Forty Acres Insider: June 30

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Greetings Longhorn Nation,

We're heading into July 4th weekend and a time we normally are all gathering together to celebrate. Like many weekends and holidays during this unprecedented spring and summer, we're limited in how we're able to do that this year. That said, here's hoping all of you can find a safe way to enjoy some festive and fun times with family and friends, either virtually or with social distancing and facial coverings in place. It's a challenging time for everyone, but let's continue to find ways to stay engaged and move forward with a positive attitude. This too will pass, and we can't wait for the day we can all be together again. We truly appreciate our Longhorn Nation! Stay safe, be healthy and an emphatic Hook 'Em to all of you!

On the Move with Mobile Ticketing
We have some awesome news I'm really excited to share this week as we look forward to our upcoming seasons. In our continuing efforts to deliver the best experience for our incredible fans, we're transitioning to mobile-only ticketing for all of our events in 2020-21 starting with Football! That means you'll receive your tickets through email and then use them with your smartphone. There are so many positives to this move including being safer on game day with contactless entry, along with all-around great convenience that also helps reduce the risk of lost, stolen or counterfeit tickets. If you don't already have it, I want to encourage everyone to go ahead and download the Texas Longhorns App where you'll be able to add tickets to your digital wallet, access them on game days and get them scanned at the gate. So many thanks are in order for the yeoman's work done by our teams in ticketing, content development and delivery, and marketing, among others, to make this happen. Look for more communication from our team starting July 1 and head to our Mobile Ticketing Headquarters on the web for all the info you need on this fantastic new ticketing experience!

Return to the 40 Update
We're over a month into the implementation of our policies and procedures for the return of essential Football coaches and support staff to campus on May 18. They're hard at work preparing for the upcoming Football season, and the staff plan that our Return to Forty task forces established has proven effective with no positive COVID-19 cases among that group. Our Football staff has been a great model for us to build on, asking all the right questions, following the health and safety guidelines and just doing an awesome job. We're truly grateful for their efforts and the standard they've set.

We also implemented policies and procedures to recently complete the on-boarding of 108 Football student-athletes back to campus for voluntary workouts, which began on June 15. Mandatory physicals, COVID-19 testing and safety education/training by the Sports Medicine staff were part of that process. Meanwhile, daily screening and additional COVID-19 testing and monitoring is being managed by the Sports Medicine staff. The number of new cases has leveled off and those student-athletes remain in self-isolation. In addition, several of the student-athletes who previously tested positive completed their 14 days of self-isolation, have been cleared and are being prepared for return to activity. At this point, there are no indications that student-athlete cases have been traced back to campus workouts. The Sports Medicine staff is monitoring closely and following all prescribed protocol.

Voluntary workouts for Football are heading into week three and are being conducted outside at the Frank Denius Practice Complex in small groups. No other athletics facilities are being used at this time. All activities are closely monitored by the Sports Medicine and Strength & Conditioning staffs and evaluated by the Student-Athlete Return to Campus task force.

We also are one week out from beginning our July 5-12 on-boarding of student-athletes for voluntary workouts in Men's & Women's Basketball and Volleyball. The Student-Athlete and Staff Return to Campus task forces have developed policies and procedures to safely support these activities with an on-boarding program similar to Football. Also, like Football, voluntary workouts, which are scheduled to begin on July 13, will be closely monitored by the Sports Medicine and Strength & Conditioning staffs and evaluated by the Student-Athlete Return to Campus task force.

Meanwhile, the Facilities & Game Day Logistics Committee is continuing its efforts in developing policies and procedures for hosting football and other athletics events this fall, pursuant to CDC, state, local and Big 12 Conference health & safety guidelines. There's a lot going on, and I'm grateful for everyone on our staff pulling together to make it all happen while having the health, safety and well-being of everyone involved as our number one priority.

South End Zone Project Looking Good!
I took a stroll around campus on Saturday, and it was so much fun to see how all of our facility upgrades are coming along. I know, the beard is getting a bit shaggy, but I did vow to let it grow until our teams are back in action, so excuse my appearance. As for the South End Zone project, isn't it a magnificent sight to see?! You can see the framework of what will be one of the best Football facilities and fan experiences in the nation! The scoreboard is getting ready to go in for 2020, and everything will be full-on ready for 2021. We can't wait and we miss you all so much. Looking forward to seeing you on the Forty Acres as soon as we can.

Looking Back at Baseball's 2005 National Championship
Last Friday (June 26) was 15 years to the day that Longhorn Legend Augie Garrido and our Baseball team lit the Tower Orange, claiming the program's sixth College World Series Championship. On the heels of a National Championship in 2002 and earning a fourth-straight trip to the CWS, the Longhorns stampeded to five straight victories, finishing it off with a sweep of Florida in the championship series for Augie's second national title at Texas. That team featured many Longhorn greats, one of which was the spectacular shortstop Seth Johnston, who I really enjoyed getting to know as we proudly inducted him into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor last fall. Seth was a first team All-American in 2005, leading the Horns with a .378 batting average and 66 RBI, and was drafted in the fifth round of the MLB Draft. He played five seasons of professional baseball, but has gone on to even greater success in the business world right here in Austin. In honor of our magnificent coach who we miss so much, to Seth and the entire team, thank you for all of the amazing memories and congratulations on a job well done!

2004-05 Was One Heck of a Year
That Baseball National Championship capped a sensational 2004-05 campaign, as Texas finished second in NACDA's Directors' Cup all-sports standings. The Horns captured two NCAA Championships with Women's Outdoor Track & Field claiming the podium's top spot and a national title, as well. Twelve of our 20 programs posted Top-10 NCAA Championship finishes, including a runner-up showing by Women's Tennis and a tie for third by Softball. Football went 11-1, won the Rose Bowl and finished ranked No. 4 nationally. Texas was the ONLY program in the country to have its football team earn a bowl berth, both of its basketball teams reach the NCAA Tournament AND its baseball and softball teams advance to the College World Series. So, what a year it was indeed!

Keeping Up with Brandon Jones
You want to talk about champions on and off the field, how about our Football standout and now Miami Dolphin Brandon Jones? The pride, passion and leadership Brandon displayed carried on well beyond the playing field. Brandon is a truly special person who represented the Burnt Orange and White so well, and we are so proud of him. We will miss him on the Forty, but look forward to seeing all of the great things he'll accomplish in the future. He epitomizes everything we look for in a well-rounded student-athlete and truly exemplifies the phase, "What Starts Here, Changes the World!"

Former Women's Basketball Letterwinner Pursuing Career in Healthcare
So many of our student-athletes embody that mantra of "What Starts Here Changes the World," and Celina Rodrigo is another who is doing just that. A four-year starter for our Women's Basketball team, Celina demonstrated all of the very best qualities that define the term "student-athlete" – hard work, toughness, perseverance, servant leadership and humility. With two degrees already under her belt, she's realized her true calling in helping others through a career in healthcare. Last year, she was accepted to Emory's prestigious radiological technology program and is well on her way to truly impacting the world.

Longhorn Nation, we hope you have a great week and a wonderful Fourth of July weekend, and keep the faith. Let's take care of ourselves and one another, stay safe and be healthy as we continue to move forward in these very challenging times.

Hook 'Em Horns,

Chris del Conte signature

P.S. – And a message from President Hartzell:

HEADLINES

Softball announces Megan Ciolli Bartlett as new assistant coach
Ciolli Bartlett spent the last five seasons as the head softball coach at Ball State.

Garnham joins Track and Field staff as assistant coach
Jim Garnham will coach vertical jumps and combined events at Texas.

Like Father, Like Daughter
Bonded by basketball, Vic and Blair Schaefer bring family dynamic to Texas.

Women's Basketball's Holmes signs with New York Liberty
Holmes was drafted in the second round of the 2020 WNBA Draft by Seattle before being waived.

2020 Top Track and Field Performers: Elena Bruckner
Bruckner won her first Big 12 title and earned the second All-America honor of her career.

Women's Golf's Hoffman earns top-10 finishes in first two Cactus Tour events
Hoffman completed her impressive Texas career this past spring.

Men's Tennis adds graduate transfer Holden
Payton Holden, an all-conference honoree from Princeton University and an Austin native, will join the Longhorns as a graduate transfer for the 2020-21 season.

Protect Texas Together
A Roadmap to Fall 2020

Video: Tom Herman on Brandon Jones
The Football head coach discussed the Dolphins' rookie DB on 'Drive Time' with Travis Wingfield.

#WhatStartsHere: Celina Rodrigo
The former standout Texas point guard is now pursuing a career in healthcare.

AWARD & RECOGINTION:
Volleyball trio picks up Preseason Big 12 Honors

Women's Golf's Cooper, Kouskova named WGCA All-American Scholars

Volleyball tops 2020 Big 12 preseason poll

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

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