Bucky was a fan favorite for many reasons. A couple of things that really stand out:

he was great in bowl games. The aforementioned 1990 Holiday Bowl and the 1987 Cotton Bowl (1/1/88). His terrific performances were appreciated more and more as A&M struggled mightily in bowls in the 90's and 00's.

he was a major figure in the 10 of 11 stretch vs. the longhorns. Winning the 87 game with the QB keeper at Kyle. Running all over the horns in the 88 game before getting injured. And beating the sips again in the 1991 game.

one of his best plays was an electric 32-yard TD run late in the 4th quarter in Austin in the 1990 game. Those are the kind of plays...the fanbase never forgets

'88 here, uh yeah I watched him play.

OP. He was very good but not in the same league as Johnny. For example he was not nearly the best player on our own team when you consider our defense in those days. Johnny was the best in the country in 2012 and probably '13 and it wasn't even close.

Sine poena nulla lex

I've been watching Aggie QBs since the early 80s and Bucky is by far my favorite.
He was awesome to watch. He was gritty, gutty and didn't make excuses.

my only regret was Bucky thinking he was an NFL Qb , should have gone to Canada. Flutie & Moon both started in Canada and worked their way to the NFL

In '91 we beat a highly ranked Baylor team in Waco. We were up so much at the half that the Baylor stands looked as empty as a 7th grade b team game. Bucky ran and passed at will on them. When Grant Teaff came into the post game interview, his first words were, "Bucky for Heisman, Bucky for Heisman."

I think Bucky finished 10th in the voting that year.

Bucky is bucky...from when he played, no one like him until Johnny in term as of fire and will to win. He got much better as a passer as the years went on. You always knew you had a chance with him leading the offense. At the top of our all time favorites. He never hesitated, he acted.

When I saw this true freshman QB in '87 take the ball on 4th down against sippy in a tie game with time running out, and he cut up inside and ran right into the end zone to win the game 20-13, I knew that kid was going to be a good one. Approx. 4:30 mark of the video.




I later read a description of Bucky that he was a linebacker playing QB. Johnny was reminiscent of Bucky in a lot of ways, but yeah, Bucky couldn't really throw the ball. He didn't need to. He would just run someone over. And failing that, he had the Wrecking Crew in its heyday to back him up. Bucky remains my favorite QB to wear an A&M uniform.

Great thread OP! Brings back some great memories of my underclass years.

Watching Bucky was like watching wrought iron throwing a football. The guy was a natural on-field leader and one of the toughest QBs I've ever seen play the game. He will always be one of my absolute favorite Aggie football players.

Some Bucky NFL highlights 1994 at the 13:30 and 16:30 marks.

I was at A&M back in the Bucky days.....Every time I think our defense is showing signs of the old "Wrecking Crew", I see highlights like the BYU game and realize how big the gap actually is. I remember watching those games and preferring the defense being on the field because they were so fun to watch.

i just remember the chant, bucky bucky bucky

Fun

Whatever the score, we had faith in Bucky.

CEA said:

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I was at A&M back in the Bucky days.....Every time I think our defense is showing signs of the old "Wrecking Crew", I see highlights like the BYU game and realize how big the gap actually is. I remember watching those games and preferring the defense being on the field because they were so fun to watch.

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In the words of David Lee Roth, those were "damn good times."

Gamer. Wasn't afraid of, and hated, the sips...He didn't pee down his leg at the sight of burnt orange. I'm 6' 2", Bucky is there with me or a bit above. If you see Bucky in the Zone Club, or around Kyle, he's a big dude.

TexasAggie2023 said:

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I wish I could've seen him play in person instead of on YouTube. Johnny was unbelievable but it seems like Bucky holds a special place in Aggies' hearts.

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If you liked seeing a player with the desire to score everytime he took a snap from center, that was Bucky!

Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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When I saw this true freshman QB in '87 take the ball on 4th down against sippy in a tie game with time running out, and he cut up inside and ran right into the end zone to win the game 20-13, I knew that kid was going to be a good one. Approx. 4:30 mark of the video.




I later read a description of Bucky that he was a linebacker playing QB. Johnny was reminiscent of Bucky in a lot of ways, but yeah, Bucky couldn't really throw the ball. He didn't need to. He would just run someone over. And failing that, he had the Wrecking Crew in its heyday to back him up. Bucky remains my favorite QB to wear an A&M uniform.

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Thanks for posting the video, my last game at Kyle as an undergrad. Can someone help me understand why they would show yell practice in Kyle at the beginning of the video and not Bonfire?

91_Aggie said:

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It was awesome /Chris Farley

I do not remember the game, but he had a long run along the sideline and a DB angle on him and Bucky kind of made that move a runner does along the sideline like he is going to step out of bounds to avoid a hit. As he did that, the DB let up as well, and then Bucky turned back inside directly at the DB, lowered his shoulder and drove the DB about 5 more yards before being tackled.

You, however, did not want Bucky to pass the ball

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LOL! I intercepted one of Bucky's passes in practice because he stared down the receiver for 3 seconds and afterwards, Mike Sherman ripped into me, questioned my manhood and whether I should have even been born. I never touched another ball thrown by Bucky. He was nails on the field. I don't think there was anyone that didn't love the guy. A freak injury against Tulsa in '91 is the only reason we didn't roll into the Cotton Bowl #1 and un-defeated.

He was like Super Mario.

Imagine that "Johnny" type of excitement with his creativity and then add the option to Darren Lewis (5000yrds as an Aggie), led but the beast that is Robert Wilson at FB and all behind pulling tackle of the greatness that is Richmond Webb!!

UNSTOPPABLE!!

I've never watched a player I felt like could actually get killed in action. His disregard for his own body was amazing and horrifying at times.

Only QB I've seen that was more like a hard-nosed running back... who could throw sometimes...

Dude was an absolute beast and everybody loved him but yeah, when he dropped back to pass there was a noticeable quiet 3 or 4 seconds as everybody was holding their breath. Amazing watching him throw after a year or two with the Oilers......"damn, this guy actually CAN throw. Where'd that come from?"

I'd rate Johnny higher but Bucky wasn't far behind.

Bucky was more folklore than anything...He was a top 25 QB, but not a top 5 or 10. He had a great OL and RB's allowing him to do well running, but his passing sucked.

He was a winner, had the "it factor", but certainly nothing great.

i was on the practice squad in 89-91 and once he purposely sat on my face at the bottom of a pile. i didnt want to wash my face for a week afterwards

Turn to your friends several times a game and say - "Buckey got Balls!" after a he hits someone...

have to disagree. I believe he was 24-6 as a starter.

Chris Osgood, Lance Pavlas, and Craig Stump played with those same RB's and o-line...and did not get the same results.

Bucky won a ton of big games in which he was a big reason the Ags won.

check the resume...

- Holiday Bowl and Cotton Bowl
- 3 wins over t.u.
- 2 wins over Arkansas...including in Fayetteville to snap a 14-year losing streak in the Ozarks
- 3 wins over Tech...including one in Lubbock
- 1 win over LSU
- the 1991 showdown in Waco

Bucky was Stone Cold Steve Austin at QB. The meanest Qb to ever lace em up ! Dude was looking for contact and the Defenses were like oh F here he comes.

Bucky had the same bulldog/competitive spirit that McGee had, but on a better team and with a better coach.

AMAZING!! The Man was a true leader, you could watch him put the team on his shoulders and march downfield.

TellMeMore said:

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For those who saw them both in person there was a common thread: you NEVER thought A&M would lose. You didn't know how it would happen, but you were shocked if it did. (Sigh). I miss the feeling.

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This is it. When Bucky or Johnny were on the field you knew anything was possible. Great leaders on the field.

And Robert Wilson and Darren Lewis in the backfield did not hurt either.