Forty Acres Insider: Oct. 26 - University of Texas Athletics

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Longhorn Nation,

It's the final week of October, Halloween is Sunday, and that means Basketball season is right around the corner. I'd imagine many of you have been able to follow its progress on your jaunts down I-35 or through our webcam on TexasSports.com, but WOW, the Moody Center is lookin' real nice these days! As it steadily nears completion, it gets more and more spectacular by the day. It will be a truly magnificent venue and one rowdy and raucous hoops environment. I know y'all are just as excited as all of us with tickets going on sale for the Grand Opening Celebration show featuring George Strait, Willie Nelson and company in April. That means we're full speed ahead, and by about this time next year, Longhorn Basketball will be taking the center stage at one amazing venue, and we're really looking forward to that. But right now, the business at hand is closing out a memorable run at our longtime home, the Frank Erwin Center, with our top-25 Men's and Women's Basketball teams tipping off very soon.

Coach Beard and Coach Schaefer are putting in the work and have the teams amped up and set for what promises to be entertaining seasons! With that in mind, now is the time to get on board and make those season ticket purchases because only 2021-22 season ticket holders will have priority to purchase season tickets at the Moody Center for the 2022-23 Texas Basketball season. We can't wait to see the Erwin Center charged up and rockin' out for one more season and absolutely want you along for the glorious ride into a breathtaking new basketball experience in the Moody Center. So don't miss out, get your tickets and bring that Texas passion and pride to the Drum for one more year! Men's and Women's season tickets are on sale now and start at $99 apiece. Come out all season and help us celebrate the final season at the Erwin Center in what's shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated ones in Texas Basketball history.

While we're talking hoops, it was great to see fans back inside the Erwin Center supporting our basketball programs this past week. Last Wednesday night, Coach Beard opened the doors to UT students for an open practice and the event drew an excellent crowd and rave reviews. Coach Schaefer followed suit during Sunday's Orange-White scrimmage that showcased the improved depth and talented newcomers on our Women's team. The No. 5-ranked Men will be in action at home on Monday, Nov. 1 (7:30 p.m. CT/LHN) in an exhibition contest against Texas Lutheran, which is coached by Longhorn legend Mike Wacker, and admission is free! The No. 25-ranked Women will face Oklahoma Baptist in an exhibition presented by American Campus Communities in coordination with Student Government and Texas SAAC on Thursday, Nov. 4 (7 p.m. CT/LHN) at Gregory Gym, and admission is also free for that game.

In the meantime, it's another big week for our Football squad as they head to Waco to face No. 16 Baylor in a pivotal Big 12 matchup on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT (ABC). Coach Sark and the team are coming off a pair of heartbreaking losses to top-10 teams in Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, but they're re-energized, have been hard at work, and need all of our positive vibes to help them bounce back this week. Get that Burnt Orange and White ready, and whether you're able to be at the stadium or gathering with other Longhorn faithful far and wide, let's give them our best Texas Fight! Keep those Horns held high, and I know they'll pour their hearts out to bring home a win! It's back on the road at Iowa State next Saturday, then we've got two of our final three games at home versus Kansas on Nov. 13 and Kansas State on the Friday after Thanksgiving at 11 a.m. (FOX). You can still get your single-game tickets for those games, so remember, Home is Where the Horns Are, and let's keep those wonderful gameday gigantic family reunions going strong!

Volleyball brings home another win, Coach Elliott becomes our all-time winningest coach
It was another two-match road sweep for our No. 1-ranked Longhorn Volleyball squad at Iowa State last weekend. With the pair of wins, that's 18-striaght road victories dating back to 2019! Saturday's win had added awesomeness as it was Coach Elliott's 523rd at Texas, making him the winningest coach in our Volleyball program's history (surpassing Mick Haley, who won 522 from 1980-96). He has many more ahead of him, we are so darn lucky to have him leading UT, and a huge Hook 'Em on a memorable and historic Saturday in Ames! The victory was fueled by a balanced attack over the two matches with Skylar Fields leading the way 20 kills, followed by Logan Eggleston (18) and Molly Phillips (17). And shots galore were being swatted led by the blocking machine Asjia O'Neal with back-to-back nine block efforts, while Brionne Butler and Molly Phillips each had 11. Of course, Asjia also received a well-deserved Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award for her efforts. Meanwhile, setter extraordinaire Jhenna Gabriel once again smoothly guided the offense with 61 assists. Our Horns are now 17-0 overall, 8-0 in the Big 12 and heading into a bye week before traveling to Waco for a big-time conference clash with No. 10 Baylor on Friday, Nov. 5 (8 p.m. CT/ESPNU) and Saturday, Nov. 6 (6 p.m. CT).

Soccer remains unbeaten for 11-straight matches
With a win and a tie last week, our Soccer Longhorns just keep rollin' right along as Coach Ange Kelly and her squad remain unbeaten over their last 11 matches. It started with a gritty, hard-fought 0-0 (2 OT) tie against West Virginia on Thursday and was followed by a 2-1 Senior Day win over Oklahoma State on Sunday. It was so wonderful seeing eight senior student-athletes celebrated by family and friends after a huge win over the Cowgirls that kept hope alive for a potential Big 12 regular-season title with one league match to go. Speaking of seniors, what a Senior Day it was for honoree Mackenzie McFarland as she picked a great time to score her first career brace (for you soccer novices, that's two goals) while powering the team to another important dub. There's only one match remaining in the 2021 regular season, but it's a critical one on the road at Kansas on Thursday at 7 p.m. CT. Scenario-wise, a TCU tie or loss at Texas Tech, and a Texas win would hand our Horns their second Big 12 regular season title. It's crunch time, so let's cheer hard and bring 'em home! Regardless of the results, next up we'll be hosting the Big 12 Championship tourney starting on Halloween day in Round Rock. Stay tuned to TexasSports.com and our social media platforms for all the details and make plans to meet us at the pitch!

As Baseball opens Fall Ball, Softball wrapped up fall season.
I know it's October, but spring was in the air as we had Fall Baseball action last weekend, and what a great turnout it was to see Coach Pierce and our Horns. It was a beautiful day at UFCU Disch-Falk Field and awesome seeing the excitement for our Baseball program as it took down San Jacinto College in a unique 14-inning scrimmage. And they'll be back at it at the Disch this Sunday at 1 p.m. CT against McClennan Community College. Come join us and enjoy and fun day of hardball! As for Coach White and our Softball squad, chalk up a perfect fall season as they closed it out with a Saturday home doubleheader sweep over Temple College (13-0) and UTSA (15-1) to wrap up at 7-0. Over the entire fall campaign, the offense out-scored its seven opponents by a combined score of 100-13, while posting 28 doubles, six triples and 14 homers. As a pitching staff, four hurlers combined to allow just eight earned runs over 59 innings for a miniscule 0.95 ERA and 73 strikeouts. Those outstanding efforts make us even more excited for February and the 2022 Softball season to commence!

Cross Country headed to Big 12 Championships
Coach Flo and our Cross Country squads will be the first fall sports teams to compete at a Big 12 Championship as they head to Oklahoma on Friday. It will be our Longhorns' second trip to Stillwater this season, this time with Big 12 Championships on the line. The Men are movin' on up as they climbed 10 spots in the USTFCCCA rankings to No. 14, their highest ranking since 2013, led by Haftu Knight, who's helped our Horns finish in the top 6 of their three meets this season. Beth Ramos and Eva Jess continue to lead the pack for the Women. Beth has had the top finish in three of the four meets, while Eva continues to set personal bests in her collegiate debut season.

You still have time. Let's see that creativity — Moody Center court design contest has a few days left!
Last week, we launched a court design contest for fans to submit their best designs for the new basketball court that will inspire the final court design at the Moody Center next fall. I've seen some amazing work and can't wait to see what the rest y'all come up with in the stretch run! The deadline to submit is November 1, so let's see what you've got!!

Mark your calendars for November 9
Join us as we tip off the farewell season at the Erwin Center for Men's and Women's Basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 9. We've got an old school doubleheader planned as Coach Schaefer and the Women get things going at 5:30 p.m. CT against New Orleans followed by Coach Beard and the Men at 8 p.m. against Houston Baptist. Tickets are $10 to catch both of these games and all seats will be general admission that night. Stay tuned for more information on all the festivities and giveaways planned for what will be an incredible evening of basketball.

In closing, October 25th is always a difficult day for me as it's the day 21 years ago that I tragically lost my father. But it's also an inspirational day as it brings back so many great memories. He was my hero, and I'll never forget all the life lessons he taught me, most importantly, his mantra of be humble, be honest and serve others. I do my best to make him proud each and every day and miss him dearly. And with that, I'll leave you with one of his quotes that hangs proudly in my office – "Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough: give the world the best you've got anyway."

Here's hoping everyone has a week filled with fun, family, friends and Longhorn sports as we head into the end of October. Have some tricks, teats and a fantastic Halloween weekend, too.

Hook 'Em Horns,

Chris Del Conte

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Chris Del Conte