With Randy McEachern at the 1977 ou game You can probably see me in the background We won 13-6, went undefeated in the regular season, Earl won the Heisman
He loved The University of Texas, and considered himself a Longhorn. Always a class act regardless of the circumstances. He never said anything negative about his treatment by The University, and reeled me in when I wanted to publicly go after certain alums. When Arkansas came calling, we talked for hours with me telling him why he shouldn't "go home". If he didn't know, he would reach out and ask for your help. One of the great stories was a player from the Panhandle, who was down to UCLA and us, but the parents gave Fred some papers. He called me, and I drove to Austin to review and tell him that the $500,000 annuity offered by Nebraska was real. Fred was never big on Ra Ra speeches, but I leave you with this quote/near quote from the 1977 A&M game, which featured an altercation where the Corp wouldn't let the APO run the Texas flag on Kyle Field, nor the Cowboys & Spurs to form an aisle for the team to run through, "Gentlemen, the Aggies have already done all they know how to do - march, hut & holler; now we get to do what we do best and that's kick their butts" Texas 57, A&M 28 Freddy, tell Danny and Coach Bill I said hello.
Fred was Texas Coach at first college football game I ever attended in person back in 1979, I grew up watching his Texas teams play defense like few before or after. I came on campus during the McWilliams years and remember that Fred would pop up every once in a while and always speak well about the University and his replacement. Pure class when the circumstances under which he was run off would have led a lesser person to be bitter the rest of their life. Rest In Peace!
Coach Akers spoke at my high school athletic banquet back in 1970 and many years later I would see him from time to time at the Spring Game. He didn’t know me from Adam, but was always gracious, kind, and took time to talk. Rest In Peace Coach.
Saw and talked with him a few times. 9 of his 10 seasons at UT were good. Unfortunately, his bowl record was not. Only 2-8 overall. But the best I still remember, was beating Bama 14-12 in the '82 Cotton. R.I.P. Coach.
RIP Coach Akers. FTR, I liked him even in 86', I was still in HS. But I wanted him to stay back then. He had great class. Hardly exists today like it did back then.
So sad to learn of this! I'm not where I can craft my thoughts on him passing away. I shall do so Tuesday. RIP Coach Akers !
In 1978 I was on a tiny island out in the middle of the Indian Ocean with the Navy, my barracks was filled with guys from Maryland. They were all Terps and Redskins fans, didn't know a thing about Texas. But they knew they hated Texas because of the Cowboys. CBS interviewed Akers at the half and again after the game and he was his usual gracious self. The Maryland guys probably still hated Texas for a 42-0 drubbing but they were all impressed by the coach that day. I always loved the way he represented this university.
Two things I remember most were those a- -kicking D’s and the changes he made for how to use Earl Campbell. I think it was President Roger’s (I think she was a big fan) who was part of the reason for hiring him and DKR wanted Campbell. Not sure if that made things a little hard. . People can criticize his coaching on occasions, as they did DKR, but I have never heard anything negative about the man. Never.
May I suggest a different post topic, that's more respectful of this great Longhorn? Something like "Longhorn Great, Coach Fred Akers passes away"
