The Texas Sports Monthly radio show The Friday Night Countdown will not only be moving to 104.9 The Horn FM this fall , but will also be launching its sister program the day before in The Thursday Night Countdown as well.
After 17 weeks on AM1300 The Zone in the 2018 season, FNC will move to The Horn studios beginning this August 30th as the official Pre-Game show launch for the 2019 Football season. The Thursdays show to air the day before on Thursday August 29th. With all the High School football, College, and NFL in recent decades, Thursdays have been kicking off our football weekends the last few years. Adding this additional night to local programming strengthens the coverage of what is rapidly becoming an even more recognizable brand; Central Texas High School Football.
With coaches interviews, player profiles, game highlights and analysis Texas Sports Monthly’s radio brands add great value to the Student Athlete coverage that Horn FM already offers. The official Flagship for the Longhorns also carries Lake Travis Broadcast, Vandegrift, & Bowie games.
Wednesdays the last two years has featured our friend Rick Epstein of iHSFAN short for – I am a High School Fan -show “Under The Lights”. Epstein will return for his 3rd year of UTL at 8pm on the Horn, but is also adding 7 more schools to his coverage through the HORN FM APP. These schools games can also be heard through the app or website beginning this fall: Austin High, Hays, Cedar Ridge, Leander Glenn, Westwood, Anderson, & Round Rock!
With all this local programming sports fans of Austin will get a heavy dose of all things Football with the new lineup on 104.9 The Horn. Texas Sports Monthly is currently offering sponsorships of its radio programs and magazine for the upcoming 2019 football season. If you or your business is interested in working with us please contact our staff for more information on packages available.
AUSTIN TX – Texas basketball hosted the five-seed Lipscomb Bisons as barley a 1.5-point favorite at MSG last Thursday Night and brought home a Championship to the 40 acres. The question is will this victory ease the pain of the regular season for the Texas faithful and it’s struggles in 2019?
For the 3rd time in 21 years the Longhorns missed the NCAA tournament and were edged out by a very competitive Big 12 Conference in 2019 and a mediocre season falling short of Texas fan base expectations as the horns went a mere 16-16.
Shooting guard Kerwin Roach Jr. heated up in the NIT after missing several games and throughout the 2019 regular season amidst some controversy. However the Sr. finished the season hard and gained some support by Texas fans closing out the season winning 5 strait.
UT’s 81-66 victory in the NIT Championship Game at Madison Square Garden may be enough for head Coach Shaka Smart to stay in Austin a few more season amidst rumors in the local media speculating the coaches future.
Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver, right, shoots over Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura during the second half of the West Regional final in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament Saturday, March 30, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Big 12 rival Texas Tech has built up a strong program in recent years under head coach Chris Beard. While it was Texas who celebrated the NIT National Championship in New York Thursday it will be the Red Raiders of Lubbock playing for “All the Marbles” against Virginia in Minneapolis for the true National Title.
Texas Tech may be the red headed step child to the Longhorns in Football in the Big 12, but in hoops the Horns will have to wait for next year to compete with the in-state-rival for Big 12 Title and a chance to prove worthy of a 20′ NCAA invite next spring.
The Red Raiders play Monday night for the National Championship against Virginia. This is both teams first time in the title game and first time since 1979 have two schools competed for their first national title when Michigan State defeated Indiana State beginning the Magic/Bird rivalry in the 80’s
Shaka Smart’s team got their HOOP ON Tuesday night from the MSG and played a great defensive game against the Horned Frogs who won the 2 previous meetings this season over the Horns. But winning three in one season is a tall order for any team and the Longhorns used the previous losses as motivation and would not be denied a trip to the NIT Championship game this Thursday Night.
Texas (20-16) had help from Sr. Dylan Osetkowski as he put up 13 points while Kerwin Roach dominated throughout the semifinal game against the Horned Frogs and tallied a team-high 22 points for Texas in the low scoring night.
In just the second time in the Longhorns history , Texas will advance to the NIT Championship game to face off against Lipscomb. Horns were crowned NIT Champions during the 1978 season.
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas Men’s Basketball team will
host Colorado in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament
(NIT). The Longhorns and Buffaloes will play on Wednesday, March 27 at 8
p.m. Central at the Frank Erwin Center, and the game will be televised
nationally by ESPN2.
The Longhorns (18-16) are the No. 2 seed in one of the four 8-team
brackets, while Colorado (23-12) is the No. 4 seed. In NIT Second-Round
action, Texas defeated Xavier (78-76 OT) on Sunday, while the Buffaloes
topped Norfolk State (76-60) on Monday evening.
The winner of Wednesday’s Texas-Colorado contest will advance to the
NIT semifinals, scheduled for Tuesday, April 2. The NIT semifinals and
championship will be played at historic Madison Square Garden in New
York City.
The Longhorns are 8-3 all-time in their five appearances in the NIT. Texas captured the 1978 NIT Championship.
By JIM VERTUNO, AP Sports Writer AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — In a Big 12 season of ups and downs for Texas, none was more befuddling than an early loss to last-place Oklahoma State. The Longhorns made sure there would be no repeat on Saturday. Kerwin Roach II scored 16 points, Dylan Osetkowski scored 14 on 5-of-5 shooting a 69-57 Texas win that sent the Cowboys to their fifth straight loss and eighth loss in nine games.
“It was our emphasis today to come out, just be aggressive, don’t take these guys lightly,” Roach said. “Respect them. They beat us the first time. We wanted to pay them back.”
Oklahoma State (9-16, 2-10) jumped on Texas early the first time the teams met and looked to do it again with a flurry of 3-pointers, including three by Thomas Dziagwa. Texas responded when the Longhorns pushed out to defend further on the perimeter, and Oklahoma State made just one from long range over the final 9 minutes of the first half.
Dziagwa finished with 23 points behind seven 3-pointers. “We just shut down everybody else,” Roach said. “We made it tough on him, too, but he still made some tough ones.” Texas (15-11, 7-6) led 20-19 before closing the first half on a 19-7 run punctuated by Roach’s 3-pointer from the corner with 1 second left in the half.
Texas led by 13 early in the second before the Cowboys cut it 42-38. The Longhorns responded with three straight baskets and a 3-point play by Courtney Ramey to end the threat.
Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton dismissed three players for team rule violations after a 2-3 start in the Big 12 that included the previous win over Texas. The Cowboys are down to just seven scholarship players. “That’s kind of a moving target. I put a walk-on on scholarship, but he broke his foot,” Boynton said. “(Texas) has players who weren’t even dressed that could start for us … I still sense a very frustrated group that feels like it cannot win.”
BIG PICTURE Oklahoma State: The Cowboys had very little working offensively when Dziagwa wasn’t firing away from long range. They were 12 of 30 inside the arc and went 9 of 18 from the free throw line. Dziagwa was 0-6 when he wasn’t shooting 3-pointers. “Even on a night we make eight (3-pointers) we still don’t get to 60 points,” Boynton said.
Texas: The Longhorns will like the confident shooting stroke from Osetkowski, who came in just 2 of 21 shooting 3-pointers in the previous nine games. He made two from the same spot in right corner in the first half, then made another with 7:12 to play that put Texas ahead by 10. His ability to score away from the basket will be key to the Texas offense over the stretch run of the season.
Osetkowski’s three 3-pointers were his season high. “I’m looking for seven 3s like I did last season at Iowa State,” Osetkowski said. “It’s great see some going in.”
SCORING DEPTH Texas’s deeper bench made a big difference. While Oklahoma State had four players log at least 38 minutes and two — Cameron McGriff and Lindy Waters III — played the entire game, Texas has only two players on the court for more than 30 minutes.
The Texas bench outscored Oklahoma State’s 16-2. Longhorns guard Elijah Mitrou-Long had six points and three assists and Royce Hamm Jr. had four points and three aggressive rebounds.
“Those guys gave us a real lift in terms of spirit and energy,” Texas coach Shaka Smart said. “We wanted to take advantage of the fact we had more depth.”
UP NEXT Oklahoma State hosts TCU on Monday. The Cowboys lost the previous matchup 70-68.
Texas plays Oklahoma Saturday, looking for a season sweep over the Sooners. Texas won the previous meeting 75-72 when the Sooners missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds.
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegebasketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
By PAUL NEWBERRY, AP National Writer NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A big comeback. A blown call. And, finally, a booming kick that sent the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl. After rallying from an early 13-0 deficit, the Rams stunned the New Orleans Saints with Greg Zuerlein’s 57-yard field goal in overtime for a 26-23 victory in the NFC championship game Sunday — an outcome that might not have been possible without an egregious mistake by the officials in the closing minutes of regulation.
Los Angeles cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman committed a blatant interference penalty with a helmet-to-helmet hit inside the 5, forcing the Saints to settle for Wil Lutz’s 31-yard field goal that made it 23-20 with 1:45 left in regulation.
That was enough time for Jared Goff to lead the Rams down the field for Zuerlein’s tying field goal, a 48-yarder with 15 seconds remaining. New Orleans won the coin toss and got the ball first in the extra period. But, with a Rams defender in his face, Drew Brees fluttered up a pass that was picked off by John Johnson III, who was able to hang on to the interception while stumbling backward. Johnson hopped up and celebrated by doing with the “Choppa Style” dance popularized by New Orleans rapper Choppa, whose namesake song had become a Saints’ rallying cry and was even performed during the halftime show.
The Rams weren’t able to do much offensively, but it didn’t matter. Zuerlein booted through the winning field goal from just inside midfield with plenty of room to spare.
“It’s unbelievable, man. I can’t put it into words,” Goff said. “The defense played the way they did to force it to overtime. The defense gets a pick and Greg makes a 57-yarder to win it. That was good from about 70. Unbelievable.”
The Superdome, which had been in uproar all afternoon, suddenly turned eerily silent. It was the first home playoff loss for the Saints with Brees and coach Sean Payton, who and been 6-0 in those games since their pairing began in 2006.
The Rams (15-3) and their 32-year-old coach, Sean McVay, capped a remarkable rise since moving back to Los Angeles three years ago. The team will be appearing in its first Super Bowl since the 2001 season, when the “Greatest Show on Turf” was still in St. Louis. “Shoot, I don’t even know what day it is,” McVay said. “All I know is we’re NFC champs, baby!”
It was another bitter end to the season for the Saints, who lost the previous season in the divisional round on the “Minnesota Miracle” — the Vikings’ long touchdown pass on the final play of the game. “It’s a tough pill to swallow,” said Brees, who was denied a shot at adding to the Super Bowl title he won during the 2009 season. This time, New Orleans (14-4) couldn’t hang on to the lead or overcome a mistake by the officials.
The Saints were on the verge of blowing out the Rams, scoring on their first three possessions and taking advantage of an interception off a dropped pass by Todd Gurley.
Then a fake punt early in the second quarter gave Los Angeles its initial first down of the game. Sparked by that play, the Rams finally came to life offensively and drove into position for the first of four field goals by Zuerlein. Gurley made it 13-10 at halftime on a 6-yard touchdown run just before the intermission.
INJURY REPORT: The Saints lost tight end Josh Hill to a concussion in the first quarter. Hill was injured after hauling in a 24-yard pass from Brees. While making the tackle, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Cory Littleton delivered a forearm to Hill’s head.
No penalty was called, but Hill staggered off the field to be evaluated by the medical staff. Just before halftime, the Saints announced he was done for the game. The loss of Hill led to a much bigger role in the offense for Garrett Griffin, who spent most of the season on the practice squad. He caught a 5-yard pass for his first career touchdown.
UP NEXT: The Rams head to Atlanta in about a week for the Feb. 3 Super Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. They will face either the Kansas City Chiefs or the New England Patriots, who met Sunday night for the AFC title.
Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paul%20newberry
For more AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
The Cowboys will start their playoff journey on Saturday night. Will it be short lived or a long one into Feb?
Should the Dallas Cowboys advance to the divisional round who they play still depends on what happens in the other NFC wild card game. If Chicago wins, Dallas would go to New Orleans. If Philadelphia won, Dallas would head to Los Angeles. The Cowboys won their last game of the regular season over the Giants Sunday in dramatic fashion with a 2 point conversion after a Cole Beasley diving catch. Dallas came back to win with 1:19 to play in the 4th. Cowboys 36 – Giants 35. Dallas ended the regular season as the NFC EAST CHAMPS at 10-6 in 2018.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Texas Stars, American
Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars, ended the 2018
calendar year on the wrong end of a 4-2 decision against the San Antonio
Rampage. The Rampage continued their home win streak, extending the
streak to six games.
The Rampage opened the scoring on a beautiful tip by Ryan Olsen nine minutes into the game. Olsen set up at the left side of the net and waited for Mitch Reinke to launch a shot from the blue line. The effort flew three feet wide of the net before Olson redirected the puck past Philippe Desrosiers. Late in the period, the Rampage scored again as Austin Poganski notched his fifth of the season on a rebound. The goal put San Antonio up 2-0 with 20 seconds left in the period.
Texas responded with a goal early in the second period. Nicholas Caamano pushed the puck out to center ice for the Stars to spring up the ice. Adam Mascherin entered the offensive zone and found Gavin Bayreuther for
a partial breakaway. The defenseman collected the puck and took a shot
between his own legs, causing a rebound off the pads of Jordan Binnington. Stars forward Joel L’Esperance
was there to slam the loose puck home and cut the lead in half. It was
one of 19 shots in the period as Texas outshot the Rampage 39-30 in the
game.
Unfortunately for the Stars, all
their shots came with no result on the scoreboard but two rushes for the
Rampage put the game out of reach. Zach Sanford and Connor Bleakley each scored goals 33 seconds apart to extend the lead. Sanford was the trailer on a 2-on-1 and collected a pass from Sam Blais to make it 3-1 while Bleakley’s shot deflected into the net off the Stars defense.
The Stars carried a power play into
the third period and wasted no time finding the net. L’Esperance again
connected, this time on a one timer from the left circle. Ben Gleason and Justin Dowling set the play up for a blast by the rookie to score his 17th goal of the season.
Countless efforts in the third period
would be stopped by Binnington and the Stars were unable to best the
netminder even with Desrosiers on the bench for an extra attacker.
Texas’ loss to the Rampage places them 5-3-1-0 against San Antonio this
year, as the teams will not meet again until March.
Any Given Friday…A Behind the Scenes Look at Friday Night Lights-
by Keri Wootton
Is it just me or does everyone feel the electricity in the air under the Friday Night Lights?
Even at 2 pm when I arrive to begin preparing both the concession stands and spirit wear booth, I can feel the storm brewing within the walls of the high school, the explosion of energy just waiting for the team to hit the field. Is it the smell of the grill being fired up at the tailgate? The sound of the band warming up? The sight of the Legacies and cheerleaders lining up for the Viper walk? This Viper fan and volunteer says it’s all of those things, along with something most don’t see or know anything about; the incredible village of support for these nights made up of staff, coaches, and volunteers who put in countless hours to make our Friday nights so special.
A high school football game is much more than just the battle going on between two teams. Friday Night Football is a season of community, a gathering of friends from every generation; grandparents wearing their grandchild’s picture button; gaggles of middle school girls giggling in line at concessions; swarms of teammates’ little brothers and sisters, running themselves ragged in the grassy area while their parents high five, cheer, question calls, and support their kids out there under the lights.
But before all of that can occur, the battle plans are laid – our amazing coaches (fifteen in all) began preparing for our season long before we have brought out the sunscreen and swimsuits. Having coached our players all summer – four mornings a week at conditioning camp, then two-a-days, followed by morning & afternoon practice once school begins, they are well into their workday before we even think about brewing our first cup of coffee. Overseeing the players’ hydration, health, and that the equipment is in order are Chris Shivers & Linda Bowman and their team of student trainers.
Supporting the players, coaches, and trainers is our Football Booster Club, made up of parent volunteers, most of whom serve multiple years on the board. This crew assists Drew Sanders, Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator, with all of the financial, logistical, and practical aspects of running a 6A football program. When asked for his thoughts on the many volunteers that put in countless hours of support, he stated, “I am so appreciative to have so many dedicated parent volunteers in our community. We couldn’t do what we do without them.”
So, what goes into Friday Night Lights you ask? You would be surprised at the army it takes to host upwards of 5000-6000 fans each week. With six football teams and their games played on both Thursday and Friday nights, it literally takes multiple squads of parents and staff to execute the maneuvers required each week. Much of this planning begins in the summer as well; stadium to be renovated (Thank you LISD), uniforms to be ordered, meals and snacks for concessions to be planned, Viper swag to be designed & ordered, parking plans to be laid out, Viper Moms & Dads events to be communicated, food/drinks/hospitality for the Band & Vision – 450 members strong (enter all the food allergies for said students), freshman and JV football players, cheer teams, and legacies to be organized, Friday tailgate volunteers to be recruited, sponsors to be secured, and parent volunteers to be enlisted, trained, and mobilized. Many of these tasks continue week in and week out to make the Friday Night Lights experience what it is. No one but a few very lucky ones are part of the Angel Troops, spending hours fixing uniforms, stocking concessions, creating playlists (that fun music you hear during the game), ordering additional rain ponchos when they sell out the first rainy game of the season, drafting parents to bring Gatorade to each away game for our players as they get back on buses, organizing said buses….oh, then there is the other level of hospitality – feeding visiting coaches and staff for every game, not including the press box! Yup, all of this all happens long before Friday Night begins, many parent volunteers logging the hours of a full-time job just to finish all of the tasks by kickoff.
So, what does all this have to do with you? It is this mom, volunteer, and High School Football fan’s hope that you might enter Friday Night Lights with a new appreciation/perspective for that electricity you feel in the air when you pull onto McNeil drive to take your seat and experience what happens Any Given Friday. Being a part of Friday night lights has been one of the most meaningful endeavors I have ever experienced. After moving to Texas and attending Friday Night Football for many years, I enjoyed it but had absolutely no idea what went into these special events. I, like many, paid for my ticket, sat in the stands, and cheered on our Vipers without being aware of how it all came together. But over the last 2+ years, I have learned so much, not just about football, but about what can be accomplished when so many generous volunteers come together to give their time, talents, finances, and most of all, their heart for our community, school, and football program. I have said for a long time that the Four Points Community is special, but was unable to put my finger on what exactly “it” is that makes it special. I now realize that that thing I couldn’t put my finger on is most evident at Vandegrift High School. That Friday Night Lights electricity is the positive, get-it-done-with-fun energy of our Viper community. If you have never experienced the sense of belonging that happens every time we stand to honor our military heroes or the powerful voice of our crowd as our players take another “first and 10,” I encourage you to join us in the stands Any Given Friday. I can guarantee you will feel “it,” too.
Not since 1903 — and the third time ever will the Longhorns and Sooners play for a second time in a single season, but this time for the Big 12 Championship.
In a series that began in 1900 these two Rivals will go head to head once more with the conference on the line. A Texas defeat of Kansas in Lawrence last Friday clinched the first appearance in the Big 12 Championship game since 2009 for the Longhorns. Then Friday night, Oklahoma edged out WV in an all out thriller in Morgantown 59-56 Sooners.
The Cotton Bowl rematch in Arlington is set for December 1st this Saturday at AT&T Stadium.The Longhorns narrowly escaped the Sooners back in October at the Red River Showdown this season, in a 48-45 thriller over OU.
The Sooners have been red hot since the loss to Texas and have won every game since.
Texas has seen some offensive woes in recent weeks and QB Sam Ehlinger has gone down in two games due to a shoulder injury. Which Texas team will show up for coach Tom Herman at this Big 12 title match? The team who struggled against Kansas and Baylor, or the team that put up 41 against West Virginia and 48 against the Sooners?
The stakes are high with implications of a potential playoff. Then there is the New Years Six bowl placement, and don’t forget bragging rights in this rivalry. And while I am rooting for my Longhorns to win this game, I also know it will be tough against a high flying Kyler Murry lead offense, however Texas also has the receiver core in Lil Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson. With the arm and legs of Sam Ehlinger and a Texas secondary that is lead by Kris Boyd and Caden Sterns the Horns need only stay within a score to catch the Sooners. In fact I’ll bet that the last team with the ball will win.”
The Arlington kick off at is at 11 a.m. Central on ABC.
