The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Patterson's Posts: Nov. 6
11.06.2014 | Texas Athletics
Read this week's installment of the weekly communication from Men's Athletics Director Steve Patterson.
Earlier this afternoon, The University announced rowing's Jessica Glennie is the ninth current or former Texas student-athlete to receive a Rhodes Scholarship. Jessica is currently an architecture student. After graduation, she will study at the University of Oxford with a focus on environmental policy and change. Jessica is an exemplary representative of both Texas Athletics and The University, and her accomplishments illustrate the breadth of our student-athletes' accomplishments. More here.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
While we enjoy and celebrate our Texas Athletics competitive success, the health and wellness of our more than 500 student-athletes remains our top priority. Our sports medicine, athletics performance and sports nutrition teams work in coordination with student services to support student-athletes' personal development and foster their physical and emotional well being.
A recent article from the National Football Foundation highlights how college athletics have become safer due to the number of recent studies, and subsequent awareness, on student-athlete safety and welfare. You can read the full article here. Texas Athletics' return-to-play protocols are supported by current best practices, and our sports medicine staff members adhere strictly to these protocols. We also continue to recruit and retain experts in related fields to provide world-class healthcare at Texas.
Many are unaware of the academic successes of our student-athletes. According to a recent report from the NCAA, student-athlete graduation rates at Division I schools are on the rise. The Graduation Success Rate (GSR) showed 84 percent of student-athletes who entered college in 2007 graduated within six years. And during the past 13 years, the GSR has gone up by 10 points, which translates to an additional 13,805 student-athletes graduating in that time period. You can read the full report here. Texas posted a GSR of 83 percent during the same time period, and half of our teams were at over 90 percent.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Our student-athletes continue to make a positive impact in Austin through community service hours. Here are several projects our teams have been involved in lately.
On Sunday, 29 of our student-athletes joined the Marbridge Foundation at its annual athletic awards banquet. They congratulated its athletes on a year full of dedication and perseverance in their sports, encouraged them to continue pursuing athletic excellence, and handed out trophies and awards. Several of our student-athletes gave speeches at the event and commented how the Marbridge athletes provided inspiration to them to keep training and competing at the highest level.
Also on Sunday, 74 student-athletes represented the Texas Athletics at Longhorn Halloween at the Erwin Center. Student-athletes were among 800 volunteers to join University Events and other campus organizations to help provide a safe space for children to have some fun in the spirit of Halloween. In addition to passing out candy, they ran several activity stations, including face-painting, a mini soccer shootout, basketball competition, and bean bag toss.
Last Friday, Jonathan Holmes, Demarcus Holland and Javan Felix of the Men's Basketball team visited Pecan Springs Early College Prep for an assembly about the importance of education. The school's counselor, Dulce Gonzalez, wrote after that the students would cherish the visit for a long time. This is just one example of how Texas student-athletes have an impact in the Austin community.
COMPETING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
In five days, three of our teams took out Texas Tech on the road.
Football had a strong showing over Texas Tech with a 34-13 victory. We are back in Austin on Saturday to host West Virginia. As we head toward the end of the season, strong fan support helps motivate our student-athletes on the field. Kick off is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. and the game will be on FOX Sports 1. Tickets are still available here. For those looking ahead to Nov. 15 and planning a trip to Stillwater, kick off time for Texas vs. Oklahoma State is set for 6:30 p.m. You can also catch it on FOX Sports 1.
No. 5 volleyball swept Texas Tech on the road last night to improve their record to 17-1. It was their 14th –consecutive road victory over a Big 12 team. Fans only have a few more opportunities to see this dynamic team in Austin. The next home match is Friday, Nov. 7 vs. Kansas State at 7 p.m. This will also be the annual 'Volley for a Cure' match. So be sure to wear your pink. Ticket information is available here. You can also watch the game on LHN. The team recently toured the new volleyball player development facility with LHN. Get a behind the scenes look here at where our team will train starting March 2015. It will be a tremendous resource to our student-athletes and will allow all training, sports medicine, nutrition and student services to be housed in the North End Zone.
Last night, soccer took on Texas Tech in the Big 12 quarterfinals in Kansas City, Mo. After finishing the match in a 1-1 tie, the team out shot Tech in penalty kicks 6-5. They advance the Big 12 Championship semifinals to battle top-seeded West Virginia on Friday, Nov. 7, at 5:30 p.m. Central.
Excitement continues to grow for Men's and Women's Basketball as we quickly approach their season openers. The men are ranked No. 10 in the AP preseason poll. Sophomore point guard Isaiah Taylor also appears on a regional cover in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. Texas is one of five schools selected for a regional cover in the magazine's annual College Basketball preview issue, joining Arizona, Duke, Kentucky and Wisconsin. You can pick it up on newsstands now through Tuesday, Nov. 11. Taylor is also one of 36 players named to the preseason watch list of candidates for the 2015 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. They will open the season on Friday, Nov. 14 against North Dakota State. You won't want to miss this game where we will debut many of our new gameday entertainment features.
The women, who are ranked No. 9 in the AP preseason poll, will kick off the season on Sunday, Nov. 9 at an exhibition match versus Oklahoma City University. Led by head coach Karen Aston, they are also preseason favorites to win the Big 12. Watch a LHN feature here with Coach Aston explaining the team's season motto: Loyalty, Tenacity, Trust.
You don't want to miss both of these teams in action! Ticket information available here.
After defeating four top-10 teams, Women's Swimming and Diving is ranked second in the most recent CSCAA team poll. Now both the men's and women's teams are No. 2.
Great work to all our teams and good luck as they continue to compete for championships.
TEXAS TRADITIONS
Earlier today, we celebrated Texas Traditions at the Texas Athletics and You event. We heard from a panel of former student-athletes and coaches who were involved in the feature film "My All American", which depicts the story of two Longhorns greats Freddie Steinmark and Coach Darrell K Royal. If you weren't able to make it to a Texas Athletics and You event this fall, stay tuned for more information about upcoming events hosted by the Longhorn Foundation. These are an exclusive opportunity for Longhorn Foundation members.
Tomorrow, we will celebrate Texas student-athletes and coaches who have contributed to the tradition of excellence at the Men's and Women's Halls of Honors inductions. The women start the day off with a celebration at the Frank Erwin Center where they will honor five new members. The men will honor nine inductees, including current men's basketball head coach Rick Barnes, that evening at the Four Seasons. Both classes will be honored on the field during the Texas vs. West Virginia football game on Saturday. More information on the ceremonies and inductees here. You can also read a bit more about the real Rick Barnes in this feature.
On Nov. 13, we will celebrate longtime Texas Athletics friend and supporter Joe Jamail at the premiere of the documentary "Longhorn Legend: Joe Jamail." This is the first of a series of documentaries on Longhorn Legends. Upcoming features will highlight those who have made lasting contributions to The University of Texas. Stayed tuned for information on where you can watch.
Until next time – Hook 'em, Horns!
Steve Patterson
Men's Athletics Director
