The University of Texas is one of the more consistent athletic powerhouses in NCAA Division I sports.

From one year to the next, the Longhorns are always in the mix not only in Big 12 Conference competitions, but almost as often in the picture for the national championships of the respective sports in which they compete.

Over the course of time, many of the individual sport athletes who train and compete on the Forty Acres have also found a great level of success internationally.

This success is so great, in fact, you could almost consider Texas it’s own Olympic nation.

Don’t believe me?

Just ask Canada, eh?

Most of these medals have come from Longhorn swimmers which every year are a part of both men’s and women’s swimming teams donning the Red, White and Blue. Texas’ first-class facilities and outstanding coaching over the past few decades have made Austin a premier destination for young swimming talent looking to take things to the next level.

The Texas track and field program has also improved dramatically with upgrades to the Mike Meyers Track and Field complex and have started to be a part of the medal hunt every four years.

So maybe all those folks who say Texas should be “its own country” aren’t so crazy after all.

Maybe it’s the University of Texas that should be though.

Who would’a thunk it?

Certainly not the Norwegians.

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Kris Hughes is the College Football Network Manager for Rant Sports and a member of the Football Writers Association of America.

You can follow him on Twitter or check out his Facebook page.

Kris is also the host of Rant Sports Radio on the Blog Talk Radio Network Wednesday evenings at 8 Central Time.