Kirk Bohls
3rd And Long
By Mark Blaudschun
When Kirk Bohls' departure from the Austin American-Statesman hit social media earlier this summer, the industry took notice he was jump-starting his career at a time when others would have been headed for retirement at the age of 73.
As we prepare for the start of the Southeastern Conference Media Days today in downtown Dallas at the Omni Hotel, Bohls will be there chronicling Texas' first season in the SEC with a new paper, the Houston Chornicle. In these parts, especially in the 512 area code, it is going to take some getting used to his switch of employers. Nevertheless, he has just changed the direction of his award-winning career while basically getting a long-term extension.
When the story first poppe there was confusion about this highly unusual move. Some on social media believed Kirk was moving to Houston and would be covering the Houston Cougars. Well, they said, he will still be in the same conference (Big 12). But he wasn't leaving the Longhorns' beat, not by a longshot. And in many ways it promised he would be a thorn in his old paper's side by breaking stories under their noses.
In terms of journalism and a connection with a fan base, Bohls has always been all about Texas, but not in a rooting way.
Over the years, if Kirk didn't know about it, it didn't happen. And if he didn't like it, it was probably a mistake.
Bohls has never shown it much, but he is as much UT as Bevo.
He grew up 30 miles outside of Austin with Texas roots in is family.
How deep were those roots?
Consider this.
In high school, Bohls was a better than average student, an excellent student.
His teachers knew his Longhorn loyalty, but they wanted him to test the waters outside of the state.
He did, applying to what are two of the most highly regarded academic, if not the highest, on the East and West Coasts--Harvard and Stanford, respectively.
He was accepted by both schools--and in the fall of 1969 enrolled at the University of Texas.
Four years later, he had his degree, knew he wanted to work in newspapers and went across town and was hired by the Statesman.
Until this summer, he never left the paper.
"Fifty-one years,'' said Bohls with a laugh the other day. "That is a long time."
Then, in May, current and former sports writers from all over the country had an "Old Goats'' gathering in Dallas. Bohls showed up and was somewhat surprised when the Houston Chronicle, whose sports editor Reid Laymance is a UT ex, dangled a job offer in front of him.
"Do what you do in Austin down here in Houston," was the sales pitch. The only other change Bohls had to make in his life was switch websites where he sent his stories. He could live in Austin, write for the Chronicle.
"I don't know,'' said Bohls. "It's flattering. But I'm too old. I didn't want to start over and re-establish myself."
Somehow, though, this was different.
As Laymance, someone who has known Bohls for more than 40 years explained it: "We just wanted him to do the same thing for us that he had done in Austin for all those years.''
While that was happening, Bohls, as he always does with UT stories, was poking around and learned that the Longhorns were about to fire baseball coach David Pierce after eight seasons.
Bohls knew about it.
He also knew that Texas was focusing on Texas A&M coach Jim Schlossnagle who had the Aggies in the College Baseball World Series final against Tennessee.
The only problem was that Bohls was also in transition, making the final call on switching to the Chronicle.
Houston won that toss up.
Bohls is now an enthusiastic observer of UT's move to the Southeastern Conference.
This is a new challenge for an iconic old goat, a former FWAA President, Bert McGrane Winner and current chairman of the FWAA All-America Commitee. His deeds are many: 51 years in the business is amazing; 51 years at the same paper is extraordinary, and covering Texas sports for 48 years is remarkable.
As Bohls and Texas take on the SEC, there are new challenges. "I wanted to stick around to see this move,'' Bohls said. "I look forward going to new places and I look forward to seeing what happens when the SEC comes to Austin.''
A visit by SEC super power Georgia to Austin in October could be the highlight of this season, which says a lot since it could upstage Texas' annual meeting with Oklahoma in Dallas.
"Looking forward to it,'' Bohls said. "Can't wait.''
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