On the same day as the NCAA revealed that the women’s meet would be hosted in the far north, they also let the Texas Longhorns know that they would be hosting the 2014 Men’s NCAA Swimming & Diving Championship meet.
The Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center received its name in the mid-90’s, but first opened in 1977. Despite its age (and thanks in part to a $3 million renovation in 2001, and then another one just a few years ago), it remains as one of the most renowned permanent courses in the world.
The cavernous facility features a 50-meter pool with a pair of bulkheads in the middle. One of the coolest and most unique features of this pool, though it won’t necessarily be on display at this meet, is that those bulkheads are fully automatic and actually raise and lower from the ceiling. Other geek-appealing features are dual timing boards that gives meet hosts a lot of flexibility in displaying results – leading to a better overall fan experience.
The center has a two-level grandstand that can seat 2,500, plus plenty of deck space to accommodate the athletes. Like the University Aquatic Center at Minnesota, this pool has hosted more than its fair share of high-level meets. That includes a stop on the annual USA Swimming Grand Prix circuit, the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, and 6 Men’s NCAA Championship meets (plus 1 hosted in Austin in 1951, before this pool was built). Most recently, the Texas Swim Center played host to the 2011 women’s NCAA Championship meet.
The one drawback of this facility for a college meet is that the diving equipment, while spectacular with its own offset tank, is two-pools’-width away from the spectator seating.
The city of Austin offers a great cultural experience, plus a huge local swimming community that will surely lead to packed stands for all three days of this meet. Even better, the Longhorns will be in the hunt for a top three finish, which should draw plenty of local interest.
As such a focal point of the American swimming scene, hosting the Grand Prix, this winter’s Nationals and Junior Nationals, plus many other high-level meets every year, most of the athletes will be fairly comfortable in this pool. Not to mention that such a huge portion of the NCAA Championship athletes swim high school in the state of Texas, where the State Championship meet is held there every year. All-told, combined with one of the fastest courses in the country, we could see some great times.
Great place for age group swims as well. Our kids swim there this weekend and absolutely love it. Fast pool. On the wall you see potraits of Longhorn greats and SCY and LC recorders posted on the wall list who is who in American swimming starting with Phelps. You just feel good sittng there and watchging swim meet whether it is a Gran Prix (with Ryan in a pink speedo) or 10 & unders first time swimming at the Center. We will be watching NCAAs.
OK, you have to be an old fart that cares about this sort of thing so bear with me.. the TSC actually opened in 1977 and the most recent major renovation was completed just prior to the Women’s NCAA’s a couple of years ago. The director, Charles Logan, has done a nice job partnering with the University of Texas in getting the facility back up to speed with numerous updates through the venue.