Now retiring, former Texas Longhorns QB Colt McCoy opens up on his 2010 BCS National Championship Game injury

Colt McCoy conceded that football “has been what I’ve done for 37 years.”

“Three years old, and I was the water boy on my dad's football team,” McCoy said, “and I've been around the game every day ever since.”

Not many athletes reach single-name status in Austin, but Colt certainly has with the Texas Longhorns. He’s right up there alongside Earl, Ricky and Vince. But Father Time is undefeated, too, and McCoy announced Monday that he is retiring as a player but not walking away from the game completely.

McCoy explained his decision in a 25-minute video produced by Underdog Originals and posted on YouTube. It’s half autobiography, half therapy session for the player who threw for 13,253 yards and 112 touchdowns at UT and then played 14 seasons in the NFL.

“I never doubt that I didn't give my best foot forward, that I didn't work harder. I couldn't. I couldn't watch more tape. I couldn't do more,” McCoy said.

The biggest ‘What-if’ in Texas history

Of course, the most tearful moments come midway through the documentary where McCoy talks about the 2010 BCS National Championship Game against Alabama.

Rarely has McCoy ever talked about that night in Pasadena, Calif., in such emotional terms. At least not publicly, anyway. Most Texas fans — and former coach Mack Brown himself — deeply believe that had McCoy not gotten hurt on the game’s fifth play, the Longhorns would have won their second national title in five seasons.

“I almost left to go to the NFL after my junior year,” McCoy said of his decision to return to campus instead of going pro in 2009. “When coach Brown and I talked about it in his office, we knew we had a chance. I wanted to win a national championship.

“The bond and the comradery, the joy that we all had playing together, we had battled through a bunch,” he continued. “To get to that point was a credit to everybody.”

The Horns steamrolled their way through the regular season. Timekeepers put 1 second back on the clock in the Big 12 Championship Game, allowing Texas to kick their way to a 13-12 victory over Nebraska. Don’t go asking Tom Osborne about that one, either.

Then, it was on to the Rose Bowl for a date with Alabama and its superstar coach Nick Saban in the BCS National Championship. Alabama was No. 1 while Texas was No. 2.

“Playing in the Rose Bowl, I mean, there’s nothing like it,” McCoy said in the video. “I felt great about the plan. I knew that Saban was going to pressure us. I knew every blitz he had. I knew every coverage behind that blitz. I recognized, I mean, I had watched it all week. I was ready.”

‘Colt is hurt’

On the fifth play, McCoy was hit from behind by Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus on his right shoulder. The quarterback was forced to leave the game, opening the door for Garrett Gilbert, who almost orchestrated a come-from-behind win. But Alabama ultimately prevailed 37-21.

“Colt is hurt.” Brent Musburger told the ABC audience watching at home. Cameras caught McCoy walking off the field with Texas football communications director Thomas Stepp.

With tears now welling up in his eyes, McCoy says today, “One of the most unfortunate things of my career. It was. To have that one, just not been able to play that game, that stung. That will always sting.

“Injuries happen,” he added. “It’s a 100-percent chance you’re going to get hurt. You just don’t want to get hurt in that moment, on that stage in that game. That’s the part that’s tough. I felt like I let everyone else down. That was the hardest part for me. I can deal with an injury. It was my teammates.”

McCoy still finished his time as one of the most decorated Texas quarterbacks of all time.

Now, he plans to keep talking about football as a TV commentator with NBC Sports as part of their Big Ten package and working for Underdog.

“There’s a lot of things I want to pursue and learn and go chase,” McCoy said.

From North Carolina, former Texas coach Mack Brown offered his heart-felt congratulations on McCoy's career.

“Colt is one of the best players I’ve had the privilege of coaching, but he’s also one of the finest people I’ve ever been around,” Brown told AtoZ Sports on Monday. “He does everything with so much passion and class, and Sally and I are so fortunate that he and his family are in our lives.

“I want to congratulate him on a wonderful career and wish him nothing but the best as he moves to the announcers’ booth. It’ll be really fun hearing him call games. He’ll provide great insight particularly in games like the Nebraska-Colorado game since he had some great memories against those two teams.”