Horns247 Board

Sad news indeed. Many thanks to Coach Royal for making us the " Class Act" that we are today, my prayers go out to Edith. RIP Coach Royal. Hookem

The Greatest

Had the great pleasure to shake this man's hand once. Truly an honor. RIP, DKR. Hook 'em for eternity!

R.I.P. DKR. Longhorn Nation will never forget your contributions and devotion,

Sundance... what a jerk to post crap like that. And on a thread about DKR's passing.

I do know this: I won't read another post of yours.

Very sad day for the Longhorn faithful and college football. Thoughts and prayers to the Royal family. RIP Coach, you will truly be missed.

Hook'em

Met Coach Royal at Austin Bergstrom in 2004 prior to a flight to Houston where we connected on to New Orleans. Pretty sure he was only going to Houston.

He signed my Dave Campbell's pre-season mag which had just come out that year and proceeded to talk with our small group for at least 30 minutes. Absolutely the nicest and most gracious individual I've met and I still remember his declaration during that discussion that for every freshman you start, you can count on a loss during that same season.

Prayers to his wife and family and how lucky we are to have had such a wonderful individual so committed to Texas football and athletics.

Fortunate enough to have been part of the student body and thus able to watch almost all the games from great seats, in the late 60's, I was absolutely awe inspired at the confidence he projected during games. It didn't matter if the Horns got into a bad spot - we all knew Darrell Royal was the coach so we'd get through. Every Texas player picked up on that, making for an almost unfair advantage at times.

There haven't been many folks around, in sports or any business position, with such a strong, positive image.

RIP Coach Royal.

utsal wrote: "Almost ran me over with is van once, greatest moment of my life. RIP Coach"

Memories like that are so special they never die. I'm glad you have that one.

Thought this was a cool video

https://www.youtube.com/embed/VGxZv3MT9J4

I feel like I have lost my father all over again. This is such a sad day. I must share a story.

It had always been my dream to play football for Darrell Royal. I played QB at Abilene High and my senior year we got a new head coach at Abilene High. It was David McWilliams, Tri-Captain of the 1963 National Champion Texas Longhorns and later on Head Coach of the Longhorns. Our conference was known as the "Little Southwest Conference" and Emory Bellard was perfecting his "Wishbone" offense there before going to Texas as OC. Jack Mildren, Oklahoma's great QB was a year behind me and just across town at Abilene Cooper. There were 4 of us from our district in the Texas Top 10 at one time that season. As it ended up, I had two knee operations that year, got a D-1 scholarship, but not to Texas.
Several years later, I had moved to Nashville and was having success as a songwriter with many songs recorded and as a recording artist in a group that was Billboard magazine's "New Group of the Year" in 1980 and 1981. As luck would have it, we were touring with George Jones the year he had his monster hit "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and we were doing a concert in Austin and taping Austin City Limits. As most of you know, Coach Royal was a HUGE country music fan. That afternoon about 4:00, before the show that night, we were doing our sound check and I looked out and saw one person sitting in the auditorium. It was Darrell Royal and he would clap every time we finished one of our songs. When we finished sound check, I walked off stage and out in the auditorium and introduced myself. He complemented me on our music then said, "Didn't you play QB at Abilene High for David McWilliams?" I was floored! It had been 13 years. I said "Yes, sir, and it was always my dream to be a Texas Longhorn." Coach Royal said, "Those two knee operations you had and with us running the wishbone kind of killed that didn't it. You might not have been on that stage tonight if it had been any other way....things have a way of working out for the best even when they seem bad at the time." I took Coach Royal back to George Jones' bus and they had a great conversation and he came back to the show that night and to the taping of Austin City Limits the next night. It was one of the highlights of my life.

Coach Royal was one of the finest people on the planet and always made you feel like he was the lucky one to meet you. We have truly lost a special person. Thanks for all you did for so many, Coach. HOOK 'EM!!