Mike Brumley’s passing, Zapalacs, Griffin, Kelly , Cox, Jones , two sports

6-21-2024 TLSN Newsletter #13 Volume VIII

IMPORTANT: Please click on the white letters shown above, titled “VIEW IN BROWSER,” to enlarge and enhance the photos and text on your cellphone. If you don’t, the text and pictures will be small and difficult to read.

A note from the Webmaster

The TLSN website is dedicated to preserving the memories of deceased former Longhorn student-athletes. For years, TLSN has paid tribute to these athletes with a montage of unique photos, written articles, and personal comments. Since 2018, TLSN has memorialized 137 former Longhorn student-athletes who have passed away.

Many of you may already be aware that Mike Brumley, the 1983 National Baseball Champion, has passed away. The link below leads to TLSN’s celebration of his life. To contribute to this tribute, please forward your comments to Billydale1@gmail.com, and they will be shared on the TLSN website. Horns Up!

Here is Mike’s link to celebrate his life. https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/2024-mike-brumley-baseball

Save this link and revisit it from time to time to read current updates to Mike’s celebration page.

Roy Jones, a former Longhorn senior manager under Coach Royal, sports writer, and significant contributor to TLSN, shares the story of someone who was adored by many. Roy’s comments about Mike Brumley are quoted below in the pictograms.

“He was part of one of the best UT teams in school history, a team that included future major league stars Roger Clemens, Calvin Schiraldi and Bruce Ruffin, as well as future All-American second baseman Bill Bates. Mike is bottom row 5th from the left .”

“Mike Brumley, star shortstop on the 1983 Longhorn team that won the College World Series, was killed in a car crash in Mississippi Saturday. He was 61.”

Mike Brumley on a double steal

“Brumley also was a highly respected major league coach and instructor after playing for six MLB teams from 1987 to 1995, including the Houston Astros briefly. He most recently served as a minor league coach and instructor for the Atlanta Braves from 2018 to 2022.”

The Zapalacs’ Excellent Adventure

TLSN asked Bill Zapalac to share his memories of the photo below. Coach Willie Zapalac is far left and is one of many Aggies celebrating the defeat of the 1-9 Texas Longhorns in 1956.

Here is what Bill Zapalac said,

“This picture is in the dressing room after the 1956 A&M team beats UT to go 9-0-1, but are on probation and are not declared conference champions nor do they go to a bowl game. 3 of the coaches on this staff were later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (Bryant, Claiborne, and Owens). Claiborne coached many years at Maryland, and Owens coached many years at the University of Washington. I believe John David Crow was on this team, but is not in the picture. Smoky Harper, identified at the bottom of the group, was the trainer for the football program (a very close friend of my dad) and spent many years with Bryant at Alabama. Pat James, another close friend of my dad, was on the OU staff while we were at Texas. My dad was on Phil Cutchin’s staff at Oklahoma State in 1963. My dad would say at the end of his career that this is where he learned how to coach football.”

Bill Zapalac

Below are some photos capturing Willie Zapalac’s transition from A&M football player to coach, with stints at Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Texas, the New Orleans Saints, and beyond. For a more comprehensive account of Coach Willie Zapalac’s coaching journey and photos, please visit the following link:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/coachzapalac

Coach Zapalac was on Bear Bryant’s Coaching staff.

Photos of Coach Willie Zapalac compliments of Jeff and Jill Zapalac

#22 – no face guard and two broken noses as a Aggie football player.

Coach Zapalac coached at Texas Tech in 1961 & 1962. The head coach, JT King, had been on Bryant’s staff at A&M. It was Coach Zapalac who convinced freshman Donny Anderson to stay in school.

In this 1980 photo, Jeff Zapalac says,

“In the 50s’ at A&M, Coach Bryant asked Daddy which Texas High school coach he should bring onto the Aggie staff. He recommended Bum Phillips. Bum then repaid the favor 25 years later, hiring Willie as defensive line coach. So Daddy got Bum his first college job, and Bum got Daddy his last NFL job. They both retired in 1985.”

Coach and Jeff Zapalac are on the left, and Bill Zapalac is on the right.

photo – 2024 Jeff and Bill Zapalac

Horns UP for 1969 and 1970 Longhorn National Champions -Willie, Bill, and Jeff Zapalac

The TLSN 501 (C) (3) HAS TWO MISSIONS – EDUCATIONAL-SHARING THE HISTORY OF ALL LONGHORN SPORTS, AND COMPASSIONATE- OFFERING A HELPING HAND TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

Access to the TLSN newsletter and website is free.

No TLSN Board Member receives compensation from donations received.

The donation link is

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/send-donation-to

A history of Texas Longhorn football/baseball dual athletes

Research and Story by Jonathan Wells- Edited for TLSN History of Longhorn sports.

Jonathan Wells says:

“The football and baseball programs at the University of Texas are both among the most prestigious college programs in the country, and easily the most high-profile in their sports within the state of Texas. Texas has claimed four national championships in football and has won the College World Series six times since the NCAA Division I baseball tournament was first held in 1947. Not since 1939 has another Texas school won a Division I national championship in football, and all other Texas colleges in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III have won a combined five national titles in baseball (Rice is the only other Texas college to win a Division I championship).”

Many Longhorn student-athletes over the years have contributed to the prestige and accomplishments of both programs. Though it’s very much a rarity now, it was once common for the University’s best athletes to play multiple sports, and frequently that meant suiting up for both the gridiron and the baseball diamond. From the very start of the football and baseball histories at UT, there were figures who were familiar to local fans of both sports.”

Here is the link to Jonathan Wells’s whole article, https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/a-history-of-texas-longhorn-football-baseball-athletes/ar-BB1m7FAz?ocid=BingNewsSerp

and here is the link to the TLSN version with many photos added.

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/twosport-longhorn-stars

1893 Richard Unett baseball and football

1917 Bibb Falk baseball

1920 Bibb Falk football

1970’s Keith Moreland

Shea Morenz 1990’s

A TRIBUTE TO LONGHORN BRAND BUILDERS

by Stephen Garcia

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Longhorn Jay Arnold says,

Billy, Longhorn swimmer Madisyn Cox, football players Brian Jones and Pat Kelly, and baseball player Mark Griffin will be inducted into the Lubbock ISD Athletics Hall of Honor.

Horns Up????,

Jay Arnold

Longhorns that will be inducted into the Lubbock ISD Sports Hall of Fame in 2024

Pat Kelly was an outstanding football player at Lubbock High. During his junior year, the Dallas Morning News recognized him as one of the top 20 players in Texas. He was also a member of LHS’s all-decade team for the 1960s. After high school, Kelly played for the Longhorns and led the team in receiving in 1971 and 1973.

Madisyn Cox competed at Texas, where she was a 17-time Big 12 champion and conference swimmer of the year in 2015 and 2017. Cox was an NCAA All-American eight times and won NCAA championship medals six times. She was a four-time Olympic trials finalist, most recently in 2021.

Brian Jones played linebacker for two years at UCLA before transferring to Texas football for the 1989 and 1990 seasons. He was a first-team all-Southwest Conference selection as a senior. The Indianapolis Colts drafted Jones in the eighth round in 1991.

He is now a college football analyst.

MARK GRIFFIN – 1975 college world series national champion

Mark Griffin, Lubbock Monterey baseball (1969-72)

Mark was an all-state player in 1972 and had a game-winning hit to win the state championship. He went on to play at Texas, where he played a pivotal role in the Longhorns’ winning the 1975 national championship.

A Moment of Triumph

Mark Griffin’s surprising heroics at the College World Series helped to defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks. Griffin came through in clutch situations, delivering crucial hits that led to the Longhorns’ victories.

Bill LITTLE SAYS about Mark :

“But there was one other guy who made a difference” in the CWS.

In the Longhorns’ win over South Carolina that led to an eventual championship game, a power-hitting outfielder was struggling at the plate. Gustafson called time out, and with a count of 0-2 on the batter, called on Mark Griffin, a little guy whose limited career had produced only a .263 batting average. And he sent him to the plate. With only one strike left, he laced a single that plated a run, and ignited a six-run rally.