The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
08.12.2020 | 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,
Tuesday was a very good day. After extensive conversations among our Big 12 presidents, medical teams/advisors, and athletics directors, we made a unified decision to continue forward with fall sports seasons. The information that was shared, discussions that were had and dialogue between all of our colleagues across the conference and with Commissioner Bowlsby and his staff were insightful, thoughtful and critical to making what we all agreed was the best decision for our league. The health and well-being of our student-athletes are and always have been at the forefront of all conversations. We all believe that there are protocols and procedures in place for a safe pathway to play football this fall. On Wednesday, the Big 12 announced many directives relative to COVID-19 testing, one of which includes enhanced cardiac screening for those who test positive. Texas Athletics has met or exceeded all requirements to date, and we will continue to do so.
The plans and structure for all Big 12 teams need further discussion to evolve and be put firmly in place for the coming days and weeks. We also thought it was critical that we exhaust every option possible to support our student-athletes, as they have made it abundantly clear to us that they want to play. Seeing them in training and doing everything that is asked of them has been tremendous for them mentally and physically, and they certainly have a deeper appreciation for playing the sports they love. And, we're doing everything in our power to continue to ensure that it's safe for them to do that.
I see many of them every day and enjoy watching their practices, but I truly experienced our student-athletes' passion when I spoke to the Football team on Monday morning. They had many questions, and they emphasized their resolve to play, but also their desire that everyone we play has the same rigorous safety measures we have in place. As I've said before, I am extremely proud of what we're doing to manage this health crisis, and our student-athletes have shared their commitment to that and confidence in our medical staff. We have established a blueprint, created an outstanding environment and have learned so much since Football first reported in June, and it just keeps getting better. I sincerely believe we can help lead the way, and I'm so grateful for all of our staff who have established our health and safety guidelines, as well as their tireless efforts in managing, handling and educating our student-athletes, coaches and teams. But at the end of the day, our student-athletes' buy-in, compliance and commitment to taking care of themselves and those around them all have been amazing to watch. They have taken on the challenges of following all protocols and helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 with that same competitive spirit and Texas Fight that makes them great. For that and all they are doing, I'm so glad we're able to allow them to forge ahead toward the 2020 season.
On Wednesday, the Big 12 also announced our 2020 conference football schedule, with our first league game coming on September 26 at Texas Tech. Our conference will continue with the format of nine league games, plus one non-conference game, with all Big 12 competition starting on that September 26 date. Our season opener will be UTEP on September 12 at Campbell-Williams Field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and be followed by a bye week. Each Big 12 team will be guaranteed at least two bye weeks during their schedule. Also, all other fall sports competition (Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country) can begin September 1. To ensure consistent health and safety protocols, Volleyball and Soccer matches will be limited to conference opponents only. There are still discussions to be had and plans to be made, and we will continue to keep you all abreast of that news as we receive it. We appreciate your patience, understanding and how you all are keeping the faith. We're excited to be moving forward with our falls sports seasons and preparing to cheer on our Longhorns this fall!
For more information on the Big 12 announcement, you can read their full release HERE.
A Look at Our Texas Athletics Safety and Education Measures
You may have seen that late last week we posted a story on TexasSports.com highlighting all of the safety and education measures we have in place to help our student-athletes stay healthy and manage the challenges they face due to COVID-19. With five of our teams on campus now, including three in their training camps, we thought that was something important to reinforce and to share with everyone. All of those initiatives, protocols and procedures are big reasons why we feel confident that we are in a position to continue to move ahead toward the fall seasons.
Our number one priority will always be our student-athletes. Their health and safety is paramount, and our Texas Athletics team has been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to not only put the guidelines in place to provide the safest environment possible, but also to educate and train them for all of the best practices to avoid the spread of the virus. We are so proud of how they've managed this challenging time, and we're continuing to prepare them for all that is ahead. Most importantly, at the end of the day, we want every single one of them to be in the best environment possible and continue to have every resource necessary to excel at the very high level they are accustomed to.
Our health and safety protocols, created by our Student-Athlete Return to Campus task force, go above and beyond the safety guidelines released by the NCAA. They're being closely monitored by our medical professionals in collaboration with the incredible people at University Health Services, UT Health Austin and Dell Medical School, and all team activities are under the supervision of our Sports Medicine and Strength & Conditioning staffs so that they're monitored, reviewed, and adapted when necessary to meet or exceed the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC), NCAA, and Big 12 Conference guidelines.
Additionally, as we move forward, one of the biggest things we were so excited to announce is that we'll be using Austin-based Campus Health Project LLC for surveillance testing, which will give us a greater capacity for testing, faster results and a wide array of support services, especially as we enter our seasons.
We feel like we've created a really good environment here and one that others can follow, and for that, I can't thank all of our staff, and especially Dr. Bray and Allen Hardin with our medical staff for their yeoman's job pulling everything together and continuing to manage it.
Return to the 40 Update
Last weekend was a fun one as it took me back to why we all love sports so much. With three of our teams' preseason camps underway, I had a chance to watch our Football, Volleyball and Soccer teams practice. It's certainly different with all of the masks, shields, social distancing and safety protocols in place, but the joy on their faces, the work they're putting in and just the energy they bring to their workouts made my day. They love competing, being on the field and court and wearing the burnt orange and white! All went well for those three teams, and with our Men's and Women's Basketball teams continuing their off-season strength and conditioning training, we have five of our teams on-boarded and hard at work. It all remains under the watchful eyes of our Sports Medicine and Strength & Conditioning staffs and is constantly being evaluated by the Student-Athlete Return to Campus task force.
We are so proud of how our entire Texas Athletics team has managed this health crisis, but most importantly, the trust and understanding our medical team has established with our student-athletes, coaches and teams has just been awesome. They're on top of everything, constantly communicating, helping to educate and answering every question, while providing them all the tools to help them take care of themselves and everyone around them. The results speak for themselves as over the past several weeks we have conducted surveillance tests with many of our on-boarded student-athletes and there have been no new positives. Now that deserves a Hook 'Em!
Longhorn Nation, We Can Do This Together
Last week, we had so many of our staff members teaming up to reach out to all of you – our loyal and dedicated Longhorn Foundation members and season ticket holders – and we're continuing that effort over the next two weeks or so. We've called season ticket holders who have decided to take this year off for now, and next plan to start calling season ticket holders who are still interested in attending games this year. All totaled, as of today we made more than 4,000 outbound calls and received nearly 2,000 inbound calls from you. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to read our email, take it to heart and for spending time as we talked through the options with you. Like us, we know you are so disappointed in what we are dealing with in this health crisis and just crushed by the impact it's having on cheering on our beloved Longhorns. But, it was heartwarming hearing of all the conversations our staff had with so many of you, and your willingness to help during a real time of financial need. We are encouraged by your continued support and grateful for the relationships we have built with each and every one of you, and your Longhorn Pride is overflowing. We are here for you, to answer all of your questions and to help you help us in this very challenging time. As I said last week, now, more than ever, is a critical juncture for us to unify and rally as one big family. We have 600 student-athletes and 20 sports programs counting on us, and like any successful team, we can do this together, and I hope we can count you in!
Alison Gibson in Elite Company as NCAA Woman of the Year Candidate
Congrats Alison!! Longhorn diver Alison Gibson has been named one of two nominees to represent the Big 12 for 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year. Alison, who has served as SAAC President, has upheld the four pillars of the award – academics, athletics, service and leadership – throughout her career. She was the 2020 unanimous Big 12 Diver of the Year and the 2020 Big 12 Championship Co-Diver of the Meet. Alison also was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, and has been granted a NCAA Winter Sports Postgraduate Scholarship award and the Big 12 Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship. The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division. From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
Wow, What a Debut in a PGA Major for Scottie Scheffler
Congratulations to Texas-ex Scottie Scheffler on his 10-under fourth-place finish at the 2020 PGA Championship on Sunday! This was Scottie's first PGA Championship after finishing up 2019 as the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year, earning a full exemption to the PGA Tour for the 2020 season. Scottie put together a four-day 270, opening with a 66. He followed up with a 71-65-68 over the final three days of the tournament and was in the final grouping on Sunday. Way to go Scottie!
Bringing Back the Lone Star Showdown for #CollegeColorsDay
Okay Longhorns, College Colors Day is coming up on September 4, so between now and then we've got some competition for you where the real winner will be the Feeding America member food banks, which includes the Central Texas Food Bank! To do that, we're bringing back the Lone Star Showdown, along with Texas A&M, CLC and Wells Fargo. That's where you come in – from now until September 4, for every purchase of officially licensed Texas or Texas A&M merchandise at each team store on Fanatics.com, Wells Fargo will donate 100 meals! How awesome is that?! So let's put that Longhorn spirit on display, win this thing, and most importantly, help feed people in need! Follow all of our social media channels to see messages about the College Colors Day Wells Fargo program with a link to make those purchases. And once you do, be sure to show off that pride on social media using #CollegeColorsDay on September 4!
Longhorn Baseball Great Earns a Spot in Hall of Fame
Congrats to Texas Baseball pitching great Jim Gideon who has been selected as a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2020. A two-time first-team All-American in the mid-1970s and a member of our Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, Jim had a stellar 1975 season, posting a 17-0 record and leading our Longhorns to the National Championship! What was also really awesome that year is the fact that he was a first-team All-American and a first-team Academic All-American. A rare and truly extraordinary accomplishment! Sending a big Hook 'Em to Jim as he will be the 12th Longhorn to be enshrined in the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
A Social Media Milestone
More kudos are in order for our creative team, communications staff, coaches, student-athletes … everyone involved in helping us push our @TexasLonghorns Twitter account to 200,000 followers. It's a big step with much more to come, but thank you Longhorn Nation for following, supporting and cheering us on across all of our social media platforms!
Longhorn Nation is such a powerful force! We appreciate your continued support, your commitment to helping us through these difficult times and all you do for our student-athletes, coaches and teams. With your help, we can do this! Stay positive, keep the faith and together let's continue to move forward to the brighter days ahead.
Stay safe, be healthy and Hook 'Em Horns,
P.S. — Video board in the South End Zone of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is lookin' real nice!
HEADLINES
Board of Regents Names UT Austin Interim President Hartzell as Sole Finalist for Permanent Position
Hartzell, the former dean of the UT Austin McCombs School of Business, has been serving as interim president since June.
Video: Football fall practice preview
The Longhorns kick off fall practice on Friday, Aug. 7.
Volleyball announces the addition of Morgan O'Brien
Grad transfer and former Illinois defensive specialist Morgan O'Brien set to join Longhorns for 2020.
Kyra Lambert brings experience to young Texas team
Lambert comes to UT as a graduate transfer.
Priest Holmes NFL highlights
The Longhorn Legend (1992-94, '96) was an undrafted free agent who became a three-time Pro Bowler in the NFL.
Texas volleyball's Asjia O'Neal not deterred by two open-heart surgeries
The Texas middle blocker is looking forward to the upcoming volleyball season
The Allstate Sugar Bowl Believes in Champions
Dusty Renfro
Video: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium video board construction
A time lapse video of construction on the video board in the south endzone of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
AWARDS & RECONGITION:
Ehlinger named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list
Football ranked No. 14 in preseason coaches poll
Soccer picked fifth in the Big 12 Conference's preseason poll
Soccer's Julia Grosso selected to Preseason All-Big 12 Team
INTERVIEWS:
Video: Tom Herman post-practice media availability
