Bill's high school career touchdown record gets broken unfairly and he, on the insistence of Hank, sets out to get his record back.
Tropes:
- Accidental Misnaming: After Ricky Suggs breaks the record and makes his thank-you speech to the crowd, he refers to Bill Dauterive as Mr. Devatrove.
- All of the Other Reindeer: When Bill returns to the high school football team, only the coach is supportive of him; the team itself, even the whole high school looks down upon him, even as he tries hard to connect with them. But after he scores his touchdown, he earns their respect.
- Artistic License – Sports: Bill is Arlen High's record-holder for most touchdowns, until Ricky Suggs ties him, injuring himself in the process. In the next game, the opposing team lets Ricky walk into the endzone on crutches to claim the record. Crutches are not allowed on the playing field. Then, the coach of Arlen High (who was Bill's coach and still respected him) and Hank realize that Bill never officially graduated because he left early to join the Army. So he suits up for one game to tie the record. Texas High School football has a hard age limit, regardless of academic status.
- Battle Cry: Bill has one as the Billdozer, growling like the sound of the engine. It's also a Crowd Chant, complete with a pushing motion akin to a bulldozer.
- Broken Pedestal: Hank initially loves listening to The Sports Jock and Chad on the radio, but sours on them after The Sports Jock starts raving about Ricky Suggs's performance, despite earning the record in a dishonest way. He even begins referring to him as The Sports Jerk.
- The Cameo: Coach Sauers makes an appearance in Bill's flashback.
- Celebrity Endorsement: In-universe; The Sports Jock is a beloved radio personality whom frequently plugs the Arroyo Diner during his broadcasts.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Ricky Suggs gets injured, the crowd applauds him out of respect, but Dale proclaims that how he thought he was the only one who was glad Ricky got hurt. This earns him scowls from the crowd. Even Peggy and Nancy give him the look. He then realizes what he said and tries to pin the blame on a little girl next to him.
- Determinator:
- Bill's not called the Billdozer for nothing. He still keeps on going even as other players grab a hold of him and pile on him; he still keeps on going until he reaches the end zone, even when he's past his prime. A comment early in the episode implies he's held this mindset for quite some time.Bill: I remember hemorrhage, embolism, even detached retina. It sounded scary, but when you smell the goal line, they're only words.
- Ricky Suggs qualifies too, in a twisted way.
- Bill's not called the Billdozer for nothing. He still keeps on going even as other players grab a hold of him and pile on him; he still keeps on going until he reaches the end zone, even when he's past his prime. A comment early in the episode implies he's held this mindset for quite some time.
- Down to the Last Play: Bill recalls his story of the record breaking touchdown with The Sports Jock and Chad in the form of a Flashback, where he manages to score with five seconds left.
- Fake Ultimate Hero: Ricky Suggs basically cheated Bill out of his record, but everyone but Hank and the guys look at Ricky as an inspirational hero. Hank gets so fed-up with the praise Ricky gotten, he even buys screws at the Mega-Lo-Mart after the guys at the hardware store he usually goes to sympathize with Ricky.
- Game-Breaking Injury:
- Ricky Suggs suffers a leg injury in a game, tearing his ACL. He won't let it stop him from beating the record, fairly or not.
- Happens at the end with Bill after his touchdown run, leaving his legs hurt and unable to move.
- God Help Us All: Hank says "May God have mercy on you all" after watching Ricky Suggs cheat to break the record and the crowd cheering.
- Graceful Loser: Bill initially seems pretty fine with Ricky Suggs breaking his old touchdown record. He's even supportive of him and sympathetic to his injury. Then it gets deconstructed after Ricky wins it in an unfair way. Despite trying to keep in good spirits, Bill becomes depressed that his record gets taken away in a frivolous, unfair fashion. It then becomes a Reconstruction after he rejoins the team and scores his touchdown legitimately and settles for tying the record with Ricky.
- Handicapped Badass: Subverted; Ricky Suggs goes out to play with his bandaged leg, in spite of his torn ACL. But instead of playing like normal, the team just clears up as he slowly staggers to the end zone. Even the opposing team doesn't touch him and after he drops the ball, one of them just gives the ball back to him before scoring his touchdown that shatters Bill's record.
- Incredibly Lame Fun:
- As Bill and Hank reflect on their football days, they share a good laugh about how they sneaked into the stadium and mowed the entire field before the groundskeeper came to work.
- And with Hank training Bill, he shows Bobby he runs a tough practice but a fun practice. But his idea of fun is doing the Look Behind You joke.
- No Challenge Equals No Satisfaction: Why Hank is so upset with Ricky Suggs breaking Bill's record. Ricky was still seriously injured and was basically allowed to walk straight to the end zone to make the record-breaking touchdown.
- Pragmatic Hero: Bill is able to get his record back and play in the game through a loophole: since he dropped out of school in the middle of his senior season due to being recruited by the army and never graduating, he ends up being red-shirted and is still eligible to play in the game.
- Radio Contest: The opening has the guys listening to The Sports Jock and Chad on the radio where they learn Ricky Suggs is approaching Bill's record of most career touchdowns and they hold a contest asking who is the record holder and what his position in the team was. Hank, Dale and Bill rush into their homes to call in, but Boomhauer just stands there as he pulls out his cell phone, speed-dials them and gives them the answer.
- Red Baron: Bill's old high school football name, The Billdozer.
- Show Within a Show: The Sports Jock and Chad's radio show.
- Special Guest: Mac Davis and Clint Black as Jock and Chad from The Sports Jock and Chad show.
- Sore Loser: Unlike Bill, who handled his record being tied with dignity, Ricky Suggs throws a tantrum when Bill fairly ties his record that Ricky broke unfairly.
- The Stinger: Bill is seen at the rehab center with Peggy getting himself back to shape, and hearing the Sports Jock and Chad on the radio raving about him for his determination, much to his joy.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: With Bill working to reclaim his record. He initially trains with Hank, but the fact that he's a fat, out-of-shape man in his 40s makes him not as energetic as he used to be and tires out quickly, saying that he can train or play the game; he can't do both. And when he plays the game, he keeps on going and scores, but the younger players piling on him quickly takes a toll on his body, managing to break his legs. And while he gets that touchdown, he's unable to move and is presumably carted off and has to rehab.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: After having gone from losing his record unfairly and being mocked by the one who stole that record from him, Bill bounces back and re-ties his record fairly. The Stinger has him being praised for how determined he was for getting that record back and even Peggy, who normally disrespects him, smiles at him in approval.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: At first, Ricky Suggs got along fine with Bill. He appreciated his support and was even grateful and humble after beating the record (unfairly but still). But then after Bill joins the team, during the pep rally, Ricky refers to him as Old Man Crybaby and thinks he'll cost them the game. And after Bill ties the record, he acts like a Sore Loser, protesting he got cheated. Plus when he said in his pep speech he broke the record not just for him, but also for his girlfriend, leading to two girls saying "I love you, Ricky" before both realize what's happening and exchange scowls with each other.
- Tough Room: At the pep talk, where Bill gets introduced, he tries to act as a Cool Old Guy and bring his own team spirit and proclaims a party at his house, but the room remains silent aside from a couple heckles, leading him to dejectedly sit down. And before the game, with the team meeting, he sings the fight song, but he still doesn't connect with them, since they changed the song since his playing days.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: After hurting his leg, Ricky goes to rehab to get himself back in shape, where he runs into Peggy, who's still doing the same after her skydiving accident. She gives him a pep talk, which actually encourages him to get back on the field and beat Bill's record, despite the fact he's nowhere in shape to effectively play.
- Vomit Discretion Shot: While preparing for his radio interview with The Sports Jock and Chad, Bill seems in good spirits, stating he just sees it as him talking to old friends. Then the nerves hit instantly and he grabs a trash can and throws up.
