Spanky+Stephens HOH Trainer.jpg — SPANKY STEPHENS (Athletic Trainer 1970-1999)

Spanky’s podcast is below:

SPANKY STEPHENS LONGHORN TRAINER FROM 1967- 1999 AND A HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEE

The photo to the right was taken in 1994 when Spanky was inducted into the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame. It is a significant photo because there are no other photos I know of that capture all four head coaches at one event. Spanky says, “ All were great men in their own way.” “ Texas Longhorn Coaches, players, Athletic Trainers, and staff members were blessed to either play or work for them.” “These four coaches set standards of winning that UT is still trying to restore.” All Longhorns should be proud of our heritage and the difficult path we have overcome, and we should expect those playing sports now to do the same. It is an honor and privilege to wear the Burnt Orange and White”. Hook’em” Spanky Stephens.

Spanky Stephens was instrumental in convincing Coach Akers to include student managers and student trainers in the T-ring ceremony . Coach Akers thought it was such a good idea that he decided to make the T-ring presentation to managers and trainers retroactive.

HERE IS PART OF SPANKY’S PUBLISHED CAREER BIO.

Associated with the University of Texas athletic teams for over 30 years, Stephens began his career as a student trainer in 1967. In 1970 he assumed full-time duties as assistant to then-head trainer Frank Medina. After Medina suffered a stroke in 1978, Stephens took over duties of head trainer and continued in that role until he retired in January 2000. While at Texas, he supervised or worked directly with all sports, working with hundreds of athletes, five head football coaches, five head basketball coaches, and other sports coaches. He worked with nine Longhorn teams that won national championships. Spanky also was responsible for an active student program that sent numerous qualified trainers into high school and college positions. Stephens has received numerous national and regional honors, including being selected to the All-American Football Foundation Hall of Honor, the Southwest Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, and induction into the 2002 Bellville High School Hall of Fame.

Spanky says, "for 33 years I worked for the finest university in the world" "I know where my heart is, and I know I bleed Burnt Orange." As trainer, Spanky saw thousands of games in football, basketball, and baseball. He attended 33 Texas Relays and numerous College World Series. In fact, In 1975, Omaha's Mayor made Coach Gus, Bethea, and Spanky honorary citizens of Omaha. He was there during some of the most significant years for the Longhorns in Track, football, baseball, and tennis Including the best college Tennis Tournament with the best 64 tennis players, and hosting the USA-Russian Track meet

THE STORY OF THE BILLY DISCH SIGN THAT SAID. "THE WINNING TRADITION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WILL NOT BE ENTRUSTED TO THE TIMID OR THE WEAK" AS TOLD BY SPANKY STEPHENS.

Spanky says, "in 1975, when the Longhorn baseball team moved from the old baseball field to Disch Falk, I found a sign back in an old storeroom in the old field where the ground keepers keep their rakes, lime to line the field, and mowers." " I took it with me and placed it in the new baseball locker room. Coach Bibb Falk( 1940-1967), the baseball coach who replaced Billy Disch (1911- 1939), came by for a tour and what a hilarious story that is." "Bibb Falk disliked everything about the new baseball facility - locker room, coaches office, and showers, but when he saw the Billy Disch sign hanging in the new baseball facility, he raved about it."

"So, three days later, Falk brings 3 of his cronies down to show them the new facility. I was taken back. Instead of voicing displeasure about the new baseball facility, he was raving about the great facility, but his proudest moment of the tour was the sign. He told them his story and reflected on the special memories of a special time in his life, and he was happy. "

THE CONCUSSION BLOG - NATASHA'S LAW AND SPANKY STEPHENS

In July 2001, Michael "Spanky" Stephens became the Executive Director for the Texas State Athletic Trainers Association after working 33 years at the University of Texas and the last 22 as the Head Athletic Trainer. Spanky served 22 years on the Governor appointed Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers and has served on numerous committees and focus groups within the NATA and State Government.

David Andersons says, “Spanky became my client at HillCo during my first year with the lobby firm, 2003. His work on the concussion legislation, Natasha’s Law, is a textbook case of how to take a good idea and make it the law. The bill’s author was a first-term member from Amarillo, Four Price. That bill became the model for many other state laws.

Spanky has spent years setting concussion protocols to protect the high school athletes and provide the best health care for the players. His work continues and the projects he is involved will continue to make the health care for young athletes better.

Anytime someone from an outside organization tries to change a system such as the UIL that organization is perceived as a threat. It took Spanky’s organization a while to convince the UIL and the High School coaches Association that the Texas State Athletic Trainers Associations was an advocate not a threat to their sports, but the mission was accomplished.

Spanky Stephens was responsible for assembling the professionals to write Natasha’s Law, Spanky says “many do not realize that if a student continues to play with a concussion and receives a second head injury, there is a greater chance of severe brain damage or even death. “

“Natasha’s Law is just the beginning,” Stephens said, “and it has stimulated the need for more research."