if we can’t get size in our offensive line, let’s go to the veer!
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I wasn’t around for the Veer but isn’t it an early version of option offenses? That’s probably a simplistic description.
I was in school during Pardee’s Run and Shoot which, looking back at offensive evolution, can be considered an early version of the Air Raid.
I do recall Art mentioning that his offense had used elements of the Veer but I never really understood what that meant.
Two rules of the Veer:
- Snap on contact with center’s butt
- Put the ball in the RB’s gut and if you see a hole pull it back and run it yourself. The greatest offense ever developed. And most exciting, IMO.
I’m sad that we don’t have every game on video. It was the Greatest Show on Earth.
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But, as every other offense, the defenses figured out how to stop it unless the offense has much superior players.
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The Veer, and the Run and Shoot for that matter, would probably work great today. DCs haven’t thought about stopping them for years and most of those that could are probably out of coaching.
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Barry Switzer on the option:
“well, it’s a good ‘un when you have the lead”
The veer predated the wishbone offense. Not the same, but the closest offense nowadays would be the RPO.
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Once you figure it out you pass the ball 
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Short slants to the TE
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Yes.
It was the ORIGINAL “Triple Option” attack, run out of a split backfield, with the first “option” a dive to the fullback, the second “option” a QB keep “optioning” off the DE, and the third option a pitch to the trailing running back.
Out of this formation, they could also run various pass plays to receivers and tight ends, using the initial dive as a sort of “play action.”
Later coaches developed wishbone and “spread” option formations that built upon that foundation.
You still see it run in high schools, but the last FBS college team that I saw run it was Georgia Tech, and I am pretty sure that they have since abandoned it.
Via YouTube several of our old games may be viewed, such as the 1969 Bluebonnet Bowl smashing of Auburn, Cotton Bowls, 1974 Bluebonnet Bowl, etc.
What you will see is our Offense not entirely reliant on The Veer. Lots of toss sweeps, counters, pulling Guards, etc. Yeoman did not 100% run Veer Option plays. He mixed it up. And he threw the football. We had lots of games with over 200 yards passing.
I believe that UH still has the record for 99 yard TD passes with 3. That was a thing of beauty! I was privileged to have seen all 3.
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Was watching a tv game a week or two ago, i think it was Georgia Tech–used a T formation. Don’t think it went anywhere but the other team was freaked. Maybe we should use it, the veer, wishbone, run/shoot, I formation, etc.etc. But of course WE have invented the infamous Sloth offense–just wait another five years and watch it in action!
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Bring it back. And hire one of those hard-nosed power option guys to run it as OC.
The veer or Chadwell’s offense. Get one fast.
Speaking of the wishbone, I was fortunate enough to have Emory Bellard as my coach in high school, Spring Westfield. Needless to say, it was quite an experience. Great coach and person.
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The Veer is very easy to learn, as some have eluded to. My high school coach implemented it for the last game of my sophomore season. Varsity still got pounded but we JV players feasted the next day. Yours truly popped a 50 yard TD run up the middle, which is a nice memory.
Got a new coach the next year and we ran Woody Hayes’ offense. Won a bunch of games the next two years, but I really liked the Veer and wished we had stayed with it.
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one thing about the veer…the QB gets hit frequently
Your overworking the problem. Just fire Dana and hire a good coach.
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Way back when Coach Yeoman taught The Veer to Plano Sr. High coach Tom Kmbrough.
Plano then appeared in 4 State Title games, winning 3(their loss was to Houston Stratford featuring Craig James). In 1987 Plano was voted the #1 High School team in the Nation, all while running The Houston Veer.
Rules changes favor a passing game. And they sometimes seem more exciting.
Since no one runs it The Houston Veer might well catch people off guard, and might well beat them. Indeed, passes out of The Veer are devastating. The DB’s creep up to tackle the RB’s. Voila! The WR’s run past them, wide open for a pass. See guys like Elmo Wright and Eric Herring for examples.
Probably impossible but returning to The Houston Veer would be wild!
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Hell, I’d like to see someone in college football resurrect the old Pop Warner Single Wing.
Because no coach today has either played in it, played against it, or studied it, and no team would have over a week to prepare for it, it would catch EVERYONE off guard, and would no doubt roll up a lot of yardage!!!
Hell, the single-wing “wedge” play could still be the most deceptive play in football!
One unsung aspect of our football heritage is that at one time many, many high school programs ran the Houston Veer. It was a revolutionary offense in many ways, and the Cougars racked up some huge offensive numbers running it.
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