ravenhand,
Good stats, have been posted on this BBS recently.
I would add, it's not just winning the final game of the season (national title), it's being in the mix in most if not all sports year in and year out.
A few years ago Dodds pointed out that of the men's and women's sports in which Texas competed in (for at least the year he was commenting on), Texas' teams were ALL in their respective top-25 rankings at least once during their seasons.
Wow.
Regarding the Big Three, football (FB), baseball (BB), men's basketball (MBB), as has been noted:
FB, well, okay, only 4 (or 3-1/2, however you want to look at 1970) national titles, but over Texas' FB history, scores of conference titles, third highest overall W/L percentage (ND, Meatchicken, Texas), a couple of Heismans, and in the last 10 years one MNC and the best W/L percentage of the major programs.
BB, well USC's Rod Dedeaux phenomenal national title run (similar to UCLA's basketball Wooden's dominance) puts them on top nationally, but Texas is certainly no less than the second best college baseball program of all time. Second most national titles, more regional appearances and world series appearances than even USC. One of the greatest pitchers of all-time, at least by Cy Young's, wins, strikeouts, etc., wasn't even a starter on the Texas national championship team that he was on.
MBB, the weakest of the Big Three, but starting with Abe Lemons, forget Weltlich, continuing with Penders, and now with Barnes, particularly with Barnes over about the last 10 years, Texas is now annually a minimal top-25 team, one Final Four losing to the eventual title winner, a number of Elite Eights and Sweet Sixteens, two recent national players of the year awards.
We're not talking about..."look out, we're gonna be good....."
We're talking about been there, done that.
Hook 'em