DKR-TMS

Are you feeling the earth shake and hearing a loud roar? Are you reading bylines like ""Major Again" or "Will Muschamp Defend?" Overhear names like Colt and Chiles, or Oklahoma, #$@!^-$#? Yes, Texas football is here, again!

So when you 'steer' yourself to The Stadium for a tailgate party and a game, enjoy some bar-b-que, beer, fun & friends, and take some of these historical facts and figures to amuse them all!

The first University of Texas-owned football field -- called the Varsity Athletic Field -- was constructed in 1897 for a total price of $3,000. It was renamed Clark Field, in honor of George B. Clark, who had many roles at UT during his tenure. It was the only football and track field until the construction of Texas Memorial Stadium in 1924.

In 1923, Henry Jacob Lutcher Stark, chairman of the UT Board of Regents and L. Theo Bellmont (the west side of the stadium is named in his honor), then UT athletic director, along with thirty student leaders began an ambitious plan to build a concrete stadium to replace the Clark Field. In the following year, completion of "the largest sports facility of its kind in the Southwest" was crowned with a 27,000-seat facility, designed by architect Herbert M. Greene of Dallas, the total cost came to $275,000, financed with support from an estimated 10,000 students, friends, and UT alumni.

The student body dedicated the stadium, Texas Memorial Stadium, in honor of the 198,520 Texans, 5,280 of whom lost their lives, who fought in World War I. Just two years later, with the growing popularity of football all over the country, Texas Memorial Stadium was enlarged with the addition of a 13,500-seat "horseshoe" on the north end of the complex. Its main entrance bore a striking resemblance to the façade of the Alamo. Again, in 1948, expansion included seats enclosing the north end raising seating capacity to more than 60,000.

The Longhorn football program began to distinguish itself under head coach Darrell K. Royal, the first UT coach to capture a national championship in 1963. In 1969, work began on the west–side upper deck, by then the stadium held a whopping 75,504 seats. In a TCU-Texas game that year, Texas Memorial Stadium was rededicated to the memory of all alumni in all American wars.

The University honored legendary football coach Darrell Royal, who led Texas to three national championships and eleven Southwest Conference titles, by officially naming the stadium after him in 1996, Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium.

One of the hallmarks of the current UT stadium is its audio/visual centerpiece, nicknamed, "Godzillatron", in the south end zone. The $8 million high-definition display board is 55 feet high by 134 feet wide, providing live and recorded video, scores and stats, graphics, animation, and sponsor advertising.

Just to add a not-so-short note on "Naming Rights". Did you know that the Texas football team plays on the Joe Jamail Field, along the L.Theo Bellmont West Side of the Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, beside the Frank Denius Athletics Fields practice complex, as well as a new 1,200 seat Red and Charline McCombs Softball Field and Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium next to the FEDCU Disch-Falk Field for baseball, (take a breath!), and they train in the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center!!! How about a CAD Supplies Specialty Goal Post?

In 2006 UT Regents approved a $179 million expansion plan, to include a new memorial plaza and north end zone structure. Scheduled to be completed by the first game of this 2008 season, the outdoor plaza will serve as a memorial to veterans and will also include a multi-level complex with an upper deck, club space, suites, athletic offices, and a basement with gym space. Our client, Michael Minor of Rago Ltd. Construction, tells us they are on schedule! Seating will increase to over 90,000, until the "final phase" of expansion, with the construction of permanent seating and an upper deck in the south end zone completely enclosing the playing field. The stadium capacity could reach 118,000 with that completion. No timeline has been officially announced for this portion of the project.

As always, Come Early, Wear Orange, Be Loud, & Stay Late!

By the way, in 1924, Texas lost the first game to Baylor 28-10, attendance was 13,500, then defeated Texas A&M 7-0 in the dedication game on Thanksgiving Day with the attendance at 35,000! The first night game was a loss to Texas Tech 20-14 on September 17, 1955, attendance had grown to 47,000.

Go to www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com for more great statistics and the latest from Mack Brown and more.