SB Nation User Blog: SwimTexas

Style Points

SwimTexas — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:44:31 -0000

OK so sour grapes aside, and I have plenty, but I think there is a big picture argument here that no one is talking about. The style points that have been moving Oklahoma up the polls the last several weeks (last week enough to jump Texas in both human polls) therefore setting up basically an even split with Texas in this rankings have been from scoring points - lots of points.

(Now I know that it was the computers that put OU over the top, but for arguments sake, stay with me)

Now Mack, and many other coaches out there have stopped considering running up the score since they took out Margin of Victory from the computers deeming it unimportant. But this year's national championship game could be determined by simply that - running up the score.

Anybody think that we could not have put 50+ or 60+ up against A&M if we keep our foot on the gas the whole time? How about Kansas? When did Colt come out against Colorado or Mizzou? And what about our defenses? How many 4th quarter "Meaningless points" did we give up because our second string was in the game?

All I heard today was "Oklahoma scored 60+ points the last 4 games...." I don't like that this was rewarded. I don't like what that means for college football.

McGee

SwimTexas — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:50:40 -0000

I have never been so happy to see someone lose as I was McGee today. Seeing him on the sideline in the 4th quarter wearing a ball cap just made me thankful.

I pride myself on being a UT fan and not a ATM or OU Hater..... in other words, I typically don't root against anyone else, just for my team. But seeing McGee barking at our defense and remembering him and his attitutde and jawing from years past, and knowing how much pride that jawing caused so many ignorant fans to have.... just made me smile to see him standing there on the bad side of 49-9.

Hook'em and Happy Thanksgiving! BCS Bound!

Big 12

SwimTexas — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:53:47 -0000

Right now the Big 12 has 5 teams in the top 14 in the Coaches' poll, and the top 13 in the AP poll.

Oklahoma

Missou

Texas

Texas Tech

Kansas

The soonest any of these teams play each other is in 5 weeks on Oct 11 when Texas plays OU. That is 4 more games. There is a significant chance that none of those teams loses a game between now and then. What are the odds that we have 5 of the top 10 teams at that point? And is it me, or is nobody talking about this?

I didn't notice it in the preseason poll, so maybe it is just because it surprised me that I am writing about it, but I am pretty impressed that after years of Texas, OU, and the 10 nobody's ESPN used to always say.... that now we are that close to having half of the 10 best teams in college football, or at least so ranked.

Thoughts?

Olympic Expectations

SwimTexas — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:30:15 -0000

I know the upcoming football season is causing mouths to foam with anticipation (Just look at the fanpost list), but don't forget the Olympics begin in a few days and there are many Longhorns competing.

I know the swim teams are loaded, but according to Sports Illustrated, Texas is I think the 2nd most represented State behind California, and UT the 4th or 5th most represented university (pretty sure Stanford, UCLA, USC up there as well). So other sports are obviously well represented.

Here is a link about the Men's swimmers including 4 alum's going for records and medals, a couple of current swimmers happy to have a shot at some relays, and a future swimmer (transfer) who beat out his training partner for a spot. Texas has 7 swimmers going (next is USC with 4) and 1 diver. If this year's recruiting class is any indication, we could be back here again in 4 years!

For me, as a former swimmer, the only thing that comes close to topping football season is the olympics. Thats part of why I love this school. Hook'em all the way to Beijing.....

http://www.texassports.com/sports/m-swim/spec-rel/070708aaa.html

Longhorns at Trials

SwimTexas — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:20:39 -0000

This is just simply amazing. I know, by and large, the average reader of this site is not as big a swimming fan as I am, even when they do have longhorns on their caps, but you just have to appreciate the massivenes of the squad the University of Texas is sending to the Olympic Trials this year.

Several of the guys have qualified already. There are also a couple who will qualify, but have not been officially named part of the team yet because of procedure.

I was about 12 years old the first time I recall seeing the Olympic Trials qualifying time in my best event, and I spent the next 10 years of my life training with that as my dream goal..... just to qualify! It is incredibly special and 35 is just an amazing number.

Anyway, if you get a chance, check out the trials and root for our boys.... and more than a few girls too!

See ya BON!

Mens Article - http://www.texassports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=20&url_article_id=9179&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

UT SWIMMERS COMPETING AT THE U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS
Former
Brendan Hansen - Qualified
Matt Lowe
Agustin Magruder
Matt McGinnis
Garrett Weber-Gale
Neil Walker
Aaron Peirsol - Qualified and set WORLD RECORD!
Daniel Rohleder
Caleb McDermott
Ian Crocker
Chris Seitz
Josh Davis
Jeremy Harris

Current
Michael Klueh
Sean Patton
Bryan Collins
Jim Robertson
Dave Walters
Ricky Berens - Qualified
Ryan Verlatti
Peter Jameson
Scott Trompeter
Scott Jostes
Hill Taylor
Alan Maher
Matt Donch
Jonathan Jackson
Brian Wilson
Ben Van Roekel

Future
Jackson Wilcox
Scott Spann, Jr.
Eric Friedland
Neil Caskey
Hayes Johnson
Jimmy Feigen

Women's Article - http://www.texassports.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=49&url_article_id=9177&url_subchannel_id=&change_well_id=2

Elizabeth Tinnon, Tanica Jamison, Katie Robinson, Macie Garrett, Lindsay Voyles, Traci Van Matre, Alex Basso, Brie Powers, Alexi Spann, Kathleen Hersey, Katie Riefenstahl, Leah Gingrich , Karlee Bispo

Swim Team signs stellar class

SwimTexas — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 03:50:20 -0000

While the Mens swimming and Diving team won their own invitational this month, and are right now training to get ready for a dual with defending National Champions Auburn in January, their coaches were signing another great crop of guys to ensure future success.

I have seen two of these guys swim in person, and they are the real deal. More about them later in the season.

http://www.texassports.com/index.php...

Men’s Swimming and Diving signs nine to National Letters of Intent

AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas head men’s swimming coach Eddie Reese and diving coach Matt Scoggin announced Tuesday that nine prep standouts have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Longhorns’ swimming and diving program in the 2008-09 academic year.

Reese announced the signings of the following swimmers: Neil Caskey (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS); Jimmy Feigen (San Antonio, Texas/Churchill HS); Eric Friedland (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson HS); Matt Hoyland (Mendota Heights, Minn./St. Thomas Academy); Hayes Johnson (Nashville, Tenn.); Donald Sutton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons HS); Branden Whitehurst (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School) and Jackson Wilcox (Nashville, Tenn./Ensworth HS).

Two highlighted swimmers I have personally seen swim....

Texas Men’s Swimming and Diving Signees
Neil Caskey (Houston, Texas/Cypress Falls HS)
· Member of the 2006-07 USA National Junior Team
· 2007 Texas UIL Class 5A state champion in the 200 IM (1:50.04) and the 100 butterfly (49.50)
· The nation’s fifth-ranked high school senior in the 100 butterfly (49.50)
· Holds U.S. Olympic Trials cuts in the 100-meter butterfly (55.55) and the 200-meter butterfly (2:02.58)

Jimmy Feigen (San Antonio, Texas/Churchill HS)
· Member of the 2007-08 USA Swimming National Junior Team
· 2007 Texas UIL Class 5A state champion in the 50 freestyle and runner-up in the 100 freestyle
· The nation’s second-fastest high school senior in the 50 freestyle (20.29)
· Holds U.S. Olympics Trials cut in the 100-meter freestyle (51.52)

Mens Swimming Pre season #1

SwimTexas — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 14:18:10 -0000

I don't know if you have already commented on this or not, but if you have, it might be worth a second mention.

The UT Men's Swimming and Diving Team enters the 2007-2008 Season as the #1 ranked team in the country for officially the ba-Jillianth time since Head Coach Eddie Reese was hired in 1978. In his first 24 years, Coach Reese won 9 National Titles for Texas - a "Bowden-esque" run or better in my opinion. In the last 5 years, however he (And the rest of the country) has run into an Auburn Team for the Ages.

However this year's team looks to have as good a shot as any in recent years to de-thrown the Tigers. This team will be worth following this season. I will do my best to keep an eye on them.

http://www.texassports.com/swimming-...

PS I attended a clinic run by UT Alum, Gold Medalist, and World Record holder Ian Crocker this weekend. He was teaching the local high school kids about dolphin kick under water. He jumped in at the end of the session just for fun and went 44.41 in the 100 Freestyle doing 60% of the race underwater dolphin kick. He set the pool record for the Natatorium. By himself. No warm-up. Pretty amazing.

Hook 'em.

Blazers/Sonics... How good will they be?

SwimTexas — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:51:45 -0000

So here is a question. I don't follow pro sports nearly as closely as I follow college sports, and I consider myself a mild NBA fan at best, but given that the best UT basketball player in history is so involved in this year's upcoming draft I thought I would ask....

Whatever team KD goes to, and I have to believe it will be Seattle, but whichever..... to what level does he bring that team up to in the first year - 2 years.

I looked at both team's rosters and I have to say, I don't think either team, by adding Durant or Oden for that matter becomes "Good" right away. But like I said, mild fan at best, so am I wrong?

Colt McCoy

SwimTexas — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:28:33 -0000

If you haven't read it and you need something to pick you up after the disappointing end to our basketball season, this is a great article about how Colt has developed over the off-season. Also good to see that the pre-season work ethic started by VY was continued by our new QB.

Anyway, I am sure this is repetitive (Sorry PB) It did my spirits good so I thought I would share it

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/stewart_mandel/03/06/texas.insider/index.html