Do you know the story of Freddie Steinmark?

I know this is about a Longhorn football player, but I feel like the site traffic the Horn fans have generated here (alters not included) makes this a worthy place.

Steinmark was a safety on Texas national title team of 1969. He played on a hurt leg for much of the season, culminating with the “Game of the Century” against Arkansas. Apparently nothing the trainers tried would ease the pain long term. Granted, in 1969 the technology limited your options.

Two days after the 15-14 win over Arkansas, which sealed the title for Texas, Steinmark found out he had a malignant bone tumor above his left knee. Within one week of playing against the Hogs, Steinmark’s leg was amputated at the hip. There are some famous pictures of him on crutches at the Cotton Bowl where the Longhorns pulled off another comeback win over Notre Dame.

He would be dead just 18 months later.

CFB is full of these stories. In the SEC, the Chucky Mullins story is one that always pulls me in. I assume that story is widely-known throughout the southeast.

Sometimes I feel like the Steinmark story is overlooked. My mother was a student at Texas during the 1969 season and during Freddie’s tragic death. In those simpler times, news like this rocked the campus. I’m afraid that in today’s world full of instant and endless news, it would be less personal.

I encourage you to read one of the books about Steinmark.

Many of the newb posters are to wrapped up in claiming they’ll dethrone Bama and own A&M again to provide you a worthwhile story or tradition about their program.