Texas Longhorns
With 18 different varsity sports, 50 national championships and great reputations for many different men's and women's athletic teams, the Texas Longhorns don't tend to need much of an introduction. Over the years, the men's basketball team has had some memorable seasons that ended up with trips to the Big Dance, though the women's side of the court hasn't been too bad either, as they've continually put together talented and exciting teams that make them very popular around Austin, Texas. Their football team is also second to none in the Big 12, one of the elite conferences in all of college football.
Founded all the way back in 1883, the University of Texas has been a major staple of the Austin, Texas area for a very long time, and that's not likely something to change anytime in the near future. Whenever the Longhorns are digging in against a prominent foe, you can count on there being plenty of fanfare as fans participate in a tradition that has been passed down from one generation to the next for a very long time. When it comes to game day and thousands of great fans are pouring into the stands to be a part of the excitement, you'll see loud and clear what it's all about.
The Longhorns always play some of the best teams in the country, both inside their conference and outside in their non-conference schedule. The Big 12 is never easy thanks to a steady stream of talented and committed programs, though the Longhorns always have playmakers that can help them battle it out with anyone on their schedule. Great athletes who have played for the program include stars like Roger Clemens, Adam Dunn, LaMarcus Aldridge, Jamaal Charles, Mary Lou Retton and many, many more, giving them a reputation for having some of the best collegiate athletes in the world on a regular basis.
But even though basketball, football and athletics in general are big deal around campus, this is also a university very well known for its academics as well. With plenty of great programs and a tradition of amazing student-athletes, University of Texas is one of the top universities in the country and remains a place where talent of all kinds have gathered for a very long time. Former First Lady Laura Bush attended UT, as did Dell founder Michael Dell, famous singer Janis Joplin, filmmaker Wes Anderson and plenty of others, giving this university a reputation for being one of the best places in the country for combinations of great students and athletes.
Show up for a huge college football game featuring Texas and you'll see one of the very best sports crowds in the entire world, not just the country. All the enthusiasm from the campus pours into the stadium on a regular basis, providing plenty of opportunities to get right in the middle of the excitement each and every Longhorns season. This is a town that really springs to life when the Longhorns are in the middle of a big battle, particularly when they're linking up against another Big 12 opponent that makes for a worthy challenge. With a passionate fan base that knows how to show their support, this is a sports town that is as good as it gets when the Longhorns are in the middle of an amazing game. Knee-deep in football country, Austin is just one of those magical places that springs to life during game day for football as well as the other major sports as well, giving you plenty of reasons to head out to join in the heart-pounding excitement.
Did you know that Ricky Williams was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies?
Though he famously was one of the top draft picks of his class in the NFL, Williams was also a great all-around athlete, leading him to get drafted by the Phillies in 1995, though he ended up being a standout for UT and then a Pro Bowler in the NFL.
Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium will bring you to the stands of one of the best college football venues around, as there is nothing quite like being in the stands when the game is on the line and your Longhorns are digging in looking to make a big play. On the football field, the Longhorns will host some of the top teams in the country, and the same can be said when the Longhorns hit up Frank Erwin Arena for a tough battle on the hardwood or a big game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on the diamond. Regardless of the game or who they're playing, though, you can count on there being plenty of passion and energy emanating from the Longhorns fans, giving you the perfect backdrop and a crystal clear example of why it doesn't get any better than this level of college athletics.