Building the Longhorn Brand with KiKi DeAyala

By Larry Carlson

5/15/2021

Pass rusher deluxe, Kiki DeAyala owns the Longhorn football records most likely to never be broken.  DeAyala, from Houston (Memorial High), played defensive end and was listed at 6-1, 238 for his final season at UT.  His mind-boggling totals of 22.5 sacks in 1982 and 40.5 career sacks (mostly from his junior and senior seasons) are comparable to Joe DiMaggio's untouchable 56-game hitting streak.  These kinds of marks conjure up visions of an eight-flat 100-meters or a runningback with a 6,000-yard season. 

The man responsible works happily and resides by the saltwater in Rockport, Texas but still calls Houston "home."  DeAyala is the proud father of three grown children.  Natalie, Michael and Christian hold degrees from Alabama, Ohio U and Texas A&M, respectively.  And Kiki labels his granddaughter, Margot (daughter of Natalie and husband, Andrew) as "too much fun!"

The Sultan of Sacks handled TLSN writer Larry Carlson's questions as easily as he shucked blockers, back in the day.

TLSN: Let's get right to it. In an era of not that much passing (compared to the ensuing four decades), what was your biggest key to sacking so many QBs?

Kiki:  I was a big into studying opponent game films,  situational tendencies, weight distribution, down and distance. It certainly helps having talented teammates doing their job, as well.

TLSN: Is there a "kill shot" sack or big hit that still makes you smile?

Kiki:  The final sack of the game to close out the Cotton Bowl win against Alabama was fun. Baylor in Waco was very memorable. Arkansas in '82 was my last game in Memorial Stadium and I was named ABC Player of the Game. It was a cool way to end my career at Texas. I sure enjoyed meeting Gary Kubiak (Texas A & M QB who was later a Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Denver Broncos) on his back and in his backfield several times.

TLSN: You played for both Leon Fuller and David McWilliams as DCs. How were their coaching styles similar or different?

Kiki:  Coach Fuller was a very disciplined and stoic personality. When you received a compliment from Coach Fuller, it really meant something. Coach Mac was a bit more relaxed. Both were excellent coaches.

TLSN:  Your defense at Texas included a lot of notable Longhorns..  What was the mindset among your defensive units?

As a freshman, I learned quickly what was expected from me by  Steve McMichael, Bill Acker, Johnnie Johnson, Ricky Churchman, Lance Taylor, Bruce Scholtz, Robin Sendlein and Kenneth Sims. They taught me how to prepare and the mindset and discipline required to be successful.  Our mindset was “we are going to shut you down."  They were all great players that also had the intangibles and I had to earn their respect.

TLSN:  The '82 team had three shutouts and and twice allowed only one TD,  In your last two home games as a Longhorn, Texas stuffed A&M, 53-16 and beat sixth-ranked Arkansas, 33-6 in that MVP effort.  What are some other special memories of those games or overall times?

Kiki:  The way we finished the 1982 season(after early losses to OU and SMU) was incredible. We absolutely dominated the last 6 games, both offensively and defensively. You can add beating Texas Tech 27-0, Houston 50-0, TCU 38-21 and Baylor 31-23 to the list. We only had 6 returning starters so our team was made up of mostly sophomores and juniors.  That was the nucleus of the of the  (11-1) 1983 Team.

TLSN:   SMU had the now infamous Pony Express featuring Eric Dickerson and Craig James.  Texas split with the Mustangs in '81 and '82 (winning 9-7, losing 30-17) but in those two games your defense held SMU to under 2.5 yards per carry on more than 100 rushing attempts.  What do you recall about playing those guys?

Kiki:  It was a great defensive game in 1981. We absolutely shut them down,  holding them to 7 points. It was just a very physical game and we knew that Dickerson and James could break a run on any play so you had to play every down as if it were the most important play of the game.

TLSN: You made the All-USFL team with the Houston Gamblers for more money than the NFL was offering but did later play for the Cincinnati Bengals. Your lasting impressions of the pro game?

I was drafted by both The USFL and NFL. The USFL was the best initial move for me. It paid better and allowed me to transition back to linebacker and increased my value when I went to the NFL. The USFL was a fun time We had the Run and Shoot offense led by Jim Kelly that could score 40-50 points a game and a defense that would bend but not break. The good part of the Run and Shoot offense is that they could score from anywhere in two minutes. The bad part of the Run and Shoot is that they either scored or punted in two minutes. The defense was back on the field every two minutes. Had some great teammates. The NFL,  I enjoyed my time in Cincinnati and had Boomer Esiason, Cris Collinsworth and Anthony Munoz as teammates.   Most people don’t know this but I personally retired from Cincinnati after my second year due to my physical health. I had, by this point undergone 3 shoulder and 4 knee operations.

TLSN: You've been extremely successful in business as a developer in San Antonio and Laredo, along with your ongoing Islands of Rockport development. What are you most proud of?

Kiki:  I have been fortunate to have worked on some very exciting projects with some very good partners.  What I am most proud of is that all my projects have made a positive impact in people’s quality of life. Laredo was a once in a lifetime opportunity in building The Laredo Entertainment Center, a 10,000 seat Indoor arena, as well as the “Town Center.”  My current project, The Islands of Rockport, is starting its Phase II which is such a cool waterfront development.      

TLSN: I know that your parents fled Cuba's communist regime and found refuge in Miami, not long before you were born there in 1960. What did your parents teach you about "the American Dream?"

Kiki:  My parents had a front row seat of watching a country turn to communism. Needless to say,  they were very proud Americans and had the chance to raise 5 boys that graduated from The University of Texas with degrees in Medicine, Engineering/MBA, Accounting, Finance/Law and Advertising.   

TLSN: If you weren't a developer, what would you be doing?

Kiki:  I love what I do. If I had to have chosen another career it would have been coaching. There's no better feeling than developing talent into a cohesive team.

TLSN:   What do you do with your spare time?

Kiki:  I enjoy cooking, entertaining, fishing, hunting and golf. When I get the time, I am an avid reader,  usually surrounding history, non-fiction and autobiographies.  And Netflix is always a good choice.

TLSN: Do you ever prepare any Cuban dishes?

KiKi: Cuban food is not quite as spicy as I prefer. I tend to make my own "spicy rub" and use it on all the seafood, chicken, beef, vegetables, pastas, salads and soups I prepare.

TLSN: Favorite vacation spot?

Kiki: I enjoy the R & R of Playa del Carmen

TLSN: What kind of tunes are you listening to?

Kiki: Classic Rock and Country

TLSN:: Favorite all-time Austin hangout from the old days?

Kiki: Silver Dollar

TLSN: If you still keep up with old UT teammates, which ones?

Kiki: I keep in touch with a group of teammates by text and always enjoy time with some older players like (QB) Sam Ansley and (OG) Rick Ingraham.

TLSN: If you could change a rule in college or pro football, what would it be?

Kiki: Holding. Go figure.

TLSN: Any defensive player in particular that you've enjoyed watching over the years?

Kiki: Old School guys...Lawrence Taylor and Ronnie Lott

TLSN: What are your hopes for Texas football under Steve Sarkisian?

Kiki: When you think about Alabama, you think about them as a team. Even though they have phenomenal Individual players, we think of them as a team. I hope he can take individual talent and mold that into the whole that is greater than its parts.

 TLSN: What's one thing that most people don't know about Kiki DeAyala?

Kiki: I am a sunrise-sunset photo junkie.

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