THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

Moody College of Communication
Department of Communication Studies, Forensics Programs
2504A Whitis Ave A1105 l Austin, Texas  78712-0115

Dear Director of Forensics:

The University of Texas speech & debate programs invite you and your students to attend the 23rd Annual Longhorn Classic Tournament to be held on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on December 4-6, 2020.

This year will see changes in the structure and timing of the tournament due to the virtual format. We will use NSDA Campus. All events will begin on Friday, December 4.  All events will occur synchronously.

In keeping with our commitment to a well-rounded forensics education, we will offer students the opportunity to compete in a variety of events, including both Championship and Novice Cross-Examination Debate, Championship Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Championship Public Forum Debate, Championship World Schools Debate, multiple Speech categories, as well as the Longhorn Student Congress and NCFL style Oral Interpretation. Also, because we have an expanded room space due to virtual debating, we will be able to host Novice divisions in Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and World Schools debate. The Longhorn Classic is a TOC qualifier in Extemporaneous Speaking, a qualifier for the IE TOC in all relevant categories, as well as a Kentucky TOC qualifier in all relevant debate and individual event categories. 

There will be six preliminary rounds in CCX, CLD and CPF, and five in CWS, NCX, NLD, NPF, and NWS. Individual events will feature three flighted patterns each with two preliminary rounds, followed by quarter-finals (top 24-32 students advancing depending on rank cutoffs, maximum of 50% in events under 48), semi-finals and finals. Due to logistical constraints and the massive size of the Longhorn Classic, we can not allow cross-over between individual events and the various debate categories (including Congressional Debate).

CCX - 100 starting cap - 3 entries/school

CPF - 100 starting cap - 4 entries/school

CLD - 140 starting cap - 5 entries/school

CWS - 30 starting cap - 3 entries/school

Novice CX/PF/LD - 40 starting cap - 3 entries/school

Novice WS - 20 starting cap - 2 entries/school

Congress - 102 starting cap - 6 entries/school

IE - 102 starting cap - 6 entries per event per school

IE Contestants may enter two events from each pattern.

Pattern A: Dramatic Interp, Foreign Extemp, Informative Speaking

Pattern B: Humorous Interp, Oral Interp (Prose/Poetry), US Extemp

Pattern C: Duo Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Original Oratory

Only school sponsors/student chaperones should register. In accordance with TFA guidelines, residents of the state of Texas may not compete as independents. Out of state students may compete as independents. This is likely the last year we will allow out of state students to compete as independents. 

We look forward to hosting from Austin once again for one of the largest and most competitive tournaments in the country.

Sincerely,