Friday, July 29
Basketball team announces Big 12 schedule
The University of Texas will have 11 of its 16 Big 12 Conference contests televised nationally according to the 2005-06 league scheduled released Thursday by the conference office.
During Big 12 competition, the Longhorns will face South Division foes Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech twice and will play each member of the North Division once. North Division foes who will visit Austin are Colorado (Jan. 7), Nebraska (Feb. 11) and Kansas (Feb. 25).
Texas is scheduled to make five appearances on ESPN, including two contests as part of the network's "Big Monday" package (at Iowa State, Jan. 9; vs. Oklahoma State, Jan. 23). The Longhorns will have their home games against Texas A&M (Feb. 4, State Farm Lone Star Showdown) and Kansas (Feb. 25) and a road contest against Oklahoma (Jan. 28) televised by ESPN.
UT also will make three appearances on ESPN2 (at Missouri, Feb. 1; at Texas Tech, Feb. 6; at Texas A&M, Mar. 1), two on ABC (vs. Nebraska, Feb. 11; at Oklahoma State, Feb. 19) and one on CBS (vs. Oklahoma, Mar. 5). In addition, Texas has at least four league games on ESPN+ as part of the Big12 Conference Television Network package.
UT's non-conference schedule, along with times and television assignments, will be announced later.
I know it's a long way off, but I can't help but get excited about this team already. Gibson, Aldridge, Tucker (is he studying?), and some hot new freshmen. This is going to be Texas' best non-T.J. Ford team.
--PB--
During Big 12 competition, the Longhorns will face South Division foes Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech twice and will play each member of the North Division once. North Division foes who will visit Austin are Colorado (Jan. 7), Nebraska (Feb. 11) and Kansas (Feb. 25).
Texas is scheduled to make five appearances on ESPN, including two contests as part of the network's "Big Monday" package (at Iowa State, Jan. 9; vs. Oklahoma State, Jan. 23). The Longhorns will have their home games against Texas A&M (Feb. 4, State Farm Lone Star Showdown) and Kansas (Feb. 25) and a road contest against Oklahoma (Jan. 28) televised by ESPN.
UT also will make three appearances on ESPN2 (at Missouri, Feb. 1; at Texas Tech, Feb. 6; at Texas A&M, Mar. 1), two on ABC (vs. Nebraska, Feb. 11; at Oklahoma State, Feb. 19) and one on CBS (vs. Oklahoma, Mar. 5). In addition, Texas has at least four league games on ESPN+ as part of the Big12 Conference Television Network package.
UT's non-conference schedule, along with times and television assignments, will be announced later.
I know it's a long way off, but I can't help but get excited about this team already. Gibson, Aldridge, Tucker (is he studying?), and some hot new freshmen. This is going to be Texas' best non-T.J. Ford team.
--PB--
Monday, July 18
Seven Longhorns named to Preseason All-Big 12 team
From TexasSports.com
Senior defensive tackle Rodrique Wright was selected the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was one of seven Longhorns picked on the Preseason All-Big 12 football team, the league announced Saturday. The team was selected in a poll voted on by the media who cover the Big 12 Conference.
The seven Longhorn players chosen to the team were the most of any league school. Oklahoma with five and Texas Tech with three were the closest contenders.
Wright, who was a second-team All-American (The Sporting News) in 2004, has earned a spot on the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player), Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman), Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive) and Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) watch lists in 2005. A three-year starter, Wright has posted 181 tackles, 13 sacks, 28 tackles for loss (TFL), 52 quarterback pressures and forced five fumbles in 37 career games (32 starts). He had 36 tackles for the Longhorns last season, 18 solo and three for loss, along with seven QB pressures and a sack.
Junior offensive tackle Justin Blalock, senior linebacker Aaron Harris, senior safety Michael Huff, senior offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, senior tight end David Thomas and junior quarterback Vince Young joined Wright on the all-conference squad.
Senior defensive tackle Rodrique Wright was selected the Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was one of seven Longhorns picked on the Preseason All-Big 12 football team, the league announced Saturday. The team was selected in a poll voted on by the media who cover the Big 12 Conference.
The seven Longhorn players chosen to the team were the most of any league school. Oklahoma with five and Texas Tech with three were the closest contenders.
Wright, who was a second-team All-American (The Sporting News) in 2004, has earned a spot on the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player), Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman), Nagurski Trophy (nation's top defensive) and Outland Trophy (nation's top interior lineman) watch lists in 2005. A three-year starter, Wright has posted 181 tackles, 13 sacks, 28 tackles for loss (TFL), 52 quarterback pressures and forced five fumbles in 37 career games (32 starts). He had 36 tackles for the Longhorns last season, 18 solo and three for loss, along with seven QB pressures and a sack.
Junior offensive tackle Justin Blalock, senior linebacker Aaron Harris, senior safety Michael Huff, senior offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, senior tight end David Thomas and junior quarterback Vince Young joined Wright on the all-conference squad.
Longhorns sweep Big 12 Player of the Year awards
Linebacker Derrick Johnson and softball pitcher Cat Osterman were named male and female Big 12 Players of the Year by the conference last week. Texas swept the awards for the second time in the conference’s history, the only school to do so. This isn’t terribly surprising, so I don’t have much to add here. Johnson was the best football player in the Big 12, and Osterman is so good that I don’t feel uncomfortable writing about her here, despite the rather uninteresting sport that she plays. Congrats to both Johnson and Osterman.
--PB--
--PB--
Wednesday, July 6
ESPNU to televise Longhorn "Cram Session"
ESPNU will devote an entire day to 2004-2005 Longhorn athletics, presumably to celebrate the damn good year our sports teams just had. But wait! I thought Stanford had the best sports season overall! Why isn’t ESPN devoting a day of coverage to Stanford sporting games?
Oh, wait, I know. Because no one gives a crap about badminton, diving, and whatever other random sports they won to rack up all those points. (If you’re reading this and getting upset for my non-appreciation of all collegiate sports and athletes, just save it. I understand their value and think they’re all super. I just don’t care as a sports fan.)
So, plan on calling in sick on Monday to catch the full-day lineup of Texas sports mania. Here’s the schedule (all times Central):
10:30 a.m. - Oklahoma @ Texas (Baseball)
1:30 p.m. - Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (Track)
3:00 p.m. Tennessee @ Texas (Women's Basketball)
4:30 p.m. Texas @ Oklahoma State (Basketball)
6:00 p.m. Florida vs. Texas (Baseball)
9:00 p.m. Texas @ Arkansas (Football)
--PB--
Oh, wait, I know. Because no one gives a crap about badminton, diving, and whatever other random sports they won to rack up all those points. (If you’re reading this and getting upset for my non-appreciation of all collegiate sports and athletes, just save it. I understand their value and think they’re all super. I just don’t care as a sports fan.)
So, plan on calling in sick on Monday to catch the full-day lineup of Texas sports mania. Here’s the schedule (all times Central):
10:30 a.m. - Oklahoma @ Texas (Baseball)
1:30 p.m. - Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (Track)
3:00 p.m. Tennessee @ Texas (Women's Basketball)
4:30 p.m. Texas @ Oklahoma State (Basketball)
6:00 p.m. Florida vs. Texas (Baseball)
9:00 p.m. Texas @ Arkansas (Football)
--PB--
Tuesday, July 5
Scaife gets shot with Titans
Former Texas tight end Bo Scaife will get a shot to make the roster for the Tennessee Titans. Nice puff piece on Scaife at this Titans website.
--PB--
--PB--
Friday, July 1
UT ranks second in overall athletics
From TexasSports.com
The University of Texas finished second in the final 2005 Sports Academy Directors' Cup Division I standings for the third time in four years, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced on Wednesday. NACDA, the United States Sports Academy and USA Today present the award annually to the best overall collegiate athletics program in the country. Stanford University won the Cup with 1,209.25 points, while the Longhorns amassed a total of 1,075 points. UCLA finished third with 1,074 points.
The second-place finish equals Texas' top finishes from 2002 and 2003. Texas has now recorded a Top-10 finish nine times in the 12-year history of the Sears Directors' Cup: 2nd (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004-05), 4th (1995-96), 7th (1993-94 and 1996-97), 9th (1999-2000) and 10th (1994-95 and 2003-04).
During the 2004-05 seasons, Texas won two National Championships, four Big 12 Championships and had 50 athletes earn All-America honors. In addition, of the Longhorns' 20 men's and women's sports, UT qualified a team for NCAA post-season competition in 19 of them. Texas was also the only athletics program to have its football team play in a bowl game, both of its basketball teams reach the NCAA tournament and its baseball and softball teams advance to the College World Series.
"This has been quite a year for all of our teams," said UT Men's Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds, who was recently named the 2005 National Athletic Director of the Year by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. "We need to give credit for this success to the quality young people who performed at such a high level and the coaches who devote their lives to helping our young people.
"For an institution to enjoy this level of success, year-in and year-out, you've got to have a university administration and regents that support and appreciate what you do. We definitely have that at The University of Texas. We also have the best fans in America who support us in every way possible.
"I'm thrilled of the success we have had this year, but I'm even more excited about our chances in the future."
The Longhorns were aided by 12 overall Top 10 NCAA Championship finishes. Those Top 10 finishes included: baseball (National Champions), women's outdoor track and field (National Champions), women's tennis (second), softball (third), football (fifth), women's swimming and diving (sixth), men's swimming and diving (seventh), men's outdoor track and field (eighth), women's indoor track and field (ninth), soccer (tied for ninth), volleyball (tied for ninth), men's indoor track and field (tied for 10th).
More information about the Sears Directors Cup on their website here.
The University of Texas finished second in the final 2005 Sports Academy Directors' Cup Division I standings for the third time in four years, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced on Wednesday. NACDA, the United States Sports Academy and USA Today present the award annually to the best overall collegiate athletics program in the country. Stanford University won the Cup with 1,209.25 points, while the Longhorns amassed a total of 1,075 points. UCLA finished third with 1,074 points.
The second-place finish equals Texas' top finishes from 2002 and 2003. Texas has now recorded a Top-10 finish nine times in the 12-year history of the Sears Directors' Cup: 2nd (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004-05), 4th (1995-96), 7th (1993-94 and 1996-97), 9th (1999-2000) and 10th (1994-95 and 2003-04).
During the 2004-05 seasons, Texas won two National Championships, four Big 12 Championships and had 50 athletes earn All-America honors. In addition, of the Longhorns' 20 men's and women's sports, UT qualified a team for NCAA post-season competition in 19 of them. Texas was also the only athletics program to have its football team play in a bowl game, both of its basketball teams reach the NCAA tournament and its baseball and softball teams advance to the College World Series.
"This has been quite a year for all of our teams," said UT Men's Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds, who was recently named the 2005 National Athletic Director of the Year by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. "We need to give credit for this success to the quality young people who performed at such a high level and the coaches who devote their lives to helping our young people.
"For an institution to enjoy this level of success, year-in and year-out, you've got to have a university administration and regents that support and appreciate what you do. We definitely have that at The University of Texas. We also have the best fans in America who support us in every way possible.
"I'm thrilled of the success we have had this year, but I'm even more excited about our chances in the future."
The Longhorns were aided by 12 overall Top 10 NCAA Championship finishes. Those Top 10 finishes included: baseball (National Champions), women's outdoor track and field (National Champions), women's tennis (second), softball (third), football (fifth), women's swimming and diving (sixth), men's swimming and diving (seventh), men's outdoor track and field (eighth), women's indoor track and field (ninth), soccer (tied for ninth), volleyball (tied for ninth), men's indoor track and field (tied for 10th).
More information about the Sears Directors Cup on their website here.
