1972-1979

Longhorn Sports landscape changes dramatically During the years 1972- 1979  

• Longhorns play for a football National Championship in 1977

• The basketball team wins the SWC 4 times

• Texas track builds a dynasty

• Baseball team wins 4 consecutive SWC Championships

• Women’s Athletics comes on strong reaching national prominence in basketball, tennis, swimming, diving, and golf.

1975 was a financial down year for the UT educational system but not sports. Excluding a rejection of additional scholarships for the UT swim team and less funding for women’s soccer, UT athletic department was taking dead aim at building new sports venues. Many thought that the construction of three super facilities reflected an outdated emphasis on athletics. Texas built the world’s most exceptional swimming facility, one of the nation’s best college basketball arenas, and one of the best college baseball stadiums in college sports. In 1974-1975 while the men’s budget is not significantly impaired, the women’s program remained self-funded at $58,000.

It was also a year of change. UT men no longer dominated SWC sports. Texas was 2nd in football, 4th in basketball, 2nd in track, 2nd in tennis, and 2nd in swimming. The baseball team was the only men’s team that won the SWC. Fan support dropped for Longhorn inter-collegiate sports, but intramural participation was at an all-time high.

In 1975-1976 the budget was raised to $100,000. Each women’s sports team had one full scholarship to be divided between 4 women paying tuition and required fees. There was some travel money. The women’s basketball team practiced and played games in Gregory’s gym. Women could not use the track facility until three days before the track season began. Women tennis players had to use the intramural courts because the Penick Courts were for men only. The women swimmers and women golfers fared better than the other women’s sports. With the golf team recognized as a national power.

In 1976 the Super Drum and Olympic swimming pool open.

1977