The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Class of 2019 officially inducted into Hall of Honor
08.30.2019 | T-Association
The common theme expressed during Friday's ceremony was humble appreciation.
AUSTIN, Texas – Story-telling. Reflection. Pride. Appreciation.
All the feels were on display Friday evening, when UT Athletics officially inducted 14 new members into the Longhorn Hall of Honor. Induction into the Hall of Honor is the most prestigious accolade a former Texas athlete or coach can receive.
"When you think about all the people who have come before us and look around at all the honorees tonight, this award is beyond compare," Track & Field and Football standout Brian Robison said. "It's something I'll cherish forever."
"I think of the word greatness when I think of The University of Texas," Track & Field star Marshavet (Hooker) Flintall said. "I learned a different level of hard work here. This honor is amazing, and I'm so excited."
The success of this 14-member class are staggering. A combined 14 NCAA team championships, 8 NCAA individual titles, 45 All-America honors and 29 conference team titles.
Despite all the individual success of each of the inductees, the common theme expressed during Friday's ceremony was humble appreciation.
"This honor means a lot," said Baseball's Seth Johnston. "You spend four years at Texas and you know the history and tradition that is here. To be a small part of that history is extremely humbling."
The 14-member Hall of Honor class of 2019 inductees included: Denise LaKeisha Backus (Track & Field, 1996-99), a three-time individual National Champion and 11-time All-American who led Texas to four national team titles; Sandy (Sureephong) Blanton (Tennis, 1995-99), a four-time All-American and two-time Big 12 Conference Player of the Year who paced the Longhorns to three Top-5 NCAA team finishes; Marshevet (Hooker) Flintall (Track & Field, 2004-06), a four-time individual NCAA champion and nine-time All-American who paced the Longhorns to a pair of national team titles; Nancy (Hager) Hale (Golf, 1971-75), the first woman to be awarded an athletic scholarship at UT, and the 1975 Texas AIAW individual champion who led Texas to a fourth-place team finish at the 1975 AIAW National Championship; Derrick Johnson (Football, 2001-04), a two-time consensus first-team All-American who won the Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award; Seth Johnston (Baseball, 2002-05), a first-team All-American shortstop who led the Longhorns to four-straight College World Series appearances including NCAA titles in 2002 and 2005; Patty (Sabo) Karsten (Swimming & Diving, 1983-87), an NCAA individual champion and 15-time All-American who led Texas to four-consecutive NCAA team titles; Brian Orakpo (Football, 2005-08), a unanimous first-team All-American who won the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Hendricks Award; Brian Robison (Track & Field/Football, 2003-06), a two-time All-American and three-time Big 12 Conference champion in track and field who also was a three-year starter at defensive end and helped Texas win the 2005 National Championship in football; Danielle Viglione (Basketball, 1993-97); a three-time all-conference selection who helped UT win the 1996 Southwest Conference title and is still the school record holder in career three-pointers made and Bryant Westbrook (Football, 1993-96), a second-team All-American and two-time first-team all-conference defensive back who led the Longhorns to three conference championships. Vintage selections Ragan Gennusa (Football, 1966-67) and Andre Robertson (Baseball, 1977-79) in addition to Special Selection Don Evans rounded out the class.
"I came here as a boy and left here as a man," Bryant Westbrook said. "This University is everything to me. It instilled greatness in me, and that's never left."
"The Texas Athletics Hall of Honor is truly an awesome opportunity for us to celebrate all of those who have made our place so special," UT Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said. "What these honorees have achieved as Longhorns and the way they represent our programs is something we're extremely proud of. Bringing them, their families and Longhorn Nation together to enshrine them each year is something we really enjoy and take great pride in. And now with a special room dedicated to our Hall of Honor in The Frank Denius University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame, we have a place to pay tribute to them and their legacy forever."
