A Look Back at the 2022 Texas Fight Tour

By in Alcalde Online on May 26, 2022 at 12:28 pm | No Comments

Head football coach Steve Sarkisian and men’s basketball head coach Chris Beard with UT Cheer & Pom.

After a two-year hiatus, UT fans and alumni around Texas rallied together in support of the Texas Longhorns. The Texas Fight Tour hit the road and Texas fans were there for the action. Over the course of two weeks, the Texas Exes and UT Athletics traveled to four cities, bringing with them the head coaches of the university’s sports teams. The pep rally-like events, featuring UT Cheer & Pom, Hook ’Em, and the Longhorn Alumni Band, connected alumni with the university and each other while offering a glimpse into the future of the Texas Longhorns. 

Head football coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged at every tour stop how much these one-on-one interactions with fans mean to him. At the San Antonio event, he said, “We get to be out here together. This is so cool. When you’re a first-time head coach and you take over the program, generally, this is what you do.” Since Coach Sark’s time as head coach at UT began in the middle of the pandemic, the Texas Fight Tour was his first opportunity to meet Longhorn fans in their hometowns.  

The tour officially kicked off in Austin at the Orange and White Spring Game. The annual scrimmage is the first chance for fans to see the Longhorns in action before next season’s opener. BEVO Boulevard was in full swing with food trucks, carnival games, and autograph signings, and even the Minister of Culture himself, Matthew McConaughey, made an appearance. Texas Exes members were surprised at our tailgate by another Longhorn legend, Vince Young.  

Hook ‘Em also made appearances on the tour.

The first tour stop was in San Antonio. A sold-out crowd of more than 250 people gathered at The Rustic to hear from Athletic Director Chris Del Conte, Coach Sarkisian, women’s basketball coach Vic Schaeffer, and head volleyball coach Jerritt Elliot. When talking about his hopes for a successful season, Del Conte said, “Every one of our programs should be a top 10 program. That’s the goal. If every one of your programs is a top 10 program, then you have a chance to compete for and win a National Championship. Not saying it’s going to happen, but you have a chance.” Here’s hoping! 

We next traveled to Dallas, home of the Red River Showdown. After last season’s heartbreaking loss, fans showed up to ask questions and prove that, despite some setbacks, they aren’t going anywhere. During this tour stop, men’s basketball head coach Chris Beard revealed his favorite Matthew McConaughey movie. Care to take a guess? Here’s a hint: “Alright, alright, alright.” Yup, Dazed and Confused.  

The next stop at the Fort Worth Stockyards Station was attended by plenty of Longhorns wearing their best boots and their biggest cowboy hats. When asked about his favorite Fort Worth eats, Coach Beard humored the crowd by saying, “So basically you talk about CDC being the best AD in the country, Coach [Elliot] being a Hall of Fame coach, and you talk about my fat*ss and what I eat?!” Hey Coach, we just wanted to know where to find the best barbecue!  

Coach Elliot made it a point to thank Fort Worth since a lot of volleyball recruits get their start here. “Fort Worth is my favorite city because north of Austin has always been great to our program,” Elliot said. “We’ve had players like Chiaka Ogbogu in the Olympics, we’ve got Asjia O’Neal, and Molly Phillips; so this is the hotbed of women’s volleyball. We appreciate all the support, and I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” 

The final stop was in Houston, where attendees tried to get an answer to the burning question all Longhorn fans have: “When is UT going to officially join the SEC?” Del Conte did his best to walk the line and not give too much away, especially since there were reporters looking for a scoop at almost every stop. We’ll just have to wait and see. But for right now, it looks like the future of Texas Athletics is in good hands. 

The Texas Exes would like to thank our sponsors, Still Austin Whiskey Co. and Winstar World Casino & Resort for their support of the Texas Fight Tour.  

CREDITS: Texas Cheer & Pom, Janelle Sosa

 

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