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DARRELL ROYAL - INDUCTEE #38

hall of fame fast fact:

Darrell Royal still holds Oklahoma records for career interceptions with 17 and longest punt return at 96 yards.

Darrell Royal

Darrell Royal was an all-state quarterback at Hollis, Oklahoma, leading the Tigers to an undefeated 1942 season.

Royal enlisted in the Army Air Corps and later went on to play for the Sooners. He started three seasons for the Sooners. Royal was moved to quarterback in 1949 and led OU to an undefeated season and a 35-0 win over LSU in the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma finished No. 2 in the nation.

He then began a nomadic coaching career and landed at the University of Texas in 1957, which had a 1-9 record the previous year. Royal added discipline, toughness, and organization to a program that had none.

In his first season, Texas was second in the SWC and defeated four ranked teams. In 1959, Texas tied for the conference title. In 1962, Royal won his first SWC crown. That set the stage for the 11-0 1963 national champions, the first of three titles under Royal. Later came a 30 game winning streak and a triple-option offensive attack that revolutionized college football.

Royal compiled a 167-45-5 record.