The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Longhorns fathers and sons
06.19.2005 | Baseball
The Longhorns baseball team had an off day at the College World Series on Sunday, June 19 and the players had a chance to spend Father's Day with their families. In the spirit of the day, TexasSports.com caught up with some of the Horns and their dads while on the road in Omaha. The father and son duos were asked these two questions separately:
and this was how they responded ...
The Alaniz's
Emi: "I was supportive but hard. And by hard, I mean I expected a lot out of him. I coached him in baseball since he was four and all the way to high school when I let him loose. If there was one thing I tried to instill in him, it was to be humble. He has responded great to everything I threw at him. It's really been a dream to watch him grow as a ball player and a person."
Adrian: "He was very supportive of everything I did and even with my other two brothers. Both my dad and my mom are very supportive in everything we do."
The Cody's
Phillip: "I think I've been a good sports dad. I really enjoy sports and watching kids play. I think it is a really healthy environment for kids to grow up in. I also think that there are a lot of things to be learned from sports. You get to meet a lot of people, especially a lot of nice moms and dads. I think I am a very fortunate sports dad."
Buck: "He was a very positive influence. He always encouraged me to play with and against the best. The only thing he really pressured me about was competing and doing my best. As long as I did that, it didn't matter if our team won or lost. I think that was what was most important. He was on me about being competitive and about showing a lot of effort, but he was never on me about winning or losing or forcing me to play. His attitude was that as long as I was out there playing that I needed to be out there giving it my best."
The Crouch's
Jim: "Probably more intense than I should have been. Since I played in college, you think you know more than you really do. I wish that I had integrated more fun in it at times than I actually did."
Will: "Intense. Very involved and intense."
The Gilfillan's
Bob: "An active dad. He was in swimming, soccer, baseball and football. I have three boys and I got them all involved in sports at a young age and let them decide which way they wanted to go."
Todd: "I wouldn't be half the sports person I am today if it wasn't for my dad. He would take me to camps and coached me until he turned me over to high school coaches. He has been a huge influence in my life when it comes to sports."
The Hudson's
Bob: "Probably one of the ultimate sports dads because I love sports. I liked to keep him active and out of trouble. As his mentor, I followed him everywhere he went, no matter what sport he played."
Robby: "My dad was my coach for all of the teams I played on. Meanwhile, my mom was always the team mom, so both of my parents were always directly involved with every sport I was in."
The Johnstons
John: "From the time both of my sons (Seth and Johnny) were little, I had a ball in their hands. We actually had a lot of broken furniture in the house until mom got mad enough and threw all of us out. The object early was to have fun, it's not worth playing otherwise. Still, their move from recreation to competition in sports, has been a lot of fun as well."
Seth: "He played football in college and was my coach in baseball, football and soccer while I was growing up."
The Kainers
Ron: "With regard to his baseball development, I think I played a coaching role in his life. I have two other sons and because of that, Carson's been around baseball all his life. I tried to teach him to play hard every game and treat every play as if it were the last. If there was one thing I was most proud of Carson, it's his ability to not get overexcited and keep an even keel about the game. He doesn't let bad calls or bad plays distract him from making the next play."
Carson: "My dad taught me everything I know. I have two older brothers so I was always at the field growing up. My father has been competitive ever since I was young and that was one thing I know I learned from him. He also taught me to do my best in everything I do and never take games for granted. The worst games in my life were the ones I may have taken a play or an at-bat for granted and didn't give my all. I know my dad knows when I could have done better, so I work hard to not let him down."
The McCulloch's
Mike: "Very active. I coached Kyle from the time he was 10 until he was about 15."
Kyle: "He was a good sports dad. He was pretty intense and he usually always talked to me about working hard and staying humble. And like any other dad, he would only get on me when I needed it. He was also one of the best coaches I ever had."
The Peoples'
Larry: "I have five kids and I pushed them all pretty hard. I coached youth baseball for 20 years.
Nick: "He had five kids and he coached all of us in everything. We are a baseball -oriented family and he was a coach for all of us from the time we first touched the ball until we were about 14 years old."
The Stewart's
Charles: "I just enjoy all sports myself. He played everything growing up and he enjoyed all of them, but particularly baseball."
Clayton: "My dad always wanted me to play sports but he never really pushed me into any of them. He has always been supportive of me in everything I do."
The Streets
James: "I coached all of my boys in baseball from little league to high school. Since I played sports my whole life, it was kind of natural. I loved it and it was a lot of fun."
Jordon: "He was always really involved, which was nice. He coached all of us in Little League, from Huston to Hanson."
The Stubbs
Rick: "Very active. I grew up in athletics and sports were always important in our house. We started at a very early age with Drew going to ball games with me. I used to be a coach and actually coached Drew in baseball as he was growing up. He would play other sports in school, but I was his baseball coach."
Drew: "My father has been instrumental in kicking off my sports career. He introduced me to everything I play and I give all the credit to him on getting me started and keeping me going. He introduced me to baseball, football and basketball. Since he ran track in college, that also became a sport of mine. My dad is extremely competitive and hates to lose. He's still that way today. I think he instilled a lot of that in me."
The Teagarden's
Bruce: "I would say that I was very supportive."
Taylor: "He was always there for me and supported me in whatever I chose to do. He was one of those dads that was behind me in everything and just wanted me to be happy."
What does it mean to be here in Omaha for Father's Day (and watching your son play in the College World Series)?
The Alaniz's
Emi: "I never really thought about Father's Day coinciding with the College World Series, but it's really been a nice gift to watch him here. I just wanted him to do well regardless of the outcome. He's been a big trooper out there and it was great to see him pitch yesterday, but we're not through."
Adrian: "It means the world to me. This is my first time here in Omaha and I am glad that he could be a part of this on Father's Day. I know that it means a lot to all of the families to be here. It's very exciting to have everyone together."
The Cody's
Phillip: "It means a lot because I think that The University of Texas has given Buck a great opportunity. I also think that the success he's had is due to the tremendous support he has received here at UT. It means a lot to be back at the College World Series for a fourth straight year and for him to now be a senior."
Buck: "I think it is great. It is a big sacrifice for him to be up here, which means a lot to me. I am sure that he would say that spending Father's Day with your son at the College World Series is about as good a way you can spend it. It is great to have him here along with the rest of my family. I am very excited and I hope we do well for my dad and for all of the other dads."
The Crouch's
Jim: "For me, it's unbelievable since I played in Omaha for Texas in both 1969 and 1970. I had an experience here as a player and now as a father, it doesn't get much better than that."
Will: "It's great. A memory I will have for a long time and will always look back on."
The Gilfillan's
Bob: "It's a dream come true. It is a great opportunity for a father to be able to watch his son at this level of play."
Todd: "It is a huge because it has been a dream of mine to come here ever since I was a little boy. Having my dad here makes this experience that must greater because I get to share this experience with him."
The Hudson's
Bob: "It is a very special moment. It is his senior year in college and he is playing for one of the best baseball programs in the nation. His mother and I thought it was a special occasion, so we made sure to be here. We also came out here last year, but this is a little more special for us because it is his senior year."
Robby: "It is unexplainable because having him as my coach since I was a little kid through high school meant a lot. He was always able to see all of my games, but here at the College World Series, he can see me at another level and from a different perspective. It means so much more that he is able to have this experience not only right now, but also on Father's Day."
The Johnstons
John: "It's the same for me as it is for Seth. It's a dream come true to have Seth playing in Omaha for a fourth straight year and have both of my sons here at the same time. There is no better present that I could ever ask for. They are my life."
Seth: "Last year, we actually played on Father's Day, but this season we are able to spend a little time with our families, which is great. Actually, this year, my father said I already gave him his Father's Day present with the home run I hit against Baylor."
The Kainers
Ron: "It's been great to see him participate in the College World Series two years in a row. As a father watching him play through his entire life, it's really a dream to see him playing among the best in the country."
Carson: "It means the world to me to have my dad here. I'd love to win a national title for him. He played in the NAIA Tournament back in his college days and came in second once and third twice, but never won the whole thing. After all the hard work he's put in in teaching me the game, I think it would be a great gift for him to see us win here in Omaha. Being Father's Day today, I think it's appropriate to have my family celebrate it here in baseball heaven."
The McCulloch's
Mike: "It is very meaningful to me because from very early on, he loved baseball. To see him achieve success at this level has tremendous meaning for me."
Kyle: "It means a lot to me to have him here supporting me. He is my biggest fan."
The Peoples'
Larry: "It is a dream come true. I spent a lot of time on the baseball field with my kids, especially because I coached youth baseball for 20 years, and this is a very special event. I am proud of Nick and the team for making it here."
Just an aside: We have five kids (four boys and one girl), and they all played baseball. When Nick was seven years old and it was time to play fall baseball, I asked him if he wanted to play. He said, 'No, I want to bowl.' I asked him, 'Why do want to bowl?' and he said, 'Well dad, they have bigger trophies.'"
Nick: "It is really special for me because my dad doesn't really get to come to a lot of the home games because he works a lot. As a matter of fact, I can't remember the last time he traveled anywhere. So for him to be able to come and experience this means a lot to me. I am really glad he could be here."
The Stewart's
Charles: "It is probably the most exciting event that we have been to in his career."
Clayton: "It's awesome. I think that it's a great experience to be at the College World Series and an even greater experience to have my dad, as well as the rest of my family, here because they have always been there for me throughout my career. At this big stage, I really want them here and I am glad that they were able to come."
The Street's
James: "Actually, Tommy Harmon and I played in the College World Series three years in a row. So to come back and see Huston play and now to have Jordon here is really neat. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have this opportunity."
Jordon: "It is really nice to have him here in the stands watching and supporting me. It is great because I get to talk to him about the games afterwards and it's also great just spending time with him."
The Stubbs
Rick: "Actually, it is kind of ironic because Drew and I would watch the World Series when he was younger. We have been Texas fans all of our lives so when Texas would play and I would be working, he would call me and keep me updated on how they were doing. We made a promise one day when he was about nine or 10 years old that we were going to come to the College World Series one day and watch it. Still, we had no idea that we would actually get to come up and participate in it. Last season was a tremendous thrill and being able to come two years in a row is really unbelievable."
Drew: "It's very special to have my entire my family out here in Omaha. Even though it is Father's Day, I think it's also special to have many of my family and friends out here to share in the experience. I won't soon forget this College World Series."
The Teagarden's
Bruce: "It means everything to me even though we have done it for three years. I mean, doing things with my son are the most important things in my life."
Taylor: "Like dad, this means everything to me. He is one of the reasons that I am here today. He helped me learn the most important things while growing up, like working hard and being responsible, which have kept me passionate about the game and helped me achieve what I have so far. It is a reward for both of us to be able share this time together at the College World Series."
