Captain Quan Cosby

Quan Cosby is a fascinating figure in Texas sports history—his journey is a blend of athletic versatility and Longhorn legacy. – College: Star wide receiver and return specialist for the Texas Longhorns. He ranks No. 2 all-time in receptions (212) and No. 3 in receiving yards (2,598) at UT, forming a prolific duo with Colt McCoy.

NFL: Though undrafted in 2009, he carved out a role as a return specialist with the Cincinnati Bengals, later spending time with the Broncos, Colts, and Jaguars.

Quan Cosby Holds The Longhorn Season Record for Kickoff/Punt Returns (61) for 1,195 Yards, and Career Kickoff Returns of (72) for 1,731 Yards.

– Accolades: Named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2009 and was a BCS National Champion in 2005.

Quan’s lengthy highlight film is in the link below.

https://youtu.be/KFi9Nw-Hl1k

Former Texas Longhorn football great Quan Cosby entered the conversation in the Man Cave to offer his perspectives.

Cosby described some tense moments as a young child in Mart, Texas, and moments being pulled over for a routine traffic stop.

Give Quan a follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/QCosby17

In the Ohio State Fiesta Bowl game, Quan Cosby noticed that the only player covering him on the pass play was the safety. He informed Colt McCoy, who took advantage of the situation. With 16 seconds remaining, Colt McCoy hit Quan Cosby for the winning touchdown, beating Ohio State 24-21 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Quan on the radio is linked below.

https://youtu.be/SNHr9QU-hgQ

National Championship wide receiver Quan Cosby to be honored in Texas Athletics Hall of Honor .

Daily Texas – Evan Vieth, Associate Sports Editor

September 13, 2023

National Championship wide receiver Quan Cosby to be honored in Texas Athletics Hall of Honor

Courtesy of Texas Athletics

Few players are fortunate to start their football career as national champions. Very few are important enough to be selected as a member of their school’s Hall of Honor.

For former Longhorn wide receiver Quan Cosby, a career will be encapsulated on Friday, Sept. 15, when the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor inducts 11 new members.

“You do things for what you believe to be the right reason,” Cosby said to KXAN. “Something like this happens and it’s cool to be a part of an unbelievable class and group of folks.”

Cosby joins many of his teammates from the 2005 Texas Longhorns roster that defeated USC in the Rose Bowl, becoming national champions for the first time since 1970 and the fourth, and most recent, time in school history. Cosby was not a star quite yet on the championship team, but as a true freshman, Cosby was fourth on the team in receiving yards, including two catches in the bowl game.

Cosby was a part of likely the greatest four years of Texas football since 1970. Cosby played in 50 out of 52 games in that span, with Texas going 45-7 and winning four straight bowl games. Texas was never ranked lower than No. 13 in that same time span.

“We talk a million times about hating losing more than we like winning,” Cosby said to KXAN. “It’s cool to think that you had some moments and created some great experiences.”

Cosby’s most memorable moment as a Longhorn came in that championship game. With 90 seconds left and a third and long, former Texas quarterback Vince Young threw a pass that was caught well short of the line to gain by Cosby. However, Cosby pushed for the first and was tackled by the facemask, resulting in a Texas first down.

Seven plays later, Young ran for the roses.

Cosby finished his Texas career with 2,598 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns, good for sixth and fifth on the all-time receiving leaders list. Cosby amassed 300 receiving yards and three touchdowns in bowl games over his career and threw one of the most famous blocks in Texas history to help beat Oklahoma in 2008.

“Growing up … I played both ways,” Cosby said about the block, referring to his ability to throw out big hits. “To that team, it’s a whole ‘nother level.”

Cosby had a near perfect storybook ending to his illustrious career. In the 2008 Bowl Championship Series Fiesta Bowl, with 16 seconds left, Cosby scored the game winning touchdown over Ohio State to secure a victory on the final play of his career.

“The game was amazing,” Cosby said to KXAN. “But being back around Austin … if I had a dollar for every person that (told me) they were at that game, I’d have Sark(isian), Mack Brown money.”

Cosby will join the ten other inductees on Friday, Sept. 15, as he joins Longhorn royalty in the Hall of Honor.

Captain Dan Neil

Dan Neil’s podcast on Horns 247 is in the link below

https://youtu.be/2fhypd5ciAI

Dan Neil played offensive line for the Texas Longhorns from 1993 to 1996, starting 49 consecutive games—one of the longest streaks in school history. He was a two-time first-team All-American and a consensus pick in 1996.

He was also a team captain, MVP, and a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which honors the nation’s best interior lineman. After college, he was drafted by the Denver Broncos and played in two Super Bowls with them.

4th & Forever: Dan Neil – Get Better Every Day

By Eric Moreno | Posted 11/7/2019

It takes a special breed of person to serve as an offensive lineman. The old adage goes that you never notice an offensive lineman until they make a mistake. Toiling in virtual anonymity, they rarely seek the spotlight and are defined by the sacrifices they make for the betterment of the team. For virtually the entirety of his playing career, Dan Neil was the very prototype of an offensive lineman.

Growing up in Houston, Neil began playing football in fifth grade. He got his start a little later in the game than the rest of his friends, but once he got on the field, it was hard to get him off. He found his spot on the offensive line at an early age and took to the role like the proverbial duck to water.

Dan Neil playing for Texas

“I remember the first time I saw football on TV and saw that you got to bang into another person as hard as you could. I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he said. “I wasn’t allowed to play when all of my friends played. My Dad always said the pads were too expensive, so I saved up my money and bought them myself to get rid of that excuse. Once I got out there, I couldn’t wait to show everyone how good I could play. The first time I went out to practice that was it. I thought it was awesome.”

He would earn a scholarship to the University of Texas and become a stalwart on the Longhorns offensive line. His play would earn him First Team All-Big 12 and Consensus First Team All-American honors as a senior. Neil’s skills and accolades in Austin would earn him a third-round selection by the Denver Broncos in 1997. As a rookie, he became an immediate and durable starter for the Broncos. He would start in 104 of 108 games for seven seasons in Denver, including the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

Dan Neil playing for the Broncos

“What I loved about being an offensive lineman was getting the respect from my teammates when no one else recognized what we were doing as a unit,” he said. “You don’t play for the adulation for the fans, you play for the guys in the locker room. As an offensive lineman, your gratification comes from your teammates believing in you and appreciating your contribution to the team.”

Once he retired from the game, Neil embarked on a career in the media, co-hosting a radio show in Austin and now contributing to the Longhorn Network. He also dipped his toes into the world of politics, running for the Texas House of Representatives. Currently, in addition to his television duties, Neil has returned to school to earn his master’s degree while serving as a Regional Director with the Meyer-Chatfield Group, a company that offers financial services to other businesses.

“When I played football, there wasn’t really a need for motivation because I loved the game already,” he said. “When I transitioned out of football, there really wasn’t anything I was going to do that would give me as much joy as I had playing. Now things become challenging. When that happens, I look back and remember all of the things my coaches told me over the years. If you’re green, you’re growing, if you’re ripe you rot. Those things help motivate and drive me.”

Dan Neil playing for the Broncos

When looking back at all of the places his career on and off the field has taken him, Neil cannot help but humbly marvel at what he’s been able to accomplish. Now enjoying his retirement and seeking new challenges, he is always able to rely on one simple lesson the game taught him: Get better every day.

“There’s something I always tell the kids when I want to emphasize a teaching moment, I tell them that this is an O.T.I., an opportunity to improve,” he said. “Never stay the same. For better or worse, what you do is up to you. You can get better or you can get worse. Every day is up to you.”

Photos are courtesy of UT Athletics and the Denver Broncos.

Captain Bill Schoening

Link to Bill Schoening’s interview with Professor Carlson is at :

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/billschoening-introdution-by-larrycarlson

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/wordpress/larrycarlsoninterviewwith/billschoening

In 1989, Schoening was hired to broadcast sports for the University of Texas in Austin. During his first three years in Austin, Schoening served as the color analyst on Texas Longhorns football and basketball, with play-by-play announcers Brad Sham and Jerry Trupiano. After Sham and Trupiano left, Schoening was hired to take over play-by-play for both Longhorn football and basketball, a position he would hold for nine years (through 2001). During this time, Schoening’s primary color commentator was Craig Way.[10] Schoening also did play-by-play for Longhorn baseball for all 12 years he was in Austin.[3]

Bill Schoening spent 12 years as a broadcaster for the Texas Longhorns, covering football, basketball, and baseball. During his first three years in Austin, he worked as a color analyst alongside play-by-play announcers Brad Sham and Jerry Trupiano. When they left, Schoening took over play-by-play duties for both Longhorn football and basketball for the next nine years. He also called Longhorn baseball throughout his time in Austin.

Beyond game coverage, Schoening hosted a sports radio talk show in Austin, first at KLBJ and later at KVET, after the station acquired the rights to broadcast Longhorn games. His deep knowledge of Longhorn sports history made him a respected voice in Texas athletics.

During his time in Austin, Schoening also hosted an afternoon sports radio talk show, first at KLBJ, and then at KVET, after the latter gained the rights to broadcast Longhorn games.[11] He sometimes had co-hosts for these shows, including Jeff Ward and Craig Way. One of these talk shows titled “Sportsday,” which Schoening co-hosted with Ward, won a 1996 “Best of Austin” award from the Austin Chronicle for “Best Talk Radio Show.”[12]

Bill Schoening is a well-known American sportscaster, best recognized as the radio play-by-play voice of the San Antonio Spurs since the 2001–2002 season. Over his career, he has called thousands of consecutive Spurs games without missing a tip-off. Before joining the Spurs, he spent 12 years broadcasting for the Texas Longhorns, covering football, basketball, and baseball.

Schoening is a four-time winner of the Associated Press “Top Texas Play-by-Play Award,”[4] and also won the 2014 Texas Sportscaster of the Year Award from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.[5] In August 2022, he was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.[6][7]

His career spans over four decades, and he has been honored with multiple awards, including the Texas Sportscaster of the Year Award and induction into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame.

Beyond sports broadcasting, Schoening is also a singer-songwriter and has published a book titled Stories, Sports, and Songs: Tales and Tunes by a Play-by-Play Lifer.

Captain Glenn Blackwood

Link to Glenn’s podcast is at

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/glenn-blackwood-football

Glenn Blackwood

GLENN BLACKWOOD:  BRUISING, STINGING KILLER “B” by Larry Carlson  ( lc13@txstate.edu )

Glenn Blackwood was kind of hot under the collar.  After 40 minutes on the phone with me and Chris Doelle of TLSN one recent morning, the former Longhorn (1975-78) and Miami Dolphins (1979-88) defensive back was warming up to a pet peeve.  I could hear the frustration in his twangy South Texas tone.

Blackwood had already said he was in the midst of a “mild” case of Covid, but that’s not what stuck in his craw. It was the strutting and preening that he sees — as we all do — after almost every play in college football and the NFL.

Blackwood had already said he was in the midst of a “mild” case of Covid, but that’s not what stuck in his craw. It was the strutting and preening that he sees — as we all do — after almost every play in college football and the NFL.

Blackwood’s point was simple.  Football is absolutely the ultimate team sport.  Good things happen on the field because of teamwork.  Nobody makes a play by himself.  It’s not tennis or golf or the pole vault.

It’s like life.  Husbands and wives, families, co-workers, and other assorted teams in all walks of life reap positive results through work, play, sacrifice, grit, and perseverance.  It’s never an accident even when luck comes into play.

Blackwood’s mood brightened when he mentioned what he sees as the prevailing attitude of conduct at his alma mater.  “There’s some of the ‘act like you’ve been there’ attitude there now,” he said, saluting the team-first attitude of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson at UT in recent years.  Then Glenn mentioned that he never saw the likes of Barry Sanders or his former teammate, Earl Campbell, participate in any hot-dogging after their endless supply of highlight plays.  And he emphasized that there’s no need for it now.

“When you go into the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.” ― Vince Lombardi

High light film of Glenn Blackwood is below.

https://youtu.be/zKZFneuONAw

The native San Antonian was a valuable piece of winning teams at every level of organized football for two decades.  He played for Churchill High’s first two district champion teams, then excelled for the Longhorns and went on to a distinguished career in Miami, an absolute steal in the eighth round of the ’79 draft.

Always a heady player, the six-footer had a history of delivering more than was sometimes expected by others.  In our interview, he recalled having received “one-and-a-half” scholarship offers (from a junior college and Howard Payne in Brownwood) before UT — coached by the legendary Darrell Royal, with “Iron Mike” Campbell heading the defense — extended a very late offer that he eagerly accepted.

His brother, Lyle, had been similarly underrated, going the JUCO route before playing two years at TCU.  A ninth-round NFL pick, Lyle was already in his third season with the Cincinnati Bengals when little brother first laced up college cleats.

Even as a freshman featherweight in Austin, weighing in at just over sixty pounds, Glenn was a valued backup player.  One striking play is still in this writer’s memory bank almost fifty years later, and I brought it up when we spoke.  In College Station in ’75, second-ranked A&M was inside the five-yard-line when “Iron Mike” sent a surprised Blackwood in to replace an even more bewildered Raymond Clayborn, All-American and future All-Pro with the Patriots.

Campbell tersely instructed the teenager not to even guard against the pass.  Just play the run.

Blackwood hit senior (and future first-round NFL pick) Bubba Bean, a 200-pounder, with such a punch that both players were briefly knocked out—literally a stunning tackle.  I told Glenn that I’d never been able to find a clip of that tackle.  He said he had it on his phone.  Now I do, too.

Blackwood played two years for Royal and Campbell, two more for Fred Akers and DC Leon Fuller.  As a junior in 1977, Akers’ first season as boss, Texas went 11-0 before losing to Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl.  Blackwood was in the defensive backfield with three other future NFL performers, Johnnie Johnson, Ricky Churchman, and Derrick Hatchett.   Glenn had begun to believe that, with his senior season approaching, perhaps he might somehow have a chance to extend his playing days past the college level.

He approached the young defensive backs coach Alan Lowry, who had been All-Southwest Conference as a DB in ’71, then as a quarterback in ’72.  Could Blackwood have a real chance to play professionally?

“Alan is just such a nice guy, and such an honest guy,” Glenn laughed now. “He just kind of went ‘Well….

uhhh’,…”

So much for the pep talk.

Undeterred, Blackwood shined for a stout ’78 defense and was prepared to give the pros a shot, drafted or not.  His good friend Russell Erxleben, the All-America kicker and punter, went to New Orleans as the eleventh pick in the first round.  Glenn says he stayed out a bit late and was not an early riser following the big, celebratory night.  But somebody at his apartment complex interrupted his long slumber with urgent, insistent banging on the door, asking Glenn if his phone was off the hook.

Turns out that the bleary-eyed Blackwood had indeed bumped the old phone from its cradle, and the guy at the door had news that Miami had selected him in the eighth round.

Blackwood bucked the draft odds, producing big for a memorable decade.

Tutored by the estimable Bill Arnsparger, Miami’s defensive coordinator, he developed quickly and stood out in coverage and with big hits.  Glenn speaks in awed tones about Arnsparger, even to this day.

The highlights were many.  Blackwood played for five AFL East champions.  His team competed in the Super Bowl following the strike-shortened ’82 season and again after the ’84 season.  Underrated David Woodley quarterbacked the former squad, and magnificent Dan Marino was in charge for the latter.  And the ’85 Dolphins memorably put a wrench in the potentially perfect season of the Chicago Bears, who would go on to lift the Lombardi Trophy at season’s end.  By beating the Da Bears, who came into December at 12-0, the Dolphins preserved their franchise’s fame as the NFL’s only team to ever go unbeaten, back in ’72.

Miami was the place to be, capturing the imagination of the Reagan-era USA.

Captain Anne Schweitzer- Bennett – Cross Country

Annie Schweitzer Bennett – 1986 Cross Country national championship team, and Longhorn Hall of Honor Inductee.

Anne Schweitzer Bennett podcast is below

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftraffic.libsyn.com%2Fcdogg%2FTLSNS05E09.mp3&data=05%7C02%7C%7C36ddb7a6a47d4a650fd908ddc2dab39a%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638880966780586885%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=N6RWl%2FLv9pqDsZDnYq5ByEVOKq8%2FFwszql8y9%2BKJWuI%3D&reserved=0

Annie Schweitzer Bennett began her academic and athletic career at the University of Texas in 1983, where she proudly represented the Longhorns in track and field. A standout distance runner, Annie captured individual Southwest Conference (SWC) titles in 1985 and 1986, and helped lead Texas to team championships in 1984, 1985, and 1987. She dominated the 3000m and 5000m events, winning each three times, and claimed the national title in the 5000m in 1987, setting a collegiate record on her hometown track at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Annie still holds the Texas indoor 3000m record and held the 5000m record until 2014, when it was surpassed by Olympian Marielle Hall.

After graduating, Annie stayed in Austin to pursue a master’s degree at what was then Southwest Texas State University. While balancing work and school, she was invited by newly appointed UT women’s coach Beverly Kearney to try out for a coaching position. Though initially hesitant, Annie quickly discovered her passion for mentoring athletes and embarked on an 18-year coaching career. She served as Head Women’s Track and Cross Country Coach at Stephen F. Austin, then at Wake Forest University, where she was later promoted to Director of Track and Field and Cross Country. At Wake Forest, her team won the ACC XC championship in 2002 and went on to finish 9th, the highest finish in program history at the time. She also coached two Fulbright scholarship recipients and the NCAA Women of the Year, Annie Bersagel.

Her legacy continues through her children: Carley competed in track at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Michael is a Division I athlete with one year of eligibility remaining at Duke University.

Captain Brooks Kieschnick

During his time at Texas, Kieschnick batted .360, hit 43 home runs, and drove in 215 RBIs. As a pitcher, he had a 34–8 win-loss record with a 3.05 ERA. His versatility made him one of the most unique players in the history of college baseball.

Brooks Kieschnick was a legendary two-way player for the Texas Longhorns baseball team from 1990 to 1993. He was a three-time All-American and the only player to win the Dick Howser Trophy twice (1992 and 1993), an award given to the best collegiate baseball player.

Kieschnick was drafted 10th overall in the first round of the 1993 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs. He played in six MLB seasons between 1996 and 2004, primarily with the Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers. In his final two seasons, he was used as a relief pitcher and pinch hitter, a rare combination in professional baseball.

Larry Carlson interviewed Brooks in 2024 and here is the link to his interview.

https://texaslsn.org/2024-brooks-ki/

Here is a link to Brooks’ podcast

Like the Heisman Trophy, college baseball’s equivalent, the Dick Howser Trophy, has but one history-maker who earned the award twice.  What Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (1974-75) did on the gridiron, UT’s Kieschnick (1992-93) earned on the diamond.

The big man was his sport’s dominant figure while at the Forty Acres.  Those of us who regularly witnessed his clutch performances were in awe of his multi-faceted mastery.  In those three seasons in burnt orange and white, Brooks Kieschnick put up numbers that would now be termed “sick.”   As a pitcher with good velocity and an artist’s touch at painting the corners, he was 34-8.  In two of his Texas seasons, he yielded zero homers.  At the plate, he was intimidating, steadily delivering timely hits with a powerful stroke triggered by a groove-developing, trademark butt wiggle.

pped 67 doubles and drove in 213 runs.  Meanwhile, he drew 140 walks, essentially one per game.

Jody Conradt 1976-2007- women’s basketball

Captain Jody Conradt

Jody Conradt is a legendary women’s basketball coach who led the Texas Longhorns from 1976 to 2007. She was a trailblazer in women’s college basketball, guiding Texas to 900 career victories, making her one of the winningest coaches in NCAA history.

Her most notable achievement came in 1986, when she coached Texas to an undefeated season (34-0) and an NCAA championship—the first time a women’s team had gone unbeaten and won the title. She also won 10 Southwest Conference regular-season titles and two Big 12 championships.

Beyond coaching, Conradt pioneered women’s athletics, serving as Texas’s women’s athletic director from 1992 to 2001. She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

When Coach Conradt was asked about the significant change she has witnessed during her coaching career in Texas, she said, “Things that have changed, counting around the room, there are 11 media representatives here. If I could think back to when I first came here, if there were this many people in the stands, it meant someone’s family was in town.”

History is a link to Coach Conradt’s history at Texas

https://texaslsn.org/conradt1976-2007/

Jody Conradt’s podcast is at

https://texaslsn.org/19762007-jody-conradt-copy/

When Coach Conradt was asked why small-town coaches matter, she responded, “Because, more than anything, a young person can do, sport teaches life skills. It teaches you how to win and how to lose, how to interact with teammates, and how to carry yourself with class, win or lose. It teaches you the value of commitment, the importance of intensity, and the value of seeing things all the way through.”

Captain Scott Bryant

Scott Bryant was a standout baseball player for the Texas Longhorns, earning recognition as one of the program’s greatest athletes. He was an outfielder and key figure in the 1989 College World Series, helping Texas reach the championship game. That same year, he won the Dick Howser Trophy, awarded to the collegiate baseball player of the year.

His number 25 was retired by the Longhorns.

UT’s First Baseball “Heisman” Winner

by Larry Carlson https://texaslsn.org

Remember the way Scott Bryant punished fastballs and hanging curves at Disch-Falk Field? If you were a Texas fan, it was breathtaking. If you were on the opposing side it was terrifying.

So it’s going to be fun to see Bryant blast sitting ducks, in the form of golf balls, when he steps to the tee as a captain of one lucky foursome on Sept. 15 in TSLN’s Legends Golf Classic.

For those who watched Bryant excel as a two-time All-Southwest Conference choice as an outfielder and designated hitter (while also pitching as a side hustle), it’s hard to believe it’s been more than 35 years since the San Antonio Churchill-ex left Texas as Cincinnati’s number one draft pick (20th overall).

Playing in the burnt orange from 1987-1989, Bryant became a legendary Longhorn. That’s why his number 25 jersey is one of the few numerals retired by UT. In 1989, Bryant — with plenty of help from the likes of pitcher Kirk Dressendorfer and infielder David Lowery, among others — led Texas all the way to the NCAA championship game.

A bona fide slugger who was tough to strike out, Bryant crushed 18 homers that season to go with 32 doubles and a trio of triples in the Horns’ 54-18 year. Did we mention a phenomenal .386 batting average? It was a supreme understatement to classify the muscular, 6-3, 215-pounder as “a tough out.” He had roughly twice as many extra-base pops (53) as strikeouts (28).

Bryant’s remarkable season brought the 1989 Dick Howser Trophy, college ball’s Heisman, emblematic of the nation’s top player, to Austin.

Scott was the first Longhorn to earn the prestigious award. Brooks Kieschnick (twice), Taylor Jungmann and Ivan Melendez have since followed in his spike-steps.

After finishing third behind co-champs Arkansas and A&M in the regular season, the Longhorns began to peak. Experts, though, believed the Aggies were the team to beat. And the Ags, hosting a regional, steamrolled three teams by a macabre combined score of 65-12.

Then the maroons reverted to historic form. LSU beat them in two straight to advance to Omaha. Arkansas also earned a spot up in Nebraska, where UT dished out one of the Hogs’ two defeats. Texas, behind Bryant’s scorching bat, did nothing but win through the postseason, then ran into a stroke of bad luck that still stings.

In previous seasons, the College World Series was strictly a double-elimination tournament. But in ’89 CBS had purchased the rights to a pre-ordained time for a championship game that was guaranteed to happen. Rain or shine, even.

It came up that Texas and Wichita State were the finalists. The Shockers had lost a game while Texas had been perfect. Bryant bashed in three runs off LSU’s Ben McDonald to trigger a 12-7 win leading up to the Saturday title game. McDonald had been MLB’s number one pick (Baltimore) in the draft that week. Bryant, outfielder Arthur Butcher and the Horns rocked him.

But with no wiggle room, no best of three against the Kansans for the trophy, Texas was forced to push Bryant into the starting pitcher’s role, rather than Dressendorfer (18-2) or Brian Dare.

Wichita State prevailed, 5-3, that day. No mulligan for Texas. Twenty years later, when Bryant was inducted into the UT Hall of Honor and had his jersey retired, he told UT’s Media Relations staff that the outcome has not been cobwebbed over. “To come up one game short was very disappointing,” Scott said. “And it’s one of the things that bugs me to this day.”

Bryant’s legacy, though, looms much larger than a single loss. The three Longhorn squads for which he excelled won a remarkable total of 173 games, losing just forty. And now UT’s first winner of the Dick Howser Trophy is set to tee off on a ball that will only break once he putts it.

(TLSN’s Larry Carlson is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. He teaches sports media at Texas State University and lives in San Antonio. Write him at lc13@txstate.edu)

Captain Rudy Tomjanovich: “A Wolverine legend will, for one day, assist TLSN in raising funds to support all former Longhorn student-athletes, ensuring none are left behind when tragedy strikes.”

While not a Longhorn, Rudy Tomjanovich has committed to serving as a team captain in the TLSN Legacy golf tournament. For anyone who doesn’t know Rudy, he was an All-American at Michigan (and still holds the career rebounding record there) before becoming a stalwart of the Houston Rockets as the #2 draft pick from 1970 to 1981. He was a 5-time NBA All-Star. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for eight years before becoming the head coach of the Rockets from 1992 to 2003. As head coach, he led the Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2000, he coached the American Olympic team to the gold medal at the Sydney Summer Olympics. He also coached the Los Angeles Lakers during part of the 2004–05 NBA season. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

While not a Longhorn, Rudy Tomjanovich has committed to serving as a team captain in the TLSN Legacy golf tournament. For anyone who doesn’t know Rudy, he was an All-American at Michigan (and still holds the career rebounding record there) before becoming a stalwart of the Houston Rockets as the #2 draft pick from 1970 to 1981. He was a 5-time NBA All-Star. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for eight years before becoming the head coach of the Rockets from 1992 to 2003. As head coach, he led the Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2000, he coached the American Olympic team to the gold medal at the Sydney Summer Olympics. He also coached the Los Angeles Lakers during part of the 2004–05 NBA season. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Croatian American Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

Captain Kaysie Smashey

Kaysie is an Academic All-American honoree and a multiple All-Big 12 First Team selection.- Three-time Texas Class 5A State Champion- Winner of five national doubles championships- Inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

Most recently, in March 2025, Kaysie competed for team USA in Turkey, winning gold.

Kaysie received the Sunturian Award for the best athlete in El Paso in 1998. After a very successful high school career, Kaysie earned a full athletic scholarship to play tennis at the University of Texas at Austin from 1998-2002, was an Academic All-American, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the McCombs School of Business. As a longhorn, her team went undefeated in conference, winning four straight Big 12 conference titles. She achieved All-Big 12 Conference singles and doubles First Team, GTE Academic All-District IV Team 1998-2002, All-Big 12 Conference Academic First Team 1998-2002, Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll 1998-2002, and the National Society of Collegiate School. She graduated in 2002 with University Honors.

Following college, Kaysie won four (4) Professional (ITF) Doubles Titles, 12 Doubles Finalist, 3 Singles Semi-finalist, and was drafted and played World Team Tennis for the Springfield Lasers in 2005 and 2006.

Since retiring from the tour, she sells residential real estate in Houston and coaches at the Houston Racquet Club. For the past 9 years, she has continued to compete on the USTA/ITF Masters tour, winning 26 more national titles in doubles and singles, achieving the #1 ranking in the world in 35+ and 40+ age divisions, and has been selected each year to represent Team USA against the rest of the world. She has represented America in Croatia, South Africa, Miami, Portugal, and Turkey. Most recently, in March 2025, Kaysie competed for Team USA in Turkey, winning gold. In May 2017, she was inducted in the El Paso Hall of Fame.

Since retiring from the tour, she sells residential real estate in Houston and coaches at the Houston Racquet Club. For the past nine years, she has continued to compete on the USTA/ITF Masters Tour, winning 26 more national titles in doubles and singles, and achieving the #1 ranking in the world in the 35+ and 40+ age divisions. She has been selected each year to represent Team USA against the rest of the world. She has represented America in Croatia, South Africa, Miami, Portugal, and Turkey. In May 2017, she was inducted into the El Paso Hall of Fame.

Captain Dusty Renfro

The Allstate Sugar Bowl Believes in Champions – Dusty Renfro

by John Sudsbury

Champions have long defined the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The list of Hall of Fame athletes who have competed in the annual contest is breathtaking. Heisman Trophy winners, future NFL Super Bowl champions and national championship coaches have made their mark in the annual game that brings in thousands of fans to New Orleans and millions of television viewers. But the list of Sugar Bowl champions extends well past the gridiron. There is a long list of distinguished individuals who have proven themselves to be champions in life as well – the Sugar Bowl has highlighted these lesser known success stories with a series of online stories.

Dusty Renfro – Allstate Sugar Bowl Believes in ChampionsWe Believe in Champions

Terry and Mary Renfro emphasized, above all else, devotion to family, faith and hard work raising sons Dusty and Chad. They modeled that in many aspects of their lives, certainly as both played football growing up.

Terry coached and helped out as much as possible and Mary was the team mom, cooking for the team before games and making sure the players had everything they needed.

The payoff? Well, as most parents who have raised kids know, it’s seeing them be successful and happy in life. Grandkids are also a big-time bonus.

“We had a blast (raising them) and now we get to watch our grandchildren,’’ Terry said.

But there is even more for Terry. Dusty saved Terry’s life four years ago through a sacrificial act. He not only donated one of his kidneys to his father but he also helped prepared him to fight a difficult battle in getting ready for the transplant.

“It was the gift of life,” Terry said. “Now I feel 20 years younger, I have my strength back, we’re having family functions, and I can enjoy them. He saved me.’’

The combination of selfless devotion and hard work comes as no surprise to those who know Dusty best.

Old-fashioned values have been the key to his life. With a focus on hard work, one of the hardest-working linebackers in Texas Longhorn history has achieved success on the football field, in business and in the community. That passion for hard work came from another old-fashioned value – family.

During his four-year career at Texas, Renfro was a Big 12 Champion, twice an Academic All-American and an All-Big 12 selection. After a short pro career, he quickly found success in business, using his work ethic to make a name for himself in commercial real estate and the oil industry.

However, in 2016, he faced his biggest challenge – health issues threatened his father Terry’s life. He needed a kidney transplant to survive, however, he was denied access to a transplant list due to his weight problems – a transplant simply wouldn’t work for someone carrying one hundred-plus extra pounds.

The younger Renfro jumped into action.

“I was driving back from West Texas with [close friend and business partner] Matt Trissel when I got that phone call,” Dusty remembered. “It was a very emotional call. (His father) told me he was in renal failure; he was going on dialysis and he would need a kidney transplant. My immediate response was, ‘We’re going to get you in shape and I’m going to give you a kidney.’ That was the first thing that popped into my head – it was a natural solution.”

Renfro packed up his parents in Granbury, Texas, and moved them onto a houseboat a few slips down from his own boat on Lake Travis so he could fully focus on his father’s health and weight.

“I didn’t even know if I was a match at that time,” he said. “They wouldn’t even test me until he got the weight off.”

The only doctors who would consider Terry for a transplant were the staff at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. And even they wouldn’t commit to anything due to the weight issue.

“They do psychological evaluations, a full day of interviews,” Renfro remembered. “They want to make sure you’re donating for the right reasons. I told them, ‘Look, I’m a match and I’m giving my dad this kidney. If you guys don’t do it, we’re going to find a way to do it anyway. We’ll fly to Kidney Island and have them do it. So you may as well approve it.’”

Renfro’s creative argument aside, it was the tremendous effort between the father and son to shed nearly 120 pounds that led to them sharing a hospital room on Dec. 6, 2016.

The transplant was immediately successful, at least for Terry. He had gone from less than 10 percent kidney function to having a fully healthy kidney. Dusty, meanwhile, had gone from 100-percent kidney capacity to 50-percent. Not to mention the physical impact of deeply invasive surgery.

“I had a lot of surgeries in the past but it’s a different deal when they’re cutting through your stomach muscles,” Dusty said. “That surgeon was elbow deep for four or five hours.

“Your intestines don’t like to be touched,” he added with a laugh.

“It wasn’t easy to accept it [his kidney],” Terry said. “My wife and I said absolutely not, he’s perfectly healthy. I turned him down flat. He got upset with me. He said, ‘If I needed a kidney, would you give me one?’ I said absolutely. And he told me to stop fighting him on this.

“The first thing I said when I woke up was, ‘How’s my son?’

While Dusty slowly recovered, he estimates it was about six months before he was truly back to full health, Terry was feeling great.

“It was like I’d gained 20 years, I felt fantastic.”

The decision to give his father something as precious as a kidney wasn’t hard for Renfro. His love for his parents transcended any apprehension he might have about donating the organ. His parents taught him many things, including to give of yourself and to always give your best.

“My dad and mom always told me, ‘All we expect is for you to do your best, give 110% in everything you do. And you will never disappoint anybody.’ That’s what I did, on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom, no matter where I was. I was always going to give my very best effort.”

His effort allowed him to quickly climb the depth chart during his true freshman season in 1995. By the end of the year, he was a critical part of the Longhorn linebacking corps. Texas registered 10 wins in Renfro’s first season and earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl against an up-and-coming Virginia Tech team.

“I didn’t know much about Virginia Tech going into that game,” Renfro said. “They came out and they were big and strong and they were a tough team. The running backs were big and powerful, probably the biggest running backs we had faced that year. And [Jim] Druckenmiller the QB was like tackling an oak tree. We sure knew who they were after that game.”

The Longhorns jumped out to a 10-0 second-quarter edge, but then the Hokies erupted. Flanker Bryan Still scored on a 60-yard punt return to get things started; he would add a 54-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter as Virginia Tech rolled to a 28-10 victory.

Even with the loss, “It was probably the most fun we had at a bowl,” Renfro said. “The atmosphere, New Orleans. Everything leading up to New Year’s Eve. I was a true freshman, just a kid. It was a cool experience to see the festivities on my first trip to New Orleans.”

And the Renfro extended family were all in attendance. His parents drove down along with the parents of his then-girlfriend, now wife, Bundy Robbins, and a caravan of friends.

“When they made the Sugar Bowl, we loaded up the Suburban and drove on down,” Terry said. “We had family, friends, his old coaches, it was a great time. We tried all the local food, we explored the antique shops, we rode the paddlewheel boat; we did it all. I love history so it was great to see so much there.

“We really had a great time until we went up to the Dome and Druckenmiller started killing us,” he laughed. “But even then, we enjoyed the back and forth between the Virginia Tech fans and ours. It was a lot of good fun.”

Renfro’s sophomore season brought his top career highlight as Texas made the inaugural Big 12 Championship game that year. The underdog Longhorns upended No. 3 Nebraska 34-24 as Renfro dominated the game with 20 tackles. The win foiled the Cornhuskers’ hopes for a third-straight national championship.

At the end of his four-year Longhorn career, Renfro ranked fifth all-time with 370 career tackles. He was a two-year team captain. And he earned his degree in marketing.

“Dusty was the ultimate leader and the perfect middle linebacker,” said Mack Brown, his coach at Texas for his senior year. “As a captain for us, he was physical, smart and had great instincts. He also was one of our hardest workers. I was so proud when he chose to honor the great Tommy Nobis by wearing the number 60 in the Cotton Bowl, but it made sense because of who Dusty is and how he played. Dusty is a great Longhorn and it was an honor to coach him during his senior season.”

Nobis was the 1965 Maxwell Award (nation’s outstanding player) and Outland Trophy winner (nation’s top interior lineman). His jersey number 60 was worn at times after his career as a tribute to the Longhorn Legend. The standout linebacker and offensive lineman and member of the 1963 National Championship team officially had his number 60 retired at Texas in 2008.

After a few years of professional football, Renfro quickly established himself as a successful hard-working businessman in the real estate and oil industries.

“It always goes back to that team atmosphere and that team player mentality,” Renfro said about being successful in the business world. “I’m not necessarily doing it for myself. In football, I always played for the guy beside me. Now in business, I work hard for my family and my business partners. It’s a mindset; if you’re doing it for someone else, you’re going to try harder.”

He and Trissel formed Four Six Services, an oil field service company specializing in pressure control, torque and test, iron recertification and flowback, in 2013. Last year, the duo formed Four Six Capital, a commercial real estate construction and development company. Trissel was a Longhorn himself – the fullback who blocked for Cedric Benson in the four years after Renfro’s Texas tenure. And Trissel wore number 46, the same as Renfro. Hence, “Four Six” in the company names. According to the Four Six Capital website, the company name is not just a number, the Four Six logo stands for teamwork, toughness, reliability, integrity, hard work, pride, and commitment.

“Matt and I met on his recruiting trip,” Renfro remembered. “I was a senior in college and he was a senior in high school, but we had a lot in common – both from small country towns, both loved the outdoors, and we loved to hunt. We became instant friends even though we never got to play together.

“We went into the business about eight years ago and the oil field has been a roller coaster for us. Our saving grace has been all the lessons that Coach [Mack] Brown taught us at the University of Texas. He ran the team like a CEO runs a business. All of those leadership lessons we learned have been very valuable running companies.”

In addition to his successes in the business world, Renfro has made a mission of teaching football to under privileged kids around the world. Working with friends and his church, Renfro established an annual youth football clinic (Camp Gridiron) in Portugal in 2008. They’ve also conducted clinics in Brazil and have aims on continued expansion.

“Football teaches a lot of life lessons and it has become a platform for my faith,” he said. “My faith has always played a big part in my football career and my business career. It’s a driving force for helping other people and doing it for your teammates. It has become a platform for our mission trips in Portugal.”

Renfro is also transferring the lessons learned from life and football to his own sons. Knox (16) and Nash (15) are sports standouts themselves – Knox is a golfer and Nash has focused on baseball. Both have their eyes set on becoming Longhorns like their dad.

Even with all of his achievements and his continued success, it will be tough to top saving his own father’s life.

Dusty Renfro was a Texas Longhorns football team linebacker from 1995 to 1998. He led Texas in tackles during his junior season and was known for his hard-hitting style.

– Total Tackles (1996 season): 118 (66 solo, 52 assisted)

– Tackles for Loss: 6 for 10 yards

– Interceptions: 1 for 12 yards

– Kick Returns: 2 for 15 yards (7.5 yards per return)

– Games Played: 11

Beyond football, Renfro made headlines for his selfless act—he donated a kidney to his father, Terry Renfro, after helping him lose weight to qualify for the transplant. His dedication to family and perseverance reflect the same grit he showed on the field.

https://www.kxan.com/sports-general/longhorn-dusty-renfro-gives-ultimate-gift-to-his-father

Captain Ovie Dotson

A story published by Kendall Gayle Washington

December 2, 2024

Longhorn Legend

When you think of basketball at the University of Texas, Ovie Dotson stands out as a trailblazer whose journey left an indelible mark. A standout from San Antonio’s Sam Houston High School, Dotson joined the Longhorns in 1975 as an all-city, all-district player, quickly making his mark by helping lead the Longhorns to two Southwest Conference titles and a win at the National Invitation Tournament. Dotson didn’t just find his footing on the court — he used it as a platform for change, community and inspiration.

“I was going to be a part of something from the beginning, not something that had already been established,” Dotson said.

Dotson’s athletic journey began on the baseball diamond, but a growth spurt shifted his focus from swinging bats to sinking baskets.

“As I grew taller, basketball started to feel like a safer fit,” he recalled, standing at 6-foot-3 by the time he made the move to Texas basketball.

Initially set on Texas Tech, his high school history teacher — a proud Longhorn — helped sway him toward Texas, a world-recognized school with an emerging basketball program.

Dotson now encourages young athletes, particularly Black athletes, to carve their own paths.

“Don’t pick a school based on what others say. Find out for yourself. Open the door and see what’s inside,” he said. “Many people miss great opportunities because they’re scared to open the door.”

In the mid-1970s, as one of the few Black players on the Texas team, Dotson was well aware of the challenges ahead-but he was prepared.

“Texas was ready to make a change, and I was ready to be part of it,” he said. From handling adversity with a smile to building connections across communities, Dotson credits his family with teaching him resilience.

With Coach Leon Black and the legendary Abe Lemons at the helm, Dotson experienced two distinct leadership styles. Lemons, known for giving players room to be themselves, left a lasting impression on Dotson.

“Coach Lemons didn’t micromanage. He believed in us,” Dotson said. “He taught us that not everything will go your way, but to stay focused on the dream.”

Under Lemons, Dotson helped score major victories, including the 1978 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship.

“We started off not being a favorite, but our bond made us unstoppable,” he said. “Winning brought our community together and put us on the map.”

After college, Dotson took his talents to the Harlem Globetrotters, where he joined Jimmy Blacklock, the first Black player at UT and Hall of Famer.

For Dotson, the transition to the world-renowned Harlem GlobeTrotters felt seamless. Throwing the ball in between his legs and behind his back wasn’t new to him.

“I played it with style, I played it with flair,” Dotson said.

Playing in over 400 games annually and traveling to 96 countries, Dotson became known for his leaps and show-stopping dunks.

“Basketball put me in the conversation, in the arena, at the table,” he said of his time with the Globetrotters. He met world leaders and shared smiles around the world, experiencing firsthand the power of sports to bridge cultures.

“I loved every day to be around things I could tell my grandkids about,” Dotson said.

He continues sharing his journey with young athletes, offering a message of persistence. He urges them to “knock on the door and open it,” reminding them that their story is uniquely theirs to tell.

Dotson’s influence as a Longhorn goes beyond his own story — he takes pride in opening doors for players like Kevin Durant. He shared a fond memory from their concurrent induction into the UT Hall of Honor in 2022.

“He’s one of the finest young men I’ve met. I told him, ‘I’m an old man, and you’re a young man, but when you see me, just speak.’ He laughed, and that’s Kevin. He didn’t come to UT based on what others said. He came for the experience, and he’s made it better for everyone who follows,” Dotson said.

Ovie Dotson was a standout basketball player for the Texas Longhorns in the late 1970s. He helped lead the team to two Southwest Conference Championships and was part of the squad that won the 1978 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title. Dotson was known for his incredible leaping ability and powerful dunks, making him a fan favorite.

After his college career, Dotson played for the Harlem Globetrotters for eight seasons, traveling to over 100 countries and entertaining crowds with his spectacular slam dunks.

Captain Keith Moreland

Keith Moreland was a standout baseball player for the Texas Longhorns from 1973 to 1975. He played third base and was a three-time All-American, helping Texas reach three NCAA College World Series berths and win the national championship in 1975.

Moreland was an exceptional hitter, finishing his college career with a .388 batting average and hitting .410 over a 62-game schedule in 1975. His performance earned him a spot on the College World Series All-Decade Team for the 1970s.

After college, Moreland played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. He won a World Series title with the Phillies in 1980.

Captain Kirk Dressendorfer

Kirk Dressendorfer Hall of Honor 2002

Kirk Dressendorfer is National Freshman Player of the Year and an All-American in 1988, 1989, and 1990.  Posting a career record of 45-8, including a single-season record of 15 complete games. Kirk was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame in July 2009. He holds the record with 100 strikeouts a season for 3 years in a row.

·       Three-time All-American and All-SWC

·       Posted 45 career wins (45-8 overall)

·       Set the UT single-season record of 15 complete games

·       Three-time SWC Most Valuable Player

·       1988 SWC Newcomer of the Year

·       Named the MVP of the 1989 NCAA Regional Tournament

Drafted in the first round by the Oakland Athletics (1990)

The Oakland Athletics drafted Dressendorfer 36th overall in the first round of the 1990 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 1991, but injuries limited his professional career.

In 2023, Texas retired his No. 10 jersey, making him the ninth Longhorn baseball player to receive that honor.

Captain Johnny Moore

Johnny Moore played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns from 1975 to 1979. He was a point guard known for his exceptional passing and leadership on the court. Moore started all 112 games of his college career and finished as the Longhorns’ all-time career assists leader with 714 assists. His 8.34 assists per game as a senior remains a UT men’s basketball record.

During his time at Texas, Moore helped lead the Longhorns to two Southwest Conference (SWC) co-championships and was a key player in their 1978 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship run. He earned First-Team All-SWC honors in his senior season.

Abe Lemons’ policy is to talk to only one team member during one-minute timeouts. He says, “I talk to my quarterback, and he tells the other players, and they take it better coming from him.” Johnny Moore was that man in 1976.

After college, Moore was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1979 NBA Draft and went on to have a successful professional career, primarily with the San Antonio Spurs.

DOUBLE ZERO ADDS UP

by Larry Carlson https://texaslsn.org

When you start talking about the top passers in Longhorn history, Colt McCoy’s name is always in the mix, often at the top. Quinn Ewers and Major Applewhite have their backers, too.

But maybe we’re somehow skipping over the very best.

Johnny Moore.

Gotcha.

Okay, the 6-2 point guard who “quarterbacked” UT basketball from 1975-1979, fired a different kind of pass. Boy, was he good.

So good that his stats still top the career assists mark (714) and the individual game (19) record at The Forty Acres.

Moore landed in Austin from Altoona, PA for coach Leon Black’s team. The first to sport the quirky “00” jersey number, he started every game as a silky smooth freshman. In spite of an excellent debut by Moore, that squad won only nine games. Black was replaced as the basketball boss by freewheeling Abe Lemons and Moore, joined now by freshman forward Ron Baxter and transfer sure-shot Jim Krivacs, kept on dishing. The Horns improved to a 13-13 record and gained confidence.

Moore and Company would excel the next two seasons, sharing two Southwest Conference titles, winning the NIT in New York City in ’78 and storming into the NCAA tourney the following spring.

Johnny Moore did it all for the burnt orange, driving the offense, hectoring opposing ballhandlers, stealing passes and steadily scoring. For his career, number double-zero started every game, scored in double figures every season and always, always led Texas in passing wizardry.

A second-round draft pick by defending NBA champion Seattle in ’79, Moore was mistakenly undervalued as a pro early on. The Sonics quickly traded him to San Antonio and Spurs coach Doug Moe let him go as a rookie. Remember that. Double zero sure did.

It was a volatile era for management in the Alamo City. Moore would play for seven head coaches in nine years. Compare that to Gregg Popovich’s recent reign of two centuries.

Moe was gone when Johnny was re-signed the next year and — coming off the bench –led the team in steals and assists. A year later, the lifetime Longhorn led the NBA in assists. A fan favorite and star was born in silver and black.

And revenge would be served soon enough, not all that cold.

In the ’83 playoffs, Doug Moe, now Denver’s coach, said his team would focus on stopping George “Iceman” Gervin, and would make Moore beat the Nuggets.

Bad idea, Doug.

The Spurs crushed Denver, 4-1. Double-zero rang up 39 points in one game, served up 20 assists in another.

Moore had his best NBA season in ’84-85, averaging 13 points, 10 assists and just under three steals. But the next December, he was stricken with headaches. After an excruciating several weeks, the Spurs’ playmaker was diagnosed with “Desert Fever,” a rare form of meningitis that not only attacked Moore’s lungs but his brain. He quickly dropped 30 pounds from a lithe frame. Doctors had to drill a hole in Moore’s skull to administer a then-experimental drug.

Moore, in a beyond remarkable testament to courage and determination, returned the following season and played in 55 games. The disease had taken its toll, though, and the playmaker’s best basketball was behind him.

But Johnny Moore would not be a passing fancy, pun intended.

His legacy was secure. In the next decade he would be inducted into the UT Hall of Honor, then would have his trademark “00” San Antonio jersey hung from the rafters, just the third number retired by the Spurs franchise, following Gervin and James “Captain Late” Silas.

He is still revered by longtime fans of the ‘Horns and Spurs, and some of his records at Texas seem untouchable.

But not a single touchdown toss by Johnny Moore. Still, carve him into Mount Rushmore. Right next to McCoy, Ewers and Applewhite.

(TLSN’s Larry Carlson is a member of the Football Writers Association of America. He teaches sports media at Texas State University and lives in San Antonio. Write him at lc13@txstate.edu)

Captain Cynthia Sampson Shipper

Thanks to Title IX, Wilson Sporting Goods Co. National Account Manager, Cynthia Sampson Shipper, was one of the first women tennis players to receive a full athletic scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin in 1978, and was inducted into the University of Texas at Austin Women’s Athletic Hall of Honor in 2005. Cynthia has been a dedicated member of hashtag#TeamWilson for 39 years and has been playing with Wilson rackets since she was 10 years old!

Cynthia Sampson Shipper was a standout tennis player for the Texas Longhorns from 1978 to 1982. She served as team captain during her junior and senior years and led the 1981 squad to the school’s first Southwest Conference title. In 1982, she was named the team MVP. After graduating with honors in journalism, she built a successful career with Wilson Sporting Goods, earning the prestigious Jack Kramer Award in 1987 for excellence in the Racquet Sports Division.

Team captain as a junior and senior,

Led 1981 squad to school’s first SWC title

Team MVP in 1982

Honors graduate in journalism

Acclaimed employee with Wilson Sporting Goods since 1984

The company’s 1987 Jack Kramer Award for excellence in the Racquet Sports Division

Cindy served as VP of the Dallas Tennis Association from 1988-90

Captain John Danks

TLSN has a “Reflection Point Stories” series written in the first person by former Longhorn student athletes. John shares his story about the NIT championship year at the link below

https://texaslsn.org/john-danks-reflection-point-basketball/

A 4-year basketball letterman and assistant coach for Abe Lemons’ Texas Longhorns.

John Danks was a forward for the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team in the late 1970s. He played a role in the 1977–78 Texas Longhorns squad, which won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Championship. That team, coached by Abe Lemons, finished the season 26-5 overall and was ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll. Danks played 93 career games for Texas, averaging 6.9 points and 2.2 rebounds per game, with a 51.9% field goal percentage.

Danks joined Ron Baxter as the first two basketball recruits for Coach Lemons upon his arrival in 1976. From 1976 to 1979, Danks was the 6th man on numerous occasions for teams that played in both the NIT and NCAA, and he was instrumental on two SWC Championship teams.

His Senior year 1979-1980, he started 35 straight games and set a school record for the largest scoring average increase in UT Basketball history, going from 2 ppg in 1979 to 16.2 ppg in 1980, and finishing his career with a 51.9% fg shooting percentage, ranking 6th in scoring in the SWC his Senior year.He appeared in 93 games at Texas and was the team co-captain with Baxter in his Senior year.

Danks was also one of the first basketball players in UT history to join the Texas Cowboys.

A Native of Kentucky, Danks joined a long list of Kentuckians who played for Coach Lemons over his coaching career at OCU, Pan American, and Texas. Danks brought a physical intensity to the court and had a reputation for defensive prowess and speed in the open floor. Having played quarterback on his High School football team and been an accomplished high school pitcher and outfielder on his baseball team, he demonstrated exceptional athleticism.

After graduating from UT, Danks became recruiting coordinator for Coach Lemons until 1982.

Danks went on from there and lobbied the Texas Legislature for 22 years on behalf of the trucking and natural gas industries. After that, he embarked on a long career as a financial professional representing primarily professional athletes.

Baseball legends John and Jordan Danks are sons of John. Both achieved success in professional baseball. Interestingly, both of them played for the Chicago White Sox. John Danks was a left-handed pitcher who played for the White Sox from 2007 to 2016. His younger brother, Jordan Danks, was an outfielder who also played for the White Sox before joining the Philadelphia Phillies.

Captain Jay Humphrey

Article By Greg Shepard- published in 1998

Jay Humphrey is in his third year as a starter for the Longhorns of the University of Texas. He is a Outland Trophy candidate and has been named to some preseason All-America teams. Jay is a big player, huge. He is 6-7 307 pounds and plays offensive tackle. At first glance, it would seem that football came easily for Jay, but that is not the case.

Jay was blessed with athletic ability as he also started on the basketball team but he did not lift seriously at Richardson High School in Texas until his senior year. However, when he got to the University of Texas, he still could only bench 250 pounds and did not know how to Power Clean or Parallel Squat.

Being self-conscious about being physically weak, Jay said, “I felt bad during my redshirt freshman year. I was looking for an easy way out like drugs. My father and I talked. It was then I decided to live in the weight room and do it right. I’ve been really blessed to have two great strength coaches here at Texas.”

Jay made some great gains. He started out at 6-6 255 pounds. Now he can bench 435, Squat 560, Power Clean 330, and run a 5.1 forty. Jay has also worked hard on stretching. He is so flexible that he can do the splits. Jay’s vertical jump is 28 inches, and he has his body fat down to 14 percent.

Jay chose Texas to stay close to home and admits he got tired of the recruiting process. “I just fell in love with Austin,” Jay beamed. “It is plain and simple, every player comes to a school like Texas because if you can win a conference title at a place like UT, you’re going to be in the hunt for the national championship.”

Texas won National Championships in 1963, 1969 and 1970. Mack Brown, UT’s new football coach, states, “Our goal will always be to win a National Championship. At Texas we have proven that we can accomplish that. With the tradition and reputation UT has earned, we can always put ourselves in a position to compete for the national title.”

Texas Football Today wrote, “You have not been chilled to the core until you have stood in Royal-Memorial Stadium before a game and heard 80,000 voices sing ‘The Eyes of Texas.” At games end, win or lose, they sing it again. If hearing this doesn’t nearly put you in an emotional heap, you are heart dead.”

Texas has produced two NFL Hall of Famers, 9 to the College Football Hall of Fame, 23 who have played in the NFL Pro-Bowl, and 62 All-Americans, including Heisman Trophy winner, Earl Campbell.

Optimism was high at the beginning of the season. Mack Brown took Texas by storm and people responded with resounding enthusiasm. One senior offensive tackle exclaimed, “Coach Brown has instilled a new kind of attitude in this team. It’s not just being aggressive, it’s about initiating a ‘whole team’ philosophy. We’ve had a lot of ‘one-ness’ on this team in the past, but now we’re picking each other off the ground, giving each other high fives – something I’ve never seen before in the five years that I’ve been here.”

Academically, the Longhorns have excelled. Over the last six years, 106 of 128 student-athletes completing their eligibility at Texas have graduated. That is an 82.8% graduation rate. Jay Humphrey received a Utah Athletic Director’s Award for maintaining a 3.0 GPA and has been named to the Honor Roll several times.

“My mom was kind of a teacher,” said Jay. “She has had a great influence on me. I never missed class in high school and I don’t miss here. I don’t miss workouts. Besides, you can’t miss. If you do, you go to the dog house, and Mad Dog takes care of you.

“Texas has a great strength program. Mad Dog brings a lot of enthusiasm and intensity. As much as I hate to run, sometimes he makes it fun.

“I hope to play pro-football like my father. Maybe I will be able to follow in my dad’s footsteps. I want to stay outdoors and manage a ranch so I can hunt and fish.” Jay has two dogs that he takes with him on hunting trips. One is a ripped 155-pound Bull Mastiff called “Bogey” and the other is a Lab named “Bailey.”

Jay believes that hard work and dedication are key elements of being successful. He added, “You have to have desire and want within yourself to accomplish your goal. You gotta want it and like it to make it work.

“You must work your fanny off if you want to be successful and apply yourself. What your mind can conceive or believe you can achieve.”

Drugs and alcohol are not part of Jay’s success formula. “I have been drug and alcohol free my whole life. I don’t like it. You don’t have to drink to have fun. I can get just as crazy as anyone but I don’t need alcohol or drugs.

“Peer pressure is mental. It doesn’t matter what any body says to me. I’m not going to do anything I don’t want to do. I’m not going to jeopardize my career and chances by doing something stupid.”

Jay believes he must keep his faith in God and that true success and happiness revolves around being stable and most of all your family. We thank Jay and Coach Madden for being great role models. They are Upper Limit people.

Jay Humphrey, far left in the photo above, was an offensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns football team. He was an Outland Trophy candidate and made some pre-season All-America teams at the University of Texas. Standing at 6’7″ and 307 pounds, he was a formidable presence on the field. Humphrey worked hard to improve his strength and flexibility, eventually achieving impressive stats like a 435-pound bench press and a 560-pound squat. He was recognized as an All-American in 1998.

Captain Chris Plonsky

Chris Plonsky’s bio is at the link below

https://texaslsn.org/chris-plonsky/

Chris has advanced Women’s Sports over the last four decades. In the early 1980s, she helped publicize Texas women’s sports programs, leading to increased exposure and financial support. This contributed to national championships in basketball, volleyball, and swimming, as well as the creation of successful softball and rowing programs. Her dedication has shaped Texas Athletics into one of the premier programs in the country.

Chris was recently inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco for her contributions to college athletics, making her only the second woman to be inducted for off-the-field work.

Chris Plonsky served as UT’s third women’s athletics director from spring 2001 thru 2017. As Athletic Director Longhorn women’s sports programs recorded three NCAA Championships (2005 outdoor track and field, 2006 indoor track and field, and 2012 volleyball) and a league-best 54 Big 12 Conference championships across ten different sports. This total includes five league titles during the recently completed 2015-16 season (volleyball, indoor track and field, swimming, rowing, and outdoor track and field). The Longhorns’ 11-sport women’s program provides competitive and educational opportunities for more than 190 women student-athletes, including walk-ons.

Chris Plonsky currently is the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, Chief of Staff / Senior Woman Administrator for the Texas Longhorns

Captain David Denny

Former Texas baseball star David Denny to be recognized in Texas Athletics Hall of Honor

Juan Ferro, General Sports Reporter

September 15, 2023

Former Texas baseball star David Denny to be recognized in Texas Athletics Hall of Honor

Photo Courtesy of Texas Athletics

After four illustrious years playing at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field and numerous accomplishments, former third baseman David Denny will join the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor on Friday along with 10 other former Longhorn athletes.

Denny took part in some of the best baseball teams Texas has ever seen. Texas Athletics referred to him as having “one of the most accomplished hitting careers in program history from 1982-85.”

Denny showed promise in his first year with a season batting average of .404 in 104 at-bats. In the first two years, Denny helped the Longhorns achieve the best winning percentage in program history (.908, 59-6) and the highest number of wins in one season at 66 victories.

In his 1983 season, Denny had an impressive 56 hits, 35 RBI and 45 runs scored and helped lead Texas to its first National Championship since 1975. Following the season, Denny played two more years in which he cemented himself as a Texas baseball legend.

“I had a lot of good players around me,” Denny said to The Daily Texan in November 2015. “I may have individual records, but the majority of it was team-related.”

In 1984, Denny achieved his highest season batting average at .343, in a program record 297 at-bats. The results of the season led Denny to be selected by the Oakland Athletics in the seventh round of the MLB Draft; however, the third baseman decided to come back to the Forty Acres for his senior year.

The return of the senior star led Texas to its fourth consecutive trip to Omaha during his four-year career.

Denny completed his collegiate career at Texas with the most runs batted in (228), hits (296), and doubles (78), all program records that stand to this day.

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted the All-American, and after one season with their minor league team, he started a career as a high school baseball coach.

Denny led two different high school programs to a Texas state championship and has continued to coach for almost 30 years.

Denny and the other 2023 Hall of Honor inductees will be inducted on Friday and honored during the Texas vs. Wyoming Football game on Saturday.

Third base – David Denny (1982-85)

4 trips to Omaha

1982 – SWC Champions, 3rd in Omaha

1983 – SWC Champions, National Champions

1984 – SWC Champions, 2nd in Omaha

1985 – SWC Champions, 2nd in Omaha

Longhorn record holder for hits (296), doubles (78), rbi (228).

Second most in games played (244), at bats (886) and total bases (451).

Third most in extra base hits (108) and fourth most in runs scored (205)

All SWC – 1984 and 85

All American – 1984

High School Coaching

25 years as a head coach

Over 600 wins

13 District Championships

2 State Championships

After evaluation players’ collegiate statistics and achievements during their college careers for positional suitability, and constructing a batting order that balances high batting averages, speed, and power, David was selected to the Longhorn baseball all-time starting nine.

David Denny is Texas’s leader in career hits (296), doubles (78), and RBIs (228). He hit .334 for his career, including a team-high .343 in 1984, and helped Texas win the ’83 title. Jersey Number: 6

Captain Tom Campbell

The link below is Tom Campbell’s interview with Professor Carlson

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/tomcampbell-larrycarlson-flippingtheswitch

Tom Campbell was a standout defensive back for the Texas Longhorns in 1968 and 1969. He played a crucial role in Texas’ 1969 National Championship season and was named a consensus All-Southwest Conference (SWC) defensive back that year.

Campbell made some legendary plays, including a game-saving interception against Arkansas in the famous “Game of the Century,” which secured a 15-14 victory for Texas. He also had a critical interception in the 1970 Cotton Bowl against Notre Dame, which sealed a 21-17 win and the national title for the Longhorns.

His father, Mike Campbell, was a longtime Texas defensive coach, and his twin brother, Mike, and younger brother, Rusty, also played for the Longhorns.

Captain David Ash

David played in 29 games with 22 starts, achieving a 15-7 record as a starter. He ranks eighth on the UT career passing yards list with 4,728 yards and 10th in total offense with 5,107 yards. His 31 touchdown passes place him seventh in Texas history. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to concussion-related injuries, leading to his retirement in 2014.

Ash was one of the four quarterbacks who battled it out as the starter in 2011 with Connor Wood, Garrett Gilbert, and Case McCoy. He won the starting position and tied the mark of fastest Texas quarterback to 1,000 yards with Colt McCoy, James Brown, and Major Applewhite. He played in 26 games over the first two seasons and just four in the final two. His 2013 season was cut short by an injury. Ash’s most notable accomplishment was the 2011 Holiday Bowl offensive MVP award for his performance against California.

David Ash went on a long run against ??? that Justin Tucker converted into a three-point play, winning the game for the Horns.

Larry Carlson Talks David Ash’s Greatness and Concussion Protocols for athletes.

Despite his early retirement, Ash left a mark on Texas football, ranking eighth in career passing yards (4,728) and tenth in total offense (5,107). He later attempted a comeback and was medically cleared to play in 2017, participating in the Longhorns’ pro day https://texaslsn.org .

To say that David Ash has led an interesting life in his first 33 years on the planet, well, that’s quite the understatement.
Longhorn fans know him as a really good quarterback who might have been great.
Might have been.
Ash saw his participation as UT’s QB go from 13 games as a 2011 freshman, to 12 games in ’12, three games in 2013 and just the opener in his senior season, 2014.  
It certainly was not due to diminishing skills.  Following a concussion against Brigham Young as a junior, Ash was medically cleared to go in ’14, having waited eleven months to again compete for the Horns.
But after piloting Texas to a 38-7 season-opening win over North Texas, David experienced headaches and nausea and contacted UT’s medical staff.  Two weeks later, having been forced to watch his teammates endure losses to BYU and UCLA, Ash was forced into something tougher.  He announced his retirement from football due to three concussions in less than a year.
The pro prospect wasn’t feeling sorry for himself, though.  He thanked Texas fans in an open letter, and said this to the media in prepared notes:
“I’m a victor, not a victim.  Football was never my gift.  Jesus was.”
The news of his retirement stunned fans but the statement of faith came as no surprise to those who knew the 22-year-old.
Ash, the former blue-chip QB from Belton High, grew up in nearby Little River as a devout member of Temple’s 15th Street Church of Christ.  Early on in his Longhorn career, Ash — who came to be known for a trademark bit of wisdom and dry wit — told reporters that faith was number one in his family’s household.  Heck, the Ashes didn’t even have a TV.
Ash produced plenty of TV highlights as a Longhorn.  As a freshman, he was named Offensive Player of The Game in UT’s Holiday Bowl victory against California.  As a soph, number 14, a strapping 6-3, 230-pound dual threat, completed 67 percent of his passes for 2700 yards and 19 TDs.  He capped the season with two touchdown strikes that lifted the burnt orange to a fourth-quarter comeback win over Oregon State in San Antonio’s Alamo Bowl.
Those highlights are just a reminder of what might have been.
“What might have been” has likely caused sleepless nights for Charlie Strong, and probably always will.  Strong had the services of his standout QB for his debut game as UT head coach.
You might say that things went south in a hurry after that thumping triumph.  Ash was gone and four months later, Texas finished 6-7.  The Horns never really had a steady year in what turned into three consecutive losing seasons, and Texas served Strong with a pink slip after the 2016 campaign.
For David Ash, those years of the Charlie Strong era, went toward completion of two degrees from UT.  First, Ash earned his bachelor’s in Business/Corporate Communications.  He followed that with a master’s degree in Science of Finance from the McCombs School of Business.
But Ash still had football in his heart, and an itch to try the game again.  He was okayed medically and showcased his skills at UT’s Pro Day in 2017, earning an invitation to the Carolina Panthers’ camp.  Later that year, Ash played quarterback in Poland as a member of the Warsaw Mets.
Back in Austin now, David Ash puts his education to excellent use as an account executive at Prophetic Software.  Life is still interesting for the young man who didn’t need television as a youngster.  
For those who examine The History of Longhorn Sports, he will remain a case study of the good who might just have developed into greatness.  But for Ash, it was never all about football.  Not at all.
(TLSN’s Larry Carlson is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.  He teaches sports media at Texas State University and lives in San Antonio.)

Captain Mike Murphy

Mike Murphy was a forward for the Texas Longhorns men’s basketball team. He played during the late 1970s and was part of the 1977–78 Texas Longhorns squad that won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Murphy, standing 6’8″, contributed to the team’s success during his college career.

Mike Murphy was a 4 year letterman for the University of Texas from 1974 to 1978. Recruited and played for Coach Leon Black and then for Coach Abe Lemons for 2 years.

During his time on the 40 acres, Murphy played in 85 games and started in 50 of those games, scoring over 500 points in his career. Highlights included an individual high game of 26 points versus LSU and some memorable games against NBA legend Robert Parrish, including two double/doubles.

The 1977-78 season was memorable, marked by defeating then #2 Arkansas at the Drum, winning the SWC Championship, and then winning the 41st Annual National Invitational Tournament in Madison Square Garden. This was an era when only two teams from each conference could make the NCAA tournament. Many great friendships were formed with some outstanding teammates.

Murphy was a highly recruited athlete from hometown Crockett High School, where he led the Cougars to back-to-back District Championships and back-to-back AISD District MVPs. He averaged 20 points in his Junior year and 27 points per game as a senior.

While in college, Murphy met his future wife, Susan Abernathy Murphy, who was an All-American track athlete and one of the first women to receive a track and field scholarship at the University of Texas. Married in 1980 and recently celebrated 45 years together. Mike and Susan have two sons: Brent, who played hoops at UTEP, and Lance, who played at UT Tyler.

After college, Mike began his basketball coaching career first at Florence, then Austin Travis, and finally Pflugerville High. He took his team to the playoffs for 10 straight years, winning 7 district championships. He finished his career in 2011 with over 500 wins. After that, Murphy coached high-level teams on the Adidas circuit around the country with great success. Mike presently lives in Kingsland, Texas, and was rehired as a teacher at Llano High School.

This photo of Susan is a bonus for the TLSN Golf tournament, Susan started women’s athletics in 1974. At that time it was Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Susan Abernathy, Julie Campbell, Susan Davis, and Carol Sheffield would capture the TAIAW state 2-mile relay state championship.