The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
True calling
11.21.2003 | Football
Bo Scaife's grandmother will admit she doesn't know much about football. She doesn't try to understand defensive schemes or offensive play calls.
One thing she can do, however, as well as anyone, is pick out No. 80 in a UT uniform.
"Bo's grandmother watches every game from her home in California," Scaife's mother, Cindy, said. "Every time Bo has a catch or makes a play, the phone is instantly ringing."
On a Saturday late in November, the home of the Scaife family would have surely received a few phone calls if his parents hadn't made the trip to Austin to see him play in his final home game. Against Texas Tech, Scaife reeled in his second touchdown reception of the season and the third of his career. The eight-yard pass came from quarterback Vince Young in the first quarter to give Texas the lead in response to an opening scoring drive by the Red Raiders.
Earlier in the season against Tulane, an 11-yard touchdown completion from junior quarterback Chance Mock ended a long and trying two years for Scaife since his last scoring reception, which occurred in the 2001 Holiday Bowl against Washington.
For Scaife, just being on the field is a testament to his dedication and perseverance. His left and right knees both have identical scars after having surgery to repair his left anterior cruciate ligament twice and his right ACL once.
The first time Scaife tore his ACL was the one he considered the most humbling. It was the first serious injury of his career and it resorted him to watching his high school team, Mullen Prep, win the Colorado state championship while he was on crutches. After a stellar season in which he was named a Parade All-American, Scaife saw his high school career come to an end when his knee gave out returning a punt in the state semifinals.
Despite the knee injury, college coaches were not concerned. A 6-foot-3 tight end with speed and good hands is a rare combination on any level and the phone calls never ceased for Scaife until he committed to Texas.
After a stellar freshman season at UT, Scaife entered two-a-days of his sophomore year as a leading contender for the starting tight end position. On the first day of practice, Scaife was running a flat route when a linebacker pulled on him, his leg caught in the grass and his ACL on his left leg tore.
"After the second time I tore my ACL, I started to wonder why this was happening to me," Scaife said. "But I knew I had to find a way to keep coming back."
Scaife did come back. His redshirt sophomore year saw him start 11 games as he was named honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference, as well as UT's Outstanding Tight End.
Once again, Scaife found himself in a familiar situation as he was ready to start the following summer as the Longhorns prime target at tight end. Instead, while running routes back home in Colorado, Scaife felt a twinge in his knee.
Scaife thought little of it. Already having suffered two ACL injuries, it seemed certain this wasn't the case again. He began riding an exercise bike and was planning on competing on the first day of UT's practices before his doctor called to tell him the news.
"My heart just sank when I heard the news," Scaife said. "I got a little teary eyed, and I called my parents. I think my dad was more hurt about it than I was."
Scaife's parents have always had a vested in their son's athletic career. Nicknaming him Bo cat at a young age instead of calling him by his given name of Oliver Scaife III, they watched him earn a black belt in karate as a youngster before starring in baseball and football in high school.
They were also there when Scaife could barely get off the couch after knee surgery. They helped him with tasks such as getting food, running errands and even standing up.
"I know I owe my parents a ton," Scaife said. "I'm sure I was a total baby when I was hurt about having them help me with everything. No parents want to see their kid have to deal with a lot of adversity, but my mom and dad were always very positive and they always took care of me."
In the opening game of the season, Scaife repaid his parents the best way he knew how. He hauled in a career-long 39-yard reception against New Mexico State, and in the third quarter he helped Texas convert a third-and-three play by catching a six-yard bullet from Mock.
Since then, he's been a mainstay for Texas on the offensive side of the ball and has insured that the Scaife family didn't go many Saturdays without a few phone calls.
"Everyone is just so excited to see Bo on the field," Cindy Scaife said. "Our entire family knows how much he has overcome and how hard he has worked to keep playing on such a high level. As for me, I just admire my son for never giving up. He could catch five passes or none and I'm still going to be as proud as ever of what he's accomplished."
