DALLAS – According to the story of Scripture, Jacob was so covetous of the birthright tradition of the firstborn that as his twin brother Esau made his way into the world, Jacob grabbed onto his heel, trying to drag him back into the womb.
Likewise, sort of, was Shane Buechele’s covenant with Texas, the signed National Letter of Intent that so many believed was the answer to so many prayers of the Burnt Orange.
Buechele, of Arlington’s Lamar High School, was recruited as part of the Class of 2016 by the likes of Oklahoma, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Cal, SMU, TCU and Texas Tech before accepting the offer Texas put in front of him.
His decision to go to Texas came with everything but the white smoke. In Austin, he was crowned the spiritual and temporal ruler of football, the quarterback Bevo had been pining for since the Era of Colt; the chosen one with the major league last name who would lead the Longhorns back to their entitled glory.
He was more than meeting expectations – if beating No. 10 Notre Dame in his first game isn’t prophesy being fulfilled, what is? — until a coaching change and a new recruit who actually believed he was born to play the position.
And maybe Sam Ehlinger’s destiny was preordained, as was Buechele’s.
Perhaps the football program Buechele was meant to lead back to prominence was closer to home, to the program he passed by as a senior in high school.
The recruiting process, for player and school, is more art than science. Yet, despite the roadblocks put up in Austin, it is after all working out for the son of former Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele.
With the use of the graduate transfer rule and two years of eligibility left, young Buechele’s football career has been reborn on the SMU Hilltop in tony Highland Park.
“He’s such a great leader. He got control of the guys so fast,” said running back Xavier Jones. “Him just not getting here until this summer and him being voted captain shows a lot. He gets people to rally around him. His character and leadership are great. He has the offense rolling right now.”
SMU comes to Fort Worth on Saturday for the 99th game with its Dallas-Fort Worth rival, No. 25 TCU. The game is set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
At stake is the now less-than-venerable Iron Skillet, which for most of the last 20 years has held a lonely place in the Horned Frogs’ trophy case. TCU has won 17 of the last 19 games, including the last seven.
Once upon a time, the Frogs and the faithful would have given their left horn for that kind of success. Today, TCU has bigger, much bigger, fish to fry.
The game this year holds some intrigue, however.
The Mustangs are off to their best start in 35 years. The last time SMU started 3-0, players were making good money and it wasn’t just in books and tuition.
In beginning the season unbeaten, the Mustangs have gained 500 or more yards in each of the first three games, including 639 yards of total offense against Texas State on Saturday, the third most in school history. SMU has average 44 points a game.
TCU is not Arkansas State, North Texas or Texas State, but SMU is a better football team than a year ago. The quarterback, albeit quietly, is getting his deserved share of the credit.
Buechele has passed for 871 yards, completing 66 percent of his passing attempts and throwing three interceptions, including two last week against Texas State, a far less than perfect outing for most everybody on the SMU sideline. He has five TD passes, finding James Proche and Reggie Roberson Jr. twice each.
In Game 1, at Arkansas State, Buechele set the school record for most passing yards in his first start, 360, against Arkansas State.
“He’s just a really smart player, and he’s a really good football player,” said SMU coach Sonny Dykes, son of Spike. “He’s got a great demeanor, he’s calm, he makes good decisions. All the stuff you want as a quarterback.
“It’s pretty amazing. He didn’t go through spring ball. I think he’s going to get better and better.”
It wasn’t like he was a bust at Texas, where he became the first player since 1944 to start his first career game as a true freshman at quarterback.
Under Charlie Strong in 2016, Buechele started all 12 games, throwing for 2,958, a Texas record for a first-year QB, and 21 touchdowns, the second-most total for a freshman. He was also the first Texas quarterback since 2009 to have at least 2,500 yards passing and 20 TDs in a season.
As a sophomore, he split time with Ehlinger under new coach Tom Herman. As a junior, he lost the job.
“I saw him up close and personal when he was at Texas and I was at Cal,” said Dykes, the former coach at Cal. “I think it was his second or third start. They came to Berkeley and he threw up and down the field. Had a heckuva ballgame. I’m not really surprised by anything he does.”
Having already earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas, Buechele will have an MBA from SMU, the school that for decades has stood out for the top-flight professionals it places in the business community.
If you don’t believe that, just look around campus. Heisman Trophy campaigns have nothing on the signs that adorn walls and billboards around campus declaring the rank of the business school. Marketing makes believers in the 21st Century.
Less-than-happy first marriages aren’t unique in college athletics.
Makes finding the right fit all the sweeter.
(Photo: SMU Athletics)
