Day One in the SEC 🤘

mlns='> [View this email as a web page.]( Dear Longhorns, Last night, thousands of alumni, students, faculty and staff members, and fans of The University of Texas gathered at the Tower to celebrate our historic move to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Today, our inaugural day in the SEC, I want to highlight the importance of this move and its impact on all Longhorns. Our outstanding student-athletes and coaches have earned the right to compete on the biggest stage in college sports, and the SEC presents that opportunity. This move will further elevate what I believe to be the strongest brand in college sports by allowing our athletics programs to compete against the best and creating unforgettable experiences for our fans. That said, this transition is about more than just sports. Our University provides elite academic programs on a vibrant campus in the heart of a dynamic city, and this move will introduce new audiences to our unique story and the impact that UT is making on the world. The excitement of SEC athletics will enhance the student experience and attract more top talent — students, faculty and staff — to the Forty Acres. [UT in the SEC]( will reignite storied rivalries and create new ones, all of which you can follow on the reimagined [Longhorn Network streaming service]( beginning today. We also look forward to building academic collaborations with our fellow SEC institutions, including four of our fellow members of the Association of American Universities. Thank you to Chairman Kevin Eltife and the entire University of Texas System Board of Regents for their tremendous leadership through this transition, and to Chris Del Conte, the Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director, for his guidance, ingenuity and vision. Because of the work of these leaders and others, UT is ready to thrive in our new conference. I look forward to seeing you as we compete against rivals old and new. Until then, I encourage you to join Longhorns on campus and around the world by getting your horns up and showing the SEC that what starts here changes the world. Hook 'em! [Signature for Jay Hartzell] Jay Hartzell President  [twitter icon]( [twitter icon]( [linkedin icon]( The University of Texas at Austin No. 1 University Station Austin, Texas 78712 If you wish to be removed from this group's mailing list, [click here](.