There are updates on Diane Akers request for political action to help family members visit loved ones in memory care units. Dena Reneau also shares her story about here husband Joe Reneau. https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/fredakers-and-dianeakers
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Longhorn sports history is best told by those who created it. As of August 15, 2020, 6 former Longhorn student-athletes have agreed to share their special memories via podcast.
First up is John Carsey, who played for Abe Lemons during a crucial period in Longhorn basketball history-1975, 1976, 1977,1978.
As a walk-on in 1975 (Coach Leon Blacks last year), John led the freshman team in scoring, and he hoped his performance would lead to a try-out for the varsity in 1976. Instead, Abe Lemons chose not to include walk-ons, and John believed his dream of playing for the Horns was over.
Fortunately for Carsey, some of the scholarship players revolted against Lemons’ coaching style and quit. Late in the season, Coach Lemons had only nine players, so Assistant Coach Barry Dowd asked John to join the team.
John says about Lemons “While we certainly had our stars, particularly the Big Three of Johnny Moore, Ron Baxter, and Jim Krivacs, no player (even the lone walk-on) was made to feel lesser. We all appreciated that it was a total team effort to push everyone to be better, and there was no class system.”
John’s memories are captured in the link below in both an audio format and a photomontage with corroborating stores.
John Carsey is #24 in the photo below
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Vince Young chose to write his U.T. thesis about Julius Whittier. In this photo he is at my home interviewing Julius.
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On the TLSN website, there is a web page called “Reflection Point. ” The page shares stories about Horns and allows anyone to share their special memory on Longhorn sports. The link is:
Mack Brown said about his life journey, “we are like pieces of clay, and each person who touches us makes an impression. Julius did so on my life journey.
Who someone rooms with should NOT be a newsworthy event. However, on September 8, 1970, the Associated Press wrote a “provocative” article that said, “Whittier, Texas black offensive guard, is rooming with a white player and occasionally dating white women.” I am that “white player.”
During the last three months, several news organizations have called me requesting an interview to discuss Julius Whittier. I have declined those requests.
Julius Whittier is a vital part of Longhorn sports history, and his life journey deserves to be celebrated.
In 1970 Coach Royal called three seniors into his office and said: “there are two to a room, and one of you will room with Julius.”
As Julius and I soon learned, we had nothing in common except the love of football. While Julius was a critical thinker, I was not. In addition, cultural prisms separated our lives. I was from West Texas and viewed the world as simple, uncomplicated, and linear. Julius was from San Antonio, and his view was complicated, thought-provoking, deeply penetrating, and personally intrusive. Julius forced me outside my comfort zone, and I did not enjoy it. So we argued, and through the process, I learned more from Julius then Julius learned from me.
It has taken me five years of soul searching and research to complete the story at the link mentioned above. It is a long article that intertwines Longhorn’s racial history with sports and sets the stage for new beginnings with the benchmark -Julius Whittier.
If you choose to read the article, please know that I do not pretend to be a professional writer or a professional historian. I am now, and I will always be an amateur who enjoys sharing Longhorn sports history.
Respectfully, Billy Dale
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Billy Dale, Julius Whittier, and JoEllen Mason celebrating Julius induction into the Hall of Honor.
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TLSN is an independent organization celebrating Longhorn Sports History and assisting qualifying Horns who need temporary financial assistance.
The TLSN website is a free, educational, historical, and insightful sharing Longhorn sports history through the eyes of those who created it.
TLSN is not associated with the UT Athletics Department or any organization closely aligned with UT.
Https://texaslsn.org
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