GUTHRIE, Okla. – Three times in his career, Trevor Brazile was the No. 1 man heading into the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping.
When he walked away from the championship, he did so with the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle given to that season’s world champion. The latest episode of this finely tuned act came Nov. 11-12 at the Lazy E Arena when Brazile earned his 15th Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association World Title.
It came down to the final run of the final round of the two-day event. Over the course of the Clem McSpadden, two-time reigning world champion Rocky Patterson had propelled himself into the world standings lead heading into the 10th go-round – that marked the first time since March that someone other than Brazile had been No. 1 in the standings.
Patterson, who knew he would not be able to earn money in the aggregate race, needed to win the go-round and see Brazile drop in the average. Brazile, though, posted a 13.7-second run, secured a third-place aggregate check of $9,231 and also another title
“It just made it that much sweeter,” said Brazile, of Decatur, Texas. “There are things you remember, and I’ll remember that run because of that race, whereas you don’t remember it when it doesn’t come down to (that).
“When your heart’s not that heavy on your last one, it doesn’t stick with you as long.”
Brazile placed in four go-rounds and earned $19,538 inside the Lazy E. But only one cowboy was able to rope and tie down all 10 steers, two-time world champion Scott Snedecor of Fredricksburg, Texas. The $15,231 he earned for claiming the average title was the only one he received over the course of the 10-round competition. The steers on which he competed weren’t as favorable as he would’ve liked, and his final steer nearly got up on him a couple of times.
“That steer … they missed him yesterday,” Snedecor said of Friday’s opening night of competition. “The fight was on holding him down.”
It wasn’t the only steer Snedecor battled.
“Out of the 10 steers, I probably had seven of them that kicked me or tried to get up,” he said. “These steers were really good two weeks ago. I was on the wrong end of them.”
Still, there is a nice new piece of hardware hanging from his belt.
“A (NFSR) average title is the second best thing a guy can get in his career,” Snedecor said. “Other than a gold buckle, that’s the next step down. I’m fortunate enough to have two gold buckles and two average buckles.”
Brazile has his own trophy case, and it keeps expanding. Of course, he has tremendous talent, but he also uses a strong philosophy to winning titles.
“I like to win every time I get a chance, therefore I don’t leave everything on one run,” he said. “I like to get my job done ahead of schedule.
“Steer roping’s taught me to win money when you can, because there’s more variables in this sport than anything.”