Matthew McConaughey releases touching statement on Edith Royal's passing
Edith Royal, the wife of former Texas head coach Darrell Royal, died on Monday at 98, according to a report from the Austin American-Statesman.
From one influential figure on the 40 Acres to another, Matthew McConaughey acknowledged Mrs. Royal as the rock that held down Coach Royal during her time in Austin. She was married to the longtime head coach for nearly seven deades.
“One of the strongest women I’ve ever met moved on this morning,” McConaughey tweeted alongside a photo of him with Mrs. Royal. “You will be missed Edith but more importantly, you will be remembered.
After her husband experienced the effects of Alzheimers before his death, Edith worked closely with the Darrell K Royal Research Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease. Together, the two had three children. They are survived by a lone son, Sammy Mack Royal.
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Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian commented on the passing of Edith during his media availability on Monday.
“I did not get to meet Coach Royal, but I got a wonderful video message from Edith when I first got the job here that I still have,” he said. “The impact that they’ve had here, not only at the University of Texas, but in Austin, the impact that Coach Royal had on the game of football itself. The fact that I get to sit in the same chair he did is pretty humbling. You know, it’s definitely an honor. Hopefully, we can go out and play a brand of football that he’d be proud of.”
Darrell Royal, whom the Texas football stadium is named after, died in 2012. He held the UT head coaching position from 1957-76 where he won three national championships leading the Longhorns program. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
Sarkisian was nearly able to add another title to the Longhorns’ ranks last season, as Texas finished the 2023-24 season with a first-time ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Now entering the SEC alongisde Oklahoma in 2024, the Longhorns will look to honor their legacy by taking the league by storm this fall.
Texas kicks off the 2024 regular season against Colorado State on Aug. 31 before gearing up for a top-10 matchup against Michigan on the road in Week 2.