Horns Up! A New Year's Resolution For 2014

As Christmas winds down, we start to look back at what we accomplish or didn’t accomplish for the soon to be ending year. It’s a tradition in my family that we sit down and as a family start to make realistic goals for ourselves and each other. Not the “Lose weight” vague goals, clearly defined goals that I know with hard work and determination, I can make them. If I want a new car for the next year, I check my credit, see how much I need to save per paycheck and I don’t look at any car until I am 70% to my savings goal.

So for the Texas Longhorns athletic department, I would like to set 2 clear, measurable and attainable goals in 2014.

1. 75% participation in postseason events (2 of the Big 3 (Football, Basketball, and Baseball)) 

The Texas Longhorns sponsor 20 varsity sports. That means to reach 75% participation, 15 of the 20 teams must make the postseason in their respective sport. Here are the guaranteed ones:

Volleyball, Softball, Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field, Men’s Swimming, Women’s Swimming, Men’s Golf, Men’s Tennis, Football, and Women’s Golf.

So that’s 12 so 60% there. All they need is 4 more teams in 2014 to make a postseason appearance. Women’s Basketball and Men’s Basketball are drastically better than they were last year so making the tournament is a possibility. That would make it 13. Baseball is still young but the news has been positive surrounding the Longhorns in Disch-Fauk field. So if the Longhorns baseball team improves, it will be 15 teams in postseason play. That’s a very attainable goal.

2. 1 national championship 

The national championship didn’t quite happen in 2013 for the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns were fortunate to have 2 national champions in 2012 but it is very tough to win a national title so I will set the goal of at least 1 national championship in 2014.  If you can get 15 teams into the postseason, chances are good that you will be able to get 1 or 2 close enough to win a national title. Then with a little bit of luck, you can get that 1 national championship.

These goals are clear, mesurable and attainable. If Steve Patterson in his first full year as the athletic director can attain these goals, it would be a fantastic year for Texas athletics.