Forty Acres Insider: Aug. 25

Forty Acres Insider banner logo

Chris Del Conte head shot

Greetings Longhorn Nation,

Last week was a productive one with training continuing in preparation for fall seasons in several of our sports, virtual orientation for our student-athlete newcomers, preparations for the first week of classes and beginning the on-boarding of student-athletes for the remainder of our teams. We also received some big news from the NCAA on Friday with the blanket waiver restoring a year of eligibility for our student-athletes competing this fall. That's great news for them and something we certainly support as we move towards what will be altered seasons for our Football, Soccer, Volleyball and Cross Country teams.

As you know, our Football season opener is set with UTEP on September 12 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium and we expect to announce the kick time along with the network it will air on very soon. On Saturday, I had a chance to take in our team's second scrimmage of fall camp and Coach Herman said afterwards that he's very pleased with the progress. They really are working extremely hard, having a lot of fun and coming together as a team as we move closer to the season. This will be an enjoyable group for you to watch compete this season.

As for Soccer and Volleyball, they've been in camp for a couple weeks now and putting in their work, too. Like Football, Coach Kelly and Coach Elliott's squads are doing a great job following all of our health and safety protocols and managing the challenges of training during these unprecedented time. Coach Floréal and the Cross Country squads are returning to campus now and start up this week. Soccer's nine-match conference-only schedule was announced today and we're still awaiting all of the Big 12 plans and details for the Volleyball and Cross Country seasons, but we're eager to get things going and cheer on all of our teams this fall! Rest assured, we'll continue to keep you abreast of all the latest news and information.

UT Classes Start on Wednesday
This week, things will get a little more active around campus with our student-athletes beginning classes along with those on campus. It's a critical time for everyone to be on their "A game" with the health and safety protocols, so we can unite as one and keep our campus as safe and healthy as possible for everyone involved.

For all of campus, I want to echo the sentiments of President Hartzell who in his Monday letter to the UT community said: "If you are returning to the Forty Acres this semester, your actions — both on and off campus — will directly impact the lives and well-being of everyone around you. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to wear your masks, wash your hands consistently, practice social distancing whenever possible and embrace the tenets of the Commitment to Protect Texas Together."

And thank you to our very own Logan Eggleston from our Volleyball team for helping spread the health and safety message across our campus. Click HERE to watch the Commitment to Protect Texas Together video.

Protect Texas Together
As our student-athletes continue to train and prepare for the upcoming seasons, many of their classmates that will be living in town and on campus began returning last week in preparation for the start of classes on Wednesday. With the number of folks on the Forty Acres growing significantly, now is truly a time for all of us to unite, and our campus partners have generated a ton of information to prepare the incoming students with their #ProtectTexasTogether initiatives. I encourage everyone to take a look through all of the protocols and plans and take every precaution possible as we continue to manage this pandemic and stay healthy. It's imperative we take care of ourselves and those around us, all wear our facial coverings, maintain social distancing, wash our hands regularly and use hand sanitizer so we can do our part in this health crisis to keep our campus flourishing and fall sports seasons on schedule. Together, we got this, so Longhorn Nation, let's get it done!

Hall of Honor Class Announcement Coming Wednesday
The next class of our Texas Athletics Hall of Honor will be announced on Wednesday, and it's certainly a spectacular group of Longhorns once again. I can't tell you who they are just yet, but we were so honored to reach out to each and every one of them to share the great news over the past several days. It's a proud group of Longhorns, and they were all thrilled to be selected to what is among the greatest honors anyone associated with Texas Athletics can receive. All totaled, there are 14 honorees, and although we are still working on plans for the induction ceremony, we want to celebrate them now and share this great news with all of you! We will start rolling out each honoree on our T-Association social media accounts (Twitter: @txtassociation / IG: @tassociation) and pay tribute to these Longhorn Legends all day long across all of our social media platforms and TexasSports.com. Join in the fun, share your memories, congratulate these UT greats and help us honor and celebrate them!

This Just Warms My Heart
When we discuss health and safety protocols, make plans and determine the best way to manage the pandemic, the 'why' is always the well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, fans and Longhorn Nation. This quote from Sam Ehlinger from a media call last week just warms my heart knowing that our student-athletes feel safe and have complete trust in everything we're doing to create the healthiest environment possible.

"Texas is taking the best care of us and has every single detail thought out to protect us from the virus. We feel comfortable being here. And we feel more comfortable being here than if we were at home. Talking with players from other schools, we feel that The University of Texas is the gold standard for controlling and protecting the players."

Season Ticket Holders Deadline Set for Aug. 31
We shared more information with our dedicated and supportive Football season ticket holders and Longhorn Foundation members last week and are continuing to reach out personally to each and every one of you. It's important for you all to note that with the schedule in place and the season opener versus UTEP on the horizon, 2020 Texas Football season ticket holders have until Monday, Aug. 31, to let us know what you would like to do with your ticket payment this year. Our staff is busy calling every season ticket holder account to review their ticket location and options. If you haven't heard from us yet, please don't panic. We've got over 14,000 calls to make so we thank you for your patience. Whether you are opting out of your season tickets this year or keeping them, you must speak with a Texas Athletics representative on or before Aug. 31, 2020, in order to finalize your payment decision. For the many we've spoken with and completed details, thank you, and to all those we are connecting with soon, we look forward to our conversations. And most importantly, thank you for being the wind beneath our wings and staying committed to Texas Athletics during this very unique and challenging time.

Get Your My Texas Fan Cutout Today!
As much as we'd like to see all of your actual faces in DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium this year, this might be the next best thing if you're not able to be with us! For just $50 we've got limited edition "My Texas Fan Cutouts" available for purchase for the 2020 season. You can upload your favorite picture of yourself, a family member, or even good ole Fido (your favorite pet, ha!) showing their Texas pride! You might even see yourself or that special loved one on TV! Hurry up and get yours now because the orders are first-come, first-served, and if you get it placed by August 31, it's guaranteed to be inside the stadium by the first game. Not only that, you'll be helping us supply health and safety resources to our nearly 600 student-athletes, including weekly COVID-19 testing, special health monitoring related to COVID-19, clean masks and face shields. It will also help toward new initiatives for student-athletes like virtual tutoring, grab n' go meals, on-campus hand sanitization stations, and assistance with digital books and learning resources. So get yours today at TexasSports.com/Cutouts! Also a big thanks goes out to Ricoh, our Official Provider of Workplace Technology, who will produce and install all of your shining Longhorn faces! We can't wait to see them on game day!

The G.O.A.T.
How about this beauty of a social media post, featuring the G.O.A.T. himself, Eddie Reese. Talk about creative juices and delivering awesome content, this takes the cake! Huge shout out to our social media, creative content and communication teams for all of their efforts in generating fun, informative and engaging content.

Off to a Rousing Lone Star Showdown Start as #CollegeColorsDay Approaches
Hey Longhorns, we recently shared all the details on the College Colors Day that is coming up on September 4, and we're off to a rousing start! Remember, 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! Your Longhorn gear purchases since we first shared this have already helped supply 132,800 meals so far to Central Texas families. That is really awesome, and I know there's a lot more to come, so let's keep putting 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!

Click HERE to get your Texas team gear so we get the appropriate credit and defeat those Aggies.

Sweet Kicks!
Speaking of cool Texas gear, if you haven't seen these sweet kicks, they're a must for every Longhorn Fan. They're available now at the team shop link above so get your order in before they all get scooped up!

In Memoriam: Bob Brock
Last week we lost Bob Brock, a Longhorn Legend, member of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor and standout on our 1949 and 1950 National Championship Baseball teams. Bob passed away at the age of 92. He was one of the leading hitters on both National Championship teams, batting .354 in 1949 and .377 in 1950. He had a standout final season in 1950, earning second-team All-America honors and leading the Longhorns in hits, doubles and stolen bases, while batting a spectacular .454 in the CWS. Bob went on to a wonderful career after baseball as a Certified Public Accountant and he later served as president of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor and T-Association.

Classes are starting, training continues, schedules are coming together and we continue to move forward in a positive direction towards the fall semester and sports seasons. There have been many obstacles, challenges and changes, but Longhorn Nation is a resilient one, and our student-athletes and teams are an awesome reflection of that. Keep those Horns up, and let's get ready to continue the Texas Fight that is unifying us as the powerful force that is Longhorn Nation!

Stay safe, be healthy and Hook 'Em Horns,

Chris del Conte signature

Here's hoping that these will inspire you to have a great week!

HEADLINES

Division I to work toward hosting fall championships in spring
DI Board of Directors also adopts student-athlete protections due to COVID-19

Video: Welcome back Texas Athletics
Several UT programs have been on campus training for their fall seasons for several weeks and Texas Athletics virtual orientation took place earlier this week.

Video: Sam Ehlinger senior season preview
The fourth-year quarterback ranks among the top players at the position in Texas Football history.

Video: Football defensive backs practice highlights
The latest installation in Texas Football's RAW series features the Longhorns' defensive backs.

Video: Football scrimmage highlights
The Longhorns wrapped up their second scrimmage of the fall this past Saturday.

Video: Sam Ehlinger bowl game scores
The senior QB has produced eight touchdowns in three bowl game appearances.

#WhatStartsHere: Alisha Sare
The former Women's Basketball standout has had a successful career in advertising and technology.

INTERVIEWS:

Football trio earn preseason honors

Eight Longhorns named to 2020 USA Men's Swimming National Team

Cox named to 2020 USA Women's Swimming National Team

INTERVIEWS:

Video: Tom Herman post-practice media availability

Video: Ta'Quon Graham media availability

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics