Top of the Queue Volume VII Newsletter # 1 01/10//2022 (click on “View in Browser above if the newsletter is not to scale or no images appear. )
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Welcome to the 7th year of the TLSN newsletter and website. All the previous newsletters are archived and accessible in the navigation tool for your perusal. The website is https://texaslsn.org .
TLSN is not associated with the U.T. Athletics Department or any organization closely aligned with U.T. TLSN is an independent organization celebrating Longhorn Sports History and assisting qualifying Horns who need temporary financial assistance. TLSN is building bridges to the past, present, and future, sharing Longhorn sports history through the eyes of those who created it. The website and newsletter are free, educational, historical, and insightful.
Over the last seven years, many former Longhorn student-athletes, media personalities, U.T. Athletic support staff employees, and fans have shared 100’s of stories that are now captured on the TLSN website.
TLSN has chosen not to open the site to two-way conversations that exist on social media sites such as Facebook. Instead, the access and narrative to the TLSN website are tightly controlled to celebrate the influence of Longhorn sports in building the national brand for U.T. Austin.
However, TLSN does not want to stifle input from the Longhorn Nation, so please email me at Williamdale@msn.com with any of your stories or Longhorn memories , and I will post on the TLSN website.
FOR EXAMPLE
Horns ???? and eyes ???? up,
Billy Dale – a proud member of the 1967 Longhorn football recruiting class.
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One of the many TLSN goals is celebrating the lives of Longhorns who have passed away. Unfortunately, I was on Christmas vacation when we lost Coach Robinson, so his celebration was delayed.
His tenure as a Longhorn assistant coach was short, but his influence was profound. He was hired by Mack in 2004 and his defensive mind helped the Horns beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. He was re-hired again in 2013 to help salvage a football program in decline. His celebration of life is at https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/coach-greg-robinson
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TRACK AND FIELD
BOYCE GATEWOOD- GREATNESS IN SECOND PLACE
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This is one of the greatest stories in SWC sports history. It centers around two record-setting track stars, Boyce Gatewood, a Longhorn, and Fred Wolcott, a Rice Owl. Each possessed mental toughness and performed with art and grace competing against each other for 4 years.
Felix McKnight, the Dallas News, and Dallas Times-Herald editor, wrote about Boyce Gatewood and Fred Wolcott. He said, “only inches usually separate the pair at the finish line, but Wolcott was always in front.”
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The worst moment for Boyce occurred at a Princeton track meet when it appeared that Gatewood beat Wolcott in a world record time of 13.6, but the Rice coach complained and won the appeal. Wolcott won by an eyelash.
It was the same old story for the man who even today ranks as one of the greatest hurdlers in U.T. history. However, Gatewood still left his mark in the SWC. He was the first competitor from the state of Texas invited to compete in Madison Square Garden at the 1942 Knights of Columbus indoor meet. Gatewood won the 60 yard high hurdles and was 3rd in the 60-yard dash.
In addition, he still has a place in the Longhorn record book as the anchor of the U.T. shuttle hurdle relay world record contingent and he is an inductee into the Longhorn Hall of Honor. For more on Boyce click on
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Fred Wolcott was the Rice hurdler who beat Gatewood every time they went head to head over four years. However, Gatewood forced Wolcott to equal the 13.7 world record to beat him by inches in one track meet.
Gatewood was credited with a time of 13.8, which was a Longhorn school record for 31 years. It is still one of the best performances by a Longhorn.
Sportswriter Weldon Hart talks about the jinx on Gatewood. He said, “Gatewood eminently deserves to win a big race before he quits topping the timber (hurdles) for U.T….”
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Larry Carlson interviewing Randy McEachern.
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Media savvy journalism Professor Larry Carlson has written one of the most succinct in-depth articles about Longhorn football from 1957-2021. While I do not agree with some of his comments, I share his passion and frustration with the demise of good fundamental football that led to four national championships and at least ten near misses for national titles in (1961, 1964, 1968, 1977, 1981, 1983, 2001, 2004, 2008, and 2009. )
Larry’s article is long, so it is broken into 5 Chapters:
1) Longhorn football from 2010-2021
2) Theories of the demise of Texas football
3) The changes in demographics, politics, economics, and the advent of social media influence on Texas football.
4) Texas football review from 1982- 2021.
5) Texas football from 1957-1984 – While many/most who read chapter 5 will consider this era ancient history, it remains the standard-bearer for Longhorn football greatness. Mack Brown’s teams were the closest to statistically comparing to the DKR and Akers era, and Professor Carlson shares his thoughts on the great years produced by the Mack Brown teams.
Billy Dale
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Larry Carlson interviewing Coach Akers for KVET
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