Thanks Doc -- wonderful stories. And I remember you telling me you ran into DKR at the hotel before the great Rose Bowl game. That was probably just before the disease began to really kick in. Kirk Bohls' story a few days back told how Edith discovered one morning that Darrell had left the car in the garage, running -- the garage door knob almost burned her hand, it was so hot. That was when she knew things had turned a corner.
I was able to be at the game Saturday and see the wishbone play, though it seemed the backs were set way too wide-out for a true wishbone. But it was a setup for a Bryan Harsin trick play that got a gain and a big roar from the crowd.
By the way, I was monitoring online the auction of Royal's personal items today, set up by his wife to raise money for the Alzheimer's foundation Edith founded last year. Emma and I went by the auction house this morning to ogle the stuff and dream of bidding on it. DKR's honorary Rose Bowl ring from that national championship game went for $105,000.
The item I was hoping I could snag, a water-stained print image of DKR, Tom Landry, and Vince Lombardi from the '70s, signed by Darrell, was out of my range at $450. Emma was hoping for Edith's Texas tote bag with the four Longhorn pins, but it went for $125. I just don't make that kinda money, dear, I had to explain to her….
Below is a link to a great piece from last year by Michael Corcoran about Royal's connection to Willie and his intense passion for genuine country music. A wonderful part of his legacy here and a snapshot of a time gone by.
cheers,
cs
http://www.austin360.com/news/entertainment/music/the-fan-how-darrell-royal-...
On Nov 11, 2012, at 8:57 PM, Aubrey Carter wrote:
as Lou Reed said: "Those were different times, all the poets studied rules of verse, and the ladies they rolled their eyes." -Sweet Jane
ACDO 1401 East 7th Street Austin, Texas 78702 512-472-3393
On Nov 11, 2012, at 9:59 PM, James Ayres <jayres@cvctx.commailto:jayres@cvctx.com> wrote:
Way back when Cliff Grubbs (Prof Economics) and I decided to talk to Coach about attempting variations of the wishbone. So we made an appointment to talk to him in his tiny office in Gregory Gym. In '69 I think. We had a super play in mind, a tailback pass. He very graciously welcomed us. When we told him about our idea, he asked us to draw it up on the chalkboard. We did. All Bertleson had to do when he received the ball was fake his forward movement, drop two steps and pass to an x standing alone in the end zone. Simple.
He thanked us for the idea, then drew up his own chalked arrangement to show us why that would not work, given the aggressive forward back and blocking strategy of the triple option. He thanked us for our ideas and said we were welcome to come back any time.
The following Saturday, Alabama ran our play---for a touchdown. We decided not to call Coach about that.
I next encountered Coach in '78 when I was on the athletic council. We had meetings every week until '81 on athletic director matters. I discovered quickly (1) that he was not comfortable in the position of athletic director and (2) was very unhappy that the Regents did not select Mike Campbell as his successor as coach but chose Fred Akers instead. He also did not like our choice of Deloss as athletic director. Deloss is not your UT "good 'ole boy."
Later I had lunch with him and his driver, Louie Murrillo, at Ciscos a couple of times a month to talk about everything BUT football. Coach introduced me to Willie on one Saturday bloody mary morning before the Willie Nelson one mile run at the Terrace Motel grounds in south Austin. I ran in that race and would have beaten Willie at the end but he had some of that tomato fuel I did not. We were both 50 that day.
Doc
On Nov 7, 2012, at 5:41 PM, Clayton Stromberger wrote:
Doc --
Favorite memories of Coach Royal?
Right 53 Veer pass,
cs
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