The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
The Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame opens in grand fashion
08.30.2019 | T-Association
The University’s first-ever sports Hall of Fame is a $17.1 million project housed in the 24,713-square-foot Red McCombs Red Zone.
Commemorating a storied tradition while highlighting current student-athletes across the 20-sport athletics program, The Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame celebrated its grand opening on Friday afternoon.
The University's first-ever sports Hall of Fame is a $17.1 million project housed in the 24,713-square-foot Red McCombs Red Zone in the North End Zone of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday included UT President Greg Fenves, Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte and Denius family members Charmaine McGill and Woffie Denius.
"When fans walk into the Hall of Fame, there is a living legacy of the achievements of the student-athletes at the University of Texas," Del Conte said. "Every single recruit that comes to The University of Texas must look inside there and wonder what it means to be a Longhorn. You must pay homage to those who came before you to know where you are going."
Visitors are greeted by an impressive 8-foot tall, 1,200-pound Longhorn statue honoring one of the nation's most-storied collegiate mascots, Bevo. The facility tells the story of Texas Athletics from the vintage days of its first football team in 1893 to what is now one of the nation's premier broad-based athletics programs.
"Wow, what an amazing job they did on this place," said DeLoss Dodds, Texas Men's Athletics Director from 1981-2013. "Such wonderful displays of so many great teams, coaches and, most importantly, student-athletes. I was just in awe of everything and how well it all came together. I can't thank Chris Del Conte and all of the donors enough for getting this done. Having Frank's name on it is perfect, too. He'd be so proud."
There are visual and digital displays honoring all 55 of UT's National Championship teams, 599 conference team titles, hundreds of individual national champions, 171 Olympians at 21 Olympiads who claimed 145 Olympic medals and first-team sports All-Americans, academic All-Americans and other scholastic honorees, as well as the traditions and tales that encompass the history of Longhorns Athletics.
"We have had so much excellence and tradition. Give CDC the credit, to see it all in aggregate was a goal of his and it's really special," said Chris Plonsky, Texas Executive Senior Associate AD and Chief of Staff, who spearheaded the project. "If you followed our program, if you participated, if you coached or competed, this is the place where you can see it. Advent was fantastic to work with. The beauty of the layout is that in the back of it are our past performances and in the front is all of our current student-athletes. They can sit here on the benches and envision putting something else in the back. That's kind of neat."
Texas' National Award winners and their trophies will be on display in a 2,000-square-foot room recognizing their achievements as well as imagery reliving every Longhorn individual national championship triumph. Rooms are also dedicated to pay tribute to UT's all-time greatest coaches, its numerous Olympians and the 529 members of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, including the 14 new inductees from the class of 2019.
"It's amazing. It's exciting," said Derrick Johnson, a 2019 Hall of Honor inductee and one of the premier defensive players in Texas Football history. "It's something you've just got to see and experience. Walking through the Hall of Fame makes me so proud to be a part of such an awesome history. This is why there's no place like Texas."
A visual timeline of all 15 Bevos, dating back to the first Longhorn steer mascot in 1917, is a prominent fixture, and along its path is a wall full of great moments in Texas Athletics history.
"When Texas does something we always go big," said Brian Orakpo, 2019 Hall of Honor inductee and winner of the Nagurski Trophy, Lombardi Award and Hendricks Award in 2008 as a member of the Longhorns' football team. "Seeing all of the history and success in every sport in one place is really cool. I know we win a lot, because "We are Texas," but when you see the hundreds of trophies, it really sinks in. It makes me really proud of being a Longhorn and having a place in this Hall of Fame."
Friday's grand opening gave fans a look at phase one of The Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame. It will continue to be a go-to location for alumni, fans and supporters for many years to come.
"Texas really did it right," said Marshevet (Hooker) Flintall, a three-time NCAA individual champion in track and field and a 2019 Hall of Honor inductee. "There are so many great memories in here and I'm enjoying soaking it all in. This is a place I know every athlete and recruit is going to want to see, and fans will absolutely love it as well."
