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First Black Letterman Remembers DKR

November 13, 2012 4:56 pm by: Brian Baresch

Julius Whittier (No. 67) played on the 1970 UT national championship team coached by Darrell Royal. Photo courtesy the UT Athletic DepartmentJulius Whittier (No. 67) played on the 1970 UT national championship team coached by Darrell Royal. Photo courtesy the UT Athletic Department

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Thousands gathered in the Frank Erwin Center today to honor former UT football coach Darrell K. Royal, who died last Wednesday in Austin. Among the mourners was Julius Whittier. He played under Royal in the late ’60s and early ’70s and was UT’s first black football varsity letter winner. He talked with KUT’s Jennifer Stayton about his memories of Royal.

Coach Royal was a second daddy, and I say that sincerely. Coach Royal had a way of making clear what he expected of all of us. He knew that he was stepping out on a limb by recruiting me, and I think he was fairly courageous in taking that step, because at that time we were an all-white team.

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