 "Photo: Edmarc Hedrick/The Daily Texan")
When the Head of the Hooch started back in 1980, only a mere 300 rowers competed at its original location in Roswell, Ga.
Today, it’s a completely different story.
Now at Ross’s Landing Park in Chattanooga, Tenn., the 5,000-meter headrace on the Tennessee River hosts more than 5,000 rowers and up to 10,000 spectators every first weekend in November.
And for the Texas rowing team, this weekend will be full of challenges as it wraps up the fall season in the second-largest headrace in the southeast and second-largest regatta in the country.
The Longhorns are going into Chattanooga with a successful fall season so far, but head coach Carie Graves wants to see more resilience in battling fatigue.
“The varsity has been training hard as they move toward the last race of the season,” Graves said. “We have some good depth but would like to see better towing when the team is tired. When the wall pushes, they have to push back constructively with speed, not just power.”
The Longhorns notched three victories last weekend at the 25th annual Head of the Colorado regatta on Lady Bird Lake in the open eight, first novice eight and second novice eight races.
“The novices did a great job in their first-ever race down Lady Bird Lake,” Graves said. “They show tremendous promise, and their squad has a great deal of depth.”
Texas needs all of its boats this weekend in going up against more than 1,400 registered boats from 25 states and four countries.
Texas has shown that resilience and success Graves wants to see so far this season.
Along with their three victories at the Head of the Colorado, they grabbed the top two places in the collegiate eight while notching a first-place finish in the collegiate four.
Last season, the Horns finished the first day with a fourth-place finish in the championship eight-member boat and sixth in the championship four-member.
The Head of the Hooch kicks off at 8 a.m. for the Longhorns and lasts all day.
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