Texas women make mark in athletics; it's time to pay attention
By Ryan Killian
If the Texas women's basketball team beats No. 9 Oklahoma and no one shows up to witness it, did they really pull off the upset?
If the Texas women's track and field team wins a national title and no one takes notice, are they really champions?
Of course, but as absurd as my questions are, the feeling remains that women's athletics are being unjustly neglected.
Not only is it about time they get recognition for their accomplishments, it's about time people on campus recognize the number of prestigious women's programs at The University of Texas.
While the women's basketball team has struggled this year, they defeated the Big 12's toughest team and one of the country's best players Wednesday night in a 67-62 game that didn't feel that close. They only recently dropped out of the rankings, and could find themselves back among the Top 25 soon. Meanwhile, head coach Jody Conradt is a measly three triumphs away from her 900th win.
Last year, the women's track and field team won the NCAA Indoor National Championship and are returning All-American Destinee Hooker this season. Pre-season rankings came out Tuesday, and the Longhorns sit ranked No. 10.
The softball team is also about to start a new year, and with hitting guru Corrie Hill in the dugout for her second year, the Longhorns' offensive numbers should only improve. They're ranked No. 17 in the USA Today/ NFCA Preseason poll, and eight of their regular-season games are going to be on TV. Even if you can't make it out to the ballpark, you won't have any excuses for not catching a game or two.
Just don't compare it to baseball. Softball's a different sport with different tactical and strategic approaches. These girls could teach Ichiro a thing or two about slash bunting.
The Texas women's swimmers are perennial winners, and even with a new coach calling the shots, they're going about business as usual. Currently ranked No. 12, they knocked off No. 8 SMU earlier in the month. In February, they'll participate in the Big 12 Championships. All they've done there is win for the last eight years.
That's a lot of conference titles - if you're into that kind of thing.
The women's tennis team is also ranked this year at No. 20 and off to a perfect 2-0 start after beating Iowa State 7-0 and Kansas 6-1.
When the History Channel's show "Modern Marvels" chose to feature the most basic of all sporting goods, - the ball - they came to Penick-Allison Tennis Center to speak with Texas coach Patty Fendick-McCain and senior Petra Dizdar about the tennis ball.
With soccer and volleyball out of season, it's OK to overlook them - for now.
But both have had success that most Texas men's teams would be envious of.
The soccer program notched a conference title of their own last season and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA postseason tournament. Their season only ended when they fell to the relentless winning machine that is Portland in the third round.
The volleyball team's success closely mirrored that of their comrades on the pitch. While they finished third in the conference, they advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament before falling in the semifinals.
Last night's game was a perfect example of what Texas fans are missing out on. Listed attendance was 5,220 and that was generous. Softball players, including Megan Willis and Kelly Melone were on hand, showing their support for their fellow female athletes. But the fact that they were handing out free tickets to their games crystallizes my point.
They're relying on themselves and each other for a little deserved publicity.
UnderArmour announced Tuesday that they'd inked former Longhorn Cat Osterman to an endorsement deal. If one of the most popular sporting apparel companies in the country can recognize a Texas pitcher, students should appreciate their own classmates' successes.
© Copyright 2007 The Daily Texan
If the Texas women's basketball team beats No. 9 Oklahoma and no one shows up to witness it, did they really pull off the upset?
If the Texas women's track and field team wins a national title and no one takes notice, are they really champions?
Of course, but as absurd as my questions are, the feeling remains that women's athletics are being unjustly neglected.
Not only is it about time they get recognition for their accomplishments, it's about time people on campus recognize the number of prestigious women's programs at The University of Texas.
While the women's basketball team has struggled this year, they defeated the Big 12's toughest team and one of the country's best players Wednesday night in a 67-62 game that didn't feel that close. They only recently dropped out of the rankings, and could find themselves back among the Top 25 soon. Meanwhile, head coach Jody Conradt is a measly three triumphs away from her 900th win.
Last year, the women's track and field team won the NCAA Indoor National Championship and are returning All-American Destinee Hooker this season. Pre-season rankings came out Tuesday, and the Longhorns sit ranked No. 10.
The softball team is also about to start a new year, and with hitting guru Corrie Hill in the dugout for her second year, the Longhorns' offensive numbers should only improve. They're ranked No. 17 in the USA Today/ NFCA Preseason poll, and eight of their regular-season games are going to be on TV. Even if you can't make it out to the ballpark, you won't have any excuses for not catching a game or two.
Just don't compare it to baseball. Softball's a different sport with different tactical and strategic approaches. These girls could teach Ichiro a thing or two about slash bunting.
The Texas women's swimmers are perennial winners, and even with a new coach calling the shots, they're going about business as usual. Currently ranked No. 12, they knocked off No. 8 SMU earlier in the month. In February, they'll participate in the Big 12 Championships. All they've done there is win for the last eight years.
That's a lot of conference titles - if you're into that kind of thing.
The women's tennis team is also ranked this year at No. 20 and off to a perfect 2-0 start after beating Iowa State 7-0 and Kansas 6-1.
When the History Channel's show "Modern Marvels" chose to feature the most basic of all sporting goods, - the ball - they came to Penick-Allison Tennis Center to speak with Texas coach Patty Fendick-McCain and senior Petra Dizdar about the tennis ball.
With soccer and volleyball out of season, it's OK to overlook them - for now.
But both have had success that most Texas men's teams would be envious of.
The soccer program notched a conference title of their own last season and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA postseason tournament. Their season only ended when they fell to the relentless winning machine that is Portland in the third round.
The volleyball team's success closely mirrored that of their comrades on the pitch. While they finished third in the conference, they advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament before falling in the semifinals.
Last night's game was a perfect example of what Texas fans are missing out on. Listed attendance was 5,220 and that was generous. Softball players, including Megan Willis and Kelly Melone were on hand, showing their support for their fellow female athletes. But the fact that they were handing out free tickets to their games crystallizes my point.
They're relying on themselves and each other for a little deserved publicity.
UnderArmour announced Tuesday that they'd inked former Longhorn Cat Osterman to an endorsement deal. If one of the most popular sporting apparel companies in the country can recognize a Texas pitcher, students should appreciate their own classmates' successes.
© Copyright 2007 The Daily Texan
posted by BurntOrnge at 10:29 AM
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