joshua Owls alumnus spotlight: chris snapp

Chris graduated from JHS in 2001, after earning varsity letters in four sports. He was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Owls and went on to play slot receiver at West Texas A&M University from 2002-2004. 

Chris was kind enough to take a few minutes to answer a couple of questions about his playing days at Joshua High School. Chris's answers are in bold, and my thoughts on his answers are in the brackets.

How many varsity football seasons did you play at JHS?

Two (1999, 2000)

[I graduated in ’99 and attended 18 of the 20 varsity games Chris played in.]

What position did you play at JHS?

Quarterback 

[Dude had a CANNON. Probably still does.]

Can you recall any all-district, all-county, or all-state honors you received in football?

All-District and All-County in 2000

What was your favorite win as a Joshua Owl?

My first varsity game against Hillsboro. I think Joshua was on a 21-game losing streak before that. 

[Yes indeed, the Owls were on a 21-game losing streak entering the season opener against Hillsboro on August 28th, 1999. Joshua’s last win before that came on November 16th, 1996, in a 30-19 playoff win versus Ennis. This game was played at Hillsboro, and my buddies and I got there a bit late because I drove, and I’m an idiot. When we parked the game had already started, and as we’re walking up to the entrance, the JHS offense had a 1st-and-goal from the one-yard line. Chris scored on a QB sneak, his first of two touchdowns that night, leading Joshua to a 21-14 win. It was an awesome night, and easily one of my favorite memories of high school. And for the record, I had nothing to do with the empty beer cans left in the third base dugout of the baseball field later that night; I had the decency to throw mine away.]

What’s your favorite personal highlight from your time playing at JHS?

Homecoming my senior year (2000) against North Crowley. We didn’t win but it was by far my best game, and a game that we should have been blown out but almost won. I also played defense against their 6’ 10 receiver which was a lot of fun.

[This was one of two games varsity games in Chris’s JHS career that I missed. Chris balled out on this particular night, on both offense and defense, and I really wish I could have seen him play corner against a near 7-footer. Incidentally, several members of this particular North Crowley team were part of the Panthers' State Championship squad a couple years later.]

While playing football at JHS, who were some of your most memorable teammates?

Cody Lee, Gary Johnson, Huntter Byrd 

[I love these dudes. I just saw Gary and Huntter a few weeks ago, and it was awesome. Also, in a note that would likely stun anyone that knew them in the late '90s, Cody and Huntter represent 28.5% of the current Joshua ISD Board of Trustees! In the accompanying picture, Gary is on the far left, Chris is in middle wearing a necklace from Hollister you could see from space, and like 40% of Huntter's face is on the far right. Also pictured: Cody Wayne Towns.]

Who was your favorite coach in your time at JHS?

Craig Bethell 

[A lot of Joshua guys from the last 25+ years would give the same answer. Great guy, Craig is. Still going at it, too, coaching his ass off here in 2025. He spends more time watching teenagers pole vault and correcting their technique than I do sleeping. Part of that is due to my debilitating insomnia after years of opioid addiction, but still; dude's a grinder.]

How old were you in the fall of 1996, the last time the Owls made the playoffs? Is there anything about that ’96 season that you remember?

I think 7th grade. I remember going to the playoff game and thinking how cool it was. 

[Chris was actually in the 8th grade in the fall of ‘96, but no points will be deducted ‘cause it was almost three decades ago.]

Give me your prediction of Joshua’s 2025 record:

6-4

[I dig it. Six wins would be Joshua’s most since that 1996 season, and would very likely mean the Owls are in the postseason. Excellent prediction, sir.]

So…Chris is my favorite Joshua Owl of all-time, by a healthy margin, and his spot atop that particular list can only be usurped by my two children.

The reason: he’s my brother. Watching him play football for Joshua was one of my favorite things to do…ever. It was pure joy, I miss getting to do it, and if I sit here too long thinking about it I'll start crying, partly from nostalgia and partly from the fact he's so awesome. 

Now...were all the times good times? No. There were some blowout losses for Chris and the Owls during those years. As well as some great wins, some gut punch losses, some concussions, a slew of WWF pay-per-views ordered, hours upon hours upon hours of GoldenEye played on the Nintendo 64, and, my favorite part, the camaraderie, love, and ball-busting that can only come with teenage boys spending hundreds of days together over the course of a few years.

Is Chris younger than me? More handsome than me? Smarter than me? More athletic than me? More patient than me? A better dad than me? Yes, to all. (About the only thing I have on him is a couple of inches. Oh, and I'm taller than he is.) Dude is just crushing life right now (married for 16 years, kids are 11, 10, and 7, and he's a lieutenant with the Austin Fire Department), and still making his older brother look like a massive chump. But he’s been doing that literally his whole life; it's something I came to terms with long ago.

Chris, thank you for taking the time to answer the questions I sent. I love you, and I hope to see you at a game this year. Go Owls.