The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Forty Acres Insider: Oct. 25
10.25.2018 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news, interesting tidbits and exciting stories happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. [<a href="http://texassports.com/archives.aspx?path=forty_acres_insider">Forty Acres Insider archives</a>]
Greetings Longhorn Nation,
After a bye week, football is back this week as our Longhorns travel to Stillwater for a night game at Oklahoma State. Last week we didn't play a game, but Coach Tom Herman emphasized it was by no means an "off" week, and our coaches, staff and team were hard at work. The coaches aggressively hit the recruiting trail while continuing to prepare our team, and our student-athletes practiced while taking time to get their bodies rested, re-energized and ready for the second half of the season. Bye weeks are invaluable and everyone in our program definitely took advantage of it.
This week is a significant sign of where Coach Herman has our program headed. For the first time since 2013, our No. 6 Longhorns are featured on the ABC Saturday Night Football prime-time game with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Maria Taylor calling the action. What an awesome opportunity to celebrate our program on a big-time stage. I know our fans in the stands at Boone Pickens Stadium will be as rowdy as always, and the ones watching from home will be cheering their burnt orange hearts out.
Once again, thank you all for your continued support and, together, helping us put the "T" back in "Texas."
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Hook 'em, Horns!
MLB postseason
It's been fun watching the MLB postseason, and it's with great Texas pride that I'd like to congratulate our Texas Ex, Longhorns supporter and Los Angeles Dodgers owner Bobby Patton and his wife, Sherri, on their second straight National League pennant and return to the World Series. What an exciting postseason run, and we're pulling for them as they compete for the Championship. What a great time to be a Longhorn!
Fall Tennis success
Coach Michael Center and our Men's Tennis team and Coach Howard Joffe and our women's team are having tremendous fall seasons. Last week was filled with success at the ITA Texas Regionals. Not only did both tournaments end in all-Longhorns singles finals, the depth was on display as four of the eight quarterfinalists in each tournament were Longhorns. The men swept the singles and doubles titles on Monday in Waco, and the women took home the singles title on the same day in College Station.
Volleyball's continued success
What a blast the Volleyball game was on Saturday with a raucous crowd at Gregory Gym and a three-set sweep of Texas Tech. Love that atmosphere with our students and volleyball fans. They bring it every match! Congrats to Micaya White who had 17 kills and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. After a three-set sweep at Iowa State on Wednesday night, our Horns continue to lead the Big 12 at 8-1. The team will be back at it in front of a packed house on Saturday as they kick off another big day of Texas sports by hosting OU at 3 p.m. Should be another fun Red River matchup!
Helping our community
Always enjoy seeing our student-athletes having an impact on others. Thank you to our Women's Basketball players and Track and Field members for their recent efforts in the community.
Betsy Rawls Invitational
What a cool tradition and huge deal the Betsy Rawls Invitational has been for Women's Golf for decades. Named in honor of our Longhorn Legend, LPGA great and World Golf Hall of Famer, it was an extra special event for our team to win this year. And with that win, our Longhorns climbed to No. 2 in national polls! Read more.
Soccer Senior Day
Coach Angela Kelly and our Soccer program paid tribute to seven seniors and went on to post a 4-0 Senior Day victory over K-State last Friday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The win capped the first perfect home regular-season (10-0-0) in the 25-year history of the program. It also helped us move into the No. 9 spot in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. The Horns conclude the regular season at Texas Tech on Thursday, and then it's on to the Big 12 Championship which starts Sunday in Kansas City. I want to give a huge shout out to our Soccer team and our nine student-athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 team, and to standouts Nicole Curry and Julia Grosso on earning Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
Cross Country competes at Big 12 Championship
Speaking of Big 12 championships, our Cross Country squads are in action competing for the conference title in Ames on Friday. Best of luck to both of our teams! Read more.
Basketball season tipoff events
Coach Karen Aston, Jatarie White, Joyner Holmes and Sug Sutton were in Dallas recently to tip off the season along with the rest of the Big 12 Women's Basketball teams. You can get a glimpse of that day in this video. Our Men's Basketball team was in Kansas City this week for Big 12 Media Day to tip off the season, as well.
Fall ball
Softball is in action Saturday with a doubleheader against Weatherford College and St. Edward's at Red & Charline McCombs Field before hosting the annual Alumni Game next Sunday. Baseball plays what I like to call a 'non-stop doubleheader' as they go 18 innings against San Jacinto College at noon Sunday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
Birthday party packages
We're always looking for ways to celebrate with our fans! Anybody have a birthday coming up? Come party with us at a Longhorns sporting event. Read more.
College GameDay flag tradition
At Texas we always say, "What Starts Here Changes the World." I was watching College GameDay last weekend and learned that the Washington State flag tradition started right here in Austin in 2003. Of course it did. Everything starts here! What a cool story by our friends at ESPN. Another example of why college sports fans are the best! Watch the video.
Texas Ex named Houston's Teacher of the Year
In closing, a huge "Hook 'em!" to 2015 UT grad Alejandra Ortega on being named Houston's Teacher of the Year. What a tremendous honor for a Longhorn who is helping mold the great young minds of our country. Read more.
