The singing Aggie lineman, however, doesn’t have a thing on Bob McQueen, who proved that in Central Texas he’s still a bigger draw than Charlie Daniels and Brooks & Dunn.
McGee delivered an enlightening keynote speech Sunday evening at the fourth annual Bob McQueen Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf Classic pre-tournament banquet at Mayborn Campus Center, where a fishing trip with McQueen drew a larger auction bid than fiddles and guitars autographed by the aforementioned musicians combined.
McGee, who has a chance to become A&M’s career leader in total yards this fall as a senior, focused his address on the topics of character, commitment, courage and faith. And the Burnet product also managed to squeeze in a story about his first start as an Aggie.
With legendary former University of Texas coach Darrell Royal in the audience, McGee told a tale about facing the Longhorns during their 2005 national championship season.
“I was excited but also a little nervous,” McGee said. “Burnet had good crowds but not like this one.”
He went on to say that A&M center Cody Wallace approached him in the locker room prior to kickoff.
“I was starting because Reggie McNeal had been injured, and Cody said, ‘Hey Steve, when Reggie would have a bad play I’d sing him a song. He liked rap but you seem like more of a country-western guy,’” McGee remembered. “I told him to get away because I wasn’t in the mood to mess around.”
But after throwing an early interception that set up a Texas touchdown, McGee started to have second thoughts.
“When we went back onto the field I was thinking, ‘Man, I sure could use a song,’” he said. “Then here comes Cody from the back of the huddle singing about ocean-front property in Arizona.
“Everybody else in the huddle looked confused but I had to smile. It showed me that when you’re in a tough spot, sometimes you have to find a way to smile.”
The story drew a grin from Royal, who was seated at a table with tournament co-hosts, McQueen and Kenneth Davis - a former Temple High, Texas Christian and NFL running back with the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills.
And it was McQueen, the storied former Temple coach who led the Wildcats to state titles in 1979 and ’92, who stole the show during the live auction that followed McGee’s speech.
Of the 16 items auctioned live, it was a fishing trip with McQueen that drew the highest bid - $2,500. A fiddle autographed by Daniels brought in $1,000, and a guitar signed by Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn went for $900.
The most expensive item of the night - a framed Masters banner signed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer - was purchased for $5,000 during a silent auction.
Proceeds from the auctions will benefit the FCA’s Heart of Texas South Chapter.
Former Longhorns quarterback and current UT running backs coach Major Applewhite made a brief appearance early in the evening, and co-host Ricky Sanders - a standout at Belton and Texas State before a stellar NFL career as a receiver with the Washington Redskins - is expected to be on hand for the golf tournament today.
The tournament tees off at 8:30 a.m. at Wildflower Country Club.
