During early practices, I was fourth-string. But the transition into responsible adulthood was filled with bumps and bruises. When you see him start scooting over, you better change the play to Y Go. Up next was a trip to Florida, where theyd face top-ranked Penn State in the Orange Bowl. His face was plastered on magazinecovers. Jamelle Holieway sits on the edge of the couch in his Inglewood home, his eyes fixed on a vision only he can see. Leased, Not Owned | Marriott Calls An Audible on Michael Irvins Defamation Claims, Wants $100M Lawsuit Dismissed, It Was A 45-Second Conversation | Michael Irvin Sues Woman Accusing Him Of Misconduct For $100M, LeBron James: The Dichotomy Of Greatness In The Shadow Of Michael, Magic and Kareem. My first time I saw Joe Washington with those silver shoes, I am like, Aw, man, that is sweet. Their only loss was again to Jimmy Johnsons Miami Hurricanes. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. They did. It was a distinction that Holieway shared with no one for the next 33 years. Beginning at their own six-yard-line, the Sooners marched 94 yards, including a 4th-and-1 attempt at their own 15 where a Holieway fumble was negated by a Nebraska face mask penalty. We had a running play called for Spencer Tillman, but when I saw the safety inching closer, I audibled at the line of scrimmage and called an All-Streak., When I dropped back, I saw that nobody was defending the middle of the field in pass coverage, he continued. 12 Oklahoma State in Norman. I just left high school and now were on TV? Jamelle Holieway. Thats a very hurtful thing, walking around feeling like youre not wanted anymore., Nobody can prepare you for that, he continued. They finished the year as the #3 team in the Associated Press and Coaches polls. He was the Big Eights Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore, whod engineered three memorable fourth quarter scoring drives on the road against Nebraska. Orange Bowl: Oklahoma QB Jamelle Holieway in action vs Penn State Mike Zordich . Jamelle Holieway. Jamelle Holieway is considered one of the greatest option quarterbacks in NCAA Division I-A history. The NCAA came in there and investigated it like it was some major violation. I was back to Banning a year ago, Holieway said. And when Colorado and Coach (Bill) McCartney said he was going to change to the wishbone, I am like, You just want me there. Holieway saw his first action in the second game of the season at Kansas State, running three times for 44 yards in a 41-6 blowout win for the Sooners. He proved that he could deliver in the clutch and bring home championships. I had to talk to my people back in Cali. Curvaceous, beautiful women with inviting smiles flirted with him as his car lingered at stop signs and red traffic lights. But underlying neighborhood idiosyncrasies meant that the star quarterback and burgeoning teenage celebrity had to always keep his eyes open and cognizant of his surroundings. We all got matching gold chains with the initials CLH, which stood for Computer Love Homies, said Holieway. Build your customFanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis onOklahoma Sooners and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. The scrutiny increased as reports detailed player arrests for violence, weapons and an alleged rape that had taken place under Barry Switzers watch. Man, I was a kid from California, he said. And the rest will take care of itself.. Jamelle Holieway (born June 25, 1967) is a former American college and professional football player who was a quarterback for the University of Oklahoma. Id like to win the Heisman, he told SI in August of 1987. Hes a great athlete, then Tampa Bay Bucs scout James Harris said when asked about Holieway. Throughout the remainder of this college football season, The Shadow League's series, The Black College Quarterback, will examine some of the most talented and impactful signal callers of the '80s and '90s. LOS ANGELES SEPTEMBER 24: Fullback Leroy Holt #39 of the USC Trojans runs out of bounds against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Coliseum on September 24, 1988 in Los Angeles, California. Now people will see what Im really all about, Holieway told the Los Angeles Times during the summer before his senior season. Los Angeles County, California, United States. In the teams second game against Arizona, he looked somewhat sharper in running for 75 yards on 17 carries, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown scamper and tossing a 43-yard TD. I got in and I just matriculated down the field and I only got applause when we got the touchdown. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY NETWORK. Once I got up, I couldnt put any pressure on my leg. Detroit Lions scout Jerry Neri was optimistic about Holieways NFL prospects. Find the collection of Jamelle Holieway sports cards online at Beckett.com. I knew that if I consistently got us in the right play, the sky was the limit.. I have to do it the right way instead of the fast and the wrong way. Went to Banning High, Banning CA. So take time out to acknowledge them and to give them praise, too, for cheering for you.'. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports. Holieway then turned his focus to Oklahoma, which not only had a long, successful track record of winning big with the triple-option offensive attack but a charismatic coach in Barry Switzer who was not threatened by players who wished to display some personality. That humbles me and makes me appreciate what I did back then, and they still remember that. The Los Angeles Raiders invited him to their training camp as a free agent, but cut him during the pre-season. Charges unknown. But Holieway was not as green as has often been portrayed. My dorm was right across the street, so Id sneak back over there at night and use the phone in that office to call everybody I knew back in Los Angeles, he said. When they talked about Tua (Tagovailoa) in 2017, Jamelle Holieways name got brought up. Successive wins against overmatched foes in Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado allowed Holieway to get his footing with the first-team offense and moved the Sooners to fifth in the rankings but did little to capture national attention. Sign up to receive The Shadow League Newsletter in your inbox. He has right leg sticking out, I have got my left leg sticking out of the car and we are just riding around practice the whole time.. Coach Switzer called timeout and told us we had a chance to make history. A native of Carson, California, Holieway convinced his mother, Charlie Mae Harris, to move into a school district that would allow him to play football at Phineas Banning High School in Wilmington, Calif., for Coach Chris Ferragamo. While Mitchel possessed both the superior size (6-foot-1, 195 pounds compared to 5-11, 175 for Holieway) and speed (a 4.27-second 40-yard dash vs. Holieways low 4.5), it was Holieway that gained the approval of Switzer through the split-second decision making he displayed in preseason scrimmages. Can I get my knee back?. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a national championship in 1985. He played two seasons of pro ball in the Canadian Football League for the British Columbia Lions, three years in Spain with the Euroleague, and returned to Oklahoma, where he played semi-pro ball until the age of 32. People that have just as good of athletes as we do. Oklahoma. So I know when he speaks to his own team, he kind of reminds me of (former Oklahoma Coach Barry) Switzer when it comes to motivation. I get on that bus to get on that plane, and Coach Switzer says, Where did you get that jacket from? I said, Coach, it is going to be snowing up in Lincoln. His former teammate who went on to the NFL, defensive back Rickey Dixon, reached out to him a few years back, sensing that he needed some support and encouragement. Holieway capped the opening drive with a five-yard touchdown run, and a his 36-yard run set up an R.D. The Hurricanes won that game, 27-14, and Holieway had his year`s worst numbers. At that time, prior to the advancements of surgical procedures and medical technology, the injury was considered to be almost insurmountable. The Sooners beat the Bruins 38-3. "My mom was my heart," Holieway said. $1 Million - $5 Million. If I had to do it all over again, I would have redshirted, took it, enjoyed the moment and then come back a little bit healthier the next year.. Getting cut, that was really tough to handle. People recall the flashy full-length mink, the diamond earrings and the bright smile, but they dont remember the hurt that was masked by all of those exterior accessories. I made that a priority.. Death Date/Place: Related To: Other: Hometown listed in 1985 media guide is Carson, but Banning High School is located in nearby Wilmington. Carson, CA. Hes also working in residential construction, along with a few other side jobs that he can pick up from time to time. But Eric got these big applauses because of all the runs that he would make., Nov 1987, unknown location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Barry Switzer during the 1987 season. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery shortly after the injury, and rehabilitated in the offseason. And when he was talking and his motivation and the way he was speaking, man, he was speaking to us. 1999) brought Oklahoma to the Nebraska 32. Highly recruited from Banning High School under longtime head coach Chris Ferragamo, Holieway attracted interest from a swarm of schools. Lawrence is the first true freshman to win since Jamelle Holieway led the Oklahoma Sooners over the Penn State Lions in the Orange Bowl 33 years ago. Oklahoma dominated the Big 8 schedule with an average margin of victory of 45-2 with four shutouts before heading to Lincoln for the regular-season finale at No. We went to see Zapp and Roger in concert and jammed to that song all summer.. You cant jump offsides when it is 4th and 1. It is really cool to have Banning and Carson get together.. Oklahoma Sooners news fromFanSided Daily, Oklahoma football: Three biggest 2022 storylines as Sooners get set to open new season. 10 Oklahoma to a 35-7 win over Iowa State in the Big Eight opener for both teams. Oklahoma finished the regular season with their best record since 1979, 10-1. Today, Holieway lives in a small town in Oklahoma. Judging by the practice routine in the week leading up to the game, one had to wonder if an appearance from Holieway was the plan all along. The dark cloud that had descended uponthe program, and Coach Switzer, hurt Holieway immensely. Highly recruited from Banning High School in Wilmington, Los Angeles . Date: 2/4/02. Pending. Football /. Support small. I wont be by a heater. Even injured. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports, Well then, going in to the watch the film, my coach (Switzer) reassured me of one thing: You cant play that sandlot football against Texas, Nebraska, against Miami. Penn State had their star linebacker, Shane Conlan, shadowing me the whole game, said Holieway. In addition to his crutches, Holieway packed a second notable accessory for the chilly trip up north. When he returned home to Los Angeles that summer, Holieway was one of the most popular athletes in the country. "Keith Jackson!" he yelled, more in tribute than in summons to the Oklahoma junior tight end. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about guard Jamelle Holieway Jr on ESPN. Hurts occasionally runs the. Miami defeated Oklahoma 20-14 to win the national championship. Jamelle Holieway's daily Biorhythm chart shows his emotional, physical, intellectual, intuitive, spiritual, aesthetic, and self awareness energies on Thursday September 15th 2022. Watch the full 1986 @OU_Football Flashback vs Nebraska, 10 pm @BallySportsOK pic.twitter.com/sl1bKpM0dU, Sooner Sports Network (@SoonerSportsTV) September 9, 2021. The best competitors like to compete, and to me this is just a game, an inner game. His decision to play for the Sooners came at the last minute, as he had a three-year-old sister that he didn't want to leave behind. I felt someone needed to reach out to him, Dixon told The Oklahomans sports columnist Berry Tramel in 2012. It was just me and him that whole time during that Orange Bowl, Holieway said. The rest is history. That was the best time of my life in Miami, Holieway said. So, two days after Thanksgiving, were playing a Saturday night game on national television, and Im hyped because my mom, family and all friends are watching on TV. OU legend Jamelle Holieway understands Caleb Williams' early success, Spencer Rattler's fall from QB1. An Aikman-led victory over Texas (14-7) set the stage for the well-documented October 19 visit from unranked Miami. He said, Look, youre Jamelle Holieway, you won a National Championship at Oklahoma and youre an icon, not only at the University but in the entire state. He told me that it was time to grow up., Back in 85, you think the cheering and good times are going to last forever, he continued. Those were all my boys from Los Angeles and they were more like brothers to me, said Holieway. pic.twitter.com/JcLRAIpkxE, Funhouse (@BackAftaThis) December 15, 2021. Ou Sooners Spring Football Game. Note this is not an exact home address, rather a location in the vicinity of the listed home address. Oklahoma Arrest Age: 34. In our practice film, I was taught if I saw their free safety start cheating over coming to the tight end, if that safety starts moving from the middle of the field down to the box, he is going to come on the blitz, Holieway said. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a national championship in 1985. Since then he has learned that he has heart disease and only about 15% of his heart is functioning. Just as he predicted, the colleges came calling. His electrifying 43-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave the Sooners a 14-0 lead, which eventually ballooned to 27-0 after Holieways second scoring scamper from 17 yards out in the third frame. He reconnected, worked out and partied with his former Banning High School teammates, whod sat out their redshirt season while watching him win a national title. Oklahoma. I have a ninth grader playing high school football and he is going to be really good. JAMELLE HOLIEWAY Signed 11x14 Photo..OKLAHOMA SOONERS QB Legend..IN PERS. But many wondered if his slight frame could continue to take such an extreme pounding without sustaining serious injury. He is also ranked in the richest person list from United States. Class of 1983. Ive had my highs and lows and tribulations, said Holieway. Holieway threw a 71-yard touchdown pass in that game to All-American tight end Keith Jackson. We were a big and fast team, said Holieway. Date: 12/6/01. In 1985, we exploded as an offensive football team, led the nation in rushing, and never looked back.. At the end of the season, Aikman wouldeventuallytransfer to UCLA before embarking on his Hall of Fame career in the NFL. Holieway still lives in Oklahoma and spends much of his summers coaching football camps. [2], Later on, Holieway acknowledged that he received favors from school boosters and Coach Switzer, but denied ever receiving any cash payments.[3]. But with Penn State leading in the second quarter, 7-3, and Oklahoma facing a 3rd down and 24 yards to go from its own 29-yard-line, Holieway made his mark. He led the Oklahoma Sooners to a national championship in 1985. NewsOn6.com. In this Jan. 1, 1986 file photo, University of Oklahoma quarterback Jamelle Holieway (#4) looks for an open man as his team battles Penn State University in the Orange Bowl in Miami. That man has proven that hell always be there for me. He was concerned with how listless his former star quarterback seemed. As the team captain, Holieway led the Sooners to an 8-3 record during his senior year. At the time, 5-foot-9, 175-pound Sooner Jamelle Holieway was on the sideline doing what he did best. There were many well-publicized incidents, including a number ofarrests over the years that involveddrinking, drugs and motor vehicle violations. I had to bring out that L.A. swag and give the homies back in L.A. something to talk about., To this day, youd be surprised how many people walk up to me and say, I remember that Nebraska game when you were hurt, limping around in a fur coat, he continued. I eventually had to pay the university back for those phone calls, but I was just a young, lonely, homesick kid.. Here is Part II of our feature story on the University of Oklahoma's Jamelle Holieway. I brought the neighborhood some pride with what I was doing on the football field., But it was the O.G.s that thought like that, not the younger guys who were willing to do something foolish to get the respect of the big homies and make a name for themselves, he continued. Coach Switzer has been in my corner since day one, and always supported me through the good and the bad. 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