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RIP Coach Royal

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas says former football coach Darrell Royal, who won two national championships and a share of a third, has died. He was 88.

UT spokesman Nick Voinis (VOY'-nes) on Wednesday confirmed Royal's death in Austin. Voinis did not immediately provide further details.

Royal suffered from Alzheimer's disease and recently fell at an assisted living center where he was receiving care.

Royal coached Texas from 1957-1976, won 11 Southwest Conference titles and introduced an innovation known as the wishbone offense to major college football in 1968. He led the Longhorns to two national championships in 1963 and 1969, plus a share of a third in 1970.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/11/0 ... z2BYJOIJeA

Comfort and blessings upon his family.

He was a man, take him for all in all. (We) shall not look upon his like again.

Here's hoping he's dancing with who brung him.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... e-football

Interesting article on Darrell Royal. I thought this quote was particularly interesting in relation to SMU football. It is clear where DKR stood on coaching at a small, private school. The same probably holds true today at most private schools, us included. Maybe we should keep that in mind when the next opportunity for a coaching change comes along.



After consecutive 6-4 seasons, Royal jumped to the University of Washington in 1956 without setting foot on campus.

"I knew it was a state university," Royal said. "I knew what their enrollment was, what their budget was, what their attendance was at football games, what kind of stadium they had, what the population was, and how many high schools were playing football in the state of Washington. … I felt, and still feel, there are some natural advantages to being at state universities."
Royal's views on that subject never changed. A decade after he retired, Royal was asked by Tulane University to serve on a committee of consultants about how to get the Green Wave out of the ditch. The 34-year-old head coach, Mack Brown, had gone 1-10 in his first season. Royal surveyed Tulane's meager facilities and undersized players and repeated the advice he followed more than three decades earlier.

"I'd get the hell out of here as fast as I could, because you've got no chance," Royal told Brown. "And I would go to a university that has The in front of it, because that's the only way you're going to make it."

Two years later, after Brown led Tulane to a 6-5 record and an Independence Bowl bid, Brown left for North Carolina -- the University of North Carolina.

A fine man and a great coach.

RIP Darrell Royal.

Obviously, thoughts go out to his family. DR was not on my Christmas Card list and I'll leave it at that.

A fine man who brought humor and wisdom to life and sport.

He will be greatly missed.

A legend of the SWC. Prayers to his family and the UT community.