The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Patterson's Posts: March 12
03.12.2015 | Texas Athletics
Read this week's installment of the weekly communication from Men's Athletics Director Steve Patterson.
COMMIT TO TEXAS
On Monday, we began accepting renewals and new orders for 2015 football season tickets. We introduced several new procedures this year to provide increased access and customer service to our fans, while preserving seat locations for renewing season ticket members.
The landscape of intercollegiate athletics is changing, and our cost of business is rising. To remain competitive, we need a total commitment from our student-athletes, our coaches, our staff and our fans. We are committed to providing the best in customer service and making a total investment in our student-athletes and our facilities, including Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Now, we are asking our fans to continue their commitment to Texas. When you purchase a ticket to a Texas Athletics event, you are making a commitment to more than 500 student-athletes to allow them to compete for championships in athletics and academics.
Seat prices across the stadium have increased an average of six percent. However, for the 2015 season we will be more accessible with the addition of the $199 season ticket – the lowest price to get in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium since 2001. We have also developed a new resale policy to not only secure a home field advantage for our student-athletes, but also protect the value of our seats for the most loyal Texas fans. You can read more about these changes here.
In the coming weeks, I'll highlight a new procedure for the 2015 season. I hope this provides you with some insight into why we have decided to make these changes, and how it is an investment in our fans and our student-athletes. For more information, visit TexasSports.com/FootballTickets. For questions on renewals, you can contact the Texas Athletics service team at 512-232-4422. They are available to walk you through the renewal process and answer any questions you may have. New orders can reach out to the Texas Athletics sales team at 512-471-3333.
Parking
Historically, Texas Athletics has paid about $1.2 million annually for athletic events parking. These fees have been paid to UT Parking and Transportation Services. Out of 10,000 parking permits bought and distributed through the Longhorn Foundation, only an average of 6,200 were being used each football game. Starting with the 2015 season, Longhorn Foundation members with a minimum $50 annual donation can purchase a parking permit. Permits are offered at three pricing levels. This allows for a more efficient use of the number of available parking spaces. This is even more important as our parking will be reduced by 572 spaces through 2015 due to construction of the Dell Medical School. More fans will now have the opportunity to park closer to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on gameday. We are also working with the city to ensure smooth traffic flow before and after games. Additional transportation options are available such as Capital Metro's Longhorn Express shuttle service. The road-trip cost of the shuttle is $9 per person; children 12 and under ride free.
Learn more and see the parking map at TexasSports.com/fbparking.
BEYOND ATHLETICS
Junior softball catcher Erin Shireman not only excels on the field, but also in the classroom. Erin is an aerospace engineering major and has worked hard to earn her private pilot's license in her free time. You can read more about Erin's achievements here.
A couple of young Texas Baseball fans had a dream day at UFCU-Disch Falk Field last month when they came to Austin with their father for the recent doubleheader vs. Minnesota. Nine-year-old Jack and 7-year-old Jeff Feldman had the opportunity to talk with some of our student-athletes, who are taught by head coach Augie Garrido to serve as leadership examples to our young fans. You can read more here.
COMPETING FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Women's Basketball had an exciting run in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championships, ending with a tough loss in the finals to No. 1 seed Baylor on Monday. It was the team's first appearance in the final round of the Big 12 Championships since 2004. On Monday, the team will find out where their seed in the NCAA Tournament. Be sure to tune into the Selection Show from 6-7 p.m. on ESPN to find out.
Men's Basketball began the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship last night with a 65-53 win over Texas Tech. We take on No. 13/15 Iowa State tonight at 6 p.m. Central. You can catch the game on ESPNU. The Men's Basketball Selection Sunday Show is March 15 at 5 p.m. Central on CBS.
No. 3 Men's Golf won its second-straight tournament yesterday at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters. Sophomore Beau Hossler led the team with his second-consecutive top-two finish with a tie for second. Kramer Hickock finished fourth overall and Scottie Scheffler finished tied for seventh. Next up, we'll compete at the Linger Longer Invitational in Greensboro, Ga. on Saturday, March 21.
Women's Golf finished second on Tuesday at the UNF Collegiate. Senior Bertine Stauss led the team with a career-best tie for second. This was also the team's best finish of the season. Next, we'll head to Kapalua, Hawaii to compete in the Texas-Hawaii Classic on Saturday, March 21 and the Anenue Spring Break Classic Monday, March 23-Wednesday, March 25.
Volleyball will also travel to Hawaii to start their spring season on Thursday, March 19 at Hawaii. You can catch their first spring season game in Austin vs. SMU on April 3 at 6 p.m. at Gregory Gym.
No. 16 Texas Baseball split a four-game series at Stanford last weekend and secured a 7-1 victory over Incarnate Word on Tuesday at home. We host West Virginia for a three-game series, starting tomorrow at 6 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. The full weekend schedule and ticket information is available here.
Freshman pitcher Erica Wright had a career-high 11 strikeouts to help lead softball to a 5-0 win over Charlotte last Saturday. We'll be on the road for a three-game series vs. Arkansas over March 14-16. Catch us back in Austin on Thursday, March 19, vs. Georgia Southern at 6 p.m. at Red and Charline McCombs Field. Ticket information available here.
No. 1 Men's Swimming and Diving qualified 17 swimmers, three divers and all five relays for the NCAA Championships, which will take place March 26-28 at The University of Iowa. See the full list of student-athletes who received invitations here.
Eight swimmers and three divers will represent Texas Women's Swimming and Diving at the NCAA Championships March 19-21 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Read more about our eight swimmers here. And learn more about our divers here.
Good luck to Men's and Women's Track and Field as they compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships this Friday and Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark. After sweeping the Big 12 Indoor Championships, I know we can expect an impressive performance from our teams. Follow the competition here.
HONORS AND AWARDS
A number of our student-athletes and coaches were recognized for their athletic accomplishments this past week.
- Track and Field earned three regional awards from the USTFCCCA. Ryan Crouser, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the world in the shot put, was named the South Central Men's Field Athlete of the Year. Head Coach Mario Sategna was recognized as the South Central Men's Head Coach of the Year, and Associate Head Coach Tonja Buford-Bailey was named the South Central Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. Read more here.
- Three Men's Basketball players earned spots on the 2014-15 All-Big 12 teams. Myles Turner was named the league's Freshman of the Year – the fifth Texas player to earn the honor. Myles was also named to the All-Big 12 Third Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. Additionally, Myles was named to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-District VII Team. Isaiah Taylor claimed a spot on the All-Big 12 Third Team, and Jonathan Holmes was named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team.
Great work by our student-athletes, and good luck as we continue to compete to Light the Tower.
CATCHING UP WITH….
The Texas House of Representatives recognized former Texas Longhorns running back Jamaal Charles on Tuesday for his philanthropic and athletic achievements. Watch a highlight video of the recognition and his work in the community and on the field here.
This week, former Longhorn and Men's Basketball player Brad Buckman (2003-06) paid a visit to LHN for "Longhorn Weekly with Rick Barnes." Brad shared his memories of being a student-athlete at UT with Coach Barnes and host Craig Way. He also discusses the importance of earning his degree from Texas and how UT prepared him for success in the business world. Watch the interview on TexasSports.com.
Until next time – Hook 'em, Horns!
Steve Patterson
Men's Athletics Director
