All-American Bobby Wuensch has passed away – Blue sections below are celebration of life remembrances from friends. As of today 1/24/2025 Bill Atessis says, “it will be a couple of weeks before Bobby Wuensch’s memorial service is announced.

Bobby Wuensch shares a story about one of the Arkansas player’s comments made to him 40 years after the game.  The Arkansas player says that during the game, the Razorbacks on defense were amazed that near the end of the 3rd quarter, down 14 to 0, there was no dissension, no name-calling, no grumbling, and no frazzled looks displayed by the Longhorn offense.  The Horns were not rattled and remained “calm, cool, and collected”.

When I first met Bobby Wuensch as a teammate in 1968, my first impression was that this guy was too soft-spoken and too nice to be a football player. That is before I saw him in the locker room before our first game. Bobby was an animal on game day. He screamed in the locker room and banged his helmet against the locker as if the locker was the opponent for the day. I knew on that day that I was glad Bobby was on my team for the next three years!
Bobby anchored one of the best offensive lines in the history of Texas Longhorn football from 1968–1970. In 1970, he joined his best friend Bill Atessis as a consensus All-American. As of 2014, Bobby was one of the top 50 players in the history of Longhorn football; Bobby is ranked #19. Jerry Sisemore, who was on the 1970 team and is ranked #9, is the only offensive lineman who ranks higher than Bobby.

From Jack Montgomery- I am grieved to read of Bobby Wuensch’s passing this morning. I played on the Jones High School team as a sophomore when Bobby was a senior. He was all those things Bill Atessis wrote of Bobby. During spring training the spring of 1965 all of us in the program practiced together/against each other during the spring training. It was a challenge to go head to head with Bobby. I weighted 170lbs while Bobby was 200+ when I came up against him in a drill/scrimmage it was all out effort as he was large than me. I played middle linebacker on the sophomore team while Bobby was center/middle linebacker on the varsity. When we scrimmaged it was usually me versus him as most offensive plays center blocked the middle linebacker. It was pretty challenging in the extreme. He knocked me down many times and he was a gentleman and excellent sport he helped me up. I will not fo get those experiences with Bobby.

Texas High School Football Hall of Fame: Bobby Wuensch ‘played with an obsession,’ put defenders on their backs
From the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 series
CHAD CONINE Special to the Tribune-Herald
May 1, 2023

 
Bobby Wuensch starred as a two-way player at Houston Jones in the 1960s before helping the University of Texas win two national championships.
Texas Sports Hall of Fame
The former University of Texas tackle Bobby Wuensch (50) clears a path for halfback Jim Bertelsen (35) on a touchdown run against Oklahoma on Oct. 10, 1970. The Longhorns beat the Sooners, 41-9.
One afternoon on a practice field in Houston, Bobby Wuensch and Bill Atessis got paired up for a drill and ended up being bonded for life.

Jerry Sisemore, “Weunchi,” was, is, and will always be a hero to so many Horns, especially me.
My Soph year Coach Royal made us road roommates to try to help me focus.
I was considered to be Weunchi’s little brother and we played BooRay lots BooRay.
Now that Man will be remembered 

Atessis was a sophomore offensive and defensive lineman who had just been called up to the Houston Jones varsity in 1964. He and Wuensch, a senior offensive lineman and linebacker, went one-on-one in the drill.
Who won?
“Well, it depends on who you ask,” Attessis said with a chuckle. “We’ve been close ever since.”
Wuensch and Atessis helped Houston Jones reach the Class 4A quarterfinals in 1964 before they lost to state finalist Galena Park. It was the first of their two seasons playing together in high school.
Following his senior year, Wuensch chose to go play for Darrell Royal at the University of Texas and Atessis followed him in 1967. They both started for the 1969 Longhorns that defeated Arkansas in the Game of the Century and then defeated Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl for the national championship.

Stephen Cantu Sad news for Longhorn Nation. He is forever a part of out Football history, playing alongside some of the best to ever wear the colors. May he Rest In Eternal Peace! Hook’em 

’69 Shootout:   #1 Texas 15 – #2 Arkansas 14 // via trivinity on YouTube
Wuensch, an all-Houston and all-state performer at Jones, earned all-Southwest Conference in 1969 and 1970 and all-American honors in 1970.

This weekend, he’ll follow his former teammate into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. Wuensch will represent the 1960s in the Class of 2023 that will be inducted on Saturday at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
Atessis, a 1994 Texas High School Football Hall of Fame inductee, will be present with the Wuensch party. Bobby Wuensch might not be in attendance at the event as he is currently in assisted living memory care. But his achievements will be celebrated.

Wuensch was one of three All-American tackles Iwas able observe up close and learn how you we’re expected to play as an offensive lineman for  The University Texas, 1969 to 1971.  Other two were McCay and Sizemore. Any of the three were exemplary 
role models, teaching principally by the way they DID things rather than talking bullshit.
McKay, at times, might have been an exception!
As anyone who knew him would say: “Bobby was the nicest and most soft spoken player out there..”
Except when on the field….especially on game day.  As a redshirt linemen in 69, I had the “privilege” of getting in front of him with blocking shield in pregame warmups.  Most linemen would fire out and take 4-5 steps.  Not Wuensch.  He didn’t stop for 10 yards and once drove me out of the end zone. And we were on same team.He had fire in his eyes.
Watching game film was an eye-opener.  Many, many times McKay and Sizemore would block first assignment then be down field blocking another.  Not Wuensch, he would still be driving his first assignment backwards.
Always an example of preparation, focus, and effort.  There was a reason Texas led the nation in rushing offense.  He was the Best.


Jeff Zapalac 

“Anyone you talk to about Bobby will say he was soft spoken and one of the sweetest guys you’d ever want to talk to,” Atessis said. “But when he got on the football field, it wasn’t that he got mean or anything, but he was very focused and very determined to succeed.”
Wuensch played offensive tackle at Texas, while Atessis found his spot on the Horns’ defensive line. At 6-foot-3, 205-pounds in high school and a little bigger in college, Wuensch had the ideal body type to fit into Royal’s wishbone offense as s run blocker.
After college, Wuensch was drafted by the Baltimore Colts, but a broken leg suffered on a special teams play cut short his pro football career. He found his calling working for the family business, Wuensch Sales, a maritime products distributor.
He and Atessis carried on as faithful members of an elite group of Texas players.
“(Playing for the 1969 Longhorns) has been a legacy,” Atessis said. “And the beauty of it is, those teammates, we still stay in touch.”
As for the recollections of Wuensch on the field, his old friend put him in lofty company.
“He played with almost an obsession like Dick Butkus or somebody,” Atessis said. “He tackled and blocked until he couldn’t. He wanted to put you on your back if he could.”

Bobby Wuensch was a kind, gentle soul. Helped  my ass on the left many times. When we played Notre Dame for the first time in 1969 – 70 season, Cadish( defensive tackle, 280lbs) which was “small” compared to Mike Dean blocking on McCoy, 300lbs). Nevertheless, on the very first offensive play of the game, Cadish hit me so hard in the side of my helmet, I was dizzy and staggering downfield when Walt Patulski (Linebacker) knocked the breath out of me. I was on the ground and Wuensch picked me up and dragged me back to the huddle. The only thing that saved me was an official time out to haul Forrest Weigand off the field due to an injury. Despite having torn knee ligaments, Weigand came back to play the rest of the game.
   Everytime Bobby saw me through the years, he would always pick me up off the ground and hug me no matter how big or old we got.
    I loved Bobby and will miss him greatly as one of my all time true heroes.

Bobby Mitchell

James MuddThe 1969 and 1970 National championship football teams were stocked with players like Bobby who proved that heart, dedication and willpower could overcome an opponent’s size advantage. So sad that so many players from that era and those Texas teams we… See more

Chal BarnwellToughest man I ever had to play against. But off the field a true gentleman.

Gary McIntoshSo sorry to hear this. He was such a monumental part of the late 60s Longhorns team. RIP, Bobby. Prayers for his family! 

Larry CarlsonBobby was, in my opinion, the best O-lineman of his era at Texas. Nobody was quicker off the ball. I recall reading that at least one opposing coach asked for SWC officials to review films to see if he was jumping offsides regularly. He wasn’t. He was just that quick. In my book, he is one of the five greatest offensive linemen in Longhorn history. Godspeed, Bobby.

Linda HenlyVery sad news, Bobby was a wonderful person, I’m proud to have called him a friend. Prayers to his family 

Alan BeaubienBobby Wuensch personified the DKR adage that “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.” He was an absolutely amazing offensive lineman at Texas and will live on in UT football lore.

Linda LumpkinSending love to Bobby’s family and friends. I will always remember him for his kind heart and gentle soul. 

Bobby Wuensch was kind enough to sign my autograph book at a Spring game back in the day when pesky little kids could hop over the wall and ask for autographs. Even though he was hot and tired, he smiled and obliged. He was a nice guy. I’m sad to hear of his passing.
Sue Buck, UT class of 1979

BOBBY WUENSCH WHUPPED ‘EM GOOD
 by Larry Carlson   https://texaslsn.org

 
Darrell Royal famously said that “only angry people win football games.”
On the football field, even in the locker room before kickoff, Bobby Wuensch was  a very angry young man while starring at offensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns from 1968-70.
 
Away from football, Wuensch, who died at 77 last week, was known for a calm and friendly demeanor.  Since he had been one of this writer’s favorite players as a fan in high school, I asked one of his old Texas teammates, Billy Dale, about him several years ago.  They came to UT as part of the famed ’67 signing class that came to be known as “the Worster Bunch,” named for Steve “Woo” Worster,” the man who became an All-Universe fullback.  Billy told me that Bobby was a very nice guy, a terrific teammate.  And since Dale was a running back, he greatly appreciated Wuensch’s ability to steamroll opponents while paving the way for the unmatched Texas ground game that mauled opponents during the first three seasons of the triple-option wishbone offense.  But Billy had also told me that Bobby had some Jekyll & Hyde in him, transforming himself from regular guy to somewhat of a monster on gamedays, slamming his helmet on lockers and screaming loudly.
Earlier this week, saluting his fallen friend and old teammate, Billy recalled his first response to Wuensch’s metamorphosis on Saturdays.  “I was scared,” Dale laughed.  And then he said he was always very, very glad that number 50 was on his team and not an opponent.
 
Wuensch came to the Forty Acres from Houston’s Jesse Jones High School with defensive lineman Bill Atessis.  They both achieved All-America status at UT.  The teammates were close friends for more than 60 years, Atessis at Bobby’s side during the last week of his life.  
 
They played together in a golden era of Texas football.  Those first three seasons of the wishbone brought three Southwest Conference championships, back-to-back national titles and 30 straight victories.  Chris Gilbert was All-America at halfback, Worster was a two-time All-American, quarterbacks James Street and Eddie Phillips guided teams to unbeaten regular seasons and Cotton Speyrer was selected as an All-American at split end for a team that ran the ball 90 percent of the time.  There were plenty of point-producing weapons.
The key to success started up front in the offensive line.  Wuensch was one of three tackles who earned All-America recognition at UT back then.  Bobby was a two-time pick in ’69 and ’70, Bob McKay was cited in ’69 and Jerry Sisemore, a soph starter in 1970, was a consensus choice in ’71 and ’72.   Call those guys a collective “Mount Rush More” for their tremendous drive blocking.
Sisemore remembered Wuensch affectionately in a Facebook post last week.
” ‘Wuenchi’ was and will always  be a hero to so many ‘Horns, especially me,” he wrote.  Sisemore noted that DKR put the two together as rooommates for road games and said he was considered Wuensch’s “little brother,” fondly recalling playing lots of bourre (boo-ray), a Cajun card game.

Laurie Murray says I was introduced to Bobby at one of the Hall of Fame inductions by Steve Worster. Since Steve is not here to tell of his love and affection for Bobby, I want to share what he Steve said. Upon our introduction, Bobby hugged me, picked me up in his arms, and told me how much he loved Steve. I was introduced to many teammates, but Bobby melted my heart. Later when I told Steve about my affection for Bobby, he said I had just met the nicest guy I would ever meet. (An aside, my brother once told me Steve Worster was the nicest guy I would ever meet. Steve then told me the stories everyone has recounted: Bobby was a “big teddy bear” in person, but a bear on the field. Then Steve told me about an incident in a game when Steve had his”bell ring” as they referred to it then. Steve went and joined the huddle of the opposing team. It was Bobby who came over and gently took Steve back to their huddle. Steve loved him.
Wish Steve were here to give a more detailed account of his affection for Bobby. Laurie Murray (friend and one who adored those guys and all of Steve’s teammates.)
 

Here’s a fun fact for Texas Trivia Night.  Wuensch and Atessis are bound to be the only pair of high school and college teammates to be selected to Playboy magazine’s annual All-America squad the same year.  Go shop on eBay for the September ’70 issue, and you will find a “team” photo that includes not only Bobby and Bill but their Arkansas rivals, RB Bill Burnett and WR Chuck Dicus, plus luminaries such as Archie Manning and Dan Dierdorf. And of course, you can read the articles.
 
By the time his senior year rolled around, Bobby Wuensch had filled out a bit.  Standing 6-3, Wuensch grew from 210 pounds as a sophomore to 220 as a junior, then 235 as a senior.  Compared to all but Sisemore, McKay, Deryl Comer and Randy Stout, Wuensch was an absolute giant on his era’s typical Texas forward wall.  Feisty but undersized teammates such as Bobby Mitchell, Danny Abbott, Mike Dean, Forrest Wiegand and Jim Achilles were mostly a few enchilada platters below 200 pounds.
 
Those crews pancaked opponents, leading the way for Texas to rush for a school record 3,315 yards in ’68, the inaugural season of the wishbone.  The Horns then ran over foes for 3.630 and 3.745 yards in the national championship years. Wuensch and his line mates made Texas unstoppable.
 
In the final home game for Bobby Wuensch and his “Worster Bunch” teammates, Texas pounded the rock an astounding 90 times against fourth-ranked Arkansas.  It was a breathtaking 42-7 win and still stands as the model for a close-to-perfection performance in a high-stakes duel against a top team.  The Horns had 464 yards on the ground that sunny, warm December day.
 
The inimitable sportswriter, Dan Jenkins, in his account of that contest for Sports Illustrated, lauded the peerless O-line that set up the 1-2 punch of Worster and Jim Bertelsen.  That duo combined for more than 300 yards.  Jenkins wrote of a moment that stood out during the week leading up to the big game.  Some 35,000 students and fans showed up for a night-time pep rally at Memorial Stadium.  Wuensch, one of the team captains, was called on to say a few words, supplying them in what Jenkins described as “a surprisingly high-pitched voice.”  That resulted in light giggles, according to the writer, who said that the Longhorn All-American bristled at the microphone.   “You can laugh…,” Bobby Wuensch said.  “But we’re gonna whup ’em good.”
 
That Saturday, nice guy Bobby Wuensch again turned mad.  And for the thirtieth consecutive Longhorn game, the angry young man and his angry teammates won a football game.  Just the way his coach, Darrell Royal, liked it.
 
Bobby Wuensch is gone now, as are many of his teammates, including James Street, Steve Worster, Freddie Steinmark, and Jim Bertelsen.
But he lives on in the History of Longhorn Sports, the UT Hall of Honor, and the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. Wuensch certainly “whupped ’em good” as one of the finest football players to ever wear the burnt orange.
 
(TLSN’s Larry Carlson is a member of the Football Writers Association of America.  He teaches sports media at Texas State University.  
Write to him at lc13@txstate.edu)

Mike Cromeens says tremendous is almost an understatement. Watching game films was almost like a comedy. Bobby Wuensch was, without a doubt, the quickest offensive lineman I ever saw. He could jump off the snap so quickly that he would just cover up the defense.

Doug Burton to Mike Cromeens, Mike, you hit the nail right on the head, buddy. I was at Texas from 68 to 73. I watched every single game. The only game I missed was Texas and Arkansas in Fayetteville.. after school Worster and I were roommates for about 2 1/2 years. Steve didn’t talk a lot about football, but when we had barbecues and a bunch of the guys were around, especially when his folks came in from Bridge City, he praised Bobbie to the moon. I totally agree with everything you said, they didn’t come any better
than Bobby, in all kinda ways.
I’m sure he and Steve, both appreciate all your kind words.
HOOK EM