The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
06.29.2021 | 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>]
Longhorn Nation,
Well, it certainly was another eventful week on the Forty Acres with Baseball's College World Series run in Omaha, Track & Field Olympians punching their tickets to Tokyo at the U.S. Olympic Trials and beyond, and our Texas Athletics teams closing out a historic year. Baseball's third-place tie marked the seventh top-three finish at the NCAA Championships for our Longhorns this season. With all of the challenges and adversity 2020-21 brought, we rallied and remained united in our quest for excellence. Our programs brought us three Natties, a runner-up finish, seven Top-3's, nine Top-5's and 13 Top-10's to go along with 13 Big 12 Championships. We're awaiting those Learfield IMG Directors' Cup rankings and anticipating we'll be the ones to snap Stanford's 28-year hold on that beacon of all-sports success. What a year it was, and the future is so, so bright! I am beyond proud, grateful and appreciative of all of our student-athletes, coaches and staff who put in the yeoman's effort to lead us to such extraordinary accomplishments. And to all of you awesome fans, thank you for being the wind beneath our wings! I must say, it's good to be a Longhorn!!
For our Baseball program, it wasn't the outcome we ultimately wanted, but I couldn't be prouder of Coach Pierce and our Longhorns. What a wild ride they took us on this year from winning the Big 12 Championship on the final day of the regular season, to rolling through the Regional and Super Regional, to an absolutely thrilling run in Omaha. I'll never forget this 50-win season and CWS filled with weather delays, late-game heroics and victories that came in the wee hours of the morning. This season had it all, and Longhorn Nation was right there with us in Omaha or at home pounding the coffee table and cheering our hearts out. All the way to that final out in the gut-wrenching CWS Semifinal loss to Mississippi State late Saturday night, our Horns displayed that Texas Fight, and we are so grateful for the joy they brought to all of us! We came up one run short of the CWS Championship Series, but The University of Texas at Omaha will be back, that's for certain. The future is so bright for Texas Baseball you'll need shades!!
If you wondered why they say Coach Flo Knows, now you know! It started with another historic day for our long jumper extraordinaire Tara Davis who punched her ticket to Tokyo with a pair of 23-foot leaps to close out her U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday. Tara now has the top 13 women's long jump marks in Texas history, is the first Texas women's long jumper to make the Olympics for Team USA and is ready to go for the Gold later this summer! On Sunday, her long-jumping teammate Steffin McCarter joined her in punching his ticket to Tokyo by matching his career-best jump of 27-1.25. He had two jumps beyond 27-feet at the trials and now has four of the top seven marks in UT history with only Longhorn Legends Eric Metcalf and Marquise Goodwin jumping longer. He joins Marquise as just the second Longhorn to earn a bid with Team USA in the men's long jump. Tara and Steffin will be with four other Longhorn Track & Field greats, past and present, at the Tokyo Games with Ryan Crouser setting the World Record in the shot put to earn his spot, as well as Teahna Daniels (100m), both for Team USA, Stacey Ann Williams (4x400 relay) for Jamaica, and Jonathan Jones (400m) for Barbados!
Last week we had Ariel Atkins named to the U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball team, Chiaka Ogbogu earned a spot on Team USA in Volleyball earlier, and on Monday it was announced our very own Kevin Durant, K.D., will be leading our great country's Men's Basketball team in Tokyo. We also have our first-ever Longhorn Olympians in Women's Rowing and Soccer as Texas Ex Gia Doonan was named to the Team USA Rowing squad, and last week, current Longhorn Julia Grosso earned a spot on the Canadian Olympic team in women's soccer. The Olympians keep on rolling in, and we can't wait to celebrate all of them when The Games of the XXXII Olympiad commence in Tokyo in late July.
And how about our outstanding Volleyball student-athlete Asjia O'Neal and her truly heartwarming and inspirational story?! Last week she was named the winner of the prestigious Honda Sports Inspirational Award, and with all of the adversity she's overcome, she is so deserving. We are beyond proud of her and lucky to have her as a part of the Texas Athletics Family. Kudos and a huge Hook 'Em Asjia, can't wait to cheer you and Texas Volleyball on in 2021!
As we head into the summer months, and the Olympic Games and preseason workouts continue, we have exciting things coming in the fall, and I want to keep them fresh on your mind. Let's keep those Football Season Ticket deposits rolling in. Seeing full houses at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in June was invigorating, and that's just a teaser of what's to come. I just can't wait to have 100,000-plus at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 4 for the biggest Longhorn Family Reunion ever! If you've ever wanted to become a season ticket holder, this is the time to do it as all annual seat-related gifts will be locked for years to come. But please know, this is the final season to lock in annual seat-related gifts for life. Wednesday, June 30 (at 5 p.m. CT) will be the final day that fans can place a Texas Football season ticket deposit and be able to participate in the seat selection and parking process. Fans waiting until 2022 to purchase season tickets will be subject to periodic increases in their seat-related gift. Be a part of it all by placing your season ticket deposit today for only $199 per seat. It's just a click (online at TexasSports.com/Renewals) or phone call (512-471-3333) away to secure your spot to celebrate alongside us and cheer on the Horns!
We'll take a few weeks off from our Forty Acres Insider as we head into July, so here's to wishing everyone an awesome summer. Take some time, enjoy your family and friends, and know we'll be continuing to prepare for another great year in 2021-22. We can't wait to see you in the fall, and until then, keep you Horns Up!
Stay safe, be healthy and Hook 'Em Horns,
Chris Del Conte
Chris Del Conte
P.S. — This says it all, Olympic Dreams are powerful, and we are all so proud of you Tara!
P.S. II – A special season indeed! Thank you Texas Baseball, we really enjoyed the ride!!
P.S. III – Uniting the Family! What could better than hosting our Longhorn Legend and the Tennessee Volunteers in the final year of the Erwin Center? Look forward to seeing you Coach Barnes!
HEADLINES
Men's Basketball to host Tennessee in 2022 Big 12/SEC Challenge
The Longhorns face the Volunteers in the Frank Erwin Center on Saturday, Jan. 29.
Soccer's Julia Grosso named to Canadian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020
The Vancouver, British Columbia, native becomes the first Olympian in Texas soccer history.
Rowing's Raggi and Jensen selected to U.S. National Team for World U23 Championships
The 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships are set for July 7-11.
Volleyball tops 2021 Big 12 Preseason poll
The Longhorns are the preseason pick to win the conference for the 11th consecutive year.
Volleyball's Eggleston named Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year
The Longhorns landed five total players on the preseason All-Big 12 volleyball team.
Baseball's Madden named D1Baseball All-American
Ty Madden has been named to five total All-American teams, including a pair of second teams.
Baseball falls to Mississippi State in the College World Series
The Longhorns' season ends with a 50-17 record and one game shy of the College World Series finals.
Baseball survives again with 8-5 win over Mississippi State
Ivan Melendez hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to lead the Longhorns to victory.
Baseball stays alive with 6-2 win over Virginia
The Longhorns are one of the final four teams remaining at the College World Series.
Baseball beats Tennessee 8-4 in CWS elimination game
Tanner Witt pitched 5 2/3 shutout innings in relief to lead the Longhorns to victory.
Baseball's Tulowitzki named to USA Baseball Collegiate National Team staff
The Longhorn assistant coach will work with the collegiate team throughout July.
