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Marcus Johnson and the Longhorns raised the bar against Oklahoma.
NOVEMBER 2015
CONTENTS FEATURES
POWER SHIFT FOOTBALL
The beginning of the Texas football team’s conference schedule resembled nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Over their ďŹ rst three conference games, the Longhorns lost by a ďŹ eld goal, came apart at the seams and then rebuilt themselves in time to face their biggest conference rival. Senior editor Steve Habel takes us through the games against Oklahoma State and TCU, as well as the victory against Oklahoma — the turning point of the season.
THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE FOOTBALL
For the past three years, Duke Thomas took a backseat in the locker room, allowing older members of DBU to step up and lead the team. Thomas’ time, however, is now. The senior cornerback has not only improved his play this season, but also has found his voice to lead his unit.
DEPARTMENTS LEADING OFF
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
ROUNDUP
SPIRIT OF THE MONTH - John Dror
MEDIA VOICES
THE HABE ON THE HORNS
IN SEASON - Volleyball
IN SEASON - Cross Country
FINAL SCORE
DON BENDER
COVER PHOTO: BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS
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CO URTES Y U T ATHLETICS PH OTOG RAPHY
LEADING
OFF
On Oct. 17, the Longhorns held the Marathon Kids 20th Anniversary National Kickoff Ceremony. Marathon Kids encourages children across the nation to run and live a healthy lifestyle. Beginning this year, the organization is expanding its goals and asking participants to run up to four marathons, a little at a time. This year’s Austin event was the beginning of a journey for local children to achieve that goal during the course of a three-, six- or nine-month running club or school year. Many Longhorn athletes ran alongside the children and encouraged them in their first run toward completing their challenge. “The program offers kids the opportunity to change their entire perception about physical activity and running,” said Christine Pollei, executive director of Marathon Kids. “At the conclusion of their program, kids walk away feeling great, not just about themselves and their achievement, but about running. We love that.”
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ROUNDUP
COURTES Y UT ATH LETICS PH OTOGRAPHY
NOVEMBER 2015
SO GOOD, SO SOON: Junior Beau Hossler won his first tournament of the 2015-16 season with a career-low 197 at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational. Hossler shot a career-low third round 64 to win the tournament by six strokes, following rounds of 68 and 65 on the previous days. The tournament marks Hossler’s second Texas win after earning medalist honors at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational in March. He made 19 birdies, one eagle, one bogey and one double bogey over three days to lead the Longhorns to a fourth-place tie.
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NATIONAL PRAISE
T
EXAS WAS NAMED the AutoNation National Team of the Week following its 24-17 win over then-No. 10 Oklahoma. The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) selects the weekly honor. The Longhorns pounded out 313 rushing yards to defeat their rivals in the AT&T Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Longhorns’ season-high six sacks also contributed to the win. Two Texas players rushed for more than 100 yards in the contest — running back D’Onta Foreman rushed for 117 yards, including a career-long 81-yarder, and quarterback Jerrod Heard racked up 115 yards on the ground. The performance marked the first time Texas has rushed for more than 300 yards since the 2013 season opener. “Our fans were waiting for a breakout win because we hadn’t had one in so long,” head coach Charlie Strong said after the game. “This was a big-time rival game and our players were up for it.” As part of AutoNation’s charitable involvement, AutoNation will donate $1,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in the university’s name. This initiative culminates with the AutoNation Cure Bowl, a new post-season game that kicks off bowl season at the Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando, Fla.
THIS WAY FORWARD: Charlie Strong’s latest tactic for motivating his team paid off when the Longhorns finally brought home the golden hat from the Cotton Bowl.
POETIC JUSTICE “Don’t Quit”
TIME TO CELEBRATE: The Longhorns had plenty to celebrate about after defeating Oklahoma. The win earned Texas national recognition the following week. 14 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill When the funds are low And the debts are high And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about When he might have won had he stuck it out; Don’t give up though the pace seems slow You may succeed with another blow, Success is failure turned inside out The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
TH IS S PREAD F ROM LEFT: BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS , PATRICK MEREDITH/ UNIV. OF TEXAS , BETH ANY WALTER/ UNIV. OF TEXAS, S USAN S IGMON/ UNIV. OF TEXAS
HEAD COACH CHARLIE Strong has used various motivational tactics during his two seasons at the helm. However, after the 50-7 loss to then-No. 3 TCU, Strong found a new one. He used a poem titled “Don’t Quit” to motivate his players in the week leading up to the AT&T Red River Showdown. The Longhorns clearly took the poem to heart based on their performance against the Sooners.
COMING ON STRONG
THE BIG 12 Conference announced that the league coaches selected the Texas women’s basketball team to finish second in the conference this season. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Baylor claimed the top spot, earning 80 points in polling. Texas earned 70 points and received one first-place vote, while Oklahoma was picked third. Texas tips off the 2015-16 regular season with a home contest against UTSA on Saturday, Nov. 14.
2015-16 BIG 12 BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL RANK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
TEAM FIRST PLACE VOTES POINTS BAYLOR 8 80 TEXAS 1 70 69 OKLAHOMA 1 IOWA 48 TCU 47 WEST VIRGINIA 40 KANSAS STATE 36 27 OKLAHOMA STATE TEXAS TECH 18 KANSAS 15
HONOR ROLL THE VOICE OF REASON: Jerrod Heard is pushing his teammates to stay off of Twitter and resolve any disagreements in person.
SOCIAL SECURITY
J
ERROD HEARD WAS a bystander when the “Great Texas Twitter Spat” erupted, thanks to the freshmen players’ reactions to comments by junior safety Dylan Haines. “Someone texted me, ‘Get your teammates off Twitter,’” Heard said. “I was like, ‘Oh Lord, what are they doing now?’” Heard said he advised his teammates to deal directly with disagreements while trying to play down any divisions within the team. He also said a physical presence may have eased any lingering resentments and denied any major problems in the locker room. He did make one tongue-in-cheek threat: “I’m going to take their phones and delete their Twitter.”
FOUR PLAYERS FROM the Texas women’s basketball team received Preseason All-Big 12 Women's Basketball honors, including Lashann Higgs, Ariel Atkins, Imani Boyette and Kelsey Lang. Higgs was tabbed Preseason Freshman of the Year, while Atkins, Boyette and Lang each earned a spot on the Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention team. Big 12 head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes, selected the awards. A consensus All-American at Cedar Ridge High School in Round Rock, Higgs was the No. 7 overall player and third-ranked guard in the class of 2015 according to ESPN.com. One of five finalists for the Naismith Trophy as a senior, she earned Parade All-American honors and participated in the McDonald's
All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. Higgs averaged 27.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while leading Cedar Ridge to a 30-3 record during the 2014-15 season. Higgs is the fifth Longhorn to claim Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year honors, joining Tiffany Jackson (2003-04), Brittainey Raven (2006-07), Cassie Peoples (201112) and Atkins (2014-15).
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FLYING HIGH
K
ERWIN ROACH JR. is an athletic phenomenon. A state title holder in the triple jump who also happens to be a basketball standout, the 6-foot-3 guard was one of the most explosive players in the 2015 recruiting class. Now a freshman at Texas, it doesn’t appear that Roach has lost any of his hops. In fact, he looks like he’s taking rather well to the Longhorns’ training program based on a social media post where he’s jumping to reach the top of a 13-foot backboard. Roach, who was ranked as the No. 46 player nationally out of high school, could be a special player down the line if his on-court game continues to grow to complement his athleticism. Either way, he’s going to be fun to watch as he flies through the air.
OLD SCHOOL MEETS THE NEW SCHOOL: One can only wonder what insights Kevin Durant shared with Shaka Smart at a recent Texas football game.
INSIDE SCOOP MEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD coach Shaka Smart opened a portion of the team’s practice to the media, providing the following insights as the Longhorns head into the 2015-16 season:
(1(5*< $1' &+(0,675< In the 20 minutes of practice open to the media, the Longhorn practice was incredibly loud and energetic. Players celebrated a regular jump shot like it was a game winner with chest bumps and high fives. As play picked up, the entire team seemed close-knit and energetic.
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Smart’s offense will revolve around ball movement and a fast pace. Some of the drills prompted two or three quick passes before taking a shot.
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Smart stressed how important the big men are to the team. Senior center Cameron Ridley returns to the front-court rotation, and junior forward Shaquille Cleare is eligible after sitting out last year due to NCAA transfer rules. Ridley looked slimmer and showed off touch from the outside in drills, while Smart wants Cleare to provide nastiness and edge.
)5(6+0(1
Smart divided the team by class late in practice and spent the entire session with the three freshmen: guard/forward Tevin Mack, guard Eric Davis, Jr. and guard Kerwin Roach Jr. The three have the potential to contribute early.
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Shaka Smart
UP AND COMING
N
ATIONAL CHAMPION CLAIRE Adams made a verbal commitment to attend Texas next fall, taking her strong backstroke talents to Austin. “I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to the University of Texas!” she tweeted after the announcement. Adams made a big breakthrough this past summer at the USA Swimming nationals, winning the 100 and 200 backstrokes in San Antonio. Her 100 backstroke stood out, as it broke the junior world record with a time of 59.58. That made her the ninth-fastest swimmer in the world in 2015, and third among Americans. Adams was a member of Team USA at the Junior World Championships, where she claimed a silver medal in the 100 backstroke. She’s a part of the Carmel Swim Club, where she helped the team win the past two Swimming World Magazine national high school team titles. Adams was on the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay squads that set national high school records at last February’s Indiana state championships.
LEADING LADY: Alexa Adams led the Longhorns in total number of goals after the game against TCU.
ALL PHO TOS THIS PAGE: BETHANY WAL TER/ UNIV. OF TEXAS
GIRL ON FIRE AFTER A REMARKABLE effort that included four combined goals on consecutive braces with a pair of match-winners, freshman forward Alexa Adams was richly rewarded with her first career selection to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week and selection as the Big 12 Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week. The Lancaster, Calif., native had a slow start to the season but caught fire, managing a brace (two goals) at the 59:58 and 79:05 marks in the contest against Iowa on Oct. 9. Her match-winner to beat the Cyclones was even listed at No. 8 on that night’s edition of ESPN SportsCenter’s “Top 10 Plays.” On Oct. 11, Adams was at it again during the match against TCU, tickling the twine at 7:28 and 60:52 as Texas shut out the Horned Frogs, 3-0. The occurrence marked the first time a Texas player had scored four goals over a two-match span since Olivia Brook pulled off the feat in 2014. Adams now leads the Texas squad this season with five goals, 10 total points and three match-winning scores and has recorded those totals on an efficient seven shots on frame.
Alexa Adams
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CALENDAR NOVEMBER 2015 FOOTBALL
7: vs. Old Dominion, 6 p.m. 14: at Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C., 1 p.m. 21: vs. Rice, 6 p.m. 28: vs. Middle Tennessee, 1:30 p.m. SOCCER
4-8: Conference USA Tournament, Miami, Fla., TBA VOLLEYBALL
RUNNING OVER THE COMPETITION: After losing all four nonconference games, the Roadrunners found their footing against UTEP.
TURNING THINGS AROUND
T
HE ROADRUNNER FOOTBALL team opened conference play during the first weekend of October at its west Texas brethren, UTEP. UTSA continued its run of success in El Paso with a 25-6 win over the Miners, even after two lightning delays in the first half. The second delay occurred with 11 seconds left in the half. Those 11 seconds were never played a the teams opted to head to the locker rooms for halftime. Going into halftime, the Roadrunners held the lead, 3-0. In the second half, the Roadrunners took advantage of the three interceptions and outscored the Miners 22-6. “We played well on defense against UTEP,” head coach Larry Coker said.“For me, it was probably one of the best games I’ve been around to watch our defense because they got around, got excited and had fun.” The victory marked the type of start to conference play that the Roadrunners needed after going 0-4 at the beginning of the season. The team played one of the toughest nonconference schedules when compared to the rest of the Conference USA teams. However, the Roadrunners’ conference schedule isn’t much easier. UTSA face Louisiana Tech, Southern Mississippi and North Texas after the Miners.
NOVEMBER MARKS THE beginning of the 2015 UTSA basketball season. The men’s team open its season on Nov.13 at Loyola University in Chicago. The women open their season the following day against Texas in Austin. The men return after finishing last season with a record of 14-16 overall and 8-10 in conference play. The Roadrunners fell 57-54 to Florida International in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament. The women wrapped up last season with an overall record of 16-15 and a conference record of 11-7. The Roadrunners fell to Old Dominion 6349 in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament. 18 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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CROSS COUNTRY
13: NCAA South Central Regional, College Station, 1 p.m. 21: NCAA Championships, Louisville, Ky., Noon M BASKETBALL
13: at Loyola-Chicago, Chicago, Ill., 7 p.m. 15: at Clemson, Greenville, S.C., 1 p.m. 17: at Creighton Omaha, Neb., 7 p.m. 21: at Southern Utah, Cedar City, Utah, 8 p.m. 23: vs. Central Arkansas, Las Vegas, Nev., 2:30 p.m. 25: vs. Howard or Texas So., Las Vegas, Nev., TBA 29: vs. UT-Permian Basin , 6 p.m. W BASKETBALL
14: at Texas, Austin, TBA 21: at Abiline Christian, Abiline, 2 p.m. 27: vs. Illinois State, 4 p.m. 29: vs. Houston Baptist, 2 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
BETWEEN NOV. 20 and Nov. 22, UTSA will host a conference volleyball tournament for the first time since 2012. The Conference USA tournament will take place at the Convocation Center, with the Roadrunners likely entering as a favorite to win the tournament trophy and punching their ticket to the NCAA tournament. The last time UTSA was the host for a conference tournament the team fell to Idaho in the Western Athletic Conference semifinals.
COURTESY JEF F HUEH N/UTSA
BASKETBALL
4: vs. Rice, 6 p.m. 6: vs. Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m. 8: vs. UAB, 1 p.m. 12: at Southern Miss., Hattiesburg, Miss., 7 p.m. 14: at North Texas, Denton, 1 p.m. 20-22: Conference USA Tournament, TBA
UTA ROUNDUP
A UNITED NATION
U
T ARLINGTON IS breaking away from its commuter school image with the students’ newfound belief in tradition, according to baseball senior Darien McLemore. Sidewalks are chalked on game days, student-athletes are seen around campus in Maverick gear and there’s been a steady growth in fan attendance over the past few years. The school’s growing team spirit is a clear result of the UTA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SACC). “All of the student-athletes who are on the committee want to leave UTA better than when we got here,”said McLemore, SAAC President. “With our current direction that’s possible, especially with all the promotions we do around campus. We’re reaching out to students and letting them know that we’re united.” SAAC was established in 1989 and meets monthly to discuss issues of concern to student-athletes.The committee provides them an opportunity to communicate academic, athletic and social recommendations with UTA athletic administration, coaches and staff. The group has 29 members, with one to three appointed from each UTA team. Externally, the committee is responsible for bridging the gap between UTA students and student-athletes in an effort to build relationships, increase participation at athletic functions and make a stronger impact in the community. “Every year we’re trying to get out there and do more in the community, around campus and in the athletic department,” McLemore said. “Everyone who’s in SAAC is an ambitious person, so once one thing gets accomplished, it’s seeing what else we can add on top of that.” — Cassie Logan
COURTESY EL LMAN PHOTOGRAPH Y/UTA
VOLLEYBALL
THE UT ARLINGTON volleyball team knocked off Little Rock in four sets at College Park Center (25-19, 25-23, 12-25, 26-24) to run its season record to 13-5. “This was about gathering some kind of momentum,” head coach Diane Seymour said. “The defense elevated extremely well over the course of the match.” Outside hitter Qiana Canete established a new career high with 23 kills while hitting .211 for the Mavericks, along with three blocks, 57 attacks, 11 digs and a match-high 25 points. Opposite hitter Stacey Koch hit a team-leading .212, and had 15 kills and 16.5 match points. The victory was the sixth consecutive at home for the Mavericks, and 10th in their last 11 home matches. The match also featured a pair of individual milestones. Libero Caitlyn Cooney continued to climb through the UTA volleyball record book, passing Judith McGill into fifth place on the career list for digs (Cooney now has 1,643). Middle blocker Marisah Ingram climbed to ninth place among all-time freshmen with 73 block assists, and into 10th place among freshmen with 78 blocks. — Steve Lansdale
TENNIS
UT ARLINGTON WOMEN'S tennis claimed three titles at the SMU Invitational Oct. 11. The Mavericks’ doubles pairings swept their respective flights, with Elizabeth Thoms and Astrid Gehre taking the Red Draw championship, while Angeles de los Rios and Agustina Serio claimed the Blue Draw. The win gave Gehre and de los Rios their second doubles title of the fall season. The pair won as a team at the Midland Classic in September. After finishing Day 1 with a 6-0 record, the Mavericks finished 16-5 between their doubles and singles matches, reaching five finals among the seven draws UTA participated in. Serio highlighted UTA’s singles play as she claimed the Black Draw title with a 6-4, 6-3 win over TCU’s Mia King. — Steve Lansdale
CALENDAR OCTOBER 2015
CROSS COUNTRY
1: Sun Belt Conference Championships, Atlanta, Ga., 9 a.m. 13: NCAA South Central Regional, College Station, TBA 21: Cross Country NCAA, Championships, Louisville, Ky., TBA VOLLEYBALL
6: at Louisiana, Lafayette, La., 6:30 p.m. 7: at ULM, Monroe, La., 6:30 p.m. 15: vs. South Alabama, 1 p.m. W TENNIS
6-8: UNT Invitational, Denton, All Day W BASKETBALL
13: at Baylor , Waco, 6 p.m. 16: To Be Determined, TBA, TBA 20: To Be Determined, TBA, TBA 24: vs. Seton Hall, 7 p.m. 28: vs. Missouri Valley College, 5 p.m. M BASKETBALL
14: vs. Fordham, 7:30 p.m. 17: at Louisiana Tech, Ruston, La., TBA 20: at Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio, 6 p.m. 23: vs. Grambling St. 25: at Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio, 6 p.m. 29: at Rice, Houston, 5 p.m.
Astrid Gehre
Elizabeth Thoms
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MEDIA VOICES
CHECKPOINT
SEAN ADAMS GIVES HIS TAKE ON THE TEXAS FOOTBALL TEAM AT THE SEASON’S HALFWAY POINT.
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV. O F TEXAS
SAFE BET: Many of Sean Adams’ predictions came true, including the prediction that Jerrod Heard would become the signal caller after the first game.
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BETH ANY WAL TER/ UNIV. OF TEXAS
SECOND TO NONE: D’Onta Foreman has officially stepped out of his brother’s shadow.
MEDIA VOICES
SU SAN S IGMON/ UNIV. OF TEXAS
TEXAS THROUGH AND THROUGH: David Thomas is aTexas fan, a former player, a university graduate and now an anchor on LHN’s “All-22.”
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MEET THE T-ASSOCIATION
The T-Association is an organization made up of former varsity athletics letter winners. An additional designation for the T-Association members is the T-Ring, which is awarded to an athlete who lettered for 2 or more years, who did not compete the last 2 years of eligibility anywhere other than The University of Texas and who graduated from college. David McWilliams, former Longhorn head football coach, currently serves as the executive director for the T-Association. T-Association Mission - The T-Association’s mission is to create and maintain an enhanced atmosphere and structure whereby UT student-athletes become lifetime members of The University of Texas Athletics family and are welcomed, involved and encouraged to participate during and after their college tenure. TAPN Mission - The Letter Winner’s Professional Network exists to unite the members of the T-Association on a professional level by providing networking opportunities and a database of contacts, thereby furthering the opportunities, community, education and success of Longhorn Letter Winners.
COU RTES Y U T ATH LETICS PH OTOGRAPHY
CONTACT INFORMATION: t-association@ athletics.utexas.edu 512.471.6864
THE HABE ON THE HORNS
Any Given Saturday
THE LONGHORNS NEED TO STAY CONSISTENT AS THEY HEAD INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON. SIX GAMES INTO the 2015 football season, Texas had just two wins. Results such as these are disappointing no matter how one rationalizes the team’s close losses. But thanks to a you-hadto-see-it-to-believe-it 24-17 victory over Oklahoma on Oct. 10, the Longhorns have a boost of momentum to take into the second half of their campaign. There are as many questions about this Texas team now as there were when the season started, including the biggest one that remains: Which Longhorn team is going to show up on any given Saturday? This is an issue that even head coach Charlie Strong can’t get his head around. “I wish I had that answer for you,” he said in his press conference before the Kansas State game. “You’d like to be able to develop some consistency, hope that you gain momentum and just continue to improve.” This Texas team is built in the mold of its coach — enthusiastic, athletic and motivated by those doubters who say the Longhorns can’t get it done. While it’s true that one victory does not make a season, the way that win was garnered can go a long way in building the psyche of a team that is primed to finish the second half of the season on a high note. “It took a win like the one over Oklahoma to try to get the players over the hump,” Strong explained. “These guys have always believed — now you just hope the confidence just continues to build.” The back half of Texas’ schedule needs to produce three more wins to get the team into a bowl game.Strong, however, is just trying to get a consistent product on the field day in and day out. “It’s game by game,” Strong said. “Let’s just take them one at a time. The key thing for us is that we can control our own destiny, and we have to be
ready to go and play.” For those Longhorns fans who grew so used to 10-plus-win seasons (do you remember when Texas last won 10 games?), the move back up the college football food chain has to feel like it’s moving at a snail’s pace. It’s a different world now, but Strong is slowly but surely getting the Longhorns into position. The take from here is that Texas will get the wins it needs to earn a Liberty Bowl spot against Memphis on Jan. 2. Just sayin’, ya know?
The Habe is Steve Habel, Horns Illustrated’s senior editor. He was the magazine’s first staff member, in 1994 and has covered Texas sports ever since. NOVEMBER 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 25
RUNNING DOWN THE COMPETITION: The breakout win against Oklahoma marked a turning point in the Longhorns’ season.
POWER SHIFT
After a series of tough losses, the Longhorns ďŹ nd the strength to overcome their biggest rival.
at Oklahoma State 27-30
DON BENDER
A
SLAP IN the face usually serves as a stern wake-up call for a struggling football team like Texas. The hope is that such a notice — this time administered to the Longhorns by then-No. 24 Oklahoma State via a 30-27 loss Sept. 26 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in a game decided by a OLA?E=H PA=IO C=BBA EJ PDA ł J=H OA?KJ@O …D=O sent the alarm bells ringing. Many pundits billed the Big 12 Conference opener between Oklahoma State and Texas as a potential offensive shootout. The game, however, was decided by which team made the
fewest mistakes — or, more importantly, the last mistake. And for the second week in a row, Texas S=O PDA PA=I PD=P OPQI>HA@ =P PDA ł JEOD HEJA On Sept. 19, kicker Nick Rose missed a PAT against Cal that would’ve tied the game; instead the play cost the Longhorns a chance at overtime and Texas lost 45-44. On Sept. 26, punter Michael Dickson, working at his own 24-yard line with 42 seconds left to play, dropped a snap and corralled it just long enough to get off a kick that never made it back to the line. The mistake C=RA ,GH=DKI= 0P=PA = ł J=H KLLKNPQJEPU The Cowboys’ Ben Grogan nailed a 40U=N@ ł AH@ CK=H SEPD OET OA?KJ@O HABP PK HEBP the struggling and mistake-prone Cowboys
to victory, sending the 87,073 fans home disappointed for the second straight week. “It’s a tough lesson to endure two weeks in a NKS >QP SA D=RA PK HA=NJ PK Ĺ‚ JEOD ‡ DA=@ ?K=?D Charlie Strong said. “We had some plays today but we didn’t make them when we needed to the most. There are a lot of concerns about this team, but we’ll go back to work because that’s what we do.â€? Texas forced three turnovers, two of which were returned for touchdowns — a 34-yard fumble return by defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and a 41-yard interception by defensive back Holton Hill. But the Longhorns had a hard time getting KQP KB PDAEN KSJ S=U =O LAJ=HPEAO JQHHEĹ‚ A@ PSK NOVEMBER 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 27
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ALL PHOTOS TH IS PAGE: JESS E DROHEN
touchdowns and erased an interception deep EJ ,GH=DKI= 0P=PA PANNEPKNU Â… =HH EJ PDA Ĺ‚ NOP minutes. Texas committed 16 penalties for 128 yards; even Strong picked one up in the fourth quarter on a drive that allowed Oklahoma State PK GE?G PDA PUEJC Ĺ‚ AH@ CK=H “We have to pay more attention to the details and the little things that make a difference in a win or a loss,â€? Ridgeway said. “The only way we can get this bad taste out of our mouths is to win a game. We’ll keep Ĺ‚ CDPEJC PK CAP PDANA ‡ 1DA )KJCDKNJO SANA BKN PDA Ĺ‚ NOP PEIA since 1956, the year before legendary coach
BREAKTHROUGH: Jerrod Heard’s 167 yards of total offense against Oklahoma State gave him 907 yards through his first three career starts — more than any of the previous six starting quarterbacks, dating back to Vince Young in 2003.
Darrell K Royal was hired at Texas. Oklahoma State rolled to touchdowns on EPO ł NOP PSK LKOOAOOEKJO ?QHIEJ=PEJC EPO @NERAO with a 17-yard pass from quarterback Mason Rudolph to wide receiver Brandon Sheperd and a 4-yard keeper by backup quarterback J.W. Walsh. 1AT=O =JOSANA@ SEPD = L=EN KB ł AH@ CK=HO >U /KOA BNKI =J@ U=N@O PDA ł NOP KB SDE?D came when senior receiver Marcus Johnson ?=QCDP DEO ł NOP L=OO KB PDA OA=OKJ 'KDJOKJ who was injured in the season opener against Notre Dame, caught a 47-yard bomb from quarterback Jerrod Heard on Texas’ second possession. The game seemed to turn in the Longhorns’ favor after a major blunder by Rudolph. Working at his 45-yard line early in the second quarter, Rudolph dropped the football while setting up to pass and without getting hit. The loose ball bounced straight to Ridgeway, who stepped through a tackle attempt by Rudolph and rumbled to a 34-yard touchdown return that brought the Longhorns to within a point 14-13. BPAN = U=N@ ł AH@ CK=H BNKI $NKC=J pushed the Oklahoma State lead back to 17-13, the Longhorns took possession at their own 3-yard line. Texas drove 97 yards on 12 plays and took a 20-17 lead thanks to a 7-yard keeper by former starting quarterback Tyrone Swoopes. Escorted by three blockers, Swoopes swept around the left end. The Longhorns ran on nine of the march’s 12 plays and went to the second half with a 158-45 advantage in rushing yardage. Both teams added touchdowns in a roughand-tumble third quarter. Oklahoma State took a 24-20 advantage on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Walsh to fullback Jeremy Seaton at the 8:12 mark. The Longhorns reassumed the
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT: After the 3-point loss to Oklahoma State, Texas returned to practice with a chip on its shoulder: (top left) Daje Johnson and the offense went toe-to-toe with Oklahoma State; (top right) Peter Jinkens led the team with nine tackles; (center) defensive end Shiro Davis; (above) Armanti Foreman
lead when Hill intercepted Rudolph’s pass and returned the pick 41 yards for a score. The Cowboys tied the game with Grogan’s U=N@ Ĺ‚ AH@ CK=H SEPD ÄĄ HABP OAPPEJC PDA P=>HA BKN PDA Ĺ‚ J=H Ĺ‚ AH@ CK=H “All the penalties we had were a big turning point,â€? guard Sedrick Flowers said. “You can’t give up all of those yards and still expect to win the game. It’s sloppiness. A holding call can go 50-50 — there’s holding on every play in the game of football.â€? NOVEMBER 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 29
at TCU 7-50
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ECONDS AFTER HE answered the IA@E=†O Ĺ‚ J=H MQAOPEKJ DA=@ coach Charlie Strong put his head down, closed his eyes and released a deep breath, the air whistling as it left his lungs. That whistle resembled the OKQJ@ KB PDA @AĹƒ =PEJC >=HHKKJ that had come to signify Texas’ latest season of discontent. In the wake of Texas’ 50-7 thrashing at the hands of third-ranked TCU, the Longhorns faced a campaign wracked >U BKQN HKOOAO EJ PDA Ĺ‚ NOP Ĺ‚ RA C=IAO BKN PDA Ĺ‚ NOP time since 1956. Before the debacle in Fort Worth, 2015 had been characterized by missed opportunities and special teams gaffes. Hope survived, however, as Texas continued to improve despite two hard-luck losses to California and Oklahoma State. After getting whipped by the rabid, hardhitting and ultra-talented Horned Frogs, questions abound for the Longhorns. Strong himself spoke about how he was worried about the direction of the team, the hearts of its 30 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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players, the coaching staff’s ability to properly prepare a squad for a big-time opponent like TCU and the Longhorns’ capacity to respond when they’re punched in the mouth. “I’m disappointed and surprised at the way we played because we made real strides in the past few weeks and practiced well heading into this game,â€? Strong said. “We didn’t compete the full 60 minutes and weren’t able to do the basic, fundamental techniques we needed to to win.â€? The Longhorns fell behind early and ?KQH@J†P Ĺ‚ J@ = S=U PK CAP KBB PDA I=P *EOP=GA after mistake — whether it was poor special teams play, blown coverages in the secondary, missed tackles or dropped passes — doomed Texas and fed TCU’s desire to put away its QOPEJ NER=HO SEPD = MQE?G Ĺƒ QNNU The Horned Frogs showed their dominance early and often, much to the delight of the 48,694 fans who packed Amon G. Carter Stadium on a cloudless and cool afternoon. 1 2 N=?GA@ QL LKEJPO EJ PDA Ĺ‚ NOP D=HB Â… 30 of those in the opening quarter. Heisman Trophy candidate Trevone Boykin threw three
touchdown passes to KaVontae Turpin, covering 13, 49 and 50 yards, respectively, and a fourth to Josh Doctson from 15 yards away. To add insult to injury, Turpin hauled in another scoring pass from 29 yards from wide receiver Shaun Nixon. Meanwhile, the Longhorns continued to make errors in the kicking game. First a snap over the head of punter Michael Dickson rolled through the end zone for a safety, and later Nick /KOA IEOOA@ KJ PSK A=OU Ĺ‚ AH@ CK=H PNEAO BNKI 39 and 40 yards away, respectively. 1DA PKQCD PDEJC PK OPKI=?D BNKI PDA Ĺ‚ NOP half beat down was the understanding that TCU could do just about anything it wanted to in order to score. Texas, on the other hand, had to struggle for every one of the 156 yards of offense it mustered through two scoreless quarters. The Longhorns outrushed TCU 108 EJ PDA Ĺ‚ NOP D=HB Ä SEPD !†,JP= #KNAI=J amassing 93 of those yards on the ground) but had absolutely nothing to show for it. Foreman ended up with a career-high 112 yards on 18 carries and added three catches for 19 yards.
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV OF TEXAS
DEFENSELESS: Against TCU, Texas allowed 604 yards on defense. The loss to the Horned Frogs marked the first time a team has had 600+ yards of offense against Texas since BYU had 679 on Sept. 7, 2013.
ALL PHOTOS TH IS PAGE: PATRICK MEREDITH /UNIV. O F TEXAS
ğ1DANA =NA IEOP=GAO PD=P SA =HH D=RA PK łT but we believe in each other and we’re all-in behind Coach Strong and this staff,� Foreman O=E@ ğ4A†HH CK >=?G PK SKNG =J@ łJ@ = S=U PK get better.� TCU added to its lead early in the third quarter as Boykin found Turpin again, this time for a 12-yard score. Two Jaden Oberkrom łAH@ CK=HO BNKI =J@ U=N@O NAOLA?PERAHU bridged the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. The scores pushed the Horned Frogs’ lead to 50-0.
1AT=O Ĺ‚J=HHU O?KNA@ SDAJ >=?GQL quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, who entered PDA C=IA KJ PDA )KJCDKNJO† Ĺ‚J=H OANEAO KB PDA third quarter, hit Lorenzo Joe for a 21-yard touchdown with 5:14 to play. “Am I happy? Yeah,â€? TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “It’s awesome that we got the chance to win a ballgame and that we’re 5-0. I’m not trying to be a playoff team yet. I want to win game six. I’m not going to lose perspective. The goal has to be to win one more than you lose.â€?
BURSTS OF HOPE: Although the loss against TCU was one many fans will hope to soon forget, several Longhorns still stood out: (top) The offensive line acted as a shield for their signal callers; (left) D’Onta Foreman tallied a career-high 112 yards rushing; (right) Jerrod Heard added 23 yards rushing on 12 carries; (bottom) Desmond Jackson and the defense tried to control the game against a dominant offense. NOVEMBER 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 31
vs. Oklahoma (at Dallas) 24-17 the hotel gym at 3:30 a.m. He then ran five miles on the treadmill. The run wasn’t enough to quell the voices in his head. Strong took to the streets, opting for another jogging session around the hotel property, where he went unrecognized and uninterrupted. “There’s not too many people running around out there at that time of the morning,” he explained. “I had things to myself and that’s what I needed.” By the time he hit his 5:45 a.m. staff meeting, Strong had reaffirmed his belief that the Longhorns had the right stuff
to produce a season-defining turnaround game. And the Longhorns came through. Texas used a potent rushing attack and a stifling defense to stun then-No. 10 Sooners 24-17 in the AT&T Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl. The game marked the 110th meeting between Texas and Oklahoma. The victory was, without a doubt, the most important in Strong’s 19-game-andgrowing tenure at the Longhorns’ helm. Texas salvaged what seemed to be a lost season by dominating in the trenches against the previously unbeaten Sooners. “We were determined to run the ball — run it right at Oklahoma and control the line of scrimmage,” Strong said. “We were able to carry out that plan. “This is a huge win because we know we’re better than what we’ve shown on the field,” he continued. “We needed to see evidence that the work we’re doing is making us a better team. We got a lot of things accomplished out there today, but getting the win was the most important thing.” The Longhorns got 117 yards on the ground from running back D'Onta Foreman on just nine carries and 115 more from quarterback Jerrod Heard. “We didn’t maintain leverage on Heard,” Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said. “When we had it, we missed tackles. “We didn’t block well, didn’t cover well and didn’t protect the passer well,” he continued. “That’s really all you need to know.”
TRUE GRIT: The Texas defense held nothing back against the Sooners, keeping their offense to only 1.8 yards per carry. 32 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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DON BENDER
W
ITH THE LONGHORNS’ fan base stunned by the football team’s poor start and perceived lack of improvement, along with national college football pundits opining that the job was too much for him to handle, head coach Charlie Strong wasn’t sleeping well. On the morning of a do-or-die showdown against Oklahoma, Strong, tired of tossing and turning in his bed, headed for
DON BENDER
Texas passed for just 55 yards, 24 of which came on a touch pass in the first quarter. Oklahoma had 278 total yards, all but 85 in the second half. The Longhorns sacked quarterback Baker Mayfield six times by using a combination of blitzes, a bull rush and a good push upfront from its interior defensive linemen and well-disguised coverage. “The plan today was to make [Mayfield] uncomfortable in the backfield and send extra players at Oklahoma to control the line, and it worked,” Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson said. “We needed to make a statement here today and we dominated a quality opponent. Winning — and winning like this — feels good.” The Longhorns couldn’t have scripted a better first half for themselves. Texas scored two touchdowns in a 2:15 span of the first quarter. First, wide receiver Marcus Johnson took the aforementioned touch pass from Heard and sprinted around the edge, dodging Oklahoma tacklers along the way, and tightroped the sideline to complete a 24-yard scoring play. The Sooners’ Alex Ross fumbled on the ensuing kickoff while being tackled by Texas’ DeShon Elliot, and the Longhorns’ Kirk Johnson pounced on the loose ball on the Oklahoma 41-yard line. Texas scored six snaps later as reserve quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, the former starter who has been repurposed as the Longhorns' short-yardage specialist, rammed over two Oklahoma defenders at the goal line for a 3-yard touchdown run and a 14-0 Texas lead. Oklahoma cut into the lead midway through the second quarter with a 12play, 67-yard drive that ended with Austin Seibert's 21-yard field goal. The Longhorns' much-maligned defense, which ranked 119th out of 128 FBS teams
in total defense entering the game, allowed Oklahoma just 85 yards in the first half. Of those yards, 67 were on the Sooners' only scoring drive. For the game, the Texas defense recorded six sacks and eight tackles for loss. “We didn’t take Texas lightly because looking at the film, we saw that it was a quality team that was just a few plays from a couple more wins,” Oklahoma center Ty Darlington said. “They were more physical than we were today up front. We didn’t execute the way we needed to.” Texas added a 27-yard field goal from Nick Rose on its first possession of the third quarter. Oklahoma responded with its best drive of the game, marching 87 yards in eight plays capped by Mayfield's 2-yard touchdown pass to Dimitri Flowers. The Longhorns re-established their two-touchdown cushion on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Swoopes to tight end Caleb Bluiett three plays after Foreman scampered 81 yards to the Oklahoma 10yard line. But the Sooners refused to back down, marching 75 yards in 15 plays to running back Samaje Perine's 1-yard scoring plunge with 8:00 to play. Oklahoma had one more chance to tie the game but the Longhorns came up big on defense again, sacking Mayfield for a 17-yard loss on third down to force a punt with under four minutes remaining. Texas converted two huge first downs on the final drive to run out the clock and begin the epic postgame celebration. “We're so talented — it’s just a matter of putting it all together,” Strong said. “I'm proud of our coaching staff putting together this plan. Today was our day and that's the team. That performance today, that's what we expect [from our players] each and every week.”
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DUKE OF HAZARD: Opposing offenses should always account for the aggressiveness and confidence of Duke Thomas.
THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE
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LAYING CORNERBACK AT the highest level of college football can be a lonely job and one that doesn’t get near the recognition it deserves. The right player is a mix of bulldog and tactician because the cornerback is often in one-on-one battles with a receiver. One mistake leaves the defense exposed and unable to compensate. This is the world of senior Orlando Pierre Thomas, known better by his nickname, “Duke.” Thomas earned his unique nickname when he was a child. His father gave it to him because his bowlegged walk was reminiscent of John Wayne, the old Western movie star known as the Duke. Given that moniker, Thomas has to maintain a certain amount of swagger. In a season in which the Longhorns began their work in the fall looking for leaders, Thomas
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has taken two steps forward — one in his own improved play and another as the mentor for Texas’ stable of young, talented defensive backs. If there’s one player on this year’s team whos in line to carry on the Longhorns’ longstanding tradition of building NFL-ready secondary members, it’s Thomas. Defensive coordinator and secondary coach Vance Bedford knows the world of a cornerback from experience. He was a four-year letterman at the position at Texas from 1977-81 and was defensive captain his senior season. “Being successful at cornerback is all about patience and anticipation, about reading routes and developing quick footwork,” Bedford said. “Duke excels in patience. He understands route concepts and what receivers are trying to do to him. He recognizes situations and reacts to formations — he’s a very instinctive player. “Not a lot of people can live on the island and deal with those tests snap after snap, but
Duke relishes those kinds of challenges,” Bedford added. Thomas, a 5-foot-11, 178-pounder, learned KJ PDA FK> =J@ PDA HAOOKJO SANA @EBł ?QHP at times. He started the past two seasons at cornerback after seeing time as a backup in 2012. Thomas played in all 39 games over the past three seasons with 23 starts. He was an AllBig 12 selection in 2014 when he led the team with 10 pass breakups and had a career-high 53 tackles. Thomas is a three-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and was a prep All-American at Copperas Cove, where he was a three-year starter at multiple positions. One of the pitfalls of the cornerback position is a desire to make game-turning plays despite the fact that you’re in a “last-line-of-defense” situation. Jump a route that turns into an out and up and the cornerback goes from hero to goat in seconds.
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV. O F TEXAS
Thomas earns his stripes as the Longhorns’ leader in the secondary.
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MOVING FORWARD: Over the past three seasons Duke Thomas made mistakes, as any player does, but he’s learning from them and bringing that knowledge back into the team.
“I tell that guy to go play football,â€? Strong said of Thomas. “You can’t put limitations on a player. Good players go to make plays — he just needs to play smart and understand the situation he’s in. “Duke is going to give you everything DA D=O ‡ 0PNKJC =@@A@ Äź%A D=O ?KJĹ‚ @AJ?AĢ sometimes he plays with too much of it. He studies the opponents’ receivers during the week, so he knows the throws and what’s going to happen.â€? Thomas tied for second on the team in special teams tackles and forced a fumble as a
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV. O F TEXAS
Thomas learned that the hard way last season when he was beaten on such a play for a game-winning touchdown in a loss to UCLA. “I shouldn’t have let that happen,â€? Thomas said. “I learned from the experience. It was a dumb play. First of all, the coverage didn’t even call for me to take that route — I got too greedy. It was too greedy of a play. That’s what I learned — I need to play within the defense.â€? Head coach Charlie Strong accepts Thomas’ aggressiveness because he knows that with OQ?D ?KJĹ‚ @AJ?A ?KIAO PDA LKPAJPE=H BKN C=IA turning plays.
freshman. On the majority of his plays, he was able to acclimate quickly in true DBU tradition and build on that into his junior season when he became a full-time starter and the team’s No. 2 cornerback. He had three interceptions in 2014 and is the lone senior corner on the team. In the run-up to the 2015 campaign, Thomas served as the young defensive backs’ sounding board, giving him the opportunity to become more vocal. He understands he needs to speak out. “Last year Duke felt that with Quandre [Diggs] and Mykkele [Thompson] in the secondary room, that it wasn’t his place to speak up,â€? Bedford said. “Now he’s doing that. Duke has always played extremely hard, has good leadership qualities, and I think it took him time to feel like it’s his room.â€? Thomas may not be as loud as Diggs, but he’s D=LLU PK OLA=G DEO IEJ@ %A S=O PDA Ĺ‚ NOP LH=UAN Strong mentioned in an April press conference when asked about the team’s emerging leaders. “Duke has been coaching the young guys,â€? Strong said. “It’s amazing how he has taken over and they all watch him. They’ll tell you, ‘Well, if Duke did it wrong then how can Coach yell at me?’â€? Thomas is quick to credit the younger defensive backs with wanting to take an active role in this year’s team. “These guys make it easy to be a leader,â€?
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BETH ANY WAL TER/ UNIV. OF TEXAS
CARRYING ON THE TRADITION: Duke Thomas is the unquestioned leader of the secondary and the driving force behind carrying on Texas’ DBU tradition.
he said. “They come in and ask questions. They always want to know more and they show passion for the game. I’m just doing what I can to help them improve.â€? “I’ve grown and I know more of the defense,â€? Thomas continued.“I’m comfortable in my role. I’m trying to improve the fundamentals of my game and to put together my most complete season yet.â€? Thomas will continue to see time at the nickel spot this season, meaning he has had time away from being in total press coverage with opposing receivers. He’s also seizing the KLLKNPQJEPU PK NK=I PDA @ABAJOERA >=?GĹ‚ AH@ PK make big plays and utilize his extensive skill set. The coaching staff and his teammates will continue to rely on him to shut down the receivers this season. Heading into the game against TCU, Thomas ranked third on the team in total tackles (24), including 3 tackles for loss, =J@ PEA@ BKN Ĺ‚ NOP EJ OKHK P=?GHAO Ä If opposing offenses want to take a chance at going after Thomas, it will be at their peril. He thrives on his mental toughness and studies extensively to make pre-snap reads that help him understand where the play is going. Thomas is the self-proclaimed shutdown corner of the team, which allows the Texas defensive coaches to scheme by winning his one-on-one matchups. “I love the fact that quarterbacks want to try and come at me,â€? Thomas said. “I don’t want to sit in the back and not have any opportunity to make anything happen.â€? After playing alongside former Longhorns and current NFL defensive backs Kenny Vaccaro and Carrington Byndom, Thomas is ready to make his own statement and help Texas reassume its rightful place among the college football echelon. “Everyone here came here for the big games,â€? Thomas concluded,“and that’s what SA†NA Ĺ‚ CDPEJC PKS=N@O ‡ NOVEMBER 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 39
IN SEASON Young Gun:
MORGAN JOHNSON ALTHOUGH ONLY A FRESHMAN, MORGAN JOHNSON IS ALREADY MAKING AN IMPACT FOR THE LONGHORNS.
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SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: Most college freshmen struggle in their transition between high school and college. Not Morgan Johnson - she has already adapted to the system.
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV. O F TEXAS
M
ORGAN JOHNSON MADE the transition into college easier than most. The freshman middle blocker from Desoto, Texas, stepped onto the court as a Longhorn in August and immediately made an impact on the court. “Coming into college straight from high school is a big transition,â€? Johnson said. “When UKQ Ĺ‚ NOP ?KIA EJ UKQ D=RA PDA BNAODI=J FEPPANO 6KQ @KJ†P D=RA = HKP KB ?KJĹ‚ @AJ?A =J@ UKQ don’t know what to expect. “I’ve come in, adapted to the system and learned how to play with the different types of players,â€? she added. #KHHKSEJC DAN Ĺ‚ NOP SAAGAJ@ KB LH=U KJ QC 31, Johnson won Big 12 Rookie of the Week DKJKNO &J DAN ?KHHACA @A>QP 'KDJOKJ Ĺ‚ JEODA@ the American Campus Classic with 15 kills and 10 block assists through three games. She Ĺ‚ JEODA@ EJ PDA PKL EJ PDA EC EJ DEPPEJC percentage and blocks during that opening weekend.
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Äź*KNC=J D=@ = NA=HHU CKK@ Ĺ‚NOP PDNAA matches,â€? head coach Jerritt Elliott said in early September. “She didn’t seem rattled at all — she was poised and put up some good numbers for us.â€? 'KDJOKJ EO DAHLEJC PK Ĺ‚HH PDA DQCA RKE@ HABP by All-Americans Haley Eckerman and Khat Bell, who graduated last season from Texas. Along with fellow middle blockers Molly McCage and Chiaka Ogbogu, Johnson answered any remaining questions surrounding the Longhorns’ blocking skills. “Losing Haley and Khat, we knew we had to replace them with good players,â€? Elliott said BKHHKSEJC PDA )KJCDKNJ†O Ĺ‚NOP KQPEJC Äź4A made some big plays with our blocking. That was our challenge and we faced it.â€? Heading into November, Johnson has played in 11 games, including eight starts. She scored 56.0 points and recorded 40 kills across those contests. She’s currently ranked fourth on the team in blocks with 30.
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“We see amazing growth,â€? Elliott said about Johnson.“Not only has she developed physically, but has great range, can see the court well, has patience and is a very solid blocker. She’s a player who can do a lot of things that will develop in terms of her volleyball IQ.â€? Before she stepped onto the Gregory $UIJ=OEQI ĹƒKKN PDA BKKP EJ?D 'KDJOKJ was ranked No. 11 on the Prep Volleyball 2015 Senior Aces list. She was also named an Under Armour High School All-American, a USA Volleyball First-Team All-American and a Prep Volleyball First-Team All-American. Johnson is the youngest of four children so the idea of competition is nothing new. Her brother, Ivan, played basketball at Alabama State and Southeastern Oklahoma State. One of her sisters, Jessica, played soccer at Oklahoma. 42 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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“Everything was a competition in the Johnson family,â€? she said. “My brother and sister both played college sports so it’s always been an argument as to who’s better. They helped me grow up with a competitive mindset.â€? In addition to the competitive drive instilled EJPK DAN >U DAN B=IEHU 'KDJOKJ =HOK Ĺ‚J@O motivation through their constant support. “I have a lot of people back home watching me and I want to make them proud,â€? Johnson said. “That’s what drives me.â€? 0DA D=O DECD ATLA?P=PEKJO BKN DAN Ĺ‚NOP collegiate season — both for her team and for herself. Johnson and the Longhorns will settle for nothing less than being No. 1. “My goal is to get a national championship,â€? Johnson said. “I want to develop as a player — a key player — and learn how to work effectively
and be a part of the Texas system. I want to help in every way that I can.â€? On the court, Johnson takes advantage of the experience of McCage and junior setter Chloe Collins. “It’s a hard question to answer as we all help each other,â€? Johnson said when asked who helped her transition from high school to college. “Molly and Chloe have really helped me out on the court though.â€? Their experience continues to help Johnson improve upon her intuition with blocking and hitting. They’ve also been instrumental in helping her learn the Texas system and how she Ĺ‚PO EJ KJ PDA ?KQNP +AA@HAOO PK O=U ODA†O HA=NJA@ a lot in the two months since the season started. “I’ve learned that everything is not going to go my way,â€? Johnson said. “But I can succeed
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV. O F TEXAS
I’ve learned that everything is not going to go my way, but I can succeed by trying and being competitive in every way that I can to possibly help my team.
PATRICK MEREDITH/UN IV. O F TEXAS
by trying and being competitive in every way that I can to possibly help my team.â€? Stepping onto the court as a freshman, Johnson was expected to immediately make an impact for the Longhorns. Playing at a university such as Texas with high expectations from both coaches and fans, it would be understandable for a freshman to have anxiety when trying to BQHĹ‚ HH OQ?D = NKHA KJ PDA ?KQNP However, Johnson has found a way to take advantage of the expectations of the crowd and doesn’t let the (sometimes unreasonably) high expectations that come with playing at Texas affect how she plays each night. “I go out there and take advantage of the crowd,â€? Johnson said. “Most of the time, I have people out there rooting for me and people who want us to do well. You’ll have jitters but after = SDEHA UKQ Ĺ‚ CQNA EP KQP =J@ HA=NJ DKS PK QOA EP to your advantage.â€? The freshman especially relishes playing at home — the crowd at Gregory Gymnasium is electrifying and instills energy in the middle blocker. “The crowd is awesome, always loud,â€? she said. “Who wouldn’t want to play in Gregory? The crowd pumps us up and gives us so much support. Honestly, the love of the fans is the best feeling in the world, it feels like they never get down, and they’re always there to support you.â€?
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IN SEASON
LEADER OF THE PACK: The lone senior for the men this season, Brady Turnbull is not only leading his team, but the field as well.
FAST FORWARD
T
HIS SEASON, THE Texas cross country team never looked back. The Longhorns stayed focused on moving forward because slowing down, of course, was never truly an option. Last season didn’t end quite the way the men and women had hoped, but coming into 2015, the Longhorns had renewed expectations. With a team featuring a slew of young talents brimming with ambition and promise, Texas set its sight on winning this year’s Big 12 title. 44 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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In assistant coach Brad Herbster’s second full season leading the combined team of male and female distance runners (and 11th season overall as a coach), he didn’t hold back his expectations. From the very beginning, he encouraged his runners — freshmen included — to aim high. After an offseason spent pouring time into training and improving on last season, both teams continue to see the payoff of their hard work. Heading into the Pre-National Invitational, both the men and the women were ranked. The
men cracked the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll for PDA ł NOP PEIA PDEO OA=OKJ A=NJEJC PDA +K spot. The women were three spots ahead, sitting at No. 27. 1DA N=JGEJCO I=NGA@ PDA ł NOP PEIA OEJ?A week four of the 2013 poll that both teams were ranked. Positioning themselves in the coaches’ poll started at the beginning of the season. &J PDA ł NOP N=?A KB PDA ?=IL=ECJ PDA Longhorns dominated the competition against Texas State at the Texas Invitational. The women took the top six individual spots while the men
ALL PHOTOS TH IS S PREAD: BETHANY WAL TER/ UNIV. OF TEXAS
TEXAS CONTINUES TO PUT ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD AS IT RISES UP THROUGH THE POLLS.
grabbed the top seven. Only the top seven runners on a team could garner points for their squad, meaning the men’s team had a perfect day in accruing a score of 15 — the best total for a race. “It was a good opportunity to get people back racing and get them ready for the bigger things down the road,â€? Herbster said after the race. “They did a good job packing it up and executed the game plan well.â€? While the veteran presence for the entire squad is strong this season, the youth movement DAHLA@ LNKLAH PDA )KJCDKNJO EJ PDAEN Ĺ‚ NOP N=?A of the year. The distributed strength boded well for the Longhorns as both the men and the women had a stable of runners to put up against any of the top teams in the nation. The teams brought in 14 new runners this season — an even split between the men and the women — and the runners already had a chip on their shoulder as they aimed to barge into the national spotlight. “The men feel like they’re not getting any love in the national poll,â€? Herbster said earlier this season. “They believe they’re one of the best in the country, the same as women.â€? 1DA LKHHO EP =LLA=NO =NA Ĺ‚ J=HHU @EODEJC KQP the love. The women are undefeated this season, winning all of their races headed into the PreNational Invitational. The Longhorns won both the Texas Invitational and Longhorn Invitational with pure dominance. At the Longhorn Invitational, the women won with a team score of just 23 points. Freshman Alex Cruz and junior Sandie Raines each registered individual wins this season. Raines returned for her second season at Texas after transferring over from Arkansas. She Ĺ‚ JEODA@ N@ =P H=OP UA=N†O EC D=ILEKJODEL
“We want to continue to get better and move up in the rankings,â€? Raines said. “At this point we’re all comfortable with how much IKNA Ĺ‚ P SA =NA PDEO UA=N PD=J SA SANA H=OP UA=N We’re trying to be who we are this year.â€? Cruz took time to shine in her return to racing after sitting out as a redshirt last season. &J PDA Ĺ‚ NOP N=?A KB PDA OA=OKJ NQV N=J PK RE?PKNU with a time of 10:37.91. “I was pleased that our freshmen stepped up,â€? Herbster said. “Alex pulled away and won the race. We keep telling the team, ‘Do not limit yourself or think what you do does not matter.
It does matter. Do not wait — be great now, set the bar high and have high expectations for yourself.’â€? The coaching staff’s advice is also resonating with the men. Sophomores Connor Hendrickson and Jacob Pickle took the top two spots at the Texas &JRE P=PEKJ=H Ĺ‚ JEODEJC HAOO PD=J = OA?KJ@ =L=NP from each other. The lone senior on the team, Brady Turnbull, placed third. He was on his teammates’ heels with a time of 15:46.11. “This year is totally different for us,â€? Herbster said at the beginning of the season.
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JACOB PICKLE KATIE RUHALA CONNOR HENDRICKSON SANDIE RAINES CONNOR HENDRICKSON KATIE BUFORD BRADY TURNBULL KATIE RUHALA JACOB PICKLE SANDIE RAINES
CLOCKWIS E FROM TO P LEFT: M ATT H EMPEL/ UNIV. OF TEXAS, BETH ANY WALTER/UN IV. OF TEXAS, BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS , BETH AN Y WAL TER/ UNIV. OF TEXAS, M ATT H EMPEL/ UNIV. OF TEXAS, UT AT HLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
ALL PHOTOS TH IS PAGE:
BETHANY W ALTER/UNIV. O F TEXAS
“We were really senior heavy last year. This year we have just one. That’s good — that speaks well for the program. Whether we’re young or old we still have to get out there and race, and race the way I know those guys can race.â€? This season has been nothing short of a collaborative effort, but Herbster said that Turnbull has embraced his role as a leader, which has been huge for a team that features a myriad of newcomers to the squad. “He’s doing it in a great way, not forcing it on them,â€? Herbster said. “He’s surprised how fast his four years have gone by. He told me, ‘I want to do more than what I’ve done.’ I told him, ‘You have to be patient and vocal, vocal in a positive and effective way.’ And he’s done that.â€? Turnbull was named Big 12 Men’s Runner KB PDA 4AAG =BPAN Ĺ‚ JEODEJC PDEN@ =P PDA 1AT=O A&M Invitational. Just 7.7 seconds off the lead, DEO Ĺ‚ JEOD DAHLA@ HA=@ 1AT=O PK PDA PA=I RE?PKNU — the second consecutive win for the team this season. Hendrickson also earned the honor after
picking up his individual victory at the Texas &JREP=PEKJ=H -E?GHA OKHE@EĹ‚ A@ DEO KSJ RE?PKNU =P the Longhorns Invitational, crossing the line at 25:21.50. “They all want to win,â€? Herbster said. “And they all want to help the team grow.â€? !AOLEPA @KIEJ=PEJC PDA Ĺ‚ NOP L=NP KB PDA season, the men didn’t break into the polls until just recently. “We won’t really get the opportunity to establish ourselves as a ranked team until we race other ranked teams,â€? junior Nate Moore said. “We need to go out there and show the nation who we are on the big stage.â€? The Longhorns are not looking back. They plan to continue moving forward, collecting their victories, climbing the polls and perhaps, bring home a conference title. “They’re going to surprise some people,â€? Herbster said about his team. “They’re getting votes on the national side and people may wonder, ‘Do they deserve them? Are they overrated?’ We have to go out there and prove it.â€?
Horns Illustrated (ISSN 1096-2573), Volume 22, Number 8. Copyright Š 2015 by Texan Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Published nine times a year (monthly in January, February, March/April, May, June, July, October, November and December) in the United States by Horns Illustrated, 1505 Ridgecrest Drive, Austin, TX 78746. Subscription inquiries: Send new or renewal notices or change of address (send both old and new addresses) to Horns Illustrated, P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763. Allow 6-8 weeks for change of address. Subscription problems: Call 855-246-7677. Subscription costs: U.S. and its possessions, oneyear basic rate, $49.95. Periodicals Postage Paid =P QOPEJ 1AT=O =J@ =@@EPEKJ=H I=EHEJC KBł ?AO POSTMASTER – send address changes to Horns Illustrated - P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763. Tel. (512) 626-8513. Publisher disclaims all responsibility to return unsolicited editorial mat-ter, and all rights in portions published vest in publisher. Letters to Horns Illustrated magazine or its editors are assumed intended for publication in whole or in part without permission from the writer. Any similarity between persons or places IAJPEKJA@ EJ PDA ł ?PEKJ KN OAIE ł ?PEKJ =J@ NA=H places or persons living or dead is coincidental. Single copies: $4.95 in U.S.
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FINAL SCORE
STEPPING DOWN AS LEADER OF THE HERD Beloved Texas mascot Bevo XIV was diagnosed with bovine leukemia virus and, following the triumph in the AT&T Red River Showdown, was retired. Following a preliminary diagnosis of the illness, an extensive evaluation of Bevo XIV’s comfort and quality of life opportunities was conducted and ultimately resulted in the decision to retire him from his role. Moving forward, he rested comfortably on the ranch and in the company of John T. and Betty Baker, the owners and caretakers of both Bevo XIV and his predecessor, Bevo XIII, until his passing on Oct. 16. Bevo XIV began his tenure at the age of two in 2004 and was on the sidelines for many historic moments. “Bevo XIV served as part of a great tradition and was a rallying point for Longhorns fans,” UT President Gregory L. Fenves said. “We all have warm memories of him.”
)227%$// • 2005 National Championship • 107 victories • Five consecutive bowl wins at start of tenure
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0,6&(//$1(286 • Longest trip: Pasadena, California (twice) • Weight/Horn span: 2,100 lbs / 82 in. • First Bevo with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts
JIM S IGMO N/UNIV. OF TEXAS
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