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Live notes from Chris Del Conte's Town Hall meeting

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte will hold a town hall meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. I will provide you with live notes once the meeting begins.

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Del Conte said they support 573 student-athletes and 500 staff members. He feels like it is good to have an annual shareholders meeting. Said they can ask him any question, as long as it's not vulgar.

Del Conte said in the last year in the Big 12, their goal is to win every conference championship. He said that's the standard in every athletic program, and if you finish in the top five, you're competing for a national championship.

Del Conte said Steve Sarkisian has done a remarkable job. Said it was phenomenal. Praised Sarkisian for having an opportunity to compete for a national championship. and the recruiting work he's done. Said the future is really bright.

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Here is a baseball enhancement
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Del Conte said they'll have a T-Association where graduates can meet
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Del Conte said they've been telling everybody "We're going to stay where our feet are and our feet are in the Big 12." Said they are in the Big 12 until July 1st. Said he cannot wait to renew rivalries and is excited about the games against Georgia, Mississippi State, Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Michigan.

Del Conte said they have reduced tickets to make games more affordable. Said they did not want to "jack up" the prices because Texas was entering the SEC. They want to pack the house.
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Look to the far right. 100 years of DKR. That logo will be on the stadium and helmets in 2024.
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Texas AD Chris Del Conte said they are trying to cut down on tickets landing in the secondary market. Longhorns have been cutting back on brokers buying tickets and price-gouging fans and Del Conte's staff is reclaiming tickets. Here is an example of the challenge.
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Del Conte said he's happy the move to the SEC is regional-based. Said it made sense
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Texas will have an SEC Celebration party on June 30. Said the SEC brass will be in Austin to celebrate Texas entering the SEC on July 1

During Texas AD Chris Del Conte's Town Hall meeting, he was asked if Texas will play Texas A&M every year

Del Conte: "That is the goal"In addition, Del Conte said his goal is to move this year's game back from Nov. 30 (Saturday) to Nov. 28 (Thursday/Thanksgiving Day)

Del Conte was asked if they would schedule more night games in September. Del Conte said he doesn't like day games. However, the day games are the primetime games. However, there are more nightgame windows in the SEC.

Del Conte was asked about restoring the Texas Football Women's Clinic and said he needs to talk with Steve and Loreal Sarkisian. Said it could return in August but isn't sure.

Had to put my pup down this evening - very hard thing to do...

Had to put my 12 year old Boxer down this evening. His hind legs had begun to deteriorate over the last 6 months, the meds they put him on were not working and even tried some hip & joint supplements I found online. He was just getting worse, but this past weekend he could not even get out of his dog bed to eat or go bathroom. I had to pick him up and help him. We had already put out carper runners all over downstairs so he could get traction, on tile and hardwoods he legs would just slip out. I had to clean him the last 3 weeks because he couldn't hold his body up while going restroom. It was hard to see him suffer, and he was very conscious of his legs not working. Took him to vet this evening and the doctor was checking his spine and said it was starting to affect his neurological as well, there was no meds or anything we could do. Sat with him in the room and he sat on my lap while they administered the meds to put him to sleep. He was a great pup, a good friend.... had him since he was a puppy, was around for my oldest growing up and my youngest birth. He never once growled or snapped at any of us, just so lovable. I'm going to miss him very much.....

Texas' Greatest Offensive Strength (via MyPerfectFranchise.Net)

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Clearly the Texas Longhorns are in a strong position heading into their first spring football period before officially entering SEC competition, but every team has its relative strengths and weaknesses from year to year. It got me thinking.

What position group is the single biggest strength on the Longhorns offense at this point of the calendar as we look ahead?

QUARTERBACKS - Texas returns Quinn Ewers, who is currently the co-favorite along with UGA's Carson Beck to take home the Heisman Trophy in 2024 among all college players via the sports-betting markets at +750 (7 1/2 to 1). Behind Ewers, every fan of every team in the land knows who's on the Texas roster: the most famous backup QB in the sport, Arch Manning.

Anwar Richardson has recently reported that Manning is viewing this season in exactly the way you'd hope if you're a Texas fan. Per Anwar: "I was told Manning still believes he has a chance to win the job and was not deterred by Sarkisian stating there would not be a competition. Apparently, Manning dismissed what Sarkisian said as “coach speak” and intends to fight for the job this offseason. The idiots who do not follow Texas closely will speculate about Manning’s future in Austin, but he intends to compete against Ewers."

It's a QB situation, in sum, that cannot be considered anything other than a great strength -- even despite Texas fans still having slight concerns about aspects of Ewers' game and his ability to stay healthy for an entire season.

RECEIVERS - It certainly looks a lot different now after the transfer period. After Texas lost AD Mitchell, Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington to the NFL along with transfer portal defections, you could look at the cupboard have really freak out about only 3 returning scholarship players representing 8 total catches in a Texas uniform.

However, with 4 solid additions in the 2024 class and most importantly, the transfer additions of a bona-fide stud in Isaiah Bond, a field-stretching outside mini-dynamo in Silas Bolden and a seasoned all-around contributor in Matthew Golden, you all of the sudden look around that room and have more of a sense of excitement about what could become than a dread of what will be missed from 2023. It's not the team's greatest strength, but it is a strength.

TIGHT ENDS - It hurts to lose Ja'Tavion Sanders, no doubt, but Texas returns a 55% snap participant in Gunnar Helm who's been a good player for Texas as an inline blocker (much better than Sanders in that particular area) and has at least flashed in the receiving game when dialed up for advantage throws. He was not a 75% snap participant like Sanders, but he's had plenty of experience, playing 39.16% of his snaps at the attached, inline position, 11.06% split out, and 49.78% in a H-back/sniffer/lead-blocking role.

Where Helm lacks experience -- as a true receiving weapon split out wide -- enter Bama transfer Amari NIblack who really only played out wide and traditionally attached at Alabama ... and who Texas fans saw give the Texas defense some tough reps in Tuscaloosa last year. Niblack is a great athlete and the only real question with him is his lack of experience playing at the H-back spot, in which JT Sanders lined up at in 59.35% of his snaps last season. I don't think operating in this role will be any issue for a player of Niblack's pedigree, and for as big of a loss as JT Sanders is, the truth is that he was not a good run-blocker in 2023 and many busted plays that some might have pegged on the offensive line should have been credited to Sanders. Also, what helped Texas last season as much as Sanders' actual production was simply the threat of a player like Sanders. Niblack poses a similar threat that defenses will have to account for in similar ways.

So, what Texas will lose from Sanders to Niblack in the receiving game as far as concrete numbers might not be as stark as what some envision, and what could be gained by getting Helm involved as more of a primary blocker in the run game could be really big as Helm is an upgrade to Sanders in this realm.

Is tight end a strength for Texas in 2024? Probably not a major one, but it's far from what should be perceived as a weakness.

RUNNING BACKS - This is pretty easy to break down: Was running back a concern after Jonathon Brooks went down with season-ending ACL surgery in 2023? Because Brooks isn't coming back in 2024, but he wasn't coming back then, either. And Texas went on to see Jaydon Blue come out of his shell as a real talent and most certainly a great complement to CJ Baxter who started the 2023 season as a true-freshman starter. If you weren't worried about running backs down the stretch of the 2023 season (most people weren't they were too busy following a team that would win the Big 12 and eventually make the CFP), it would make zero sense to be concerned about the room heading into 2024 -- especially given the injection of Jerick Gibson and Christian Clark as true freshmen.

Some might say that depending on true freshmen to make an impact is concerning on its own, but the facts are that 1) Baxter won the starting job as a true freshman, and 2) even if neither does come in and make a real move for playing time, it probably means the development and improvement of Baxter and Blue as a tandem will have been positive over the course of the winter and spring.

OFFENSIVE LINE - The 2023 iteration of the Texas offensive line is the best I've seen since I started charting each play by each player in each game in 2013 and the unit returns all starters except RT Christian Jones. In Jones' place steps in Cam Williams who is a beast and who has been biding his time to this point, having been terriffic in the two games he played enough snaps to earn a grade in the Deep Dig during 2023 at RT in Jones' stead as well as as an emergency-type RG in the spring game. Like Kelvin Banks and DJ Campbell from the same class, Cam Williams is inevitable.

There has been talk of reports from some outlet regarding moving 2023 LG starter Hayden Conner to right tackle in 2024, and if Kyle Flood were to make such a move, I do the same thing I always do when Flood does something I don't understand: I'd defer to him as having forgotten more about line play and development than I'll ever know. With that said, the move would make such little sense.

First off, Conner was not good in 2023 and my theory is that he was banged up most of the season, most likely having to do with the left side of his body, and specifically the left side of his lower body as he couldn't anchor to keep defenders from penetrating upfield through his play-side shoulder on zone concepts. It was very obvious as Conner allowed 19 instances of either run-stuffs or TFLs in this exact way.

I can't make such a regression from 2022 playing at the same spot make sense, as Conner only allowed 7.5 such instances on a similar total number of snaps in that season and having 1) another year under Kyle Flood under his belt in 2023; 2) another year of continuity with the players on either side of him under that same belt; and 3) having those players on each side of him also having the benefit of another year under Flood, with a great amount of improvement most recognizable in Jake Majors at center from 2022 to 2023.

Furthermore, who is going to replace Conner at LG if he gets moved to RT where he is not needed? Well, the names people are tossing around are Neto Umeozulu and Cole Hutson.

We know Conner had a down year in 2023. That's been established. But neither of these guys (Umeozulu and Hutson), based on both their most recent play in 2023 and samplings from Hutson's 2022 campaign where he entered Texas as an immediate starter at RG, paint the picture of being significant upgrades at all.

In 2023, Hayden Conner allowed disruption once every 25.42 snaps on 788 total offensive plays. Not unbearable, but not great. That number was a regression from once every 34.6 offensive plays through 744 total in 2022. Hutson allowed slightly less disruption in 2023 on a relatively meager 118 snaps at once every 29.5. However, if we look to the 2022 season where Hutson played a full-season sample (705 snaps), he allowed disruption at a disastrous once per every 17.41-snap clip, placing him in 70th place in the statistic among 76 100-snap qualifiers as charted by the Deep Dig dating back to 2013.

Umeozulu didn't qualify for inclusion from 2023 into the historical record with only 47 total snaps played, but in those 47 snaps, Umeozulu allowed 4 run-stuffs and committed one penalty leading to disruption caused once every 9.4 snaps. Needless to say, this would be the worst in the whole database if his play kept apace at that clip.

And this isn't to say that Umeozulu can't be good. I think he can. He has flashed, but he needs work. Kyle Flood is great at developing these guys, so the truth is, I like his chances to be real plus-player one day. The kind of player that in previous years, we'd have to bet on the come regarding and just toss out there and hope for the best.

Unlike 2024 where Texas returns Kelvin Banks for one final season before a likely first-round departure to the NFL, a vastly improved Jake Majors, a rocket-ship like candidate for most-improved player on the whole team in DJ Campbell (who had the highest Deep Dig score of any player on the regular season in the finale against Texas Tech) and the insertion of a really fleet-footed behemoth in Williams who would have started for more programs than I can count last season if not for such a well-liked and improving veteran presence like Christian Jones.

If Hayden Conner is the biggest concern on a group that projects as such a strength, it's really is an absurd abundance of riches the likes of which Texas fans simply aren't used to and might just be a little bit unprepared to understand given the putrid OL play they've experienced for over a decade until Sark and Kyle Flood got into town.

With all these things considered, we can actually point to evidence that Texas, despite having the Heisman co-favorite on its roster at QB, may count the OL as its greatest offensive strength to start things out in 2024.

Man.

Protect Kyle Flood at all costs.

WBB: #5 Texas @ Houston, Wednesday - Horns outmuscle Cougs 82-66

Texas (21-3, 8-3) @ Houston (12-11, 3-9)

Longhorn Connection and History:
Houston Associate Head Coach Tai Dillard played at Texas for 4 seasons (1999-2003), starting 34 of 35 games for the last Texas team to make the Final 4 (2002-2003). That squad lost 71-69 to UCONN and Diana Taurasi, the Huskies closed the game on an 11-3 run to eliminate the upset-minded Longhorns. Legend has it that the swearing done by @thar0902 at the refs that day can still be heard in Austin when the wind is right.

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Back to present day…

The Cougars have had a tough go of it in their inaugural Big 12 season, struggling to score against good teams though they had a shot at upsetting the 1st place gooners in Houston late last month, losing 71-65.

5' 8" senior G Laila Blair leads the Cougars in scoring (16.0). Their leading rebounder is 6' 1" F Kamryn Jones at 4.4 per game. Jones is their only starter over 6' so it shouldn't be a surprise Houston has a rebounding margin of -4.0. That's the worst mark in the Big12 - Texas' +12.0 tops the conference.

During conference play, the Cougars' 60.7 ppg is 13th out of 14 teams, only ahead of the Bearcats at 56.3. Cincy makes up for some of that by playing stingy defense only allowing 64.8 ppg (4th in the Big12) whereas Houston gives up 73.3 (last again).

On paper, this game should be a Longhorns' tune-up in preparation for the Cyclones (13-9, 7-5) in Austin Saturday. That game will have the 3 best freshmen in the conference this season, Madison Booker vs ISU's C Audi Crooks and F Addy Brown.

Conference Play and Stats Rankings
  • Madison: 20.0 ppg (2nd), 5.8 rpg (18th), 5.2 apg (4th), 1.5 steals (20th), 90.5 FT% (1st)
  • Crooks: 19.3 ppg (3rd), 9.1 rpg (3rd), 69.6 FT% (14th)
  • Brown: 12.0 ppg (22nd), 8.1 rpg (6th), 4.3 apg (7th)
Considering the Big12 coaches screwed Rori over last season to give ISU's Ashley Joens Big12 POTY as a graduation/departure gift, don't be surprised if Madison finishes the season 2nd or 3rd in National FOTY voting but doesn't win conference FOTY (especially with the Longhorns departing for the SEC). Madison should get serious consideration for conference POTY as well but I'd be shocked as hell if she should win it.

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@mln59 @icdb17 @wb3032 @BrownHorn

11 Texas players invited to NFL combine

And to put it another way 17 Texas players were invited over the previous five years. Most of these are players that Sarkisian inherited. This is part of changing the culture not running off all the players he inherited and instead raising their game to heights they never would have achieved under Herman. Way to go guys.

Hookemhorns

P.S.
Texas finished tied with Georgia for fourth and finished ahead of Alabama and Ohio State. Imagine that.

Texas checks in at #4 in preseason SP+

Reminder that SP+ is an analytical model based on things like play success rate and ability to finish drives. It is opponent adjusted and removes garbage time production. Preseason ratings take into account factors like previous years' ratings, returning production, and recruiting additions.

Texas' overall rating is 28.7... they rank number 5 in offense, number 10 in defense, and number 17 in special teams.

2024 preseason top 25:

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Michigan
6. Alabama
7. Penn State
8. Ole Miss
9. Notre Dame
10. LSU
11. Missouri
12. Florida State
13. Texas A&M
14. Oklahoma
15. Tennessee
16. Clemson
17. Utah
18. Kansas State
19. Arizona
20. Oklahoma State
21. Miami
22. Iowa State
23. USC
24. Louisville
25. Wisconsin

All the immigration attacks didn’t work this time

The Pubs spent like $10 million on ads hammering the Dem in the race to replace Santos on border and immigration issues.

Didn’t work.

Santos won in 2020 by 8. The Pubs lost this race by 8. 16 point swing.

Prelim of November. Pubs trying to hammer the Dems on immigration, the Dems hanging Trump over the heads of the Pubs.

Prelim round to the Dems.

This was a D+2 district. We will see how the message plays in different areas.

Covert Hutto Weekly - Manager's Specials + Mark Your Calendars!

OB Fam,

Mark your calendars,

Covert Hutto Presents the Chevy vs. Ford Car Show in collaboration with the Sweet Rides of Central Texas. Join us on March 17th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Come out to see who will win Best in Show! Get a peek at your favorite Ford and Chevy models while also enjoying food, drinks, music and MORE. Can't wait to see you there!

New & Used Vehicle Specials located at Covert Hutto Stores.

If you're looking for a New or Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, call, click or visit us today or text Chance Covert at 512-845-8522 and we will give you the best value and service for you. Don't forget, we will come to you! Free delivery all over Texas.


Vehicle Highlights

Ford
New Vehicles

  • 2023 Ford F-150 XLT: $56,105
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Chevy
New Vehicles

  • 2024 Chevy Blazer RS: $43,170
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  • 2024 Chevy Tahoe LT: $70,485
Pre-Owned Vehicles
  • 2024 Chevy Trax ACTIV: $26,908
  • 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Heritage: $30,912
  • 2023 Ford Truck Maverick XLT: $31,909
  • 2023 Chevy Colorado 4WD Trail Boss: $43,999
  • 2023 Ford Mustang GT Premium: $44,459
  • 2023 Chevy Silverado 1500 RST: $44,907

Please let us know how we can help you out on Ford, Chevy, Lincoln, Cadillac, GMC, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and/or Ram vehicles. As a reminder, we have completely committed to sanitizing our vehicles and dealership thoroughly and frequently. Our employees are practicing the upmost standards of safety and health.


That's our Covert Commitment.
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OT - Just had to put down my best friend

I know many of you have been through this before, but man this is way harder than I anticipated. We had to put down Rascal, our 12 year old australian shepherd (pic in my avatar) this morning. He was my first dog, and my best friend. He absolutely lived up to his name, and he was just a fantastic dog. The house feels empty without him, and I'm not sure what to do with myself at the moment. Apologies for the OT, but man this hurts.
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