Player 000005
Player 000005 — Defensive Tackle · Southeastern Conference · '09
Texas has gone through multiple coaching changes since I left in the mid-2010s. With each new staff, relationships naturally fade. Staying connected to the program generally requires intentional effort from the former player to create time and opportunities to stay involved.
The T-Association hosts alumni events once a year, typically around spring game weekend. These gatherings are a nice chance to reconnect with former teammates, alumni, and available staff. Upon graduation, we were also offered the opportunity to sign up for one free ticket to every home game. The seats are on the visitor sideline in a desirable row. However, as season ticket demand has grown, this benefit has reportedly been limited or even revoked for some alumni. I’ve heard stories of former players losing the lifetime ticket they were originally promised, though I don’t know the exact details.
The T-Association exists and has become more active recently, building an online network and website for former athletes to join and use for networking. It’s a valuable tool that deserves more promotion and refinement—the intention and effort are there, but the execution could still improve.
Overall, I felt more like an outsider looking in after graduating and walking out of Moncrief for the last time. The personal relationships I built over four years largely disappeared once I turned in my laundry bag following my final bowl game. Coaches, support staff, and academic advisors never followed up or checked in. For most of us, that was the last time we would ever put on a football uniform. It’s a difficult pill to swallow—pouring countless hours into the facilities for practice, workouts, film study, rehab, study hall, and team activities, only to feel dismissed once your eligibility ends.
Still, I would do it all over again if given the chance, just with different expectations and intentions.
Composite score 2.7
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