When
Mack Brown arrived at The University of Texas, he was determined
to get the Longhorn community's emotions stirring. Coach
Brown met with former players and spoke to fans in an attempt
to bolster the support and passion, and regenerate the great
tradition of Texas football.
Fortunately,
Coach Brown's hopeful voice inspired the mind of one of
The University's most talented Exes. Ragan Gennusa, a former
UT football player under Coach Darrell Royal, saw the vision
of Brown's dream, and with it, saw an opportunity to expose
that dream to the rest of the Longhorn population. He crafted
a series of three paintings, each a unique symbol of the
journey throughout the coaching reign of Mack Brown.
"Ragan
is the ultimate Texan," Brown said. "He was a
great high school player in our state, and then an outstanding
player for Coach Royal in the secondary. When we first got
here, everybody started talking about this renowned Western
painter. I asked Ragan to come over, and he said that we
needed to stir up some excitement around our football program."
Longhorn Storm
Gennusa
created the first painting, entitled "Longhorn Storm,"
to symbolize the beginning of the Mack Brown era at Texas.
In it, the charging longhorns begin to stir the dust beneath
their hooves as a storm develops in the distance, portraying
the excitement the program would build during this new time.
The second painting, entitled "The Climb to the Top,"
depicts the longhorns working their way up a mountainside,
just as the Texas football team was working its way up in
the national rankings.
The Climb to the Top
After
the Rose Bowl, it was finally time for Gennusa to pick up
his brush and capture the essence of victory - victory in
a game, victory in a season, a victory to go down in history
and begin a new era of Longhorn football. The ultimate goal
had been achieved and the vision of a special coach became
reality.
"It
is a dream for all of us at The University of Texas to be
able to not only play for the National Championship, but
also to win it," Brown said. "The fact that Ragan
thought it was possible was a great motivator for us."
The
final painting was in fact called, "Dawn of a New Longhorn
Era," and was one of grace and achievement. The Longhorn
proudly surveys the plain below as the school returns to
its position as National Champion.
Dawn of a New Longhorn Era
"I
really believed that UT would win the National Championship
because Coach Brown works incredibly hard," Gennusa
recalled. "He surrounds himself with great people,
he does what he says he'll do, and he is a sincere person
with the remarkable ability to make real friendships with
anyone."
The
premiere level of talent that streams through the football
program at The University of Texas is a testament to Brown
and his staff, and the relationships among Texas fans, players,
coaches and Exes are a treasure to the Longhorn community.
"It
has been a real pleasure and so rewarding to be able to
do a little something for The University and also to work
with Coach Brown and Coach Royal and everyone that was involved,"
beamed Gennusa.
"DAWN
OF A NEW LONGHORN ERA"
by Ragan Gennusa
A
"Longhorn Storm" rose up in the sky,
As they started their drive, their goals set high.
Through
adversity and criticism, they just wouldn't stop,
As they continued their journey, their "Climb to the
Top."
Over
the last steep part of their journey they came,
Focused on their goals, they took dead aim.
Upward
towards the summit, they kept on the move,
After all, they all had something to prove.
And
they reached their goals, in a perfect year,
At the top stood the champion longhorn steer.
As
their tradition becomes history, the view is much clearer,
This is the "Dawn of a New Longhorn Era."
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