SMU Rowing Heads to Austin to Face Texas Saturday

[PonyPride]

SMU Rowing Heads to Austin to Face Texas Saturday
Mustangs (1-1) Look to Overtake Longhorns (6-0)


April 3, 2008

AUSTIN (SMU)--The SMU rowing team heads to Austin to take on perennial powerhouse Texas on Saturday, April 5. The dual will be held on Lady Bird Lake in Austin, beginning at 9am.

Scouting the Mustangs: SMU is 1-1 on the season, after winning four of its five races against Creighton in early March and dropping its dual against Alabama last weekend. Against Creighton, the Mustangs won every event except the first varsity four. In that race, the Ponies fell behind early, but recovered their rhythm for a strong finish. They were unable to fully overcome their slow start, and came in just behind Creighton's second boat. The Mustangs' roster boasts depth with almost two dozen returning rowers and over a dozen freshmen.

Last Time Out: The Mustangs faced Alabama on Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, Ala. last Saturday, winning one of the four races. SMU took the second varsity eight race, outpacing the Tide by over three seconds. In the varsity/novice four race, the Mustangs earned a third-place finish. SMU's varsity eight gave the Tide a close race, but lost by about a length.

Scouting the Longhorns: The Longhorns are 6-0 so far this season, after taking their fifth-straight dual-meet win last weekend over Kansas. Texas has also posted wins over Iowa and Wisconsin. The Longhorns are helped by a very experienced roster that boats 29 returnees. In addition, Texas has another 50 novices adding to the Longhorns' depth.

Series History: These two crews are well-known to one another, having seen each other at all three fall regattas. Prior to this past fall, the teams met last March in Kansas, with Texas taking the advantage. In years past, SMU has rowed at the Texas Invitational held each spring. The Mustangs' last Texas Invitational was in 2005, when they won the varsity four, novice eight and varsity eight races.

Race Schedule: The race kicks off with the second varsity eight at 9am, followed by the second and third novice eights at 9:15am and the first novice eight at 9:30am. The varsity eight goes at 9:45am and the first varsity four wraps up the dual at 10am.

For the complete schedule and results, log on to SMUMustangs.com.

SMU vs. UT
Saturday, April 5
Lady Bird Lake

9:00 a.m. - 2V8
9:15 a.m. - 2N8/3N8
9:30 a.m. - 1N8
9:45 a.m. - 1V8
10:00 a.m. - 1V4