Football

July 1, 2008

Trinity Miracle Play Earns ESPY Nomination

The Miracle Play – which consisted of 15 laterals – is among four nominees to be considered during ESPN’s telecast at 8 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, July 20, from Los Angeles. Grammy-winning singer Justin Timberlake will be the host of the event, touted by ESPN as “the 16^th annual celebration of the best moments from the year in sports.” A total of 37 categories are being considered. Fans may vote online until July 12 by logging on to ESPYS.tv. Registration with ESPN is required.

The other nominees in the Best Play category are:

          1. “Super Bowl: Eli Manning to David Tyree,” a 32-yard completion which gave the New York Giants a first down on the New England Patriots’ 24-yard line.

          2. “Big 10 Stunner,” when Minnesota’s Blake Hoffarber scored on the length-of-the-court pass as the Gophers upset Indiana in the Big 10 Basketball Tournament.

          3. “Nash Shoots and Scores,” as Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets made numerous moves to score against the Phoenix Coyotes in a National Hockey League game. 

The Miracle Play took place in Jackson, Miss., last Oct. 27, as the Tigers beat the host Millsaps College Majors 28-24. Trinity won the game with a 60-yard play – with the now-famous 15 laterals – before junior  (now senior) wide receiver Riley Curry of Sugar Land, Texas (Clements), crossed the goal line for the victory with no time on the clock. The crucial win kept the Tigers in the race for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title, which Trinity later shared with Millsaps.

In addition to Curry, those Trinity players participating in the Miracle Play were 2007 seniors Blake Barmore, a quarterback from Friendswood, Texas (Friendswood); wide receiver Brandon Maddux of Waco, Texas (China Springs); and offensive lineman Stephen Arnold of Dallas (White). Also part of the Miracle Play were junior (now senior) wide receiver Shawn Thompson of New Braunfels, Texas (Canyon); sophomore (now junior) offensive lineman Josh Hooten of Robinson, Texas (Robinson); and sophomore (now junior) wide receiver Michael Tomlin of The Colony, Texas (The Colony).

The Miracle Play won the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year for 2007. The announcement of the win and a $100,000 general scholarship was made last Jan. 7 on the Fox Network during halftime of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Championship Game in New Orleans.

Time magazine named the Miracle Play as the No. 1 Sports Moment of 2007. Trinity football also received recognition from the San Antonio City Council and the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association.

Trinity, led by head coach Steve Mohr, completed the season with a 9-2 record and was 6-1 in the SCAC. In sharing the conference title with Millsaps, the Tigers won their 14^th conference championship. Trinity earned the NCAA Division III postseason bid for the 10th time. Eventual NCAA semifinalist Mary Hardin-Baylor beat the Tigers in the first round of the playoffs at Belton, Texas.

Coach Mohr, who completed his 18^th season at the Tigers’ helm, was elected SCAC Coach of the Year for the 10^th time. The Tigers kick off their 2008 campaign by hosting McMurry University in a non-conference game at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at E.M. Stevens Stadium.