The passing of a legend

The University of Texas lost an icon yesterday with the death of coaching legend Darrell Royal. Coach Royal led the Longhorns out of the wastelands and into the promised land, winning two national titles, 11 conference titles and 10 Cotton Bowls during his tenure.

He and Emory Bellard (later the head coach at Texas A&M), developed the wishbone offense that took the option to a whole new level. In the wishbone the quarterback was joined in the backfield by a fullback and two tailbacks. The quarterback then had the option to hand it to the fullback, pitch it to a tailback or take the ball up the field himself.

Once Coach Royal was asked why his teams didn't pass the ball more. He told the reporter that when you pass the ball only three things can happen and two of them, interception and incompletion, were bad. But the play he is remembered most for is the long pass on fourth down in the "Game of the Century" in 1969 against Arkansas in which Texas rallied to win 15-14 and was awarded the national championship.

Coach Royal did not care for his players celebrating after scoring touchdowns. He felt you should act like you've been there before and plan on being back in the future. If you've ever seen video of Earl Campbell in college or in the NFL he never spiked the ball and he never carried on after scoring. He just tossed the ball to the referee after he crossed the goal line.

The phrase he's most well-known for was his reply when a reporter asked why he wouldn't change things up when the Longhorns were in the midst of a losing streak. Coach Royal's answer was that you've got to dance with the one who brung ya'.

For almost two decades Texas coaches were compared to Darrell Royal. After his retirement, the University hired former assistant Fred Akers to take over the program. No matter what Akers did during his time in Austin, it was never good enough. It was never good enough because Fred Akers wasn't Darrell Royal.

And neither were David McWilliams or John Mackovic. It wasn't until Mack Brown came along that the shadow of Darrell Royal receded.

Rest in peace, Coach, and hook 'em!

The wisdom of Coach Royal

For those of y'all who grew up watching the Longhorns in the 60's and 70's, you need no introduction to Darrell K. Royal.  Coach Royal brought the 'Horns to prominence with a pair of national championships.  He also coached scores of memorable games - though he is associated mostly with 1969's Game of the Century, a 15-14 victory over Arkansas that garnered Texas a national title.

Coach Royal believed in smash-mouth, run-oriented football.  He once said there were three things that could happen on a pass play, and two of them were bad.

He also said you've got to dance with the one that brung ya.

Although he was very conservative on the sidelines, he and Emory Bellard introduced the

most revolutionary offense (at that time), the Wishbone.  By removing a flanker and putting out an additional halfback, Coach Royal was able to take advantage of his bottomless cup full of running backs on the Forty Acres.

Said James Street (quarterback of the 1969 National Champions):

He was not a rah-rah coach. He would not give a big-game speech. He said attention to detail, kicking game and the breaks would win the game.

To win at trial you don't have to be someone that you're not. You don't have to be flashy and you don't have to be a stage actor.  Pay attention to the details, keep the focus on your story during cross-examination and you'll be able to take advantage of the breaks that come your way.