LMJ FOR THE H
Astros' Lance McCullers shows H-Town love with battle cry every Houstonian should adopt
Oct 24, 2022, 3:52 pm
This is quickly catching on. Composite image by Brandon Strange.
mccullers update
If Houston Astros star pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. ever runs for mayor of Houston (which we heartily endorse), he won't need to hire a slick marketing team to create his campaign slogan — as the proven winner has already crafted a winning line.
The celebrated ace and overall good guy unleashed his devastating sweeping slider and struck out six New York Yankees in the Astros Sunday, October 23 win that marked a sweep and an Astros World Series berth — much to the chagrin of Yankees fans who famously (and somewhat foolishly) wanted another Astros-Yankees showdown.
Never one to back down and a passionate defender of his team and city – especially on Twitter — McCullers also scored the night’s most memorable line when interviewed after the big win — one that many locals might consider for their own tombstones.
“I only got one thing to say — and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again,” he told TBS reporter Lauren Shehadi. “Bury me in The H.”
Truly, there are battle cries with less motivational power.
HE SAID THE THING!
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) October 24, 2022
BURY ME IN THE H 🗣️🤘https://t.co/te3x7sh8tJ pic.twitter.com/QbBkgRmjqI
McCullers’ unforgettable declaration comes after the 29-year-old has already faced down a debilitating elbow injury that forced Tommy John surgery in 2018 and a forearm injury in 2021 during the American League Division Series that ended his playoff run. The forearm injury — later diagnosed as a right tendon flexor strain — continued to nag him this year, but the relentless McCullers persisted, even starting against the Seattle Mariners in the now historic, 18-inning 2022 ALDS win.
As frequently covered in CultureMap, McCullers has garnered a reputation for generosity for local causes since he arrived in Houston, be it handing out turkeys during Thanksgiving or spearheading homeless animal rescue and adoption through the eponymous nonprofit he runs with his wife, Kara.
Continue on CultureMap to learn more!
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The Texas Longhorns still believe in quarterback Quinn Ewers despite two poor games from the third-year starter who was briefly benched in last week's loss to No. 1 Georgia, coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday.
Ewers struggled through one of his worst career games against the Bulldogs, completing 25 of 43 passes for 211 yards with an interception and two fumbles. He was 6-of-12 passing for 17 yards on the Longhorns' first six drives, and was replaced by Arch Manning in the second quarter as Georgia took a 23-0 lead into halftime.
Ewers returned in the third quarter and led two touchdown drives. But the overall performance in one of the biggest games of the season was well below what was expected from a veteran quarterback who some predict as a potential first round NFL draft pick.
Texas never led against the Bulldogs and Ewers looked rattled.
Sarkisian has insisted that Ewers remains the No. 1 quarterback going forward.
“We have confidence and belief in him,” Sarkisian said. “I think he's going to come out and play really good football for us here in the second half of the season.”
Texas (6-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) plays at No. 25 Vanderbilt (5-2, 2-1) on Saturday.
Ewers did not meet with reporters on Monday.
He had performed at his best in some of Texas' biggest games the previous two seasons. He was considered a likely Heisman Trophy contender after the Longhorns won at defending national champion Michigan in week two.
But he was sidelined by an abdomen strain in the first half a week later against UTSA, and the injury knocked him out of the next two games. He returned for Texas' 34-3 win over Oklahoma, but had just 199 yards and one touchdown passing and said he needed to play better.
Against Georgia, Ewers appeared hesitant against a fierce Bulldogs pass rush and missed several throws. The Bulldogs recorded seven sacks and Texas never led.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was arguably having an even worse game. He was 23-of-41 passing for 175 yards and three interceptions.
But after Texas cut the Georgia lead to 23-15, Beck answered by leading the Bulldogs on an 11-play, 89-yard drive to the final touchdown of the game.
“I think Quinn definitely can play better. We've got to continue to work on his pocket presence,” Sarkisian said. “But I also think we need to play better around him. You know, our offense isn't about one player playing well.”
Texas rushed for just 29 yards and and managed only 259 total yards of offense against Georgia.
Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. said the Longhorns will rally behind Ewers.
“We're always going to trust Quinn. We're always going to believe in Quinn,” Banks said.