Important news happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. [Forty Acres Insider archives]
It was another wonderful Saturday with all of you on the Forty Acres, and one that, like our lockerroom scene postgame, included a whole lot of Texas Fight! It's always such a blast seeing y'all while we take in some festive fun & sun on Bevo Blvd, Smokey's Midway and Longhorn City Limits before taking it into DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to cheer on our Horns. Y'all did that big-time again, packing the house to historic proportions with our third-largest home crowd (102,520). That's back-to-back 100k attendance games for the first time in five years. And combined with the all-time record crowd of 105,213 for the Alabama game, that's, count 'em up, 207,733 screamin' Bevo fans fillin' the stands at DKR the past two weeks — the best two-game total in our rich and storied Longhorn history.
Live from Austin, Saturday Night was certainly live! DKR was thumpin' and jumpin', with the Hook 'Ems held high and the cheers surrounding the stadium, loud and proud. Our squad knew they were facing a feisty UTSA bunch that had the game clearly circled on the calendar and upset on their minds, but our top-25 ranked Horns were having none of that. After a slow start and early 17-7 deficit, Coach Sark and the Horns put all gas to work. With the grit, determination and mental toughness that is becoming a trademark of this team, we put the pedal to the metal in throttling the Road Runners, 34-3, over the final three quarters of a convincing 41-20 triumph. From Bijan Robinson's 78-yard TD run to Jahdae Barron's interception return for a score, it was a total team effort in a stretch that was fabulous to watch as we closed out non-conference play and head into Big 12 action this week in a hostile environment at Texas Tech (2:30 p.m. CT/ESPN). Whether you're in Lubbock with us or watching at home, we know you'll be sharing that patented pride and passion as we all pull for our Longhorns to put over one more win!
In addition to that fantastic day of Football, it sure was an awesome time on the Forty Acres last week. There were a pair of victories in front of our hometown fans for Soccer and Volleyball, and on Friday night it was a joyous homecoming and celebration of the 2022 Class of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor as we welcomed in our 11 new inductees. Then on Saturday, we gave them all another curtain call with an on-field recognition of the group that is now enshrined with the best of the best to wear the Burnt Orange and White in the Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.
What a week it was, and now we're right back at it with Football, Soccer and Volleyball kicking off Big 12 Conference play this week. We know you'll be there cheering right along with us, so let's get those Horns Up High and Hook 'Em!
Football takes down UTSA with epic second-half surge Wow, what a night it was Saturday as we got to bring our Longhorn family together for the THIRD straight week to open the season. Y'all showed up and showed out once again and were treated to a great performance by Coach Sark and our lads to the tune of a 41-20 victory over UTSA. The Roadrunners came out of the gates fast, and even though it wasn't the start to the game our team was looking for, they hit that clutch and shifted gears when they needed to and were en fuego from the second quarter on. What can you say about our man Bijan Robinson? Not only did he burst for 188 rushing yards and three touchdowns, get this, he did it on just 20 carries – that's 9.2 yards per attempt, my friends! Whoa! And for good measure, he also caught a 19-yard pass to put him over 200 yards for the game. That's certainly not to overlook his backfield mate, our leader extraordinaire Roschon Johnson. You talk about hitting that next gear, he was the spark plug in the engine to get us there, flying through the air to the tune of 81 rushing yards (with his own 7.4 yards per carry average I might add) and 23 receiving yards with a touchdown. For his efforts, he was named to the Hornung Award weekly Honor Roll for the award that promotes outstanding performances by versatile players. Then the gutsiest performance of the night might have come from the QB who delivered that touchdown to him. How about that Hudson Card? With the health of that position in serious doubt, he gave it all for our team, including that 32-yard scamper no one saw coming to get us out of being backed up on a 2nd-and-22. Speaking of scampers, that 44-yard pick-six by Jahdae Barron to put us up 11 in the third quarter gave us the separation we'd been looking for and gave him the nod as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Both the INT and the honor are firsts for Jahdae, so here's a big Hook 'Em for him. Shout out also to a pair of double-digit tackle performance with 15 big ones for Jaylan Ford along with a forced fumble, and another 10 for Agent 0. All of it added up to a quality win against a quality in-state foe to send us into conference play starting with a visit to Lubbock this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN!
Celebrating the 2022 Class of the Longhorn Hall of Honor Definitely one of the highlights of our annual athletics calendar is the induction of the Hall of Honor Class, and 2022 lived up to its more than worthy billing. This is one of those events that I personally look forward to each and every year, as we salute the premier Longhorns in our past across all of our sports and celebrate greatness. There's nothing like getting to spend time with each of our inductees at our pre-event reception in the Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame, and all 11 members of this class are truly magnificent selections. What a privilege it was later to see the Class of 2022 take center stage during the induction ceremony at the LBJ Auditorium and hear their personal stories reflecting back on their time on campus, their will to win, and their pride and passion for the Longhorns. This is one of those events that simply gives you chills and reinforces what a truly special place we have here at The University of Texas. Shout out to our guy Lowell Galindo at Longhorn Network for serving as emcee for our induction ceremony. And congratulations one more time to the Class of 2022: Sam Acho (Football, 2007-10), B.J. Bedford (Swimming & Diving, 1991-94), Kevin Durant (Basketball, 2006-07), Ovie Dotson (Basketball, 1976-79), Lindsay Gardner (Softball, 2000-03), Kate Golden (Golf, 1986-89), Robyne Johnson (Track & Field, 1982-85), Anne Grousbeck Matta (Tennis, 1985-88), Jonny Levine (Tennis, 1982-84), Dustin Majewski (Baseball, 2002-03) and Kirk Stackle (Swimming & Diving, 1987-90). Each of you is so deserving of this honor!
3-game Mini Plans and single-game tickets available for the remaining four home football games We had another massive crowd, the third-best in UT history, on Saturday and what a pleasure it was to see our team performing for a packed house. There's only four home games left starting with West Virginia coming to town a week from Saturday (Oct. 1). If you want to be a part of the action, get those 3-game Mini Plans and single-game tickets while they last. One thing's for sure, this season is going to be memorable, and we can't wait to have you join us on the ride!
No. 1 Texas Volleyball improves to 8-0, set for Big 12 play Coach Elliott and Volleyball completed their non-conference schedule with a perfect 8-0 record with victories over Houston and High Point last week. In the win over Houston, Logan Eggleston led us with 20 kills, while hitting .341 for the match, and Zoe Fleck was crucial for our Horns in the backrow against High Point as she recorded 22 digs in a three-set sweep. We'll start conference play on the road on Wednesday at Kansas on ESPN2 (8 p.m. CT) and open the Big 12 home slate at the Greg on Saturday in a 7 p.m. CT match against Oklahoma!
No. 20 Texas Women's Soccer beats Texas Southern 8-0, draws with UCF Coach Kelly and Soccer completed non-conference action on Sunday with a 2-2 draw against UCF. With the tie, we've posted a 6-1-2 record while riding a seven-match unbeaten streak! Trinity Byars, who picked up a nod as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, scored four goals over the weekend, including her second career hat trick during the victory over TSU, while Lexi Missimo added her fifth goal of 2022 and three more assists to boost her NCAA Division I-leading total to eight. During our 8-0 win over Texas Southern, the team set program records for shots (54) and shots on goal (28), while 22 players saw action in the victory. Now we head out on the road to start Big 12 play with matches at TCU (Thursday) and Texas Tech (Sunday).
No. 9 Men's Golf opens season at OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational Coach Fields and our defending National Champion Men's Golf team finished 10th at their opening tournament of the season. In his collegiate debut, freshman Christiaan Maas led our Horns with a 4-over 214 to tie for 20th in the individual standings. Up next, the team will compete at the Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational in Fort Worth on Oct. 3-4.
No. 15 Texas Women's Golf finishes second at ANNIKA Intercollegiate Coach Murphy and our Longhorns Women's Golf team finished runner-up at their first tournament of the season. We had two golfers finish in the top-10, led by Bohyun Park, who carded a 7-under and finished tied for second, and Cindy Hsu tied for eighth at 2-under. Our Horns will next compete in the "Mo" Morial, hosted by Texas A&M today and tomorrow.
Texas Men's Tennis excels at Southern Intercollegiate Championships On the final day of play at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships, the Longhorns captured seven of eight matches against players from Virginia to cap of great weekend competition against some of the players in the country that included ones from USC and Georgia, too, in Athens, Ga. There were lots of ranked wins throughout including two top-five Ws with one in singles by Eliot Spizzirri against the Cavaliers, and another in doubles by Spizzirri and our resident doubles champ Cleeve Harper against USC. Our Horns compete this week at the Commodore Invitational hosted by Vanderbilt.
This Week's Longhorns action on The 40 and beyond Tuesday: Women's Golf at Mo'Morial (Bryan, Texas) Wednesday: Women's Golf at Mo'Morial (Bryan, Texas); Volleyball at Kansas (8 p.m. CT/ESPN2/Lawrence, Kansas) Thursday: Soccer at TCU (7 p.m. CT); Men's Swimming & Diving in Sam Kendricks Memorial Orange and White Classic (3 p.m. CT); Women's Tennis at ITA Texas Regional (Fort Worth) Friday: Cross Country at Dellinger Invite (Eugene, Ore.); Men's Tennis at Commodore Invite (Nashville, Tenn.); Women's Tennis at ITA Texas Regional (Fort Worth) Saturday: Cross Country at Cowboy Jamboree (Stillwater); Football at Texas Tech (2:30 p.m. CT/ESPN/Lubbock); Men's Tennis at Commodore Invite (Nashville, Tenn.); Women's Tennis at ITA Texas Regional (Fort Worth); Volleyball vs. Oklahoma (7 p.m. CT/LHN) Sunday: Men's Tennis at Commodore Invite (Nashville, Tenn.); Women's Tennis at ITA Texas Regional (Fort Worth) Monday: Women's Tennis at ITA Texas Regional (Fort Worth)
Hook 'Em Horns, Chris Del Conte
P.S. — Basketball was well-represented at the Hall of Honor events. Congrats to K.D. and Ovie!
P.S. — What a Night! What a Game!
P.S. — Behind the scenes with Coach Schaefer and Women's Basketball
P.S. – We see ya, Coach Sark! Break it down!!
P.S. – The Greg just keeps on rockin'!
P.S. – Our guy Sam was everywhere on Saturday!
VIDEO: Steve Sarkisian Weekly Press Conference (Texas Tech Game Preview)
VIDEO: Jerritt Elliott Press Conference
Women's Basketball's Blair Schaefer elevated to Assistant Coach
Hispanic Heritage Month Feature: Lauren Lapomarda
Softball releases its 2022 fall schedule
Longhorns in the NFL: Week 2
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