Coach Gus, boy does that name bring back memories…..for to Bone Daddy’s way of thinking….Coach Cliff Gustafson was the “creme de la creme” when it comes to college baseball coaches….who at least on The Forty Acres….as the campus of the University of Texas in Austin is known…..every bit as popular and legendary as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Darrell K. Royal….cuz in each and every springtime around UT, the student body and fans who bled Burnt Orange, you could count on Coach Gus fielding a national collegiate powerhouse team being fielded on the baseball diamond….just like what was expected each fall on the football gridiron.
In 1968, after hanging up initially on Coach Royal….cuz he thought it was a prank phone call…Coach Gus took a pay cut to come and coach the baseball team at The University of Texas at Austin….where over the next 29 years, Coach Gus, would lead the Longhorns to 22 Southwest Conference Championships….a record 17 College World Series appearances….and two national championships in 1975 and 1983. Fans around The Forty Acres became so spoiled…as they simply expected to win the Southwest Conference crown….and go to Omaha every year.
Many of Gustafson’s players went on to play Major League Baseball including Jim Acker, Billy Bates, Mike Brumley, Mike Capel, Roger Clemens, Dennis Cook, Scott Coolbaugh, Keith Creel, Kirk Dressendorfer, Ron Gardenhire, Jim Gideon, Jerry Don Gleaton, Burt Hooton, Bob Kearney, Brooks Kieschnick, Keith Moreland, Calvin Murray, Spike Owen, Karl Pagel, Mark Petkovsek, Shane Reynolds, Andre Robertson, Bruce Ruffin, Calvin Schiraldi, J.D. Smart, Greg Swindell, Jose Tolentino, Richard Wortham, and Ricky Wright…..of those Coolbaugh, Dressendorfer and Reynolds are featured in this video herewith.
Coach Gus was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame….after being named National Coach of the Year in baseball in 1982 and 1983….and was also named an inaugural member of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Coach Cliff Gustafson completed his 29 years at Texas with 1466 wins and 377 losses….with 472 SWC victories verses 151 losses….while capturing 22 SWC Championships….11 SWC Tournament Championships….an NCAA Record 17 CWS appearances….and two National Championships.
In this 1st round game of the winners bracket during 1987 College World Series….which was played in Omaha, Nebraska on May 30th….Coach Gus led a Texas line-up consisting of CF Elanis Westbrooks, 3B Scott Coolbaugh, RF Brian Cisarik, DH Scott Bryant, 2B Todd Haney, 1B Lenny Bell, LF Rusty Crockett, C Brian Johnson and Starting Pitcher Kevin Garner against the Hogs of Arkansas coached by Norm DeBriyn featuring his Razorback starting lineup of RF Scott Pose, 2B Kelly Zane, 1b Jim Kremers, C Andy Skeels, DH Troy Eklund, SS Mike Sisco, 3B Don Thomas, CF Rod Moore, LF Dan Campbell and P John Cebuhar…..as the Longhorns would win this game by a score of 13 – 6 to move on in the tournament…. eventually losing to Stanford in the finals.
Any way you cut the pie….it is always fun to watch Gus Ball….which many folks think was the origination of what is called “small ball or punch and judy ball” in college ball today….so this is MUST SEE TV for all Coach Gus and Longhorn fans….and well worth the watch for any and all college baseball fans.
