UIL Updates due to Winter Weather Complications

AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 19, 2021) The University Interscholastic League (UIL) has released updated basketball playoff information to account for the interruptions created by the severe weather. Complete information can be found on the UIL website. This information includes:

• Girls State Championship games will be played March 10th-11th at the Alamodome;
• Playoff round certification deadlines have been adjusted to allow all playoff games to be played;
• Schools who have experienced delays in playoff rounds may be required to complete three rounds in a one-week period.

Additionally, due to power outages and water shortages in San Antonio, the UIL Girls State Swimming and Diving Championships have been rescheduled to Monday and Tuesday, March 1st-2nd. Tickets purchased for the girls meet will be valid for the new dates.

The UIL Boys State Swimming and Diving Championships continue to be scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 26th-27th.

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina to bid to host 2027 World University Games

By Chris Price
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

It is being reported by The Sports Examiner that the International University Sport Federation has designated the Raleigh-Durham area as its candidate in a bid to bring the 2027 World University Games to the United States.

The area in and around Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary, North Carolina, which is referred to in the North Carolina area, as “The Triangle” has previously hosted 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival. The 1987 Festival set numerous attendance records and totaled 464,423 spectators, the most at a U.S. Olympic Festival (also know as  the National Sports Festival) up to that time.

Hill Carrow, who headed up the 1987 Festival organizing committee, and is in a similar role for the 2027 Games, brings invaluable experience to the task of bidding and, if successful, staging the event.

The United States is already slated to host the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, New York. New U.S. International University Sports Federation President Dan Guerrero was quoted: 

“We are very excited about the possibility of bringing the Summer World University Games back to the U.S., where it has only previously been held one time, in 1993 in Buffalo, New York. The next available year to bid on the Games, 2027, holds a lot of promise for Olympic sports in the United States as it is the year prior to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.

In addition, our country has strong momentum for attracting the Summer World University or the ames, thanks to excellent work being done by the Local Organizing Committee in Lake Placid, New York, where they are slated to host the Winter World University Games in 2023 and are receiving very positive reviews for their Games preparations.”

The selection of the 2027 host is expected to be made in the spring of 2022.

She Believes Cup kicks off on Thursday, February 18

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

ORLANDO, FLORIDA (February 18, 2021) Today the 2021 edition of the She Believes Cup kicks off at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida. When the United States takes to the pitch at 6 p.m. CST to face long-time rival Canada, two current members of the Houston Dash will be on the roster of the USA. 

Dash goalkeeper Jane Campbell and midfielder Kristie Mewis will be part of the 23-player roster for the United States.  Campbell played college football at Stanford University from 2013–2017 where she was a member of the Stanford Cardinal. She signed with the Houston Dash as the 15th pick in the 2017 NWSL College Draft. She represented her national team United States at both junior and senior levels in several tournaments. The She Believes Cup will be her fifth cap for the United States. The She Believes Cup will be the nineteenth cap for Mewis. She has scored  three goals for the United States in international competition. 

The United States second game will be against Brazil on Sunday, February 21 with a 2 p.m. CST start. Their final game will be on Wednesday, February 24 at 6 p.m. CST against Argentina. 

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE CHANGES ANNOUNCED

FRISCO, TEXAS (February 15, 2021) The Southland Conference has announced the postponement of two matchups for the McNeese men’s basketball program, in accordance with COVID-19 protocols.

The Cowboys’ upcoming two conference matchups against UIW (February 17) and New Orleans (February 20) will be rescheduled in consultation with the two opponents and the Southland office.
 

HBU vs. TAMU-CC men's basketball game postponed

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 15, 2021) Monday's Southland Conference men's basketball game between the HBU Huskies and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi scheduled to be played in Corpus Christi has been postponed due to inclement weather across the state impacting travel.

Information on rescheduling the game will be released in conjunction with the conference  office when a decision is made.

The Huskies are set to host Sam Houston on Saturday, February 20, in Sharp Gym at 5:00 p.m.

Qualifiers for 2021 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament shaping up

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 14, 2021) With three weeks remaining in the Southland Conference men's basketball regular season, the list of qualifiers for the conference tournament is shaping up nicely. Eight teams will play in the 2021 Southland Conference Tournament, with the ultimate prize of being the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament, which begins in March.

As of today, Abilene Christian would top the list as the number one seed. The Wildcats post a 10-1 conference record (18-3 overall), which is matched by Sam Houston State. The Bearkats would be the number two seed due to the difference in their season record (16-6).

The number three seed would belong to Stephen F Austin (8-1 SLC) with Nicholls owning the fourth seed. The Colonels post a  9-2 conference record, followed by Northwestern State (number 5 seed) with a  6-4 record. Incarnate Word (5-5) comes in as the sixth seed, followed by New Orleans (4-7) in seventh and Southeastern Louisiana (4-7) in eighth. The Houston Baptist Huskies (3-6) are currently in ninth place, with a shot at making the tournament top eight.

The conference tournament will  be held March 10-14, 2021 at the Leonard E. Merrell Center, in Katy, Texas.

TAMU Women’s 4x400m Breaks Collegiate Record

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS (February 13, 2020) The Texas A&M women’s 4x400m relay team stunned the track & field world by clocking 3:26.27 to break the all-time collegiate record as the Aggies wrapped up the Tyson Invitational on Saturday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

The Aggie foursome of Jania Martin, Syaira Richardson, Charokee Young and Athing Mu combined to stop the clock at 3:26.27, breaking the four-year-old collegiate record of 3:27.03 previously set by USC’s Cameron Pettigrew, Amalie Luel, Deanna Hill and Kendall Ellis.

Martin came out the blocks hot, clocking 53.04 in the first 400m. Richardson, running second leg, split 51.86 before handing the baton to Young. Trailing Florida, Young blew past the Gators with a 51.12 split before Athing Mu ran a 50.27 400m as the Aggies made history.

The time not only set a collegiate record, but is a world-leading mark and is the ninth-best performance in world history and set a Randal Tyson Track Center facility record. The quartet became the No. 4 relay team in world history.

“This week in training we had talked about getting it together and trying to run well this week,” said head coach Pat Henry. “We haven't put any pressure on running a time yet and we didn't put much pressure on running a time today. I just wanted them to get the absolute best out of themselves today, take a chance and put it on the line. Remember, there are three other people and everything you do affects those other three people. You've got to be a great teammate to be on a great relay and we got four young ladies right now that are running extremely well. That's a big time performance by those ladies.”

Along with the 4x400m coming away victorious, Tyra Gittens also claimed an event title. She won the high jump with a clearance of 1.88m/6-2. It was the second highest jump in Aggie history, only behind her own school record of 1.91m/6-3.25. Lamara Distin finished third with a jump of 1.82m/5-11.5, which is No. 5 on the Texas A&M performer list.

Mason Corbin cleared 2.08m/6-9.75 to finish second in the men’s high jump, a half inch short of his personal best.

 A day after claiming victory in the long jump, Deborah Acquah placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 13.58m/44-6.75.

 Other notables on the track include Jon Bishop and Allon Clay, each recording a top-five finish in their respective events. Clay clocked a personal best 1:48.45 to place fifth in the 800m. His time makes him the fastest freshman in the NCAA this season and is ranked No. 7 on the Aggie all-time performer list. Bishop recorded a personal best mile time of 4:01.97, which makes him the fifth best performer in school history.

JJ Watt and the Houston Texans agree to part ways

Photo by Darla Tamulitis-La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2014 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (February 13, 2021) The Houston Texans and DE J.J. Watt have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced today.

Watt is the franchise’s all-time sacks leader (101.0), a three-time Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winner (2012, 2014-15) and the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

“Change is never easy, especially when it involves the ones you love. J.J.’s impact on not only our organization, but the entire Houston community, is unlike any player in our franchise’s history,” said Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair. “I told J.J. earlier this week that we will forever consider him a Texan. We take solace in knowing that this is not a goodbye but a ‘see you soon.’ For now, we will build upon the foundation that J.J. created here and forge ahead with our unwavering mission to bring a championship to our city, create memorable experiences for our fans and do great things for Houston.”

“Simply put, there has been no person in the past decade who has made a greater impact on the Texans organization than J.J. Watt,” said Co-Founder and Senior Chair Janice S. McNair. “J.J.’s dominance on the field was unprecedented and resulted in countless moments that will go down in Texans history. To me, what best represents J.J.’s connection to Houston is his tradition of playing catch with the fans before every home game. The number of people who wear #99 jerseys with smiles on their faces totally encapsulated J.J.’s passion for bonding with Texans fans at every possible opportunity. His commitment to the community is unlike any player in NFL history. We are forever grateful to J.J. and his family.”

“The connection I have with the people of Houston is special, and I will never take that for granted because I know how rare it is. I just want you to know that I love you and I appreciate you,” said Watt via a message to fans via social media. “I want to thank the McNair family for drafting me and giving me my first opportunity in the NFL. Thank you, Houston.”

The Texans selected Watt with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and he appeared in 128 games for the team across 10 seasons (2011-20). A five-time Pro Bowl selection and AP First-Team All-Pro (2012-15, 2018), Watt set franchise records in sacks (101.0), tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (281) and forced fumbles (25) to go along with 531 total tackles, 61 passes defensed and 16 fumble recoveries. He owns the four highest single-season sack totals in team history (2012, 2014, 2015, 2018) and remains the only player in league history who has accumulated at least 15.0 percent of a single franchise’s sacks.

Watt is one of only three players in NFL history to win at least three AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards, doing so in 2012 and 2014-15. Since entering the NFL in 2011, he leads the league in tackles for loss (172), quarterback hits (281), multi-sack games (26) and sack yards (713.5), while ranking second in sacks (101.0). In 2020, Watt, who led the NFL in sacks twice (2012 and 2015), became the fourth-fastest player in NFL history to total 100.0 sacks, doing so in just his 120th career game.

From 2012-15, Watt logged four straight seasons with at least 10.0 sacks, including two seasons with 20.5 in 2012 and 2014. During that time, he earned six of his seven career AFC Defensive Player of the Week awards and five of his six career AFC Defensive Player of the Month awards. Watt is also the only player in NFL history with 20.0-or-more sacks and 10-or-more passes defensed in the same season (2012 and 2014), and he ranks tied for fifth among defensive linemen in league history with six regular season touchdowns, including three receiving touchdowns.

Off the field, Watt’s response to the disastrous Hurricane Harvey in 2017 helped him earn the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. The hurricane made landfall in Houston as Watt and the Texans were away playing their third preseason game. While watching the events unfold from afar, Watt posted a video on social media announcing a fundraising campaign with a very attainable goal of $200,000, to which he intended to match the first $100,000. Little did he know that in just 19 days, he would help raise more than $37 million, a total that eventually grew to more than $41 million. Watt dedicated himself to finding organizations that applied the funds in the ways that he promised the donors and victims of the disaster. He also ensured that every dollar went directly to the people of Houston and its surrounding areas that were in need.

Watt started the Justin J. Watt Foundation while he was a junior at the University of Wisconsin in 2010 out of a desire to help underserved kids. His personal motto of “Dream Big, Work Hard” culminated into a mission that he has used to impact communities all over the country. The foundation has provided more than $6 million in funding to schools and organizations that either have insufficient funding for their youth after-school athletic programs or simply no after-school athletic programs at all.