/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66542170/1192375234.jpg.0.jpg)
Spring sports are done for this year. For the Texas Longhorns. For everyone.
But what if that’s not all the coronavirus outbreak is coming for?
The Dallas Morning News sports department is imaging a world in which the college football season is cancelled later this year. From the Morning News: “The really dark cloud on the horizon is, what happens if impact of the coronavirus continues into August and beyond, impacting college football — the lifeblood of the FBS conferences? All those new or upgraded stadiums and offices from the last decade — the facilities arms race — are built upon revenue projections related to football media contracts and attendance projections. ... Even before COVID-19, college football attendance was a concern. The FBS last season averaged 41,477, CBS Sports reported this month, the lowest total since 1996. Any disruption in football would send shockwaves throughout Division I college athletics.”
It’s a scary world we’ve living in. It’ll be even scarier without college football.
WHAT THE WISE MEN ARE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS
Austin American-Statesman: The Dotted Line: Recruits believe coronavirus pandemic will alter commitment timelines
Austin American-Statesman: Bohls: Texas’ Scottie Scheffler is soaring in the PFA, but missing his chance at Dell
Austin American-Statesman: How would Texas athletics hold up financially in an economic downturn?
Austin American-Statesman: Their baseball careers on hold, ex-Longhorns look for some spring training
Sports Illustrated: Longhorn fans take to Twitter to talk about their favorite Texas football memories
247Sports: The Stampede: Resetting the 2021 defensive board
247Sports: Four-star safety Andrew Mukuba in no rush to make decision
247Sports: What to make of where things stand with Shaka Smart and Texas
NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE IN LONGHORN LAND AND THE BIG 12
- Texas football was ranked No. 14 in the NCAA’s preseason top 25. From NCAA.com: “The Longhorns started in the top 10 and lost by only 7 to LSU but then fell to 6-5. Reason for optimism? the ‘Horns crushed Texas Tech and then No. 11 Utah in the Alamo Bowl by 28 to end the season on a positive note. And QB Sam Ehlinger will be back. However, a euphoric bowl win in the 2018 season didn’t exactly mean good things for 2019.”
NCAA reveals pre-season Top 25 https://t.co/WKKnC4Krse
— FOOTBALL365 (@theF00TBALLguy) March 23, 2020
- Spring football is completely out of the question, at least as of Friday, and at least according to Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte’s comments to 247Sports. “First and foremost, we’re making sure our kids on campus have a place to go,” Del Conte told 247Sports. “We’ll start to address what happens with spring ball, but there’s been nothing yet. The key is to have a united time as to when it would resume. Some schools have already had some spring practices. Others have not. We don’t want to have teams starting at a certain time, earlier than another and gaining a competitive advantage.”
Texas AD Chris Del Conte still in discussions on possibility for spring football. https://t.co/qM8Iz3D5ob pic.twitter.com/WTuarwrYoQ
— Horns247 (@Horns247) March 20, 2020
- Sports Illustrated is continuing their countdown of the top five all-time former Longhorns in the NBA. Coming in at No. 4 is Avery Bradley. From SI: “After three years playing in Tacoma, Washington, Bradley enrolled at Findlay College Prep his Senior year, leading the elite basketball program to its first national championship and cementing himself as the ESPN’s top recruit for the class of 2009 (ahead of future all-stars John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kawhi Leaonard). Before moving to Tacoma in the eighth grade, however, Bradley grew up in Arlington, Texas with a T.J. Ford poster on his wall. Following in the former Naismith Player of the Year’s footsteps, the talented combo guard took his talents to the 40 Acres in 2009 to play under Rick Barnes. As a freshman, Bradley averaged 11.6 points and established himself as one of the top defensive guards in the country. After just one season in Austin, Bradley went after his dream and declared for the 2010 NBA Draft.”
#TBT pic.twitter.com/xteEzb1gH5
— “Ready for the game!” (@opinionsondanba) March 19, 2020
- Texas football head coach Tom Herman sent his first message to fans during the outbreak.
Longhorn Nation We’re In This Together - A message from @CoachTomHerman #ThisIsTexas #HookEm pic.twitter.com/842YTL1IjF
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) March 20, 2020
- Texas’ most recent Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams thinks quarterback Sam Ehlinger has what it takes to wind up behind the podium in New York City later this year, but he needs help, Williams explained during a recent interview on 104.9 FM The Horn. “The one expectation that I’m not going to give up is, and this is a team thing, but I want to see Sam in New York at the end of the year for the Heisman Trophy ceremony,” Williams told the hosts. Read more about Williams’ conversation on Ehlinger’s potential at 247Sports.
Sam Ehlinger to Brennan Eagles for the 73-yard TD — the longest TD pass of Ehlinger's career!
— ESPN (@espn) September 22, 2019
( @WellsFargo) pic.twitter.com/4ZDkxdJcir