May 30, 2011 Bill Little Commentary: Memorial Day- Flanders Field

Billy Dale — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:26:22 +0000

Remembering fallen Longhorns of World War I and WWII

2016 Bill Little

As Americans remember those who have served in the United States military and died while in the line of duty, there’s no better time to remember the ultimate sacrifice paid by several Texas Longhorn athletes.

According to the 1919 edition of the University of Texas’s official yearbook, the Cactus, 75 ex-students died while serving in World War I. Four of them were former Longhorn football lettermen.

This post focuses on the school’s athletes who lost their lives at war, but TLSN also remembers ALL who attended UT and lost their lives at war.

The link below shares an article written by Bill Little about Flanders Field and remembers many of the Longhorn athletes who gave their lives for the rest of us.

When I Get to Where I Am Going Songwriters: Teren George G., and Rutherford Melvern Rivers
https://youtu.be/yYHT-TF4KO4

Flanders Field

“In Flanders Fields The Poppies Blow, Between The Crosses Row On Row, That Mark Our Place; And In The Sky

The Larks, Still Bravely Singing, Fly Scarce Heard Amid The Guns Below.

We Are The Dead. Short Days Ago; We Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow, Loved And Were Loved, And Now We Lie,

Take Up Our Quarrel With The Foe, To You From Failing Hands We Throw;

The Torch; Be Yours To Hold It High. If Ye Break Faith With Us Who Die;

We Shall Not Sleep, Though Poppies Grow In Flanders Fields.”

The post May 30, 2011 Bill Little Commentary: Memorial Day- Flanders Field appeared first on Texas Legacy Support Network.

Glenn Blackwood, Susan Watkins, Louis Jordan, WWI and II, Cleve Bryant

Billy Dale — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 11:38:19 +0000

Click on the small white “VIEW IN BROWSER” listed above to enhance cell phone text, links, and photos.

Cleve Bryant helped build the Longhorn football program during Coach Mack Brown’s years as head coach, but Cleve made an error in judgment that cost him his job. Media was aware of his indiscretion and chose not to cover his death like other Horns who have passed away.

However, he still should be remembered for many of his positive influences, starting as a collegiate quarterback, followed by years as a respected coach, and finally, as a 5-star athletic administrator.

TLSN has added the following Cleve Bryant tribute Written by Kelly Newell, First V.P. of Creative & Guest Services at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on LinkedIn, to the TLSN remembrance section at

2023- CLEVE BRYANT (squarespace.com)

1942- Track under Coach Littlefield.

WWII is in full swing, and college track and field manpower is minimal. So track coach Littlefield borrowed Longhorn football players Malcolm Kutner, Max Minor, and Jackie Field to add speed to his team.

Frank Covert from Covert auto complex in Austin was a hurdler on this team, and his car was quite popular with the athletes. Mac Umstattd says he was in Frank’s car on a track road trip when they reached 118 miles per hour to outrun a police car.

Frank passed away in 2017.

TLSN writer Professor Larry Carlson covered Glenn Blackwood’s last two seasons at UT for KVET radio and joined Chris Doelle to interview Glenn Blackwood for TLSN.

Professor Larry Carlson

Larry’s introduction starts with a simple but significant point made by Glenn Blackwood that “football is absolutely the ultimate team sport. Good things happen on the field because of teamwork. Nobody makes a play by himself. It’s not tennis or golf or the pole vault.”

In the 2022 football season “There’s some of the ‘act like you’ve been there’ attitude,” he said, saluting the team-first attitude of Bjian Robinson and Roschon Johnson at UT in recent years.

Then Glenn mentioned that he never saw the likes of Barry Sanders or former teammate Earl Campbell participate in any hot-dogging after their endless supply of highlight plays. And he emphasized that there’s no need for it now.

Glenn played two years for Royal and Mike Campbell and two more for Fred Akers and DC Leon Fuller. As a junior in ’77, Akers’ first season as boss, Texas went 11-0 before a Cotton Bowl loss to Notre Dame. Blackwood was in the defensive backfield with three other future NFL performers, Johnnie Johnson, Ricky Churchman, and Derrick Hatchett.

He bucked the draft odds, producing big for a memorable decade. The highlights were many. Blackwood played for five AFL East champions. His team competed in the Super Bowl following the strike-shortened ’82 season and again after the ’84 season.

When asked to single out a most savored contest, Glenn chose one that came as a junior when the top-ranked Horns went into hostile College Station in late November to close out the regular season against #12-ranked A&M.

That day, Earl Campbell essentially sewed up the Heisman with 224 yards on the ground, QB Randy McEachern threw four TD passes, and Texas stomped the Ags 57-28. With a typical bang-up defensive effort, Blackwood racked up four tackles and returned an interception 22 yards for a big play.

“To go into that place and come out with a big win,” Blackwood laughs, “it was a blast.”

Professor Larry Carlson’s full introductory article about Glenn Blackwood and Glenn’s oral podcast with associated text and photos is sponsored by Houston-based realtor Beth Coblentz at the link

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/glenn-blackwood-football

COACH SUSAN WATKINS 1993- 2007 WOMEN’S GOLF.

Susan Watkins was the second head coach in the history of UT Women’s Golf following Pat Weis’ retirement; Susan Watkins spent the next ten years building on Coach Weis’s legacy.

Coach Watkins’ teams won the SWC and Big 12 Championships 6 times ( 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997,2004). Ash, Cooper, Angela Wray, and Kori Johns were all-conference. In addition, Coach Watkin’s teams finished in the top 10 eight times. Including one second-place national finish in 2002 and third place on three other occasions.

Coach Watkins was named Big 12 Coach of the Year for 2001-2002. In addition, five of her players earned All-American honors. Below is the link to Coach Watkins’s golf team’s year-by-year success.

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/golf-women-always-adding-content

1995 women’s golf – front row Wray, Cooper, Johns

middle row-Santos, Leeds, Waterhouse

back row – Coach Watkins, Balch, Ash, and asst. coach Leach

The photo shows returning All-Americans Nadine Ash and Nicole Cooper. Each is tabbed a preseason All-American by Golf Week.

The story of Sacrifice and Redemption is buried at Flanders Field.

“When I get to where I’m going.”

Recently TLSN received the following email from State of Texas Historian podcaster Michael Sparkman:

texashistorylessons@gmail.com

Subject: Louis Jordan

Message: Billy, I thought you might be interested to know I just released two episodes on the life of UT football legend Louis Jordan. The TLSN website was a great help. The podcast is Texas History Lessons and is available on all podcast players.
Thank you,

Michael Sparkman

One of the many missions of TLSN is to honor former Longhorn athletes, coaches, managers, trainers, and support staff personnel who paid the ultimate price to preserve our nation’s founding principles.

However, TLSN’s recognition of former Longhorn athletes who lost their lives during WWI and WWII is not meant to lessen the sacrifices of all soldiers who are just as deserving of remembrance.

The tribute below is a work in process with as many as 50 more names still to add, but it is this link that Michael Sparkman used to research the story of Longhorn Louis Jordan.

The link starts with Bill Little sharing the Flander’s Field poem on Texassports.com

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/wwi-and-wwii-horns-up

These young men and women represent the character and backbone of our great nation. Strong souls embodied in spiritual light who accepted their duty to fight for family and country.

Below are a few of the many Longhorn spirit warriors’ destiny called “home.”

Conradt Coleman – track

Mike Sweeney – football

Skippy Browning – diving

Morris Williams – golf

The saying “Home is where the heart is” represents the universal fiber that defines each of us. When life is done, our souls want to go “home.”

I pray that our young spirit warriors in WWI and WWII carried memories and smiles of home into their darkest hours.

Singer Brad Paisley’s songwriters wrote a song about coming home titled “When I get to Where I’m Going.” Here is the link to the song :

https://youtu.be/yYHT-TF4KO4

Songwriters: Teren George G. and Rutherford Melvern Rivers

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.

Https://texaslsn.org

The post Glenn Blackwood, Susan Watkins, Louis Jordan, WWI and II, Cleve Bryant appeared first on Texas Legacy Support Network.

WWI Archives - Texas Legacy Support Network

May 30, 2011 Bill Little Commentary: Memorial Day- Flanders Field

Remembering fallen Longhorns of World War I and WWII

Glenn Blackwood, Susan Watkins, Louis Jordan, WWI and II, Cleve Bryant

Cleve Bryant helped build the Longhorn football program during Coach Mack Brown’s years as head coach, but Cleve made an error in judgment that cost him his job. Media was aware of his indiscretion and chose not to cover his death like other Horns who have passed away.

However, he still should be remembered for many of his positive influences, starting as a collegiate quarterback, followed by years as a respected coach, and finally, as a 5-star athletic administrator.

TLSN has added the following Cleve Bryant tribute Written by Kelly Newell, First V.P. of Creative & Guest Services at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on LinkedIn, to the TLSN remembrance section at

2023- CLEVE BRYANT (squarespace.com)

Frank passed away in 2017.

In the 2022 football season “There’s some of the ‘act like you’ve been there’ attitude,” he said, saluting the team-first attitude of Bjian Robinson and Roschon Johnson at UT in recent years.

Then Glenn mentioned that he never saw the likes of Barry Sanders or former teammate Earl Campbell participate in any hot-dogging after their endless supply of highlight plays. And he emphasized that there’s no need for it now.

1995 women’s golf – front row Wray, Cooper, Johns

middle row-Santos, Leeds, Waterhouse

back row – Coach Watkins, Balch, Ash, and asst. coach Leach

The photo shows returning All-Americans Nadine Ash and Nicole Cooper. Each is tabbed a preseason All-American by Golf Week.

“When I get to where I’m going.”

texashistorylessons@gmail.com

Subject: Louis Jordan

Message: Billy, I thought you might be interested to know I just released two episodes on the life of UT football legend Louis Jordan. The TLSN website was a great help. The podcast is Texas History Lessons and is available on all podcast players.
Thank you,

Conradt Coleman – track

Mike Sweeney – football

Skippy Browning – diving

Morris Williams – golf

WWI Archives - Texas Legacy Support Network

May 30, 2011 Bill Little Commentary: Memorial Day- Flanders Field

Remembering fallen Longhorns of World War I and WWII

Glenn Blackwood, Susan Watkins, Louis Jordan, WWI and II, Cleve Bryant

Click on the small white “VIEW IN BROWSER” listed above to enhance cell phone text, links, and photos.

Cleve Bryant helped build the Longhorn football program during Coach Mack Brown’s years as head coach, but Cleve made an error in judgment that cost him his job. Media was aware of his indiscretion and chose not to cover his death like other Horns who have passed away.

However, he still should be remembered for many of his positive influences, starting as a collegiate quarterback, followed by years as a respected coach, and finally, as a 5-star athletic administrator.

TLSN has added the following Cleve Bryant tribute Written by Kelly Newell, First V.P. of Creative & Guest Services at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on LinkedIn, to the TLSN remembrance section at

2023- CLEVE BRYANT (squarespace.com)

1942- Track under Coach Littlefield.

WWII is in full swing, and college track and field manpower is minimal. So track coach Littlefield borrowed Longhorn football players Malcolm Kutner, Max Minor, and Jackie Field to add speed to his team.

Frank Covert from Covert auto complex in Austin was a hurdler on this team, and his car was quite popular with the athletes. Mac Umstattd says he was in Frank’s car on a track road trip when they reached 118 miles per hour to outrun a police car.

Frank passed away in 2017.

TLSN writer Professor Larry Carlson covered Glenn Blackwood’s last two seasons at UT for KVET radio and joined Chris Doelle to interview Glenn Blackwood for TLSN.

Professor Larry Carlson

Larry’s introduction starts with a simple but significant point made by Glenn Blackwood that “football is absolutely the ultimate team sport. Good things happen on the field because of teamwork. Nobody makes a play by himself. It’s not tennis or golf or the pole vault.”

In the 2022 football season “There’s some of the ‘act like you’ve been there’ attitude,” he said, saluting the team-first attitude of Bjian Robinson and Roschon Johnson at UT in recent years.

Then Glenn mentioned that he never saw the likes of Barry Sanders or former teammate Earl Campbell participate in any hot-dogging after their endless supply of highlight plays. And he emphasized that there’s no need for it now.

He bucked the draft odds, producing big for a memorable decade. The highlights were many. Blackwood played for five AFL East champions. His team competed in the Super Bowl following the strike-shortened ’82 season and again after the ’84 season.

When asked to single out a most savored contest, Glenn chose one that came as a junior when the top-ranked Horns went into hostile College Station in late November to close out the regular season against #12-ranked A&M.

That day, Earl Campbell essentially sewed up the Heisman with 224 yards on the ground, QB Randy McEachern threw four TD passes, and Texas stomped the Ags 57-28. With a typical bang-up defensive effort, Blackwood racked up four tackles and returned an interception 22 yards for a big play.

“To go into that place and come out with a big win,” Blackwood laughs, “it was a blast.”

Professor Larry Carlson’s full introductory article about Glenn Blackwood and Glenn’s oral podcast with associated text and photos is sponsored by Houston-based realtor Beth Coblentz at the link

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/glenn-blackwood-football

COACH SUSAN WATKINS 1993- 2007 WOMEN’S GOLF.

Susan Watkins was the second head coach in the history of UT Women’s Golf following Pat Weis’ retirement; Susan Watkins spent the next ten years building on Coach Weis’s legacy.

Coach Watkins was named Big 12 Coach of the Year for 2001-2002. In addition, five of her players earned All-American honors. Below is the link to Coach Watkins’s golf team’s year-by-year success.

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/golf-women-always-adding-content

1995 women’s golf – front row Wray, Cooper, Johns

middle row-Santos, Leeds, Waterhouse

back row – Coach Watkins, Balch, Ash, and asst. coach Leach

The photo shows returning All-Americans Nadine Ash and Nicole Cooper. Each is tabbed a preseason All-American by Golf Week.

The story of Sacrifice and Redemption is buried at Flanders Field.

“When I get to where I’m going.”

Recently TLSN received the following email from State of Texas Historian podcaster Michael Sparkman:

texashistorylessons@gmail.com

Subject: Louis Jordan

Message: Billy, I thought you might be interested to know I just released two episodes on the life of UT football legend Louis Jordan. The TLSN website was a great help. The podcast is Texas History Lessons and is available on all podcast players. Thank you,

Michael Sparkman

One of the many missions of TLSN is to honor former Longhorn athletes, coaches, managers, trainers, and support staff personnel who paid the ultimate price to preserve our nation’s founding principles.

However, TLSN’s recognition of former Longhorn athletes who lost their lives during WWI and WWII is not meant to lessen the sacrifices of all soldiers who are just as deserving of remembrance.

The tribute below is a work in process with as many as 50 more names still to add, but it is this link that Michael Sparkman used to research the story of Longhorn Louis Jordan.

The link starts with Bill Little sharing the Flander’s Field poem on Texassports.com

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/wwi-and-wwii-horns-up

These young men and women represent the character and backbone of our great nation. Strong souls embodied in spiritual light who accepted their duty to fight for family and country.

Below are a few of the many Longhorn spirit warriors’ destiny called “home.”

Conradt Coleman – track

Mike Sweeney – football

Skippy Browning – diving

Morris Williams – golf

The saying “Home is where the heart is” represents the universal fiber that defines each of us. When life is done, our souls want to go “home.”

I pray that our young spirit warriors in WWI and WWII carried memories and smiles of home into their darkest hours.

Singer Brad Paisley’s songwriters wrote a song about coming home titled “When I get to Where I’m Going.” Here is the link to the song :

https://youtu.be/yYHT-TF4KO4

Songwriters: Teren George G. and Rutherford Melvern Rivers

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.

Https://texaslsn.org

Message: Billy, I thought you might be interested to know I just released two episodes on the life of UT football legend Louis Jordan. The TLSN website was a great help. The podcast is Texas History Lessons and is available on all podcast players.
Thank you,