THE SPRING TIME often reminds me of my law school years in the mid 1970s in Austin at the University of Texas. The school is located near the University of Texas baseball field. The brand new Disch-Faulk Field opened while I was there, and it was state of the art when it was built. Sitting just east of Interstate 35, it was a great place to see a ball game.

As the spring would progress, law students and main campus students would trek over to the baseball field to watch the UT Longhorn baseball team, coached by Cliff Gustafson. The UT baseball team was a perennial powerhouse, so they always put on a good show, and won virtually every game.

THERE WAS an ad hoc group of 50 to one hundred fans who would always sit right above the opponent’s dugout. They were called “the Wild Bunch.” Their goal was let the opposing team hear them and be painfully aware of their antics. If an opposing player in the on-deck circle was swinging his bat rhythmically, they would shout “whoosh,” with each swing. It had a way of making those players aware of their actions and self conscious about them.

Sometimes if the opposing pitcher would start walking around the mound to collect his thoughts, they would start chanting with each step “hump, hump, hump.” It was rude, but it was also very funny.

When the opposing pitcher was pulled from the game, they would all stand up, right behind the opposing dugout, and applaud as the pitcher walked to the dugout. It was audacious and mean spirited, but we all sure got a kick of watching those antics.

Former University of Texas regent Frank Erwin liked to come watch the UT baseball games in those days. Austin’s premier entertainment venue, the Erwin Center, is named after him. Frank was a legend for many things, and drinking booze to excess was one of them. He was known to party a little too hearty.

THE WILD BUNCH loved to interact with Frank Erwin. They had a running gag when Frank was in attendance. Whenever the UT baseball announcer would say “well, it’s the bottom of the fifth,” the Wild Bunch would stand up and start taunting Frank. As they gestured drinking a fifth of liquor, they would yell “hey Frank, it’s the bottom of the fifth!” Everyone, including Frank, would laugh riotously, just like clockwork.

One time Frank wandered over to the Wild Bunch with a big bag, and started handing out hamburgers. He had bought a bunch of the burgers, just to give to the Wild Bunch.

That was over 30 years ago. I do not keep track of UT baseball any more and haven’t in a long time. I have no idea if there is still a Wild Bunch, but if there is, I hope they still have good natured, but not hateful, fun. Those guys rode opposing teams, but there was no meanness in what they did. It was just a bunch of young college guys making cat calls and being silly. Those were fun, carefree days and the goofiness of the Wild Bunch helped keep it that way.

© 2009, Pappy Moore, All Rights Reserved.

Pappy Moore is a humorist, a native son of East Texas who still makes the piney woods his home.

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