Texas Football Spring Jamboree

On April 4, Time Warner Cable sponsored fan fest, a free event for fans, in coordination with the official Longhorn football program’s Orange and White scrimmage, according to press release from the official Texas football program website

Fan fest was held in the Darrell-Memorial Stadium and included an inflatable superslide, moonwalk, carnival games, fan giveaways, and silent auctions for Longhorns memorabilia.

The fans that arrived early to the event were lucky and saw the Longhorn football team enter the stadium!

The much anticipated Orange and White scrimmage began at 4 p.m.
According to the Austin American Statesman, there were two award presentations during the scrimmage. Coach Mack Brown and Colt McCoy were presented the 2009 Big Twelve Championship Trophy and Earl Thomas was recognized as the 2009 Defensive Back Trophy recipient.

I think that the free scrimmage and fan fest is great way for the Texas football program to show gratitude to their loyal fans and generate publicity for the upcoming 2010 season.

I believe that the media and college football fans are interested in Texas’ new quarterback Garrett Gilbert and if he will be able to fill Colt McCoy’s golden cleats. The scrimmage is a great way for the Texas football program to give the public a preview for next season and generate a continual buzz that will last until the 2010 season officially begins this fall.

Press Releases shines positive light on McCoy

The official press releases and interviews published after Pro Timing day shine a positive light on Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorn Football program.

Pro Timing day, held on March 31 this year, allows former longhorn football players to showcase their skills in front of National Football League representatives.

For the 2010 Pro Timing day, all eyes are on the former Longhorn quarterback, Colt McCoy, who was injured during the National Championship game in January.

"I've been waiting for a long time for this day about three weeks ago my shoulder was cleared to be 100 percent”, said McCoy, “ I started working and chunking the ball deep and getting my accuracy back and my quick release and working on my feet. I kind of put it all together today. I felt really good about it today."

Quan Cosby, former Texas WR, took break from his Cincinnati Bengals team schedule to return to Austin, Texas, and catch passes from McCoy on Pro Timing day.

“They understand up there in [Cincinnati] what Colt means to me as a friend”, said Cosby, “I mean pretty much like a brother, so they allowed me to come back down and help him out and it was fun.”

The support McCoy received on Pro Timing Day from his teammates, family and friends and the Texas football program’s Media Relations Department are obviously helping him make a lasting impression on the National Football League representatives and public.

When Texas’ Media Relations Department asked about McCoy’s performance, Seattle Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll said, “I loved seeing him on the move. He is such a natural athlete, moves so well, and his foot quickness was good – his footwork was really good for all of the shotgun time he spent. That is one of the issues that everybody is looking at. He looked very comfortable and very natural out there.”

I think publishing positive press releases about McCoy during the draft process is a smart publicity move for the Texas football Media Relations department. These press releases promote McCoy as not only a great athlete, but also as an outstanding young man.

Take a stroll down Earl Campbell parkway

The Tyler Morning Telegraph reported that the Tyler City Council voted to honor their hometown hero, Earl Campbell, with a street name on March 26.

"Earl Campbell has been an inspiration to the community because he has shown that with hard work and perseverance, anything is possible," said Mayor Donald Sanders. "He has inspired the youth of this community to reach for their dreams."

Besides being known as the rose capital of America, Tyler, Texas, is also known for the infamous running back Campbell. Campbell, ironically nicknamed the Tyler rose, has left an imprint on the Tyler community and the longhorn nation.

Campbell came to the University of Texas in 1974 and was the running back for the Longhorn football team for three seasons. During his last season in 1977, Campbell received the coveted Heisman Trophy.

In 1978, Campbell entered the National Football League draft and was the first draft pick by the Houston Oilers. He was traded in 1984 to the New Orleans’ Saints and retired from professional football in 1986.

Campbell, who attended his dedication in Tyler, Texas, told the media, "I've just been thinking, that's such a tremendous honor, to have a street, your children and your grandchildren, people will go up and down and say, 'We want to go to that Earl Campbell Street.' I think it's just unbelievable."

In my opinion, Campbell’s recognition from his hometown is great publicity for the University of Texas’ football program because it shows the current public the impact a player, who has hasn’t played a game in Royal- Memorial Stadium in over thirty years, can have on a community.

Campbell was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

Longhorns bring manners to the table

According to an article posted on the official University of Texas football website, the University of Texas football coaching staff participates in a proper etiquette dinner for the Texas football players instructed by Mary Ellen Oliver, former director of special events at the university.

The etiquette dinner gives incoming freshman and current football players an opportunity to learn proper etiquette for various situations.

"We learned a lot of valuable information that I really didn't even know," WR Marquise Goodwin said. "You can use the skills we learned tonight during bowl games, important dinners, or even when you take your girlfriend out on a date."

A team of young men who are aggressive on the field and polite off the field reflects well on Texas Longhorns football program.

When the Longhorns leave the stadium on San Jacinto Street and go their separate paths the way they conduct themselves reflects back on The University of Texas and its championship winning football program’s reputation.

The etiquette dinner has been a tradition in the Texas football program for 13 years when Coach Brown started it in 1998 in hopes of teaching his players the importance of manners.

"Coach Brown's theory was that he wanted his players to be able to go out in the world and be successful in whatever they did." said Oliver, who has taught the etiquette dinner since its beginning.

By implementing this dinner, Brown is insuring that the Longhorn’s gentle giants are also gentlemen.

Ex-longhorn David Thomas returns to Austin, Texas

David Thomas, former longhorn tight end, served as grand marshal for the Texas Independence Day Parade on March 6 in Austin, Texas.

Last month Thomas, a professional football player for the New Orleans Saints, experienced every boy's childhood dream of winning the Super Bowl.

This isn't the first time for Thomas to be apart of a championship team.

Thomas was a team captain for The University of Texas Longhorn football team who won the 2005 National Championship title game against The University of Southern California.

While in Austin,Texas, this weekend Thomas attended a spring football practice and visited with players and coaches.

I may not know everything about Texas football, but I do believe that Thomas is a positive role model for current students and alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin.

After we leave the 40 acres and pursue our dreams it's important to remember the place that opened so many doors for us.

Thomas acknowledges by saying, "[We] really appreciate all that The University has done for us and it's always fun to get back here."

When asked about the support he received from Longhorn coaches and players Thomas said, " I think that's a great testament to how much we all care about The University of Texas and how much coach Brown and the program care of us and cares about us."

Thomas holds The University of Texas Longhorn football record as the all-time leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns for a tight end.