Tag: Chris Del Conte

Mariachi bands at DKR stir controversy among Longhorns fans

Social media sounds off on Texas game-day addition.

The decision to keep Quinn Ewers as Texas’ starting quarterback over Arch Manning wasn’t what set social media ablaze following Saturday’s game. Instead, it was the performance of Mariachi Paredes de Tejastitlan that divided fans.

The mariachi band’s initial appearance this season was part of Texas’ Longhorns Por Vida initiative, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Introduced during the University of Louisiana-Monroe game earlier this year, the musical addition has since become a favorite for many fans. Bringing a unique taste to DKR. Previously, the band led the performance of thunderstruck under the burnt orange lights of DKR.

For some, however, the mariachi band’s inclusion during high-stakes games drew criticism. On social media, detractors argued that while mariachi might be fitting for games against opponents like Colorado State or UTSA, it detracted from the intensity expected during College Football Playoff (CFP)-level matchups.

“Mariachi bands are sweet when you’re playing Colorado State or UTSA,” Texas beat writer CJ Vogel wrote. “But keep that all the way out of the CFP when a home atmosphere & stadium energy will have a say about your team’s season ending or surviving.”

Others, including students, disagreed, comparing the mariachi performances to iconic game day staples like Chappell Roan’s “Hot To Go” or Mo Bamba, saying the music added to the overall experience.

“This is an idiotic take but even more idiotic is thinking music or “energy” will help swing the most important game of the year. The Mariachi band was awesome ” Texas supporter Adam Loewy wrote.

Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte addressed the backlash, apologizing to fans on X while expressing his appreciation for the mariachi performers. “I thought they were great but appreciate your opinion” Del Conte wrote.

Texas AD Chris Del Conte sets expectations for the upcoming Clemson game

What will the first-round playoff game look like the DKR? Chris Del Conte weighs in.

With just one week away from the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff first-round of games set to kickoff, fans are flocking to social media, curious to know if the atmosphere will be like regular-season games. Will it feel like a traditional college football Saturday, or will playoff theatrics dominate?

In an interview on Thursday, Ohio State Athletics Director Ross Bjork shared some insights into the setup of first-round games; comparing the setup to a college baseball regional. “The CFP will control much of the in-game production, including music and intro videos for both teams,” Bjork stated that games would blend familiar territory of home-game energy with some neutral-site elements.

Texas AD Chris Del Conte addressed similar questions on social media earlier this week. Initially stating it would feel like a normal Texas game, Del Conte later clarified on X (formerly Twitter): “Combination of both… will be our normal home theatrics with some bowl game elements to boot 🤘🏽.”

This will be the first time the playoffs will broadcast games on TNT Sports, as part of a sub-licensing agreement with ESPN. The familiar face of the playoff games, ESPN, will still serve as the primary producer of all the games. The sub-licensing deal announced over the summer will allow TNT to air two of the first-round matchups.

The No. 5 Texas Longhorns take on the No. 12 Clemson Tigers from DKR on Saturday, December 21st at 3:00 p.m.

Texas Longhorns Athletic Director Chris Del Conte Named Austinite of the Year

Texas Athletics Director Chris Del Conte awarded Austin Chamber Honor.

Since arriving on the Forty Acres in 2017, one could argue that Chris Del Conte is the best since to happen at Texas since the 2005 National Championship. He has been a pioneer of the Longhorns growth to the national stage, and has emerged the entire athletics department as one of the most exciting in all of college sports.

The Texas Athletics department as well as Del Conte received the Austin Chamber 2024 Austinite of the Year award, according to a press release on Wednesday. The Chamber recognizes someone who is a leader within the Austin community by tapping those who are making Austin a better place to live, work and, thrive.

Chris Del Conte joined Texas Athletics in 2017 as the Athletics Director from Texas Christian University. In the time since, he has worked on projects such as the south end-zone renovation at DKR, the $375 million Moody Center which included new facilities for both men’s and women’s basketball as well as new projects at Disch-Falk Field, among many others. 

“I can’t thank the Chamber enough for recognizing the contributions that The University of Texas makes to our great community,” Del Conte said. “I firmly believe Austin is the best city in the country, and we are so appreciative to be a part of this incredible place.”

Sarkisian Urges Texas Fans to Show Sportsmanship After Trash-Throwing Incident vs. Georgia

Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte share message to fans ahead of Florida home game.

In preparation for Saturday’s home game against Florida, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and Athletic Director Chris Del Conte are calling on UT students to uphold good sportsmanship following an incident at the recent Georgia game that cast a shadow over the program.

During the Oct. 19 matchup with then-No. 5 Georgia, a Texas penalty that negated a Georgia turnover led some UT students to hurl water bottles and other debris onto the field. The game was halted for five minutes while stadium staff cleared the trash, ultimately resulting in a $250,000 fine and a directive from the SEC to identify and ban any fans involved. The SEC statement specified that the University and Athletic department must use “all resources” to enforce these bans.

In a video released Thursday, Sarkisian and Del Conte asked students to remain “in the game” by cheering enthusiastically but responsibly. “Be loud, be passionate, and be good sports so you can stay in the game,” Sarkisian urged.

Del Conte echoed the sentiment, saying, “You’re the very best students, you represent this great institution. Let the behavior of cheering loud and creating a great atmosphere dictate who we are.”

With Saturday marking Texas’s first home game since the incident, Sarkisian and Del Conte’s message is clear: Texas fans, especially Big Ticket holders, must demonstrate respect and sportsmanship that reflect well on the university. While the Athletics department’s finances can likely handle a $250,000 fine, its reputation and the potential for banned alcohol sales—an SEC-imposed consequence—are risks the program cannot afford.

The official sponsor for the Lone Star Showdown has been announced

The Lone Star Showdown’s new sponsor has been announced

The Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and the Texas Longhorns is back after a decade-plus pause after Texas and Oklahoma officially joined the  SEC this summer.

On Thursday, Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts joined Texas AD Chris Del Conte to announce the rivalry’s new sponsor, revealing that Houston-based Cotton Holdings, Inc., one of the more respected restoration companies in the country. According to Alberts, this partnership is a three-deal deal. Here is some background Cotton from the company website:

Cotton Holdings, Inc. is a leading infrastructure support services company with subsidiaries that conduct business under the Cotton Global Disaster Solutions, Cotton Roofing, Cotton Logistics, Cotton Culinary, OneLodge, Cotton International, Stellar Commercial Roofing, Full Circle Restoration, Advance Catastrophe Technologies (ACT), and Target Solutions brands. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with an International Logistics Center and regional offices throughout North America, Cotton provides property restoration and recovery, construction, roofing, consulting, workforce staffing, temporary housing and culinary services to public and private entities worldwide.

After the official unveiling, Alberts answered questions from the local media about any potential future changes to the rivalry. He stated that changing to a neutral site would be “counterproductive” in the long term.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

A press conference regarding the Lone Star Showdown has been announced

A press conference regarding the return of the Lone Star Showdown has been announced for next week

The 2024 college football season will feature a long list of changes, starting with the expanded 12-team CFP Playoff structure and ending with conference realignment, which includes Oklahoma and the Texas Longhorns entering the SEC after several decades in the Big 12.

With Texas now in the conference, the Lone Star Showdown between the Longhorns and Texas A&M will finally resume for the first time since the end of the 2011 season, as new Aggies’ head coach Mike Elko is excited to bring the rivalry back to the main stage.

“That’s what you want, right? That’s what makes college football so special. I glad they’re coming back into our league and I’m glad we get to play them on Thankgiving weekend, and I’m glad we get to settle it on the field. You shouldn’t have two brands like that so close not competing with each other.”

On Thursday, KBTX Sports reporter Travis Brown revealed that a future press conference regarding the rivalry has been announced for Thursday, August 22, as Texas A&M AD Trev Alberts will join Texas AD Chris Del Conte to speak on the matter, and, of course, some fans are skeptical of what this could mean.

Any rumors relating to a future venue change are purely skeptical and highly unlikely, as the Eagles’ Alex Miller noted on X that this could easily be a publicized reintroduction after a long wait for both schools:

“The return of the game is a big deal around these parts. A&M had a special committee that worked this spring to come up with ways to commemorate the return of the game. I’m sure there’s likely plenty to share.”

Texas A&M will open the 2024 season vs. Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31. The game will air on ABC at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Jim Schlossnagle provides more details on his Texas A&M exit in SEC Network interview

Jim Schlossnagle apparently didn’t understand the magnitude of leaving Texas A&M for rival Texas

The Jim Schlossnagle-Texas A&M saga is finally coming to an end, as Aggies’ athletic director Trev Alberts hired new baseball head coach Michael Earley on Sunday afternoon. Earley served as the team’s hitting coach the past three seasons.

Earley, pitching coach Max Weiner and associate head coach Nolan Cain followed Schlossnagle to Texas on Tuesday afternoon, the day of his shocking announcement. Still, as rumors swirled over the next couple of days, it seemed Earley was not too pleased with his situation.

While he lacks head coaching experience, players past and present overwhelmingly supported the hiring. More announcements are expected this week, but nearly every current player in the transfer portal should end up returning to the program, according to multiple sources.

In Austin, Texas, Schlossnagle continues to adjust to his new digs. On Sunday, Texas held a parade to celebrate the transition to the SEC, which it officially entered on Monday.

Staying in the news cycle, Schlossnagle and Longhorns AD Chris Del Conte spoke with SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, further explaining what he experienced during the memorable week.

Upon the Friday release of the (Fort Worth) Star-Telegram’s interview with Schlossnagle, specific details about his relationship with Trev Alberts, whether true or not, spread like wildfire through the media landscape. Schlossnagle stated his position with the Aggies “became a different job” after Alberts was hired.

While it wasn’t surprising that Schlossnagle and Alberts had relationship issues, it was unexpected that the future Hall of Fame coach seemed unaware of the Aggie fan base’s response. His lack of awareness was almost laughable, especially after leaving to coach the Longhorns just a day after playing for a national championship.

“I had a feeling it would be nuclear, but I did not know it would be apocalyptic.”

It’s not hard to understand that the optics surrounding his abrupt exit are what led to the vitriol (which no one should ever endorse), but this is bound to happen with any heated rivalry, no matter the sport. Even worse, current Aggie players reportedly learned about the departure through social media, which he further defended due to “bad timing.”

“The timing’s never clean. … There’s just no way to ever meet with the entire team before you do that.”

To end the interview, Schlossnagle, of course, acknowledged Earley’s hiring, providing an answer that can only be described as a mild apology for the discontent he brought upon the fan base. This will hopefully put a bow on this saga once and for all.

“I’m glad that coach Early got the job. They hired one of our staff, so they could really celebrate that team.”

Any remaining pain or disdain by both fan bases can be settled on the field, as it should be, during the 2025 season when the Aggies are expected to return to Disch-Falk Field to face their former head coach. Game on!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas AD Chris Del Conte shares preferences over game times

Del Conte shares not all game times were his decision.

Recent game time announcements for the Texas Longhorns and other college football programs have caused a stir on social media. Disagreements over this year’s game times are nothing new, but no less impassioned now than in the past.

The Longhorns’ athletic director Chris Del Conte had some hand in the decision for Texas to play Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. CT, but he shared to Orangebloods’ Anwar Richardson that his influence over game times isn’t as prevalent as some might think. Del Conte doesn’t pick the game times.

“I would prefer to flip it and have late games in the fall and earlier games in November, but we don’t have our druthers. I wish I could say I did that. But I have no juice on that.”

For all the discussion about Texas’ perceived tendency to throw its weight around, the Longhorns are still playing the Michigan Wolverines at 11 a.m. CT on the road for Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff among other undesirable time slots. Texas will play Colorado State in the hottest time of day to open the season at 2:30 p.m. CT on Aug. 31.

Somebody is making the game time decisions, but it isn’t Del Conte. Texas will look to open the season with a strong performance against Colorado State.

Texas AD tells Paul Finebaum ‘There’s nothing like’ the Red River Rivalry game

Oklahoma’s rivalry matchup with Texas every October won’t take a backseat to any other game in the SEC.

[autotag]SEC[/autotag] spring meetings took place this week in Destin, Florida, with the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns taking their place at the table.

Oklahoma enters its first year in the SEC after leaving the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag]. Along with Texas, they will be the newcomers to a conference that’s been very successful, especially in football.

But the [autotag]Red River Shootout[/autotag], the annual rivalry matchup between the Sooners and the Longhorns, won’t be taking a backseat to any other game the SEC has to offer.

Oklahoma athletic director [autotag]Joe Castiglione[/autotag] and Texas athletic director [autotag]Chris Del Conte[/autotag] joined “The Paul Finebaum Show” this week to discuss joining the SEC and the topic turned to Red River.

Del Conte spoke up with high praise of the game, saying, “It’s ridiculous, it’s the greatest thing ever.” He went on to say, “There’s nothing like this game.”

Del Conte added, “…you may talk about the Cocktail Party, the Iron Bowl, there’s nothing like this game at the State Fair.”

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is the rivalry between Georgia and Florida, played at a neutral site in Jacksonville. [autotag]The Iron Bowl[/autotag] is the matchup between Alabama and Auburn played at campus sites each year. Both are two of the most storied rivalries in the SEC and in all of college football, but the Red River Shootout is on a different level, at least according to the man running the athletic program south of the Red River.

Del Conte’s words are the latest example of the idea of many in the states of Oklahoma and Texas that think the Sooners and the Longhorns won’t be tiptoeing around in the SEC in year one. Both teams plan to make a statement with their play and with their programs. And in this instance, Del Conte is right on the money.

One of the truly special things about college football is the rivalries that are baked into the game. Hundreds of years of animosity between players, coaches and fanbases stir the pot in a sport that is all about passion and pageantry. OU-Texas is not only one of college football’s best rivalries, it’s one of the best in all of sports.

Sure, both teams have other rivals. The Sooners have intense matchups with Oklahoma State and Nebraska that have carried over from the Big Eight days. The Longhorns have plenty of foes from the old Southwest Conference, like Texas A&M and Arkansas. But these two blue bloods and their fans consider each other their undisputed rival.

Then, there’s the setting. The Cotton Bowl in Dallas is probably the most unique in sports. Located right in the middle of the State Fair of Texas, it has a built in atmosphere that’s unique.

Neutral-site games aren’t usually what we think of when we think college football, but Red River is a wonderful exception. The history of the two programs and the 50/50 split of the fans in the stadium creates an environment unlike any other. Anytime someone brings up home-home matchups in the Red River Rivalry, both fan bases shut that talk down really quickly.

There are great rivalry matchups in the SEC and in college football, but Red River has its own sacred place in the lore of the sport. Del Conte certainly isn’t alone is his thinking, at least not according to Josh Pate of 247Sports. Pate said, “Seeing folks who’ve never been to the Red River Shootout commenting on it. I’ve been sideline for all the big ones multiple times… it takes a backseat to NO rivalry game in CFB.”

The Red River Shootout is sixty minutes of pure, unadulterated hate between two of the ten best programs in the history of college football. It takes place in a venue unlike anything else sports has to offer, and both athletic directors are committed to keeping it that way.

It’s the essence of college football.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Texas AD sparks debate over when Texas A&M game should be played

What day should Texas vs Texas A&M be played?

The Lone Star Showdown is back. The return of the rivalry sparked a debate over what day of Thanksgiving week the game between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies should be played.

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte has a day in mind. According to Del Conte, the ideal plan involves the two teams playing on Thanksgiving Day.

The Longhorns and Aggies have played on Thanksgiving before. From 2008 to 2011, the two teams followed the Dallas Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving afternoon game with a primetime matchup. The custom was to play on Thanksgiving prior to 1994 as well. Even so, there is still some debate as to whether or not the two teams should play then moving forward.

The SEC’s featured Thanksgiving game is the Egg Bowl between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The two teams were the only college squads to play then last season.

If that is day reserved, the Lone Star Showdown could take place on the Friday after Thanksgiving where the Longhorns have played in recent seasons. For now, they will play on Saturday.

The Longhorns and Aggies will resume their rivalry Saturday, Nov. 30 in College Station at Kyle Field.