Victory celebrates Women's Basketball past and present
Feb. 8, 2010 Natalie England, TexasSports.com "The name on the front of your jersey is not just a school, but a family that will impact your life forever." -- Amie Smith Bradley (1993-97) AUSTIN, Texas -- Sunday was one of those days at the Frank Erwin Center when everything seemed to fit, when time and space were bound together by energy and emotion. The Texas Longhorns continued their recent surge, earning their fifth Big 12 victory in the past six games with an 81-51 triumph against Texas Tech, but even that seemed more like a celebration. The 6,138 fans were noisily grateful for the genuine grit displayed throughout the contest, and the Longhorns generated effort that honored more than this moment, but all the memories that allowed for it. UT connected past and present over the weekend, hosting its Women's Basketball Letterwinners reunion, and Sunday, on the same hardwood where the Longhorns assumed command in a rivalry that dates back to 1977, four decades of Longhorns were also acknowledged and appreciated. "There's proud tradition here. Texas has such longstanding tradition, more than any other women's program in the country," UT coach Gail Goestenkors says. "The opportunity to bring our letterwinners back and honor them is very special. We will always be linked, and we celebrate that bond." "It meant having sisters and friends for life that were beyond comparison" -- Hattie Browning (1978-80) Throughout this season, the Longhorns have carried on the burnt orange legacy by virtually reliving it. Texas exes wrote to the current team, mostly with one circular theme -- what it means to be a Texas Longhorn. All the letters were compiled together, and prior to each game this season, one player reads a selection from the "Letters to our Sisters."
And so it continues. Empowered by a team that extends beyond their locker room, that reaches into the past and pulls toward the future, the Longhorns strengthen their tradition by sharing in it. "To be part of something greater than yourself is monumental." -- Jamie Carey (2002-05) |
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