In Memorium

Darrell Royal, a legend in full: Iconic Texas coach dies, leaving a legacybeyond just football

The legend has passed. Some men leave their mark on the world, others change it completely. Legendary University of Texas football coach Darrell K Royal was one of those latter men.

Royal passed away Tuesday night at the age of 88 after battling Alzheimer's disease.

Texas Longhorns football, of course, is the first thing anyone thinks of when Royal's name is mentioned and his legendary status would be secure if only for that. But Royal was so much more.

He was an outstanding football player in his own right, even if he played for the arch-rival Oklahoma Sooners before coming to coach at Texas. He and his wife Edith were some of Austin's great philanthropists. Royal's support for Texas music — especially the songwriters — was nearly as legendary in those circles as his football prowess.

And his football was the stuff of legends. Besides being known as the hardest working coach and the man who brought the wishbone offense to college football, he was also known as the consummate sportsman. A few accomplishments:

All-American quarterback for Oklahoma
The Texas Longhorns all-time winningest coach with a 167-47-5 record from 1957-76
20 consecutive winning seasons (he never had a losing season)
Three National Championships
11 Southwest Conference titles
Six-time Coach of the Year
Induction into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
Induction into the College Football Hall of Fame
Namesake of Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium

A year ago, the Royals created the Darrell K Royal Research Fund for Alzheimer's Disease. Donations can still be given to that fund.

FIFA fan policies

FIFA to allow disposable water bottles in Houston Stadium for World Cup

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Photo by Peter Dazely Getty Images

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In a change of policy, FIFA will now allow fans to bring their own water bottles to some stadiums during the World Cup, including Reliant Stadium, called "Houston Stadium" during the tournament.

FIFA's decision adjusted a policy that had barred spectators from bringing refillable water bottles into the tournament’s 16 stadiums across North America, including some with limited or no shade from the sun.

FIFA in a social media post said fans will be permitted to bring one, soft, plastic, 20-ounce, factory-sealed, disposable water bottle into any match taking place in the United States or Canada.

Swell stainless steel water bottles Reusable water bottles are a no for World Cup. Greenhead.com

In a video released by FIFA, Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said fans will still not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles “due to safety and security reasons.”

FIFA stated, “for the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”

FIFA’s stadium rules had stated that fans could bring in a transparent, reusable bottle up to one liter, or 33.8 ounces capacity. On Thursday, June 4, the “Stadium Code of Conduct” update was criticized by an English fan group, which argued FIFA had given assurances on carrying empty plastic bottles to fill with freely available water at a tournament where heat and extreme weather are expected to be a factor.

Seven FIFA World Cup matches will be played in Houston. AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They includes Germany vs. Curaçao (June 14), Portugal vs. Congo DR (June 17), Netherlands vs. Sweden (June 20), Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (June 23), and Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (June 26)

The stadium will also host a Round of 32 match (June 29) and one Round of 16 match (July 4).

fifa world cup fifa world cup 2026 water bottles at&t stadium

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