Top of the Queue Volume VII newsletter #17 8/18/2023
TLSN is not associated with the UT Athletic Department, or any organization closely aligned with UT.
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A link to Dennis Ladd’s updated celebration of life, obit, and comments from Stan Mauldin and Jay Arnold are at:
If you want to add a special memory about Dennis, please email me at billydale1@gmail.com, and it will be posted.
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THE TOUR DE SOUTHWEST:
FLASHBACK TO ANOTHER ERA OF MEDIA
by Larry Carlson
Once upon a time, some 45 Augusts ago, this writer somehow talked his bosses at Austin’s KVET Radio, into sending him on the ten-day, nine-school SWC Media Tour.
Anyway, it wasn’t like I tricked KVET. I figured I would get tons of audio tape at each stop, with players and the head coach, even assistants, and would be able to stockpile it until, say “Arkansas week.” Because you were not gonna get access to opposing teams’ personnel by phone in October.
The plan worked to perfection and I’m actually certain that KVET got its money’s worth.
I learned not to always be glib with other reporters around. Mid-way through the tour, I was sitting beside Danny Robbins of the Austin American-Statesman when he asked, “What do you think of the tour, so far, Larry?”
“Beats hell outta working,” I chirped, smirking.
The next day when I called in my stories, the news department at KVET let me have it.
“Hey, nice ten-day vacation, Carlson.”
Danny’s newspaper column had mentioned the congenial and collegial atmosphere on the tour, and wrote, “Beats hell outta working,” one Austin radio sportscaster said. Hmmm. There was exactly one radio guy on the circuit.
On the first days of the tour, it was evident that Dan Cook and his cohorts…notables such as Dave Campbell, Denne Freeman of the Associated Press; SWC Media Director Bill Morgan and Bob “Chicken Fry” Galt of the Dallas Times-Herald, would hold court, tell the best jokes and tales and could drink any of the small fry media under the table. These guys were legends for a reason.
For the rest of Larry’s memories of SWC media days, click on
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THE TEAPOT
Three years ago radiation treatment was used on former 1967 Longhorn football player Terry Collins to eradicate throat cancer. It was a success, but he lost all of his teeth in the process.
A grant of around $13,000 from TLSN helped Terry defray the cost of his car, house, utilities, and food expenditures for three months, and the donors bought him a new set of teeth.
Recently former Longhorn football player Syd Keasler and his wife Kathy flew to San Angelo to conduct a “wellness check” on Terry.
He is doing ok with no reoccurrence of cancer!
The photo below is Syd at the Collins house doing the wellness check. Syd treated everyone to lunch and fixed Terry’s phone so we could call him, and then took Terry and his wife Deb on a spirit-lifting shopping spree. TLSN will continue to monitor his progress. It is our mission to do so. Horns ???? up
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Here is the 1967 5’6” 180-pound National Champion Longhorn football teapot modeling his pot, spout, and handle to perfection.
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A letter to TLSN from L.J. Cohen – Longhorn track star 1965-1969
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To : Billy Dale,
I’m writing you to ask about an icon from the Longhorn dining hall. Some of the articles on the TLSN site have made me think about the way it used to be and my history of going to games with my dad, visiting the locker room, going to the athletic dining hall to eat, and saying hello to Ma Griffith.
She was there in the early ‘30s when my dad ran track. In the 50’s when I went to games, we went to see her as she was still there. As the keeper of Longhorn history, please reach out those who are left from that era to record her place in history of Longhorn sports.
For those of you that remember, Ma was the only athletic dorm mother in the History of Longhorn sports. Please reach out to Billydale1@gmail.com and share your memories of her as a surrogate mother to many boys turning to men.
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1934 track photo shows L.J. Cohen’s dad on the bottom row, third from left listed as Captain Cohen.
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When Frank Medina told Ma Griffith to cut back on the amount of food at dinner, some of the players complained to Coach Price they were starving to death.
Coach Price consulted the health Center and gave the boys the good news that it takes a guy 32 days to starve to death, so not to worry.
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Ma and some of her “boys”- Bill McDonald, Richard Ochoa, Jack Barton
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Recently TLSN received an email from Marilyn Ramenofsky, who works for the Avian Migration Laboratory at the University of California. She said :
“Hi Billy, This time period was just before the women started training with the men in the big pool. All we had available was the old (very old women’s gym). But it served our purposes well. I was a graduate student in Zoology and just starting my scientific career, but I still had my hand in the swimming world, and the Women’s team was looking for a coach. So I jumped at the chance. Thanks for adding my name to the newsletter; it’ll be fun to read. “
“In 1971, this team took the State Title away from TT, much to all of our joy. The women were great to work with, such dedicated swimmers and a diver, and so appreciative of the coaching. I loved it.”
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Coaches understand the game of life and strive to prepare boys and girls for a responsible life journey as men and women.
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I am sorry that I lost the name of the individual who sent me this, but I still want to share.
“Billy Dale, a fraternity brother of mine, died 2 weeks ago of a heart attack. He coached girls’ basketball his whole career. I don’t know if you have seen this prayer, but it was written on the back of his program. Here it is. “
A Coach’s Prayer
God, grant me the insight to see the potential in every player, the patience to encourage improvement, and the character to always set a winning example. May those I coach always see You in my life; and be brought closer to You through me. In your precious name, I pray. Amen.
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Billy Dale says, “With the exception of my parents, coaches are my life’s most significant role models. As a member of two national championship Longhorn football teams, Mack Brown’s comments capture the lives of many of us on those teams who are now in our 70s and beyond who have fulfilled Mack’s dream for his young players in 2005.
In the locker after the game, in an unscripted speech to his national championship players, Mack says:
“I don’t want this to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. When you’re 54, I don’t want you to say, ‘Winning a football game was the best thing that ever happened in my life.’
“You’ll have it. And you’ll be a champion for the rest of your life. You make sure that’s one of the best sports things in your life.
“But you promise me: If you’ve got enough about you to win a national championship, you’ve got enough about you to be a great citizen and a great role model, a great father and a great leader in your family. That’s what we’re looking for when you get out of here. That’s what we want.”
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When Mack Brown took the job as head coach, he asked DKR what his priority was in returning Texas to national prominence.
Royal said the players, UT administration, team, and fans were fragmented and scattered like BB’s. Royal said you got to “Get all the BB’s back in the (Longhorn) box.”
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Royal knew what he was talking about!
DKR was hired after the Horns’ worst football season ever, and Royal managed to put the BB’s back in the box and win three national championships.
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Like Royal, Coach Brown inherited a losing Longhorn program but managed to repackage the BB’s to win one National Championship and establish a record for the most consecutive ten-win seasons.
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I hope 2023 is the year that Coach Sark puts all the BB’S back in the box and joins Royal and Brown as a great Longhorn football coach. Horns ???? up
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The goal of the NIL is not a new concept!
The NIL Texas One fundraising for a specific group of Longhorns is not new in Texas.
In 1926 A carnival under the guidance of Dr. Williams was established to pay off debt and to help students interested in physical education as a profession. The Carnival successfully cleared $18.00!!!
Granted, this is not an apple-to-apple comparison, but it is a reminder that raising money to support specific Longhorn groups has been acceptable for over 100 years.
A humorous side note: The only issue at this pre-NIL fundraiser occurred when some men students got upset that women were dancing with women. A committee was formed and chose to “allow it.”
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Before Title IX, the AIAW, and the NCAA, women’s sports at Texas were building paths to fund intramural sports and Women’s club competition.
The pictures below represent the long but successful climb for Women’s equal rights to participate in intercollegiate sports.
The link to 1957-1976 – THE STRUGGLE TO REACH CRITICAL MASS FOR SUCCESSFUL WOMEN’S INTERCOLLEGIATE SPORTS AT TEXAS is below.
1957-1976 LONGHORN WOMEN’S SPORTS (squarespace.com)
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In 1916 and beyond, the women athletes’ T-sweater was earned, not given, and worn with pride.
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1936 – Basketball, ping pong, archery, swimming
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1945 women’s award banquet
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Texas Baseball Trivia by Larry Carlson:
1 Which of these star catchers was the only Longhorn named first-team All-America?
A Tommy Harmon B Bill Berryhill C Silas Ardoin D Chris Abbe E Rick Bradley
2 Name the man who hit 462 MLB homers after a stint as backup QB at Texas.
3 Which two of these Horns were two-time MLB All-Stars?
A Drew Stubbs B Dave Chalk C Max Alvis D Calvin Schiraldi E Spike Owen
4 Texas was the only unbeaten CWS team left in ’89, but a deal with CBS Sports forced a “winner take all” championship, and UT lost. To which opponent?
A Clemson B South Carolina C Cal State Fullerton D Wichita State E Arizona State
5 The son of which MLB great played collegiately at Texas?
A Brooks Robinson B Bobby Murcer C Carl Erskine D Mike Scott E Benito Santiago
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TLSN is a 501 (c)(3) Longhorn Sports history educational website with a compassionate component.
The TLSN website and newsletter are free to access, delivering educational, historical, and insightful Longhorn sports history as told through the eyes of those who created it.
Fortunately, most former Longhorn student-athletes, coaches, and support staff personnel have successfully transitioned to the job market with health insurance and loss of income safety nets.
Still, help is needed for some, and TLSN donors have opened hearts and wallets to extend a helping hand. TLSN’s donors have assisted those who qualify with grants varying from $2000 to $25,000.
Please be one of those open hearts and donate to TLSN.
All of us associated with the TLSN Board and the advisor committee do so without compensation. It is our gift back to the Longhorn brand builders of our great university.
Join us by giving back.
Https://texaslsn.org
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