Billy Dale’s Articles

THREE GENERATIONS OF COLLINS UT LETTERMEN  It is a goal of TLSN to remember the family tree of former Longhorns who have created Longhorn sports history. Author Mark McDonald shares the Mauldin clan’s family tree at https://www.texaslsn.org/the-mauldins-by-mark-mcdonald, and Billy Dale shares the impressive story of Stewart Keller’s family trees impact on UT sports history at https://www.texaslsn.org/stewart-kellers-longhorn-roots-start-in-1899-orns-sitennis-football-diving.   …

Bobby Wuensch shares a story about one of the Arkansas players comments made to him 40 years after the game. The Arkansas player says that during the game the Razorbacks on defense were amazed that near the end of the 3rd quarter down 14 to 0 that there was no dissention, no name-calling, no grumbling,…

Learning from Julius WHO SOMEONE ROOMS WITH SHOULD NOT BE A NEWSWORTHY EVENT. HOWEVER, ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1970, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WROTE A “PROVOCATIVE” ARTICLE THAT SAID, “WHITTIER, TEXAS BLACK OFFENSIVE GUARD, IS ROOMING WITH A WHITE PLAYER AND OCCASIONALLY DATING WHITE WOMEN.” I AM THAT “WHITE PLAYER.” IN 1970 COACH ROYAL CALLED THREE SENIORS…

Track is the only sport that athletes reveal their character to the fans as the event unfolds. In the picture to the left, Von Letscher’s struggle is visible. Von Letscher I don’t know if Von finished first or last in this event. Winning or losing is not the message in the photo. The message is much…

DKR WAS AFRAID OF PUBLIC SPEAKING Once while an assistant coach at North Carolina State, he completely forgot his speech at a banquet. Royal said, “I got up to talk and drew a complete blank. If you’ve never had this happen to you, you don’t know how frightful it is and how painful it is…

Much of the information below is compliments of Jenna McEachern’s book “100 things” and Larry Carlson’s article about punters at LONGHORN PUNTERS AND KICKERS (squarespace.com) Russell Erxleben 1975- As of 2007, Russell was one of two Longhorns who was a three-time All-American. He is the greatest punter and kicker in Longhorn sports history. Breaking Bill…

Coach Royal believed in cause and effect. He believed that if you want more good luck in life, then prepare accordingly.  Harvey Penick, the great golf instructor, said “giving luck a chance gave players a high probability of scoring”. Coach Royal agreed with Harvey Penick.  Royal understood that preparation for a game increased the chance…

Jim Bob Moffett was a obligation and responsibility type of guy.   Jim Bob’s lifetime motto states, “it is impossible to have a bad day if you do something (good) for someone else.” On January 8, 2021, Jim Bob Moffett succumbed to Covid. He was 82. The family wishes that any donations be made to The…

William Edward “Rooster” Andrews Rooster was offered a scholarship at Texas A & M, but Kutner interceded and convinced Coach Bible to offer him a scholarship. After Rooster graduated Coach Bible said he was “the best manager I ever saw.” Class of 1945Inducted into HOH 1966 FOOTBALL (1941-45, Manager, Kicker, Halfback)BASEBALL (1944, 1946, Manager)  …

Reggie Grob was well-liked and respected on the football team. He was the first walk-on of Royal’s career to earn a scholarship. On September 1, 1962, three Texas football players collapsed from heat exhaustion and were rushed to the hospital. All three – Lee Hensley, Jim Besselman, and Reggie Grob were in satisfactory condition by…