Wearing the Lid with honor Terry “Teapot” Collins has passed away.

 

 

The teapot tradition began in 1957 when Hall of Honor Inductee David Kristynik received the dubious honor of teapot of the year. “Short and stout” were two of the qualifiers necessary to wear the lid of honor and David qualified. He is the short one screaming at his teammates in the Syracuse game. David says,  “Larry Stephens started it with me. Made me sing every day…either that or Bay City fight song or the teapot song at every supper. Angleton was in our district. When David came he took my place. Coach Royal even called him teapot along with others….I became squatty body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terry “Teapot” Collins was a Texas Longhorn football player loved by his teammates.  It was a strong tradition in the late‑1960s era .The tradition crowned one freshman each year—usually someone “short and stout”—who then had to sing I’m a Little Teapot before dinner at Moore‑Hill every night. It was a light‑hearted freshman hazing tradition within the UT football program. It was a harmless light hearted varsity hazing ceremony . It was a tradition that brought smiles to many faces except for maybe the designated teapot.

There is no question that Terry is an important part of the cultural fabric of Texas football. Terry Teapot symbolizes one of many blue-collar players at Texas who won two national championships and graduated with a 30-game win streak.

Terry lived the life he loved but never made much money, so TLSN will defray some of his burial expenses.

Thank you, Teapot, for making your teammates smile and laugh for 4 years. It is a quality few possess.