The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
In Memory of Brandon Cole Pittman
09.04.2001 | Football
An avid outdoorsman, caring teammate and loving son, Brandon Cole Pittman was born on Jan. 26, 1980, in Natchitoches, La. Cole's love of football was superseded only by his affection for his family and his strong Christian faith. A highly-touted prospect and honor student, he graduated early from Evangel Christian High School and announced at the First Assembly of God in Shreveport that he would be taking his talents to The University of Texas. After just one spring season, Cole performed well enough to earn playing time as a true freshman in 1999 and played in all 12 games as a sophomore last year, including three starting assignments. Blossoming into a 6-foot-5, 290-pound defender, he was projected as one of the Longhorns' top candidates to earn a starting job at defensive tackle this season.
The University of Texas football family suffered a tragic loss when Cole was tragically taken from us in a one-vehicle accident on U.S. Route 79 near Easterly, Texas, last spring. The accident occurred on the morning of Monday, Feb. 26, 2001, as Cole returned from his home in Shreveport to join his UT teammates for spring drills. Texas' spring season was set to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 27, but it was postponed until Monday, March 5, as the Longhorns remembered Cole at his funeral in Shreveport and then in an on-campus memorial. Chance Mock, Cory Redding and Chris Simms were among those Longhorns who served as pallbearers at Cole's funeral and more than 1,200 people attended the on-campus service. Cole is survived by his father, Marc, mother, Judy, and brother, Chase.
Cole Pittman Scholarship Fund
The University of Texas has established a scholarship in the name of Cole Pittman. The first $25,000 contribution was made by UT Men's and Women's Athletics. Friends are asked to direct contributions to the Longhorn Foundation, P.O. Box 7399, Austin, TX 78713. Please make contributions payable to The University of Texas. To date, $42,593 has been raised for the Cole Pittman Scholarship Fund.
