I know he is wrong a lot, but Kirk Bohls has reported that Coach Gus died this morning of congestive heart failure. Sad day for the Longhorn Nation.
Rest in Peace Coach Gus. I grew up as a kid watching this true legend coach UT baseball, which made me the baseball fan I am today. Was there in the stands at home and away for a hundred games or more. He will be dearly missed by so many.
I seriously disliked beisbol until I came to UT. Coach Gus converted me. Que Descanse en Paz. Vuele con los Angelitos.
Totally missed this yesterday, Gus was coach my entire student time in Austin and Gus ball was my escape from everything especially the absurd stress of law school. Absolute legend and at some point the University needs to add his and Augie's names to the field and make it Gustafson-Garrido Field at Disch-Falk Stadium. RIP Gus
"He’d win a game by forcing a balk with a man on third in the ninth, he’d win a game by giving a take sign on a 3-2 count, and he’d win a game sometimes by squeezing every last pitch — and I mean every — out of the guy on the mound. That was Gusball, a tag I gave his winning brand of baseball." KIRK BOHLS
"It was in 1975 when I first saw the huge sign in the locker room that said, “Winning shall not be entrusted to the weak or timid.” Others have used that mantra since, but no coach ever lived it as he did every single day of his life." KIRK BOHLS
I spent hours in his office, just talking baseball. He was always so kind to me. He said that if his players had my passion for the game, they’d lose a lot less. I will miss my friend.
I loved watching @ Clark Field. Too bad Clark couldn't be salvaged, but alas...the beisbol gods said "NYET!!!!" Cliff & the Horns changed my opinion of baseball. Cliff & Omaha could do that.
LHN carried the celebration of life event for coach that occurred yesterday. Was wonderful to watch, but at the end when the group was going to sing the Eyes of Texas, they abruptly cut away. Is is still politically incorrect still to sing the Eyes of Texas or televise it?
I started attending baseball games as a graduate student in the early 80s--a great time to be a Longhorn baseball fan--and I've been a season ticket holder ever since. I attended the service yesterday at Disch-Falk--great stories and some nice photos on the scoreboard. After the service they served Gus' everyday lunch--sandwiches, Lay's potato chips and iced tea in mason jars. I don't know if they showed them on LHN, but there were several current UT coaches of other sports there. Current players were passing out bulletins at the entrance gates, and they were all in the dugout for the service. It was very well-done in my opinion.
Late 80s-early 90s at the Disch. I remember the cavernous outfield with the long dimensions. Gus would always have a very speedy good athlete at CF who could cover a lot of ground. Saw lots of low scoring Longhorn victories, lots of bunts, hit and runs, and stolen bases. When Brooks Kieschnick brought his bat to Austin, it was as if Babe Ruth had joined the team or something. And wow that pitching! Gus ball really defined this place. I hope we do something special the first home game, or wear his number on the caps, or something. RIP
We had a lot of very good CF under Gus. Imo the best was Joe Bruno (79). Played shallow and could get to the warning track before you could blink. Excellent lead off man, base stealer, base runner. Dude was a chatterbox out there. You could hear him for 9 innings in CF
Gus's recruiting pitch to Roger Clemens: ”My recruiting trip to Texas, I barely got to his office door," Clemens told reporters on Monday. "He stood up, shook my hand, looked at me and said 'Do you want to be a Longhorn or don’t you?' I was sold." https://www.si.com/college/texas/ba...oger-clemens-cliff-gustafson-death-recruiting