Undertaker Attends Texas Football Practice, Uses Wrestling Career as Motivation

The Undertaker attended the Texas Longhorns football team's practice Thursday to deliver a motivational speech.

The team shared video from his visit:

For The Win's Alysha Tsuji transcribed The Undertaker's comments:

"

I finally made a Longhorn practice. I bleed burnt orange, and I tell you what, I talk more smack on you guys, I don't care what the records say, every year I'm laying it down on the Longhorns, no doubt. You guys are a special group of guys, you know what, you wouldn't be here if you weren't special. But once you get here, you gotta realize the whole country is full of special players. So what separated one special player from another special player? ... You have to want and put the work in to be great.

"

The nine-time world champion recounted how he played basketball at Texas Wesleyan University and realized he didn't have the talent to make the jump to the NBA. Rather than playing basketball overseas, he trained to be a wrestler and paid his dues before rising through the ranks.

Texas head coach Tom Herman thanked the Deadman on Twitter:

The Undertaker, whose real name is Mark Calaway, is a native of Houston and a Longhorns fan. In 2014, his wife, former WWE star Michelle McCool, shared a photo of him on the sideline for Texas' win over the Iowa State Cyclones:

The Undertaker also indirectly became a symbol of the Cleveland Cavaliers' comeback in the 2016 NBA Finals after LeBron James wore a shirt bearing his likeness before a team practice.

He was in attendance as the Cavaliers lifted their championship banner during their 2016-17 season opener in October.