Austin, TX

Texas swaggers into SEC and midseason break undefeated and in best shape in more than a decade

Published

2 months ago

October 7, 2024

Texas swaggers into SEC and midseason break undefeated and in best shape in more than a decade

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AUSTIN, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 28: Malik Muhammad during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium on September 28, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Grant Wild/The University of Texas Athletics/University Imag

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — When Texas hosted a football recruiting weekend last summer, prospective players walked a burnt orange carpet flanked by nearly a dozen Lamborghinis with engines revving and growling and music blaring.

It was an homage to coach Steve Sarkisian’s motto since he arrived four years ago — “All gas, no brakes” — and what the program hopes to be able to deliver in the new era of excess in college football: substance with style.

Following a slow ramp-up that nearly ran off the road when Sarkisian started, Texas has hit full speed.

After winning last season’s Big 12 title in the program’s final season in that league and making the College Football Playoff for the first time, Texas entered this season ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25. By Week 3, the Longhorns were No. 1 for the first time in 16 years. Their long-awaited Southeastern Conference debut was a smashing success, led by backup quarterback Arch Manning, the scion of one of America’s most famous football families.

Texas, which returned to No. 1 on Sunday, is 5-0 and heading into its Oct. 12 rivalry game with Oklahoma in Dallas. And from the Lamborghinis in June to the “TexCalibur” turnover sword that debuted on the sideline this year, these Longhorns are fully enjoying the program’s rejuvenation.

“I love that our personality is coming out of this team. I think we’ve got a pretty cool swagger about us right now,” Sarkisian said before Texas beat Mississippi State 35-13 to earn the program’s first SEC victory. “But that swagger has been earned.”

Longhorns arrive

Texas roared into the SEC this year on the heels of winning 15 of the Big 12’s regular-season or tournament championships across all sports in the Longhorns’ final year in that league. The volleyball team is the two-time defending national champion. The rowing team has won three of the last four national titles.

Overall, Texas has won three of the last four Directors’ Cups, awarded to the nation’s most successful athletic department.

“A united Texas,” athletic director Chris Del Conte likes to say, “is a reckoning.”

“There’s a standard here that is very high, and there’s an expectation of performance, and it’s not just in football, it’s in every sport,” said Sarkisian, a previous head coach at both Washington and Southern California. “So the conference may have changed, but our standard and our expectations really haven’t … The SEC slogan, ‘It just means more,’ matters. But I feel like at Texas, when you take this job, it just means more here, too.”

Texas has even poked at old rival Texas A&M a couple of times already. Shortly after Texas A&M lost in the College World Series, Del Conte swooped in and hired away Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle. Last week, a crowd of nearly 10,000 packed A&M’s Reed Arena for Texas’ SEC debut in volleyball, the largest in state history for a volleyball match, only to watch the Longhorns leave with a 3-1 victory.

But football is the Lamborghini of college sports, and after hitting some early speed bumps, Sarkisian has the program humming after more than a decade of not being in contention for national titles.

Texas went 5-7 in Sarkisian’s first year, a season that included a six-game losing skid, the program’s worst in 65 years. Texas rebounded to 8-5 a year later, then went 11-1 in the regular season in 2023, won the Big 12 crown and was one play away from the national championship game.

Cashing in

Texas gave Sarkisian a four-year contract extension to keep him through 2030 in a contract that pays him more than $10 million per year and makes him one of the highest-paid coaches in the business.

Sarkisian has to keep winning and keep pulling in the recruits and transfers in the new era of athletes being able to cash in on the use of their name, image and likeness. Few programs, if any, are better positioned to do that.

Texas has been among the most aggressive in the country in the NIL era, from the initial launch of the Clark Field Collective (now known as Clark Field Creative) and the Pancake Factory, a nonprofit that pledged $50,000 annually to scholarship offensive linemen in late 2021, just before Sarkisian signed his first recruiting class.

Those entities, and NIL projects supporting baseball and golf, were all rolled under the umbrella of the Texas One Fund in late 2022. In August, Texas announced that donations to the Texas One Fund will be rewarded with “loyalty points” within the Longhorn Foundation, that can be used toward season tickets and other perks.

“Texas has one of the best NIL situations in college sports,” said sports law attorney Mit Winter, who tracks the evolving NIL marketplace and how schools are operating.

“Money isn’t an issue, and they have their donors and supporters all on the same page,” Winter said. “Talent wins in college sports and Texas and its collective are doing everything necessary to ensure Texas continues to have the best talent.”

The Texas brand itself helps Longhorns players cash in.

Starting quarterback quarterback Quinn Ewers’ endorsements have included deals with video game, apparel and beverage companies. Another gives him use of a private jet. According to On3.com, Ewers ranks No. 6 overall and No. 5 among college football players with a valuation of $2.1 million.

Ranked just above him: backup quarterback Arch Manning at No. 4 and $3.1 million.

With his program humming and players cashing in, Sarkisian was on the road recruiting this weekend, with swagger to spare.

“It’s always a good thing when you get to go on the road undefeated and recruit,” he said. “It’s kind of like they roll out the red carpet for you.”

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Austin, TX

Texas boasts 10 restaurants on OpenTable’s top 100 list for 2024

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Texas boasts 10 restaurants on OpenTable’s top 100 list for 2024

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas had a strong showing on OpenTable’s 2024 Top 100 Restaurants with 10 establishments making the list.

What You Need To Know

The best foodie city in Texas, at least according to OpenTable, was Austin, with seven restaurants making the list

The rest of Texas’ major metropolitan areas–Houston, Dallas and San Antonio–each only had one restaurant on the list

OpenTable compiles its top 100 list every year by looking at diner reviews from its 14 million verified users

The Lone Star State had the second-most restaurants on the list, tied with Illinois, behind California, which had a whopping 19 restaurants featured.

The best foodie city in Texas, at least according to OpenTable, was Austin, with seven restaurants making the list.

Aba – Austin
J Carver’s
Jeffrey’s Restaurant
Red Ash Italia
Sammie’s Italian
Uchi Austin
Uchiko Austin

The rest of Texas’ major metropolitan areas–Houston, Dallas and San Antonio–each only had one restaurant on the list.

Steak 48 – Houston
Signature – San Antonio
Hudson House – Lovers Lane – Dallas

OpenTable compiles its top 100 list every year by looking at diner reviews from its 14 million verified users.

According to OpenTable’s website, restaurants with enough reviews are automatically considered and are evaluated by their ratings, percentage of five-star reviews, number of alerts set, percentage of reservations made in advance, percentage of capacity and direct searches.

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Austin, TX

‘Superman!’ Jelani McDonald Proves to Be Crucial Piece to Texas Longhorns Defense

Published

16 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

‘Superman!’ Jelani McDonald Proves to Be Crucial Piece to Texas Longhorns Defense

AUSTIN — Texas defensive back Jelani McDonald made his mark in the Longhorn secondary on Saturday.

McDonald recorded his first career interception, and it was one for the books.

With five minutes left in the first half as Texas led 14-7, Kentucky had possession. The crowd went wild as McDonald dove for the ball to get possession back to the Longhorn offense. Commentators described the play as a “Superman” performance.

WENT FULL SUPERMAN FOR THIS PICK 👀🤯@TexasFootball x 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/ZV5AxOSWo7
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) November 23, 2024
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McDonald’s teammates also had their takes on the play.

“Superman…I mean everybody knows how athletic Jelani is, we’ve been talking about that all season, and even tied back to last season,” Michael Taaffe said. “He’s so athletic. I’m glad he finally got to show that and for you all to see, because we’ve known that forever.”

McDonald has totaled 22 tackles this season, playing in every conference and two non-conference games.

While he’s not a name on everyone’s mouths, like Quinn Ewers, Isaiah Bond, Taaffe or Kelvin Banks Jr., McDonald proved once and for all his impact on the team. McDonald could very much have a breakout season in 2025, and this play, which recorded Texas’ 16th interception of the season taking the national record, opened up the doors for his campaign.

That pick could even be awarded play of the year.

“I’ve been just happy to see him grow and get better as a player,” Anthony Hill Jr., who played with McDonald in the Freshman All-American game, said.

“He was playing corners, so I was like ‘Who’s this guy,’ and then one the game, he’s playing linebackers, and at one game he’s playing safety,” Hill said.

McDonald has one more shot to showcase his talent in the regular season as Texas faces Texas A&M next Saturday. But with two years left of eligibility, the sky is the limit.

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Austin, TX

No. 3 Texas ends UK’s bowl chances

Published

24 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

AUSTIN, Tx. (WKYT) – The Kentucky Wildcats (4-7, 1-7 SEC) ended their SEC slate with a 31-14 loss on the road against the No. 3 Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC). For the first time in eight seasons, UK will not be bowl eligible.

Junior quarterback Brock Vandagriff started the game for the Cats, going 3-7 for 51 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The staff opted to once against start true freshman Cutter Boley in the second half. The LCA alum wet 10-18 for 160 yards and an interception in the loss.

The Wildcats went 1-2 in the red zone and just 2-12 on third down conversions.

Senior inside linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson had a 25-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and also led the defense in tackles with eight.

Texas junior QB Quinn Ewers went 20-31 for 191 yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns.

The season concludes next week as Kentucky hosts the Governor’s Cup game against Louisville at Kroger Field. Kick-off is set for noon on the SEC Network.

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