A football family legacy
PAST PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE
By Robert Brezina
The Brezina brothers stand next to the bronze cougar statue that commemorates their family’s football legacy at the University of Houston. Pictured are Gus, Bob, Bernie, Mark, Steve and Greg.
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n the Legends Plaza in the forecourt of the new football stadium at the University of Houston stands a life-size statue of a magnificent cougar sculpted in bronze. A creation of artist David Nelson, the statue’s onyx marble base is engraved by Lonnie Bryson and tells the story of a legendary Texas football family. At the beginning of the 2015 football season, the University of Houston celebrated the story of the “Brezina boys,” who left an unparalleled legacy at the institution. Former University of Houston head football coach Bill Yeoman, who led the program from 1962 to 1986, summed up the Brezina family’s contribution to college football when he said: “The Brezina name will forever be entwined with the University of Houston and will always be a part of the great American tradition of college football.” I was the first of the Brezina boys to attend the University of Houston. After college and a brief stint in the NFL, I dedicated my career to the field of education, which included serving as president of TASA from 1991 to 1992. So, I was truly honored when TASA invited me to tell our story. Every great story includes wonderful characters, humble beginnings, a bit of tragedy and redemption and a happy ending. The Brezina family is one such story, an amazing story of family and faith. Our dad was a strong man of faith whose intention was to become a priest. However, he had to leave the seminary due to a medical condition before being confirmed; otherwise, I would not be writing this article today. He was born with a hole in his heart, and a long life for him was not expected. Instead of giving up, my dad decided to persevere and make the most out of the life God had given him. He became a loving husband and dedicated father. He loved us and our mother with every ounce of energy he had. He was limited with what he could do to provide for our family, but he persevered always. One of the things I remember most about Dad — besides being a fun-loving, hard-working man — is that he was a true innovator. Ahead of his time, he was acclaimed for his forward-looking methods
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Texas School Business MAY/JUNE 2016
in farming and cultivation. Many times, I am asked what made the Brezina boys so competitive. I just smile and tell the story of how Dad would line us up for a foot race, careful to place us in line based on our abilities so we would all have an equal chance to finish first. It was a 50-yard dash for me, the oldest, and a little less for Steve, the youngest. Those times form my fondest memories of Dad and the competitive yet family-first nature he nurtured in all his children. He passed away at the age of 37 and left his wife, Gertrude (“Gertie”), with eight children — seven boys and one girl. Six months later, our youngest brother, only a little more than a year old, died of polio. It was the year before the vaccine was discovered. Relatives counseled our mother to divide up her children, but she held firm: “God gave me these children and God will keep these children with me.” Faith always has been the guiding light for our family. Whether it was praying every morning and night or before meals, we took time to be thankful for what God had given us and prayed for his continued guidance and blessings. We never missed Mass on Sunday. Our mother led by example, rather than talking a good game. She taught us solid core values. One we heard over and over from her was: “I never quit, and I won’t let you quit.” Through hard work and perseverance, she raised our family. To help feed us and make ends meet, she worked in the school cafeteria, ran a paper route, raised chickens and pigs, and had a milk cow. We knew we’d better get a gallon of milk every morning and evening and complete all of our chores, or we would have to go back and finish the job before we went to bed. We all learned the meaning of hard work and commitment early on in life. All of this laid the framework and enabled us to be a key part of the University of Houston legacy. The Brezina children — Gus, Bernie, Greg, Mark (“Butch”), Steve, Nancy and me — amassed more than 90 varsity letters at Louise High School. All six boys received football scholarships to the University of Houston. We are the only family in American football history to have six brothers play on scholarship for the same major college and under