Spanky Stephens was associated with the University of Texas athletic department for over 30 years. Starting his career as a student manager in 1967, he was promoted to head trainer in 1978—a position he held until his retirement in 2000.
As Head Trainer, he was a great teacher building an active student program that sent numerous qualified trainers into high school and college positions.
No trainer in U.T. history has been associated with more Longhorn national championships- nine in total. During his 30 plus years at Texas, he worked with ten Head Coaches in football and basketball and 10 Head Coaches in other sports such as track and baseball.
Spanky has received many national and regional awards and honors. Including the Longhorn Hall of Honor, All-American Football Foundation Hall of Honor, the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, and the 2002 Bellville High School Hall of Fame.
In July 2001, after retiring from Texas, Michael “Spanky” Stephens became the Executive Director for the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association serving 21 years on the Governor-appointed Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers and has served on numerous committees and focus groups within the NATA and State Government.
Spanky’s work on concussion legislation known as Natasha’s Law is a textbook case of taking a good idea and making it the law.
Go to the link listed below to listen, read, and see Longhorn sports history as celebrated through the “Eyes of Texas” Spanky Stephens.
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Mackovic, Akers, Stephens, Royal, and McWilliams
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During the years (1982-1985) Sharon Neugebauer and Laura Neugebauer coached by Mick Haley laid the foundation for Texas to become a perennial national power in Longhorn Volleyball .
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Sharon Neugebauer holds the career record for solo blocks (279), season record for solo blocks (129) and total blocks (241).
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Laura Neugebauer is a former All-American at UT. She led the Longhorns to four consecutive Southwest Conference championships (1982-1985) .
Comparing present volleyball to the 1980s, Laura says, “When we played, you were a more complete player.” “There were more all-around players because we had to serve and dig to win a point.”
“There was a lot more emphasis on ball control back then, whereas now your big hitters don’t necessarily have to be the best ball handlers.”
Laura Neugebauer’s early years as a volleyball player remind of Anya Taylor-joy, who played the chess master Beth Harmon in the Netflix series Queen’s Gambit. Laura was obsessed with volleyball as Beth Harmon was with chess. An unhealthy focus, no matter what the obession, that isolates individuals from enjoying all aspects of life.
At Texas, Laura’s life as a student-athlete included mostly volleyball and studies. She was very single-minded, and volleyball was super important. It was Haley who helped her gain a little perspective while she was a player. Laura says, “Mick Haley used to tell me ‘Everybody can’t be perfect like you,.'” “‘They can’t be the person who practices all the time or studies all the time or works out all the time — you have to respect them for who they are.”
For more on the Neugebauer’s, click on the link below.
https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/volleyball-sharon-laura-neugebauer
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Led by the strength of the Field events, the Horns came close to winning the National Championship in Track in 1997. One of the team leaders was Richard Duncan, who in 1996 won the individual national championship in the long jump.
In 1994 Richard competed in the Commonwealth Games; in 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games; in the 1997, 1999, and 2001 World Championship games.
In 1997 Richard was honored by U.T. as the winner of the Carl Johnson Leadership award and by the NCAA as an eight-time All-American.
For more on the 1997 team click on the link below.
1997 men’s track N.C. Runner Up (squarespace.com)
For more about the origins of the Carl Johnson award, please visit:
Byrd Baggett- Carl Johnson track Lost Too Soon (squarespace.com)
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Julius Whittier by Tm Taylor
Early Friday morning before the game, The University will unveil a statute in the north end of Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium honoring Julius Whittier, the first Black football letterman at Texas. From U.T.:
Whittier earned three varsity letters as an offensive lineman (1970-71) and tight end (1972) at Texas. Though not eligible to play on the varsity team as a freshman per NCAA rules, he enrolled at UT and joined Coach Royal’s program as a scholarship student-athlete in 1969. Texas won the National Championship that year and again during Whittier’s sophomore year in 1970. The 1970 team is being honored on Friday for the 50th Anniversary of that national title, as well.
A San Antonio native and 1969 Highland High School graduate, during his three years as a letterwinner at Texas, Whittier helped the Longhorns post an overall record of 28-5 and win three Southwest Conference Championships. UT was 20-1 in SWC play during that time and finished ranked in the Top Five twice (1970, 1972) and among the Top 20 all three years.
Kansas State – Texas by Tim Taylor
The history with K State is defined by the guy whose name is on their football stadium, Bill Snyder. The Wizard had our number. Texas and K State met as conference mates for the first time in 1998, in Manhattan. Snyder thumped Mack and the Horns 48-7. In 1999, 35-17 win for the Wildcats in Austin. 2002 & 2003 were wins for Brown over Snyder. In the interregnum Prince Era, KSU beat Texas in 2006 & 2007. After Snyder’s return in 2010: 39-14 KSU, 17-13 KSU, 44-42 KSU. Mack bested Bill 31-21 in 2013. Mack finished 3-5 against Snyder. Snyder got the win the next year in the Little Apple, shutting out the Strong Horns 23-0, and Charlie got even in 2015 with a 23-9 Texas win in Austin. K State won in 2016, so Snyder finished 2-1 against Strong.
Last time Texas returned an opening kickoff for a touchdown was 657 games ago, when Greg Lott returned the opening kick against Texas Tech in Lubbock on September 24, 1966. So, D’Shawn Jamison, how about adding your name to the record books again this weekend? He had the last Texas return for a TD just 2 games ago.
For all Tim’s statistical analysis of the Kansas State Game visit.
All of Tim’s information on this year’s football season and more are at :
austinhornsfan@yaho
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TLSN is an independent organization celebrating Longhorn Sports History . TLSN is not associated with the UT Athletic Department or any organization closely aligned with UT.
The website and newsletter are free, insightful, historical, and educational.
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