Remembering Darrell K. Royal

[BurntOrangeMD]

Born July 6, 1924. At the age of 32, Darrell Royal came to the University of Texas campus with a folksy sense of humor and an innovative style of football that produced almost instant success and the lifelong respect and affection of Longhorn fans throughout the world.

In Royal’s second year at Texas, the Longhorns played in their first of what would be 16 bowl games over the next 20 years; three for national championships. In 23 years as head coach, he never had a losing season. The Longhorns finished in the top 10 nationally during 11 of those seasons.  In 1962, Royal assumed the dual role of Athletics Director and head football coach at the University of Texas. He retired from coaching in 1976 to concentrate on his duties as Athletic Director.

Royal hired the nation’s first academic counselor. During his coaching years, four out of five men who lettered for Royal went on to earn their degrees.

Darrell Royal’s honors include membership in both the Texas and Oklahoma Sports Halls of Fame and in the Longhorn Hall of Honor. He was twice named Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches and three times by the Football Writers of America.

[Red Five]

Small nitpick: There is no period after the K. Well, there was there, but that's because my sentence was ending. 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[THookem]

 

[Burnt Orange Horn]

Are any of the DKR and Cactus Pryor weekly shows on YouTube? They would start off with a brief introduction to the last game then Coach Royal would turn to the camera and from then on it was like he was there speaking to you alone. It was truly magic what he could do. Tom Herman could have learned a lot by watching those old half hour shows.

Edited 14 hours ago by Burnt Orange Horn

[Burnt Orange Horn]

22 minutes ago, THookem said:

 

That shot of Royal in his brick walled corner office with metal filing cabinets says it all about him and his era.

That time will never come again.

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

 

[Red Five]

56 minutes ago, THookem said:

 

This was within a few days of me being born.

[BurntOrangeMD]

 

[jbseamus83]

13 hours ago, BurntOrangeMD said:

Born July 6, 1924. At the age of 32, Darrell Royal came to the University of Texas campus with a folksy sense of humor and an innovative style of football that produced almost instant success and the lifelong respect and affection of Longhorn fans throughout the world.

In Royal’s second year at Texas, the Longhorns played in their first of what would be 16 bowl games over the next 20 years; three for national championships. In 23 years as head coach, he never had a losing season. The Longhorns finished in the top 10 nationally during 11 of those seasons.  In 1962, Royal assumed the dual role of Athletics Director and head football coach at the University of Texas. He retired from coaching in 1976 to concentrate on his duties as Athletic Director.

Royal hired the nation’s first academic counselor. During his coaching years, four out of five men who lettered for Royal went on to earn their degrees.

Darrell Royal’s honors include membership in both the Texas and Oklahoma Sports Halls of Fame and in the Longhorn Hall of Honor. He was twice named Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches and three times by the Football Writers of America.

I only had the opportunity to meet DKR once. It was about 2 years before he passed. Everyone that knew him has always talked about how humble he was.  I thanked him for what he did for UT. He essentially refused the compliment and just talked consistently about how great the players were that he had the chance to coach. What a great man. He will always be remembered.