The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Coming full circle: Ford receives T-Ring
02.09.2018 | Men's Basketball, T-Association
Men's Basketball legend and 2003 National Player of the Year received his T-Ring 15 years after his playing career in the Burnt Orange ended.
By Kendall Garriss, Texas Media Relations
AUSTIN, Texas - T.J. Ford entered the Frank Erwin Center Saturday night as he had done so many times before as a former player. Only this time he was a spectator.
Accompanied by his wife and three children, Ford nestled into his seat and prepared for the highly-anticipated matchup between the Longhorns and their Red River Rival, the Oklahoma Sooners. Midway through the first half, Ford and his family were ushered to midcourt to be recognized in front of a packed arena full of Longhorn faithful.
The Ford family was greeted by UT Vice President/Director of Athletics Chris Del Conte. As Del Conte shook Ford's hand, he delivered an orange box. Ford immediately knew the contents of the box, but he had to open it to make it a reality.
The T-Ring.
"It was a total surprise from everyone involved, because I was kept in the dark the entire time," said Ford. "I had no clue until it was announced at that moment from Chris Del Conte."
The concept of the T-Ring was first introduced in 1957, during Coach Darrell K Royal's first year as the head football coach at Texas. Royal created this unique award as a way to recognize and honor student-athletes who lettered and graduated from UT.
As a sophomore during the 2002-03 season, Ford led the Longhorns to the Final Four. In just two years at Texas, Ford was crowned the Naismith Player of the Year, won the John R. Wooden Award and was named a consensus first-team All-American.
In 2003, Ford was selected eighth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Draft. Although sidelined with an injury for part of his rookie season, he was still named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Ford played in the NBA until he retired in 2012.
While the playing chapter of his career seemed to be closed, there was another mission Ford was adamant about finishing: his college education.
"It was important to finish what I started," said Ford. "I owed it to my parents to get a degree from a prestigious university like Texas. Without all of their sacrifices throughout the years, none of it would be possible."
Ford made a promise to his parents growing up that he would be the first member of their family to graduate from college. On May 19, 2017, almost 15 years removed from his time as a student-athlete at Texas, Ford fulfilled that promise when he crossed the stage at Gregory Gymnasium and received his bachelor's degree in Applied Learning and Development.
Not only did Ford want to set an example for his three children about the importance of a college education, but he also wanted to show other former student-athletes that they could be recognized and respected for so much more than their playing career.
"The degree brings a certain level of respect and takes the focus off me just being remembered as a great basketball player," said Ford.
Ricky Brown, UT Assistant Athletics Director/T-Association, respects the time, energy and effort it took Ford to come back to finish his degree. For an athlete of Ford's caliber, whose jersey is hanging in the rafters at the Frank Erwin Center, to feel an obligation to complete his education epitomizes the deep-rooted significance of the T-Ring honor.
"He wanted [his children] to see how important it is to get an education," said Brown. "And that's what the T-Ring symbolizes. It symbolizes the completion of your education at The University of Texas. It's about the completion of your journey."
