Swim Talk A2B with Dana Abbott and Bob Button Dana Abbott and Bob Button

Former UT swimmer and now GM of famed Camp Longhorn in Burnet, Texas, Bill Robertson shares stories about his swimming career, his mom and dad, and the creation of legendary CAMP LONGHORN, one of the many creations of his father, "Tex" Robertson, the first swim coach at The University of Texas, also known as "the father of Texas swimming".

A fascinating book about Tex, written by his grandson, is called simply "TEX: The Father of Texas Swimming", and details can be found at the end of this description.

Bill was a sophomore on Eddie Reese's first team at Texas, and during his 3 years under Reese, the team finished at NCAAs in a tie for 21st, 2nd, and was NCAA Champions the third year. Quite a climb, and Bill shares some fascinating stories about that and a myriad of other topics.

Sit back and have a listen!

Timeline:

00:00 – Disclaimer & banter

01:40 – Introducing Camp Longhorn’s Bill Robertson

03:18 – Swimming with Tex Robertson

05:03 – HOF:  How it started

10:15 – HOF:  How it’s going

11:28 – Missing Sam Kendricks

12:28 – Legendary Camp Longhorn

14:55 – Pat Hudson Robertson

16:53 – Coming back for more

18:08 – Highland Lakes Challenge

19:20 – Tex:  The Father of Texas Swimming

21:15 – The Who’s Who of swimming coaches

22:55 – Steve Hamm

24:37 – Dr. Steve Montgomery & Bob Leland

25:15 – High school invites in Burnet

26:53 – Bill Rob’s smooth freestyle

27:52 – Carol Borgmann Robertson

29:05 – More Camp Longhorn

33:20 – Ninth Year Ring

34:27 – Tex flies the staff to NCAA’s

35:30 – Everybody’s famous at camp

36:56 – KP = Kitchen Patrol

39:50 – More on Pat

41:14 – Splash Magazine & TAGS

41:37 – Emmett Hines

42:32 – Team building & The Mile

44:04 – The Blob

48:50 – Aqua-Carnivals

51:31 – Gregory Gym to Texas Swim Center

52:43 – Patterson to Reese

55:43 – Great coaches & teammates

57:47 – Chris Del Conte (CDC)

58:28 – Reese to Bowman

59:59 – Wrapping it up



Links to topics mentioned:

"TEX: The Father of Texas Swimming", is available on Amazon and in many online and brick/mortar bookstores:

https://www.amazon.com/Tex-Father-Swimming-Ross-Lucksinger/dp/1492214922



CAMP LONGHORN

Behind the scenes at TCU with the highly entertaining and successful coach of Texas Christian University for 38 years, Richard Sybesma. More discussion topics than you could shake a Navy SEAL telephone pole at! See Bob's timeline below (and the links that follow the timeline, mentioned in this eye-opening episode) for a wide-ranging chronicle of this Horned Frog mentor and cheerleader.



Email Swim Talk A2B: swimtalk@outlook.com



Timeline:

00:00– Disclaimer & banter

01:47– Introducing TCU’s Richard Sybesma

02:55– Getting started Andrews, Texas

05:23– On to Texas Tech

07:58– Coaching start in Monahans

09:22– TCU:  Right Place/Right Time

11:37– Sticking with the Horned Frogs

13:15– Remembering the AIAW years

15:25– ’96 Atlanta w/Walter Soza

16:22– ’02 Salt Lake City torch runner

17:05– Conference USA All-Sport COTY

18:06– Nathan Lin signing at TCU

19:18– Facility:  Doing more with less

20:24– Into the Big XII

21:15– New facility on the horizon?

22:04– It can be done:  Forest Park Pool

24:01– Fort Worth Swimming Frogs

26:54– Balmorhea State Park Pool

29:20– International travel & connections

32:11– Richard’s Coaching Family Tree

35:30– Dana’s UT assistant years

37:52– Look like an athlete!

38:40– Sneaking fun into the work & travel

41:15– Altitude/Attitude

42:45– Navy SEAL Training

44:18– Lessons & water safety

46:35– Retirement = Work

48:13 – Wrapping it up



Link to Nathan Lin YouTube video:

https://youtu.be/5KRqeDzwNP4?si=7sjo1z7vfek2iIqb



"Former TCU Swim Coach Richard Sybesma Teaches Underserved Kids How to Swim":

https://fwtx.com/news/features/former-tcu-swim-coach-richard-sybesma-teaches-underserved-ki/



"Program Helps Kids In and Out of Pool" (2015)

https://gofrogs.com/news/2015/7/28/Program_Helps_Kids_In_and_Out_of_Pool

Continuing to rebuild and improve the women-only team for the Indiana State Sycamores (the "Fighting Trees"), Josh shares his story and the current state of affairs at the mighty state school in Terre Haute.

Mentions and links:

Indiana State Swimming

https://gosycamores.com/sports/womens-swimming-and-diving



Email Coach Josh Christensen

Joshua.Christensen@indstate.edu



3S Super Sport Systems

https://supersportsystems.com/



Order Sycamore Swimming apparel HERE:

https://shop.gosycamores.com/collections/swimming-diving



Podcast timeline:

00:00 – Disclaimer & banter

01:53 – ASCA plug

02:21 – Introducing ISU’s Josh Christensen

02:40 – Sycamore roundball

04:25 – Josh’s start in the sport

06:33 – Any adjustments from D-II to D-I?

07:48 – Missouri Valley Conference

09:38 – Where does ISU recruit?

11:22 – Facilities

13:05 – Will the men’s program return?

14:01 – Fundraising & NIL

14:56 – Local high schools & clubs

16:17 – Rose-Hulman brainiacs

16:46 – Pros & Cons of men/women

20:07 – Early season

20:51 – Super Sport Systems (3S)

26:00 – Building the roster

29:33 – ISU & academics

30:50 – Supporting the program

34:30 – Wrapping it up

We visited with former UT All American and team captain Darrell Fick (UT Class of 1978) on his background, UT experience, and his coaching path from Alief ISD to First Colony, to women's coach at USC working alongside Peter Daland. Much information about the NIL and the Texas One Fund, and how YOU can help your alma mater or favorite swimming program.

Timeline courtesy of Texas Swimming:

00:00 – Disclaimer & limited banter

01:48 – Eddie Reese Audiobook excerpts

02:38 – New Chuck Warner Books Offer

04:04 – Introducing Darrell Fick

04:22 – Darrell’s start in swimming

05:52 – Texas years & new pool

07:56 – Coaching start in Alief

09:00 – First Colony

10:50 – Love of the sport

11:55 – Texas Senior Circuit

14:50 – NIL & Texas One Fund

19:59 – Agent involvement

22:48 – NIL in high school

26:34 – Coaching Deals

27:23 – Athlete Deals

28:10 – Swim Center bulkhead

29:23 –Texas One Fund & rule changes

31:22 – Branding & Open Doors

33:30 – Swimnerd pace clocks

34:23 – HOKA shoes

36:26 – Katy Tigers & summer leagues

37:31 – Eddie’s successor?

38:20 – Working around schedules

39:25 – NIL compliance

40:42 – Moving to the SEC

42:32 – Conference meet emphasis

44:44 – NCAA Portal & free agency

46:22 – RIP NCAA?

48:55 – Getting the 400 IM home

50:51 – Wrapping it up

51:19 – Support your school’s fund

Jennifer LaMont became ASCA CEO in 2021, swam her HS years in Ohio for Walnut Hills HS, and club at the Cincinnati Marlins under Denny Pursley (a former guest on SwimTalk) and Frank Busch before heading west to become a USC Trojan. She was a HS state champion at WHHS, and a collegiate All American at USC. Her leadership at ASCA is taking the coaching organization in new and expanded directions, and we think to great heights. You WILL enjoy this visit with Jennifer LaMont!

Former head coach at Tulane, Ohio, and NC State, as well as assistant to Bob Boettner at Clemson and the legendary Eddie Reese at Texas, veteran NCAA coach Scott Hammond covers a wide-ranging cornucopia of topics with our stalwart hosts, from his beginning days as a young multi-sport athlete to his storied NCAA coaching career. Check the timeline below and prepare to be wowed with his experience and star-studded tales. His tongue-in-cheek goal for this episode was to be better than his close friend, Chuck Warner ("America's Best Swimming Author"). Let us know what you think at swimtalk@outlook.com


00:00 - Disclaimer & the usual banter  

01:27 - The Jay Cafe in Needville, Texas  

01:45 - Is this thing on?  

02:26 - RIP John Pittington  

02:42 - Introducing Scott Hammond  

04:15 - How Scott got into our sport  

06:35 - Any hope for Clemson reboot?  

07:25 - From Clemson to Austin  

09:27 - Orange/White Meets  

11:25 - Then & Now

16:06 - RIP Don Easterling  

17:58 - Braden Holloway  

23:14 - Chuck Raburn, Richard Sybesma, & Beverly Ball  

24:54 - Racquetball & more with Eddie Reese  

28:11 - Impact of coaches  

29:57 - Future of conferences  

31:55 - Transfer Portal & NIL  

34:47 - Recruiting, poaching, and foreign athletes  

37:49 - Life as a Texas assistant coach  

45:30 - H&L Swim Academy  

47:17 - Glenn Patton  

48:25 - RIP Sam Freas  

49:47 - Katy's Sheila Reeves  

51:30 - Coaching over the decades  

54:00 - Sprint Championship  

55:40 - Equipment builders  

57:10 - What's in a name?  

59:52 - Closing it out