West Texas football players influence on the Longhorn Brand.

[Billy Dale]

It is a storied land, West Texas is. The region with no exact boundaries refuses to be fenced in by the imagination, and conjures images of the Texas of not so long ago, romanticized and criticized by outsiders longing to take a peek or to get the hell out, as fast as possible. It is a mystical place of Marfa Lights, Palo Duro Canyon, the limpid desert swimming hole at Balmorhea, windmills, piercing blue skies, cotton fields, endless technicolor sunsets and ruler-straight lonesome highways. The stars at night are, indeed, big and bright. Low humidity can make for lovely days with only the wind as ambient noise. It can be hellishly hot in Presidio and colder than the IRS in Dalhart, on the same day, with a blue norther on the way.


It's been said that rugged West Texas is no country for old men. But it has long been the heartland of Texas high school football. It suits young men -- those willing to do what it takes -- quite well. West Texas boys are innately tough, rough, ready to be invincible. They are the original "Friday Night Lights" heroes.


In the Southwest Conference's heyday from the 1940s through the '70s, West Texans made up a sizable portion of the Texas college football platter. These days, not so much. Recruiters focus on the expansive population centers of Houston and the DFW Metroplex. There just aren't that many high school blue-chippers in all of West Texas, comparatively. That said, this writer always enjoys reviewing history and spotlighting the best of Longhorn football. So I decided to become a one-man panel and select a Texas Longhorn all-time team of West Texans, starting with the Darrell Royal era of the late 1950s.


The story of West Texas high school football players influence on the Longhorn Brand is written by Larry Carlson .
The History of Longhorn Sports

 

[Chop]

Nice article.

There’s a solid case for bumping Humphrey up to the first team.

 

[txhorn_et]

I really find these articles informative and an enjoyable read. They sure bring back memories of some of the Longhorn greats of yesteryear.

Rooster and Bunny Andrews served as ‘starters’ at the Purnell Relays in Angleton for many years.

Speaking of those track meets, it’s been said time and time again that Curtis Dickey never lost a 100 yard dash in high school. That might be true, but West Columbia had a guy around that time that Curtis Dickey bowed out and didn’t face him in the final. So I guess he kept his winning streak alive.

 

[1sahorn]

Great article. Thanks for posting. I was born & raised on the Llano Estacado & played varsity football (late 60's) @ small (AAA then, AAAA now) West Texas town between Lubbock & Odessa. Great memories. I enjoy following & pulling for W Texas kids. Friday Night Lights was & still is a way of life.

 

[Sangre Naranjada]

Great article. Thanks for posting. I was born & raised on the Llano Estacado & played varsity football (late 60's) @ small (AAA then, AAAA now) West Texas town between Lubbock & Odessa. Great memories. I enjoy following & pulling for W Texas kids. Friday Night Lights was & still is a way of life.

Lamesa? Andrews? Seminole?