High School football with his son on the team.

In one game his son tackled an opposing player from the side line.

Like father, like son.

As I remember, Coach Lewis has no comment.



Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App
10-14-2014 09:55 AM
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chrisc Offline
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Post: #13
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
Question - Would Alabama #33 have caught and tackled Maegle if Lewis hadn't intervened? I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere.
10-14-2014 10:11 AM
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OptimisticOwl Offline
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Post: #14
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
(10-14-2014 10:11 AM)chrisc Wrote:  Question - Would Alabama #33 have caught and tackled Maegle if Lewis hadn't intervened? I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere.

It has been debated, and some say yes, some no.
10-14-2014 10:15 AM
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rice1931 Offline
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Post: #15
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
I have always thought that the Alabama player would have caught Maegle. He had a good angle.
10-14-2014 11:12 AM
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OptimisticOwl Offline
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Post: #16
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
(10-14-2014 11:12 AM)rice1931 Wrote:  I have always thought that the Alabama player would have caught Maegle. He had a good angle.

Looked to me like he could have reached him, but getting there and making the tackle are two different things.
10-14-2014 11:39 AM
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wrysal Offline
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Post: #17
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
The guy was on the Bama sprint relay team, so with the angle he had he very well might have tackled him. Just another question we can ask when we cross the pearly gates, along with 'who killed Kennedy?'.
10-14-2014 02:38 PM
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Rick Gerlach Offline
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Post: #18
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
(10-14-2014 02:38 PM)wrysal Wrote:  The guy was on the Bama sprint relay team, so with the angle he had he very well might have tackled him. Just another question we can ask when we cross the pearly gates, along with 'who killed Kennedy?'.

I believe Maegle ran the 100-yard dash for the Owls track team.

Or am I imagining that, instead of remembering it?

I wasn't around then, in either case.

But if so, no guarantees that the guy for 'Bama was as fast as Maegle.
10-14-2014 09:33 PM
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bobreinhold1 Offline
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Post: #19
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
Maegle was a 9.7 sprinter. We still will ever know if he could have been tackled, but it's always going to be a 95 yard TD run.
10-14-2014 11:23 PM
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OptimisticOwl Offline
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Post: #20
RE: RIP Tommy Lewis
(10-14-2014 09:33 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  
(10-14-2014 02:38 PM)wrysal Wrote:  The guy was on the Bama sprint relay team, so with the angle he had he very well might have tackled him. Just another question we can ask when we cross the pearly gates, along with 'who killed Kennedy?'.

I believe Maegle ran the 100-yard dash for the Owls track team.

Or am I imagining that, instead of remembering it?

I wasn't around then, in either case.

But if so, no guarantees that the guy for 'Bama was as fast as Maegle.

Or that even if he got there, that he could secure the tackle. I've seen lots of guys like that get close enough to get a hand on the runner, or even close enough to shove him, but not be able to stop the guy. I've even seen nonRice defenders miss tackles in those situations.
10-14-2014 11:24 PM
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