Forty Acres Insider: October 29

Chris Del Conte head shot

Longhorn Nation,

What an incredible scene it was in Music City where the sweetest tune was singing The Eyes of Texas with y'all after a gritty, hard-fought Longhorn win over a top-25 Vanderbilt squad. And when I say singing with y'all, I mean WOW, FIRSTBANK STADIUM WAS AN ABSOLUTE SEA OF BURNT ORANGE & WHITE and just like Coach Sark and our squad, Longhorn Nation brought the Texas Fight all the livelong day. Our guys were laser-focused on a bounce-back win, played their hearts out and y'all were right there giving us your best Texas Fight, too! Coach Sark said during the week that "we've got to get up off the mat … and get back to playing our brand and our style of football." We had a chip on our shoulder, had something to prove, and we did just that in a 27-24 victory. Our Horns took dead aim (like Moore bullseyes from the Mighty Quinn — see what I did there!) on a ninth-straight road victory and closed out a glorious evening with the traditional triumphant tune of Texas Fight in the locker room after the game! That takes us into a bye week for some much-needed R&R with a 7-1 record and 3-1 mark in the SEC. There's a whole lot of football in front of us, but we are positioned very well for the final stretch of the regular season. Speaking of the homestretch, we've got a lot of that going on in our SEC Championship season debut this week and early next week as Cross Country heads to the conference championship meet on Friday and Soccer is off to the SEC Tournament starting Tuesday, Nov. 5. And we've got a top-six matchup at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center on Friday so make it a double-header with that and Volleyball (vs. Missouri, 8 p.m.), too. November is upon us, all our sports are revved up and full speed ahead, it's such an awesome time to be a Longhorn!

safe travels back, Longhorn Nation 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/cggoMoBp22
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 26, 2024

With another hurdle cleared like a Bijan two-step touchdown, it's a chance for our No. 6-ranked Longhorns to recharge with a bye week in preparation for a return DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium and another amazing Longhorn Party awaits with Florida coming to town a week from Saturday (Nov. 9). It's going to be an early one, so be ready to get up and go for all the pregame festivities and morning kick (11 a.m. CT/ABC) as we honor our nation's service members, veterans, and their families with our annual Salute to Service game with Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11.

Football may be off for the weekend, but there is plenty of Longhorn action to get your Horns Up for. TITLES ARE ON THE LINE as our Horns will be competing in our first-ever SEC Championship with Coach Flo and Cross Country traveling east to College Station for the conference championship meet (9:05 a.m. CT women/9:45 a.m. CT men/SEC Network). Coach Kelly and Soccer will be next in line as they closed out their regular season at home, downing Missouri, 3-1, last Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. It was a TRULY SPECIAL SENIOR NIGHT to boot and we're grateful to y'all for coming out to support the team! We followed that up with a 1-0 victory at Georgia on Sunday to finish the regular season at 13-3-2 overall and 6-3-1 in year one of the SEC. Now they'll get a little break before it's off to the SEC Tournament as the No. 3 seed in Pensacola, Fla. As a top-four-seed, we earned a first-round bye and our first match will be Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. CT (SEC Network). The postseason is here so look out, here come the Horns!

Longhorns for life 🫶🤘#HookEm | #RunWithTexas pic.twitter.com/ozU13YMAN2
— Texas Soccer (@TexasSoccer) October 25, 2024

As our SEC-leading Volleyball squad continues to have its eyes on the prize, here's a HUGE SHOUTOUT TO OUR LONGHORN FAITHFUL. It was a tough five-set loss to Texas A&M last Wednesday, but y'all hung in there by our side and brought the Texas Fight to the bitter end! Coach Elliott and our squad is getting some much-needed rest and recovery with a nine-day break, but we'll get right back at it with Georgia coming to The Greg on Friday (8 p.m. CT/SEC Network+) followed by a Sunday home Red River Rivalry matchup versus Oklahoma (1 p.m. CT/SEC Network+). Let's raise the roof again and help our Horns get back on the winning track! See you there!!

lookin' like a good week ahead 🤘#HookEm | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/iCh4m0suTe
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 28, 2024

It's time to get ready to stampede into Basketball season folks and thank you so much for joining us last week for Coach Schaefer and our Women's Basketball Orange-White Scrimmage. It was a fun night in Moody Center and this week you've got another chance to cheer them on and continue to get in the Mood with an exhibition game against UT-Tyler on Thursday (7 p.m. CT). Coach Terry and Men's Hoops are in preseason prep and readying to tip off the 2024 campaign this coming Monday in Las Vegas against Ohio State (9 p.m. CT/TNT).

back in Moody on Thursday 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/f7GREDif5x
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) October 28, 2024

THAT'S JUST THE START, there are so many more of our squads in action with Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving hosting a combined marquee meet in a top-six matchup with Indiana on Friday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Women's Golf, Women's Tennis and Beach Volleyball are competing on the road, too.

make your plans for our top-4 matchup on Friday 🤘 pic.twitter.com/rxOxtVOSYa
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) October 28, 2024

While I've got you, here's a huge shoutout and emphatic Hook 'Em Horns to our football leader, classroom champion, and offensive lineman extraordinaire Jake Majors. Jake was recently named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy that goes to the absolute best in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. He's the 13th Longhorn to earn the prestigious NFF Scholar-Athlete award and is looking to join Dallas Griffin (2007) and Sam Acho (2010) as Longhorn Campbell Trophy winners. Coach Sark delivered the news to the team during last Wednesday's team meeting to rousing applause from Jake's teammates. We appreciate the shoutout from Sam, too! What a well-deserved honor for a great player and even better person. Congrats Jake!

Congratulations to @jakob_majors on being named a 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy finalist and a member of the 2024 #NFF National Scholar-Athlete class, presented by @Fidelity!@TexasLonghorns | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/3GZnunc5iS
— National Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) October 23, 2024

And in closing before we get to all the notes, we were excited to announce last week that Vince Young will be representing us as our Longhorn Legend at the SEC Championship Game. It's the conference's annual tradition to honor an assemblage of former football standouts at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta and VY will be our guy. The class will be honored at the 2024 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" December 6-7, highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, December 6 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, December 7. What better choice to be there representing the Burnt Orange & White!

Vince Young has been named a member of 2024 SEC Legends Class 🤘 @VinceYoung10 x @SEC pic.twitter.com/TXWZ6xmHeE
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 22, 2024

There's nothing like the Longhorn Family! Longhorn Nation shines wherever we line up and compete. We are so doggone grateful for each and every one of you!!

oh my, Longhorn Nation 🤩#HookEm pic.twitter.com/V5TbjgL5NJ
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 26, 2024

Football picks up first true road win as a member of the SEC

Well folks, the team from the Live Music Capital went into Music City and came away with a 27-24 ranked victory over No. 25 Vanderbilt for our first true road win as a member of the SEC! And what an exciting game it was as Coach Sark and the Horns overcame some early adversity to start it off, got on roll, and didn't surrender the lead again. Quinn was en fuego in the second quarter with a stretch of 17-FOR-17, which is the third-longest string of completions in our storied program's history (he owns the record at 19, too, by the way), while our receivers were snagging everything, and the running backs were doing their work. Michael Taaffe and the defense were taking the ball away, and Bert was making all his kicks for another game of complimentary football. A special congrats goes out to Mr. Taaffe, too, as his play didn't go unnoticed. He was not only named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week, but he's also the national Burlsworth Player of the Week, which goes to any player who is a walk-on or former walk-on. So, what an awesome day it was to open our road history in the SEC with the win and dance to the music!

Kick off the week with some Monday Morning Highlights 🎥☕️ pic.twitter.com/VPDnUP7JVi
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 28, 2024

Michael Taaffe • SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week 🤘@MichaelTaaffe4 x @SEC pic.twitter.com/Vv1tNjdjXD
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 28, 2024

Volleyball looks to bounce back with pair of home matches this weekend

Last week didn't go as planned for Coach Elliott and Volleyball, as our ladies dropped a hard-fought five-set match to Texas A&M on Wednesday. The loss snapped a nine-match winning streak for the Longhorns and ended our unbeaten start to SEC play. But all that means is that it's time to start a new winning streak and we'll get that started at home this week. After a well-deserved layoff, the Horns are back in action with two matches this weekend at The Greg. The weekend starts with a Friday match against Missouri (8 p.m. CT/SEC Network) before Oklahoma comes to Austin on Sunday (1 p.m. CT/SEC Network+).

Soccer gains momentum and heads to SEC Tournament as a top-four seed!

How about Coach Kelly and our Soccer team! Our ladies have now won four of their last five matches to enter the postseason on a serious roll. We began last week sitting in fifth place in the SEC standings, but thanks to a pair of impressive wins the Longhorns vaulted up to third heading into next week's SEC Tournament! We got things started last Thursday on a special Senior Night here at Mike A. Myers Stadium, as our ladies claimed a 3-1 victory over Missouri. Following that emotional evening, the Longhorns took their Texas Fight on the road and brought back a 1-0 win at Georgia on Sunday afternoon. And you-know-who, that's right Lexi Missimo, notched the game-winner against the Bulldogs with a terrific goal. The final seeds and pairings for the SEC Tournament have not been determined but we have clinched a top-four seed and a first-round bye, so we'll open play next Tuesday (Nov. 5) in Pensacola, Fla.

this senior class >>>#HookEm | #RunWithTexas pic.twitter.com/fIMDNzj6Sx
— Texas Soccer (@TexasSoccer) October 25, 2024

Cheer on Men's and Women's Swim & Dive this Friday against Indiana!

It's a top-6 matchup coming right here to the Forty Acres, when our No. 4 Men and No. 4 Women's Swimming and Diving teams host No. 4/6 Indiana this Friday for a thrilling dual meet. Our beautiful Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center will host Olympians for a meet and greet in addition to photo opportunities with Director of Swimming and Head Men's Swimming Coach Bob Bowman prior to the action getting started. You can enjoy happy hour prices, and the first 500 fans will receive free koozies! Hook 'Em, Texas Cheer and more will be in attendance to bring the fun and noise, and fans can enjoy an electric performance in the pool in a unique scoring format that will feature a combined men's and women's point total to conclude the night starting at 5:30. Come on out, bring the noise and welcome the Hoosiers to the Forty!

Trio of Longhorn legends selected for induction into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame!

I need to send a big-time Hook 'Em to not one, not two, but THREE Longhorn Legends on their respective selections into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Football's Cedric Benson and Todd Dodge along with our current Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director/Chief of Staff Chris Plonsky will be inducted as members of the Class of 2025 on Saturday, Feb. 15 in the BASE at Extraco Events Center in Waco. This year's prestigious class features eight outstanding members, and it's a testament to our great university's winning tradition that three of the eight made their mark here on the Forty Acres.

congrats to our @TXSportsHOF Class of 2025 selections 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/b0OOo27qbj
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) October 25, 2024

Hook 'Em Horns,

Chris Del Conte

P.S. — We see ya my friend, thanks for the support, Sergio!

This would be a great golf foursome 🤘

Cheering on @TexasVolleyball with @TheSergioGarcia and former UT women's golfer @TheAngelaAkins #HookEm pic.twitter.com/TAAJlbukTc
— Texas Women's Golf (@TexasWGolf) October 24, 2024

P.S. — What Starts Here!

Always a golden time celebrating Paris Olympians back on campus! 🥇🤘@TexasLonghorns x #OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/twRA0EtEcC
— NCAA (@NCAA) October 22, 2024

P.S. — Hey there Rocket, thanks for coming out!

Hey, @rogerclemens 🤘 pic.twitter.com/Xef05E7src
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) October 26, 2024

P.S. — Love our fans, thanks for coming out for Women's Basketball's Orange-White scrimmage!

had the best time with y'all 🫶🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/gtaJm52a74
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) October 25, 2024

P.S. — This is AWESOME … The Eyes of the Nation are on Texas Volleyball!

the biggest audience in college volleyball 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/edptbs4qPb
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) October 25, 2024

P.S. — LOVE THIS!

a warm welcome back to Coach Gus' daughter, Jann Gustafson Sheppherd! 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/uemRXn900C
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) October 24, 2024

P.S. — Fun Day of Fall Baseball!

thanks for hanging, Longhorn Nation 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/8spgA6j1Tc
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) October 26, 2024

we love spending time with our Longhorn fam 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Nyiq4dm5n6
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) October 27, 2024

P.S. — RT and his guys connecting with our student spirit groups!

Julian, Arthur and I had a blast last night visiting with the @TexasDarlins! Appreciate your support and please bring that same great energy inside @MoodyCenterATX for ALL of our home games. #HookEm 🤘🏾 pic.twitter.com/USLupKkbJT
— Rodney Terry (@RodneyTerry) October 24, 2024

HEADLINES:

Laila Phelia selected to Ann Meyers Drysdale Shooting Guard of the Year watch list

No. 19/19 Men's Basketball's Johnson named to Jerry West Award preseason watch list

No. 6/6 Football's Taaffe hauls in Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week

No. 4 Women's Golf completes round one of Nanea Invitational

Video: Steve Sarkisian press conference (Oct. 28)

Rori Harmon selected to Nancy Lieberman Award Point Guard of the Year watch list

No. 19/19 Men's Basketball's Pope named to Bob Cousy Award preseason watch list

No. 6/6 Football's Taafe garners SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors

Trio from No. 4 Women's Basketball named to Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Watch List

Video: No. 5/6 Football highlights vs. Vanderbilt (Oct. 26)

Video: Steve Sarkisian postgame press conference (Oct. 26)