The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Going the distance: A-to-Z with Clayton Stewart
05.17.2005 | Baseball
A is for Always Active
Growing up, you would not find Clayton inside playing games like Chutes and Ladders or Trouble because he would be outside. He was running around and throwing a ball from a very young age, but admits now that he will play Cranium from time to time and with the right person on his team, even wins on occasion.
B is for Best Team in the Country
Coming to The University of Texas was not a hard decision for this Texas pitcher. Clayton wanted to play for what he considered the best team in the country and wanted to go to a place where he knew winning was expected. Besides, just about everyone in his family went to Texas, except his mom. She went to that school that wears maroon up the road, but Clayton thinks he just may have converted her so don't be surprised if you catch her wearing burnt orange proudly in the stands.
C is for Competitor
Clayton views himself as a strong competitor, much like his favorite Major League player, Roger Clemens. He feels that the best aspect of the game is the competitiveness he has. When he pitches it is with confidence and he is all about working hard, learning and building off his performance. Much like Mr. Clemens, Clayton's efforts have positioned him as an intimidating figure on the mound for the Longhorns in 2005.
D is for Dentist
Growing up, this right-hander wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a dentist. Later on, Clayton realized that he may not have desire to attend school for as long as he would have to in order to enter that profession. Even though it doesn't look like we will be seeing the name Dr. Clayton Stewart, DDS anytime soon, Clayton does admire his dad for pursuing a career that takes a lot of dedication.
E is for Eats, good eats that is
One thing Clayton loves about the city of Austin is the countless number of restaurants that serve so many of the types of the food he loves. To that end, he has found his own little favorite. It's a little Mexican restaurant on the east side of 6th street. There he says you can always get fast service and good food. Don't worry Clayton, I won't give out the name and ruin your secret.
F is for Football
This Texas pitcher was a versatile athlete in high school and played several sports including football. He competed against fellow pitcher and teammate J. Brent Cox in District 24-4A as a quarterback and led the district in yards, touchdowns and sadly interceptions. We won't hold that last one against him.
G is for Grandparents
The first thing Clayton does when he visits his hometown of Angleton, Texas, is visit his grandparents. Clayton says that grandma is a great cook and always fixes him something to eat and that his grandpa will usually tell him some jokes. You can't beat that - a good meal to go along with some entertainment sounds like a great combination to me.
H is for Hidden Talent
Not only can this right-hander retire opposing batters, but after a lot of practice and watching his step dad, Clayton can also produce spit bubbles on his tongue. Wait, that's not all! After he makes the bubble, he can then gently blow it to where it floats off into the air. How's that for a hidden talent.
I is for Inspiration
Clayton views his family as his inspiration. He has two sets, including stepparents, and all of them have been a constant support system for him. You will find the four at every weekend series, home or away. They have been a positive force throughout Clayton's entire life and he hopes that he can one day be as happy as they are.
J is for Jokes
You want to make this Texas pitcher laugh, try telling him a good joke. Clayton says that is the one thing that will usually crack him up. That or someone just acting silly. He tells us that a good source to check out would be fellow teammate, pitcher and roommate Adrian Alaniz.
K is for King Ranch
Clayton's white 2004 F250 King Ranch edition Ford truck is his pride and joy. It is the one thing that Clayton cannot live without. Coming from a small town and working cattle with his dad, I'd say it is a perfect fit.
L is for Latin
Latin was the foreign language of choice for Clayton in high school.
M is for Music
You won't hear the rhymes of 50 Cent or the heavy metal of Metallica coming out of the speakers of this Texas pitcher's truck. Being a good ol'boy, Clayton's music of choice is country, specifically the music produced from Texas songwriters like Willie Nelson, Cory Morrow and Pat Green.
N is for Nice to Know You
Warming up on the mound, Clayton gets pumped up with the words from Incubus' song "Nice to Know You". An appropriate phrase to ring in the ears of the batters he retires if you ask me. Clayton also got a little help on picking out the song from his girlfriend, which adds a personal touch to the song.
O is for Overwhelming
When he first arrived in Austin and at Texas, Clayton felt overwhelmed and was worried about the school and city swallowing him up. Coach (Augie) Garrido explained to Clayton that once he found his way around and understood his role on the team, things would become smaller. Clayton says his coach could not have been more right. Now, he loves the city as well as the campus and enjoys exploring all they have to offer.
P is for Patience
Last year, Clayton's role on the tam was significantly less than what it is this year. He says that learning to be patient and wait his turn was one of the hardest things he has ever had to do in his career. He admits though that it has taught him to work even harder and go out and show what he is made of each and every time, never giving less than 110 percent.
Q is for Quintessential Example
With the pickup truck, working on a cattle farm and listening to country music, Clayton is the quintessential Texan and proud of it. He enjoys going home and feeding the cows with his dad and living in the small town atmosphere. Although city life is something he thinks everyone should experience, he says it feels good be able to go back to where he came from.
R is for Ruth's Chris
This Texas pitcher's meal of choice is a steak cooked medium-well. His favorite place to get such a meal is Ruth's Chris Steakhouse. While it's an indulgence to dine at such an establishment, Clayton says that the one time you actually get to go is worth the trip.
S if for Seven
Lucky number seven that is. Clayton wears the number 47 simply because it has the number seven in it. He wore the number 17 all through high school and junior college but upon arriving at Texas, upperclassman at the time, J.P. Howell had the number. This year, the team did not order a big enough size in the No. 17 jersey for him to get it back. It doesn't matter to Clayton though, as long as the number on his back has a seven in it, he is just fine.
T is for T-Mac
If Clayton could trade places with anyone in the world, it would be Houston's Tracy McGrady. He admires the explosiveness the NBA star as a player and envies his ability to jump and shoot as well as he does. Although Clayton has the height, he admits he does not have the ups to dunk the ball - still, he would love to know what that is like, even for just a day.
U if for Usual Routine
This Texas pitcher has a usual game-time routine. Before the game, Clayton will say a prayer and then after the first few innings, you will find him in the bullpen going through a stretching regimen set up by Texas trainers.
V is for Valuable Knowledge
Clayton thinks that if he got the chance to sit down him former president, George Bush or the current leader of the free world, his son George W. Bush, he would be able to gain some valuable knowledge of how to be successful. Both being Texas men, Clayton thinks he would have a connection to them that would allow him learn a lot while picking up some interesting facts along the way.
W is for World Series
It's simple - Clayton wants what the rest of his team wants, a National Championship and there is only one way to attain that goal, by making it to the College World Series. All efforts are focused on reaching this common goal and this Texas pitcher will contribute as much as he can to ensure that goal is met.
X is for X-perience
Coming to Austin was an eye-opener in itself, but walking into his first class and learning about hermaphrodites for the first time through an interesting presentation made Clayton realize that he was not in Angleton anymore. It was an experience he will never forget and one that opened his eyes to all of the new experiences he was sure to have at UT.
Y is for Your Secretary for a Day
Clayton's step dad is a lawyer. Growing up, Clayton would do all kinds of odd jobs for him in and around his office. He would work on the lawn, file documents and all sorts of other tasks. The most interesting job of all was the day he had to sit in for his step dad's receptionist. Clayton says he has never been pulled in so many different directions or looked at with such weird expressions as when he filled that role. Needless to say, it was a one-time deal.
Z is for Zealous
Enthusiastic, passionate and zealous are all words that can describe the way Clayton feels about the game of baseball. Whether he is playing, watching or learning. Since tee ball, the game of baseball is one of the things he cannot live without. According to this Texas pitcher, there is no better feeling in the world besides that of winning a baseball game.
