Longhorn Pride

Texas colleges rank high for athletics, but University of Texas still comes out on top

In the state of Texas, especially at the University of Texas at Austin, football is king. So after another sub-par season (and seeing Texas A&M and other colleges dominate recruiting in the state), it’s understandable that fans may be a little nervous about UT athletics rankings. Despite the football team undergoing a complete renovation under new coach Charlie Strong, the past year was actually a huge success for athletics on the 40 Acres.

The stellar performance of these athletes proves Texas has a lot to be proud of.

On Friday, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics announced the 2013-2014 standings for the Division I Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. The standings are a joint effort between the NACDA and USA Today to award points to universities based on where they finish in the top 20 sports (10 women's and 10 men’s) for each school.

UT comes in at No. 6 nationally and was the top-ranked university in the Big 12 Conference. During the 2013-2014 academic year, the university boasted six teams with a top five finish and 15 teams in top 20 finishes in NCAA sports championships. The No. 1 spot for the Cup went to Stanford, followed by Florida, Notre Dame, Virginia and Penn State.

The No. 6 ranking is a major jump from last year’s No. 13 ranking for UT, and the school now boasts 15 top 10 finishes in the 21 years of the Director’s Cup. To their credit, other Texas colleges had respectable showings, including Texas A&M in the No. 10 spot and Baylor coming in at No. 31.

The Longhorns may not have had a dynamite season on the football field, but the past year was packed with many non-football highlights including baseball and volleyball championship runs. And Texas’ high standing this year should help fans breath a little easier about the upcoming football season. Many sports analysts think we’re due to finish in the middle of the Big 12 football pack in 2014.

Sports like men’s swimming or women’s track and field may not bring in the ratings (or money) that a football team can, but the stellar performance of these athletes proves Texas has a lot to be proud of.

With a No. 6 national ranking for the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, Bevo has plenty to be happy about.

Bevo longhorn UT in front of Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco

Photo courtesy of Texas Longhorns Facebook

With a No. 6 national ranking for the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, Bevo has plenty to be happy about.

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Take Another Swing

Austin pickleball club reopens with Bill's Oyster spin-off food truck

Photo by Henry Selis Photo

Other Racquet Social Club is back after city woes.

Pickleball players at Austin's new Other Racquet Social Club were placed on a forced rest this summer as the sports venue dealt with city permitting complications, but it'll be back in action November 1. It brings with it a brand-new food truck from the folks behind the immediately popular and also relatively new downtown restaurant Bill's Oyster, called Bill's Dips.

Its mandated hiatus notwithstanding, Other Racquet opened in late 2023 as a members-only venture, but opened to the public a few months later, in early 2024. Now, members still get certain perks, but anyone can book a guest court or stop by to enjoy the bar and food trucks — a big part of the initial draw. Guests don't even need to book a court to stop by and hang out.

“It’s been a hell of a journey, but we’re grateful to be reopening our bar after being closed for seven months,” said Other Racquet owner Matt Wolski in a press release. Wolski is also the founder of Pursuit Concepts, which brought Austin places like Idle Hands, Parlor & Yard, and Victory Lap.

“This process has been challenging to say the least, but the goal from the beginning was to have Other Racquet fill a need on our strip of Manor," Wolski continued, "one that’s a space where everyone can enjoy not only pickleball but great food and drinks in a welcoming, laid-back environment.”

Bill's Dips will open with Other Racquet right away, on November 1. It joins farmers-market-stand-turned-food-trailer B. Cooper Barbecue, forming a meaty duo. Bill’s Dips focuses on "classic comfort fare," according to the release, which includes the signature Bill’s Burger alongside chili cheese dogs, queso blanco, and soft-serve dipped cones.

“Our Bill’s Burger has become a fan-favorite, so much so that we wanted to create a standalone destination where our guests could conveniently get their burger fix in East Austin,” said Bill's Oyster managing partner Dylan Salisbury. “Parking at Other Racquet felt like a natural segue for our guests that come into Bill’s, and we were able to create a menu that reflects the laid back vibes of the space.”

Other Racquet Social Club is located at 2717 Manor Rd. and is open Mondays to Thursdays from 4-11 pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am-midnight, and Sundays from 11 am-11 pm. The existing cocktail bar is open the same hours, but closes an hour early except for Fridays and Saturdays. Finally, Bill's Dips will be open Thursdays and Fridays for dinner service, and Saturdays and Sundays all day. It accepts orders in person, online at billsdips.com, and via major delivery platforms including Uber Eats and DoorDash.

More information about Other Racquet Social Club is available at otherracquet.com.

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Fans of Austin sports and Austin food can now score tickets to The Tailgate, CultureMap's all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. The event, presented by Verizon, goes down from 6-9 pm December 12 at Distribution Hall. Find out more about it here.

sports pickleball food trucks burgers