The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
03.31.2020 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news 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,
This was supposed to be Final Four week, the second week of Spring Football practices and the time to really get into our spring sports seasons that were off to a torrid early-season pace! But as a campus, city, state, nation and world, we continue to have much bigger and more pressing concerns as we band together and do our part in an effort to slow the COVID-19 (coronavirus). Our new normal is into another week. On-line classes began in full force on Monday, and on Sunday, we received the latest directives from the Big 12 that lay out how our coaches can work with their teams in the immediate future. We had our bi-weekly coaches call on Monday morning to talk through the details of what was outlined by our conference, Big 12 Statement, but I continue to be impressed by the resiliency, attitude and positive energy our coaches bring in this unprecedented time.
One thing the coaches and all of us have been waiting for was the final vote from the NCAA Division I Council on the eligibility status of spring sports' student-athletes. We received the great news on Monday that the NCAA is restoring a year to those who lost their spring season due to the ongoing crisis. We're so excited for each and every one of them and our programs. They will now be able to regain their year of eligibility if they choose to, and to that I say, bravo NCAA. It was the right decision and one that was made in the best interest of the student-athletes, and we applaud that. There are still a lot of details to work through for the student-athletes, coaches and teams individually, but now we can begin moving forward knowing the eligibility for spring 2020 has been restored.
The NCAA's decision should ease the minds of our student-athletes and their families as we know many had a great deal of anxiety and concern about their future during this difficult time we're living through. Rest assured, our student-athletes' welfare is always our number one priority. With on-line classes starting and academics being a primary focus, our student services staff is full speed ahead in working with them to help them adjust. Our coaching and support staffs are all rowing in the same direction and in constant communication with each and every one of our student-athletes as we work through any and all challenges they are facing. This is a very unsettling time for a young person, so our attention to both their physical and mental well-being is critical. We provide a great deal of support in both areas, and they will always know they are not alone in this. We're here to help!
One group that is extremely helpful in sharing that message is our Student Athlete Advisory Council. On Friday, we were able to get together on a video call to talk about that very thing and several other topics. What a bright, intelligent and talented group of young leaders our SAAC team is and we meet with them regularly. They have a pulse on what's going on, share great thoughts and insight, and we are as grateful as ever during this time of crisis to have their knowledge, wisdom and expertise to lean on from a student-athlete perspective.
On Wednesday, we'll be getting together as a staff for our monthly all-staff meeting, but this time we'll be doing it virtually from our various remote work locations. I said it last week, but it bears repeating, I couldn't be prouder of our staff and the way they've responded and managed this crisis. Our operation and how we're doing business are constantly evolving. Every hour, day and week things are changing, and this group is adapting and handling it so very well. We're fortunate to have an amazing Texas Athletics team, and I look forward to seeing all of their faces on my computer monitor for our video meeting this week!
We certainly hope you're able to keep up with all of our Longhorns across our many platforms. There is some truly awesome content being shared through the collaborative efforts of our creative services and communications groups. It's a testament to their hard work that our total interactions on both our Twitter (9,348) and Instagram (60,216) main accounts over the last week are the most in the nation and well ahead of the schools that trail us. I was particularly fond of the messages of support that so many of our Longhorn Legends shared last week. One of the many things that makes Texas Athletics so special is the great pride of our letter winners and how they are always ready and willing to help Longhorn Nation. They bleed orange and flash those hook 'ems with so much pride, and we're beyond thankful for each and every one of them.
So many of our current Longhorns are joining the effort to help those in need in our community, as well, including Coach Herman and his wife, Michelle, and our quarterback and selfless leader Sam Ehlinger. President Fenves also has established a Student Emergency Fund, and that's a tremendously important initiative as we need to be able to assist our students in need during this difficult time. It's been awesome seeing all of our communities locking arms, helping one another and doing everything they can for the greater good.
In closing, it was a sad day last week when we lost Longhorn Football Great and Texas Athletics Hall of Honor member Terry Tausch. He was far too young at 61, but his legacy was one of an unselfish leader and great man as his teammate Lawrence Sampleton shared. "The thing I remember most about Terry is his work ethic, how he treated everyone around him, and his ability to gain the respect of coaches, teammates and fans, alike." We send our condolences to his family, friends, teammates and Longhorn Nation.
Please, take care of yourself, your family, friends and those around you. Remember, we're in this together, so we're here for you just like you always are for us. Longhorn Nation is resilient, we will get through this and we look forward to the day we can gather again to celebrate Texas and cheer on our Longhorns!
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Hook 'em, Horns!
