Tommy Matula a member of the 1969 and 1970 National Championship football teams has passed away

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A link for communication has been set up at

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/tommy-matula

Information will be added during the following weeks, so save the link to revisit. This email has been sent to primarily Tommy’s teammates, but all will hear Tommy’s story in the next TLSN Newsletter. Rest in peace, my friend. I smile when I think of the great years we had at Texas.

I am Billydale1@gmail.com

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Professor Carlson’s most recent article shares the story of Longhorn punters and beyond.

How important is a punter to the success of a team? Well, maybe U.T. isn’t the place to examine the indispensable nature of standout punting. The two lowest punting averages over sixty years came in national championship seasons. The wishbone offense was short-circuiting scoreboards in 1969, so Scooter Monzingo was called on to punt only 34 times, for a modest 34.7 yards per attempt.

In 1963, Kim Gaynor (no photo), who had punted some as a high schooler in Fort Worth took over the punting duties from injured Ernie Koy. Asked by a sportswriter

if it was wise to use an unknown in the big rivalry game (O.U.)

Royal said “Well, ol’ ugly is better than ol’ nothin’.”

Letters from upset mothers arrived at Royal’s desk in a hurry. So later that week, Royal, in the pre-political correctness era, smilingly said he wasn’t referencing Gaynor’s young mug and promised that, from now on, he would refer to Gaynor as “Pretty ol’ Kim.”

Click on the link below for Larry’s history of Longhorn punters at Texas.

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

A special teammate from the 1969 and 1970 national football teams recently passed away. His friends called him “TANK.” Please don’t go to the record books looking for his name; it will not be there. Instead, you will have to visit the hearts of his teammates to see his indelible imprint.

Tommy knew how to dispense humor with a comedian’s timing for effect. There is nothing better in life than a stomach- hurting- bent- over- hands -to -knees – laughter to cleanse the soul and unclutter the mind. Tommy knew how to do that!

There are many updates on Tommy’s celebration of life at https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/tommy-matula

Coach Stan Huntsman

TLSN has added significant historical updates to the track field, and Cross Country during Coach Stan Huntsman’s and Coach Bubba Thornton’s eras.

Coach Stan Huntsman’s resume’ includes:

1) Induction into HOH in 2000 ;

2) 11 SWC Titles (Six Outdoors, Two In Cross Country, And Three Indoors) ;

3) SWC Triple Crown (Indoor, Outdoor, Cross Country) In 1991-92 And 1993- 94

4) NCAA Outdoor Track Runner-Up In 1987 And 1988;

5) Coached Nine NCAA Individual National Event Champions;

6) Coached 79 UT All-Americans (50 Outdoor, 19 Indoor, 10 Cross Country);

7) 1988 U.S. Olympic Track Coach In Seoul, Korea

The link to the history of Longhorn Sports under Coach Huntsman is @

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/track-1985-1995; and

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/cross-country-men-and-womens-1984-2015

Walt Disney said, “If you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.”

One of TLSN’S goals is to promote links to any organization created by any former Longhorn student-athletes, former support staff personnel, or former Coach who incorporates a compassionate component in their charity. There are 11 presently listed on the TLSN website at

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/giving-back-taxexempt-organizations-setup-by-former-longhorn-student-athletes

Team Hilliard Foundation is #12.

Author Dick Baird wrote an article in 2003 :

“Football has an incredible bonding aspect to it. It demands an emotional investment. This is what makes it such a powerful force in character development as well as sacrifice.

Dick Baird continues, “Years from now, all players will realize the experience was really what it was all about — sort of like it’s not the destination, but the journey that is important. Along the way, mutual investment in emotion creates bonds that last a lifetime.”

Jim Bayless, author, lawyer, and former Longhorn Tennis great agrees saying “the quality of someone’s life journey is directly related to developing and maintaining genuine, enduring relationships.”

A team bond is one of those enduring relationships. Below are burnt orange spirited brothers of Jim Hilliard – l to R: Mike Hardage, Garry Smith, Rick Fenlaw, Joey Aboussie, Paul Walker, Larry Smith, David Milam.

Seated is Jim Hilliard. The link to Jim’s celebration of life is at:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/jim-hilliard

A letter from the Team Hilliard Foundation

A Charity Golf Tournament by the Hilliard Foundation is pending

Team Hilliard is eagerly planning the first event!

The Team Hilliard Foundation Charity Golf Tournament honoring Jim Hilliard, MD, and benefitting ALS causes and families.

The golf tournament will be held at Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington. The clubhouse has been completely renovated and the golf course updated in the past two years! It will be October 31, 2022, at 11:30 am, with a follow-up awards dinner and Silent Auction.

Sam Hilliard, Jim’s son, and OF for the Colorado Rockies, has invited several MLB players around the leagues to help him #StrikeOutALS by playing in the tournament with him and Sponsors who choose to play with a BIG-LEAGUE ballplayer.

We would love it if you could share this opportunity to play or sponsor with your Friends. We would also be thrilled if you have any ideas for our Silent Auction.

www.teamhilliardfoundation.org or www.teamhilliardfoundation.org/events to sign up to play or sponsor! You can send any donations or interest in playing to the above address, call direct @817-925-6345 or email tamara@teamhilliardfoundation.org

Sincerely yours, Team Hilliard Foundation

SOCCER

The History of Longhorn soccer is at

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/history-89

2002- 15-5-1 record Coach Chris Petrucelli

In preseason Texas was ranked #8 with 11 returning starters.

In 2002 national soccer participation was up but fan attendance lagged behind other collegiate sports. Winning the 1999 World cup has helped but….. T.V. ratings in 2002 were barely on the T.V. radar screen.

On April 28th, 2017, I made Facebook contact with Dang Pibulvech. He had suffered a stroke, which impaired his ability to talk and walk. But he could type. He used my inquiries about his years at Texas to cleanse his soul of some past demons. He said “he still loves Texas” and has sorrow he did not accomplish his goals to make Longhorn soccer great. His quote, not mine, is that he was the “WRONGHORN” “He did not leave Longhorn soccer as a winner, but he did learn some important life lessons as a Longhorn.

Dang says, “I no longer view my years at Texas and the other universities as a failure. I hope the Longhorns win a National Championship in soccer, but that no coach should gauge their success on winning a once in a lifetime national championship, but instead should gauge their success in building a program that gives the team a lifetime of chances to win the national championship.”

Dang’s life lessons learned should be part of a 3-hour course for young coaches and leaders of any competitive sports.

The link to Dang’s whole story is at https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/coach-dang-pibulvech-womens-soccer-1

The link to Longhorn soccer is at

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/history-89

As a side note, Dang’s condition has gotten worse since 2017, so if you choose, please send him a Burnt Orange message on Facebook to Dang Pibulvech.

TLSN is an independent organization celebrating Longhorn Sports History and assisting qualifying Horns who need temporary financial assistance.

The TLSN website and newsletter are 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.

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