Louisiana Tech QB among best | The Honolulu Advertiser

Comment, blog & share photos

Louisiana Tech QB among best | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Friday, October 17, 2003

Louisiana Tech QB among best

•	Cockheran, Eaton, Fuga compete in drills
•	2003 UH football schedule

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Luke McCown has thrown for 11,221 yards, which ranks eighth in the NCAA record books.

Advertiser library photo

Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim and the McCown brothers gotta throw footballs.

"We've been blessed," Robin McCown said of her three quarterback sons.

Randy played college football at Texas A&M. Josh, now with the Arizona Cardinals, played at Southern Methodist and Sam Houston State. And Luke, who is setting records at Louisiana Tech, will start against Hawai'i tomorrow at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La.

Of the three, Luke might be the most talented. In the NCAA record books, he is ranked seventh in career total offense (11,391 yards) and eighth in career passing yards (11,221).

During a dunk contest in high school, Luke soared, maneuvered the basketball between his legs in mid-flight and slammed. At the awards ceremony, he deflected praise, as usual.

"It's a tribute to God," Luke said of his accomplishments.

Luke, who is active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, credited Randy with starting the family tradition.

"Josh and I looked at Randy as somebody we wanted to be like," Luke said.

Luke said he relished the opportunity to play quarterback, believing the central position gave him a platform to discuss his Christian faith. "It gives me a chance to be an example for others," he said.

His most devoted followers are his parents, Robin and Pat, of Jacksonville, Texas. They have found time in their busy schedule — they own a wooden pallet company with 130 employees — to attend their sons' games. Since 1998, Randy's sophomore season, at least one parent has attended all but one game. The exception was Louisiana Tech's game at Hawai'i in 2000.

LUKE McCOWN

"That was the only one," Robin said. "We love going to their games, and I think they expect it. If Mom and Dad don't care enough, who else will care enough? Besides, we have such a good time."

Robin said Ruston is a two-hour drive from Jacksonville. Robin and Pat wore out a van. Their 2001 Suburban has logged 87,000 miles.

For trips to California or the Eastern time zone, they will travel by plane, plunking down at least $300 each for a roundtrip ticket. Robin said she does not know how much they have spent on travel costs.

"But we know it's a lot," she said. "But it's worth it. We're fortunate the boys received scholarships. I guess we used the money we saved for travel costs."

This year, they were able to watch Luke play in Fresno on a Saturday, then attended Josh's game in Arizona the next day.

She said her sons never competed against each other in a college game, although there was one close call. If Josh had not transferred from SMU two years ago, Josh and Luke would have faced off.

Although Luke is completing his NCAA eligibility, Robin and Pat will not slow down. Their daughter, Amy, is a sophomore dancer on the Louisiana Tech cheer squad. Amy will perform during tomorrow's game.

"We want to see all of her games, too," Robin said.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.

• • •

2003 UH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE