Inside Texas 2017 September

INSIDETEXAS.COM

SEPTEMBER 2017

after A a ROCKY rocky START start THE the AFTER

DBU

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in this issue

False Start |

by

6

Justin Wells

Maryland ran all over the Longhorns in Austin

Reviving DBU |

Mike Blackwell Holton Hill, DeShon Elliott and P.J. Locke are leading the revival. by

Texas crushes the Aztecs |

Joe Cook Longhorns dominate on both sides of the ball to go to 1-1.

The Elite Jobs |

by

Paul Waddlington What are the best jobs in the country in 2017? by

Another Classic in L.A. |

by

Justin Wells

Texas falls to the Trojans in overtime.

Redemption in Ames |

Joe Cook The Texas defense shuts down the Cyclones. by

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16

22

28

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Publishers -- Michael Pearle, Clendon Ross | Managing Editor--Clendon Ross | Editor-- Mike Blackwell InsideTexas.com Editor -- Justin Wells | Lead Writer -- Joe Cook | Contributors -- Ian Boyd, Paul Waddlington Designer/Photographer -- Will Gallagher | Recruiting Analyst -- Eric Nahlin To Subscribe/Customer Service -- Phone: 512-659-8167 | Email: help@insidetexas.com insidetexas.com

3

HUMBLE B by

JUSTIN WELLS

AUSTIN — Tom Herman had one goal entering his first game as coach of the Longhorns; beat Maryland and start 1-0.

The Terrapins had something else in store. insidetexas.com

6

BEGININGS

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- TEXAS VS MARYLAND -

B

ehind the arm and legs of Tyrrell

many rushing yards. And then obviously

utes when Holton Hill picked off Pigrome

Pigrome, and a stable of ball-

we’ve got to do a better job in the red zone

and went 31 yards to the house for an

carriers, Maryland humbled the

and on fourth down on offense. But we’re

early 7-0 advantage.

Horns, 51-41, at DKR-Texas Memorial

our own worst enemy right now.”

Stadium.

However, Maryland (1-0) responded after Worst enemy? Texas gave up five

flustering Shane Buechele into a sack,

“Obviously not the result that any of us

sacks, had Shane Buechele scramble a

then forcing a INT at midfield. The Ter-

wanted or expected,” said Herman. “But

dozen times, missed two field goals (one

rapins answered when Pigrome redeemed

that’s a really good football team coached

blocked), and had 11 penalties for 117

himself with a 25-yard scoring jaunt, and a

by DJ Durkin and a lot of respect for them.

yards. Herman said they’d have some ad-

7-7 mark.

There was never doubt. There was no

versity, but this is much deeper than that.

‘here we go again’. There was no bad

When the UT offense returned to the field,

body language, none of that, which I’m

“We had adversity and we knew the key

it went on a 8-play, 65-yard drive culminat-

proud of. But we’ve got to play better.”

to it is how we responded,” said Herman.

ing in a Josh Rowland 42-yard missed field

“But the execution and just the self-inflict-

goal. UM took over, and three plays later

By playing better, Herman means stopping

ed wounds at just the most inopportune

hit paydirt with a Pigrome to DJ Moore

the run. Maryland tallied 263 yards at 6.1

times are things that are difficult to recover

20-yard TD toss.

per carry. That will win you some games.

from, if not impossible.”

After going down 7-0 early, the Terps re-

“We’ve got to stop the run,” Herman

And it started so nice.

explained. “That was – I’ve never – with a conventional offense, seen us give up so

sponded with 14 unanswered points. They rushed for 108 yards in the first quarter at

Texas (0-1) got on the board within min-

9.8 per clip.

Texas opened the 2nd quarter with a nice, long drive. Rowland’s 44-yard kick was blocked, and UM defender Antoine Brooks returned it 71 yards for the score. 21 unanswered points for the Terrapins early in the 2nd quarter.

Two drives later, Pigrome hit Taivon Jacobs on a 46-yard pitch-and-catch for a 27-7 lead midway through the 2nd quarter.

Texas would eventually respond thanks again to Hill when he housed a FG attempt blocked by Poona Ford 65 yards for the TD. It brought Texas back within 16 right before halftime.

In the third, Texas woke up.

Buechele led the Horns down the field, hitting Armanti Foreman for a 33-yard TD pass and giving the Longhorn faithful

Holton Hill

8

life. After a Maryland 3-and-out, Reggie

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- TEXAS VS MARYLAND -

Shane Buechele Hemphill-Mapps took a 91-yard punt return

Terps missed a 50-yard field goal, and

Redshirt freshman Reggie Hemphill-

to the house, and the 70K fans in DKR

UT took over from its own 32. But UT

Mapps was a welcome sight. He netted

erupted. It brought UT from a 20-point

proceeded to turn it over on downs for the

69 yards on seven catches, and a 91-yard

deficit to a 3-point margin. That’s as close

third time.

punt return for a score.

at Texas would get.

The special teams on Saturday were un-

Hill said he played for his family and

Buechele finished 34 of 52 for 375 yards,

like anything I’ve ever seen. “It was just a

friends in Houston suffering through the

two TDs, and one INT. He also rushed

weird game,” Herman said.

floods and devastation. “I had a chip on

15 times, more than what the rest of the

my shoulder,” Hill said. He’s the first FBS

backfield produced – Warren had eight,

Missed field goals, blocked field goals,

player in the last 10 years to score a TD

Porter had six.

fumbled kickoff returns, and big plays

on a pick-6 and blocked kick.

highlighted the third phase of the sport. If Maryland responded with Ty Johnson’s 40-

Texas worked on STs all spring and sum-

In the end, “I told our guys never get used

yard TD run, pushing the Terps’ lead back

mer, I’m not exactly sure on what.

to this feeling,” said Herman. “But if that

to 10, 37-27. But yet again, Texas wouldn’t go away.

we all thought that we were going to come There were positives. Hill scored two TDs

in here and in nine months, sprinkle some

(FG block, INT). Texas held UM to 3-of-11

fairy dust on this team and think that we’ve

The Horns marched 66 yards on nine

on third downs, UT threw for 375 yards

arrived, then we’re wrong.”

plays in a little over three minutes cul-

and were 9-of-18 on its own third down

minating in a Buechele 3-yard scoring

conversions. UT had three non-offensive

scamper.

touchdowns in the game after recording

Really wrong.

zero in all of 2016.

At the beginning of the final stanza, the

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9

- TEXAS VS NOTRE DAME -

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- TEXAS VS MARYLAND -

WHAT THEY SAID...

TOM HERMAN “We’ve got to stop the run. That was -- I’ve never

SHANE BUECHELE

-- with a conventional

“It’s frustrating. You always

offense, save a triple op-

want to start out hot, but you

tion team or something

know, we just have to learn

like that, I’ve never seen

what we did wrong this first

us give up so many rush

game and learn from that

yards.”

and carry it over on to the next game.”

MALIK JEFFERSON “It doesn’t feel like last year. I think it was just key stuff that we did on our own that really hurt ourselves. We can’t point any fingers because it was all over the field.”

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SECONDARY STRIVES

By Mike Blackwell

Holton Hill

12

S TO REVIVE

DBU

T

he names stretch far back, as far as your mind can reach, like a defensive back straining onehanded for a pass headed toward the receiver he covers.

Photographs by Will Gallagher

Bill Bradley...Jim Hudson...Johnnie Johnson..

Derrick Hatchett...Jerry Gray...Stanley Richard...

Nathan Vasher...Quintin Jammer...Earl Thomas...

Michael Griffin...Tarell Brown...Aaron Ross...

Kenny Vaccaro...Quandre Diggs.

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- return of dbu -

W

ant more? How about Noble Doss

III...Landry Jones...Geno Smith...and of

twice, taking the first one 38 yards to the

and Jack Crain?

course, Taysom Hill. Not good.

house for a score. The second one he returned 24 yards, and he also added seven

These are the names on the imaginary

So far in 2017, Holton Hill, DeShon Elliott

tackles and a couple of pass breakups to

walls of the hallowed halls of Defensive

and P.J. Locke are trying to break the

his stat sheet.

Back University, DBU, the well-earned

long cycle of Texas defensive backs who

name for secondary glory at the University

weren’t able to earn their degree from a

A third-year junior safety, Elliott’s efforts

of Texas. Unfortunately for the Longhorns

DBU that needs to freshen its tarnished

earned him Big 12 Conference Defensive

and their fans, over the last 10 years or so,

image.

Player of the Week honors.

All showed up and showed out against

How’s the junior Hill doing in his classes

their secondary has been more DB Ewww than DBU.

at DBU? Well, like Elliott, he has made a splash himself in 2017.

Hill has already scored three touchdowns, taking a pair of interceptions to the house and adding a touchdown on a blocked field goal against Maryland. He entered the Iowa State game with two interceptions.

Two years ago he had a 41-yard pick return for a touchdown against Oklahoma State, and against San Jose State this season he took one back 45 yards for a score in addition to recording a career-high eight tackles, all solo. And before Hill’s arrival at Texas, UT’s last interception return for a touchdown in back-to-back games came in 2007.

Against the Trojans, the man nicknamed Hollywood compiled seven tackles and a pair of passes broken up.

DeShon Elliott

Locke hasn’t produced the numbers of Hill The names of opposing quarterbacks

USC. Is the showing in Los Angeles an

and Elliott in 2017, but is certainly seen as

who have tormented Texas defensive

aberration or the first sign of a sustained

a team leader by Herman, getting chosen

backs recently are the ones most Texas

return to secondary excellence for UT?

as a captain prior to the season.

fans remember most clearly now, certainly

Time and performance will be the only

more vividly of late than a roll call of distin-

answer to that question.

guished DBU alumni.

Both Hill and Locke started fast despite the tragedy of Hurricane Harvey which hit -

Elliott turned in an especially splashy

literally and figuratively - close to home for

Read these names and shudder: Collin

performance in Hollywood’s shadow. He

both players. Hill is a graduate of Houston

Klein...Brandon Weeden...Robert Griffin

intercepted USC quarterback Sam Darnold

Lamar High School, and admits he had

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- return of dbu -

his family on his mind when he hit the field

least some of the long-term damage to

could’ve had the same discussion with any

against Maryland.

the DBU image by going toe-to-toe with

of a number of Texas defensive backs.

the Trojans at the Coliseum. USC never “I’m from Houston and looking at the tragedy these past few weeks, I wasn’t able to be down there with my family, so I just had a chip on my shoulder,” Hill said after the Maryland loss. Graduates of DBU have all carried a very high degree of toughness, and Hill’s skill in that area has been evident in 2017 The 6-3, 200-pounder used another of his skills - learned as a high school running back - in the return against San Jose State.

“I guess I’ve still got it,” he said afterward.

“Got the ball and followed my blocks. I just used my vision. I cut it back and I was like, ‘Yes, thank you.’”

Locke grew up in Beaumont, which was obviously slammed unmercifully by Harvey. Like Hill, he had to compartmentalize during the tragedy.

After the hurricane hit, Locke admitted to reporters that he was more than a little concerned about his family, who ended up safe but stranded following landfall.

P.J. Locke

“You just can’t let it take your focus away,” Locke said prior to the USC game. “If

looked comfortable while trying to compile

“After the (Maryland) game, he (Hill)

I’m not focused this week, it can have a

points and yardage against the Texas de-

hugged me and was kind of choked up

potential domino effect and other people

fense in general, and the Texas secondary

and said, ‘Coach, thank you for believ-

might not be focused. That comes with the

in particular.

ing in me,’” Herman said. “We didn’t win,

territory, just being a leader and having to

which we all want. But to see him have

put everything else to the side. You have

Was the USC game the first step in re-

that kind of renewed sense of self-pride

to worry about what’s going on right now

claiming the good name of DBU at Texas?

and self-worth was pretty cool.”

as a team, and then worry about the other

Time will tell, but Herman seems to like

stuff when you get out of practice.”

what he sees in the group so far.

Yes, that was undoubtedly pretty cool for Herman to see. And probably pretty cool

Clearly these three DBs - along with their

He also liked his exchange with Hill follow-

for the esteemed graduates of DBU to

fellow “classmates” Kris Boyd, Brandon

ing the loss to Maryland. The coach talked

witness as well.

Jones and others - managed to repair at

about the encounter with Hill, but probably

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15

HORNS STEAMROL

BY JOE COOK

AUSTIN — Over the course of the week leading up to the Longhorns’ game against the San Jose State Spartans,

head coach Tom Herman and his players repeatedly told the media “we can’t let Maryland beat us twice.”

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LL THE SPARTANS

17

Photographs by Will Gallagher

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- TEXAS vs SAN JOSE STATE -

T

he Horns did not fall to the Terrapins again, and rather than let

a nine yard conversion.

last week’s loss loom, they ran right over any defender in their

path on the way to a 56-0 victory over San Jose State for Herman’s

Heard came in to spell Ehlinger, and took the direct snap off the

first victory at Texas. Chris Warren had 166 of Texas’ 406 rushing

left side into the end zone to give the Horns their first offensive

yards on 16 carries, scoring twice. Freshman quarterback Sam

touchdown of the game.

Ehlinger was 15-of-27 for 222 yards and a score in his first career Texas forced another punt, and took over possession at the end of

start.

the first quarter. After moving into San Jose State territory, Warren Texas did not charge out of the gates early with Ehlinger (or junior

took a direct snap 41 yards to the end zone to make it 14-0, break-

Jerrod Heard in the wildcat) at the helm; the Longhorns gained one

ing several tackles along the way. Texas used the legs of Warren

first down before being forced to punt, with Ehlinger showing some

and the arm of Ehlinger to record a six play, 89 yard drive.

signs of first game jitters.

Not everything was going Texas’ way, however. The secondary was SJSU and Texas traded punts on the ensuing three drives. Texas

caught out of position several times in the first half against San

punter Michael Dickson and SJSU punter Michael Carrizosa each

Jose State offensive coordinator Andrew Sowder’s veer and shoot,

had a respectable first half, with both combining to average 45.4

with several passes that would assuredly have been touchdowns

yards a kick with minimal returns.

being dropped or just overthrown. These were mistakes that were not punished, but will be against superior opponents.

Texas took over on their own 43 midway through the first quarter.

Faced with a third down, the Longhorns were helped by a defensive

In addition, Ehlinger’s first half was not spotless, even though his

holding penalty to give them a first down on the Spartan 41. Then,

stat line read that way. Ehlinger forced several throws into tight

faced with a 4th and 6 on the Spartan 37, Ehlinger found Warren for

windows and Spartan defenders had opportunities to punish the true freshman with turnovers, they just did not take advantage.

Leading by two scores with just over two minutes remaining in the half, the offense took over on their own 23. Texas used this opportunity to practice the two minute offense, with senior Lorenzo Joe hauling in a spectacular catch to put Texas into the red zone with a minute remaining.

Herman and offensive coordinator Tim Beck went back to what worked earlier in the game, putting Heard in and running him over the left side once more to give Texas a three score lead heading into the half.

“I think being back there and communicating with the offensive line is something you lose,” Heard said on going back to playing quarterback. “But taking snaps and being able to run behind them is something that I love.”

After limiting SJSU to a three and out in

Sam Ehlinger

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- TEXAS vs SAN JOSE STATE -

big part of that defense, leading the Longhorns with 7 tackles.

its opening drive of the second half, Texas put together its most dominating drive of the game. Beginning on the eight yard line, Texas put together a 16 play drive where they ran the ball 12 times.

“I told those guys to go out there and play as hard as you can,”

Four different rushers received carries on that drive. Warren had

Jefferson said. “We needed the shutout to prove to people that we

five carries, pushing Texas to the Spartan 31. After Heard moved

could actually do it and prove it to ourselves.”

the Horns into the red zone, sophomore Kyle Porter carried the ball Texas highest scoring quarter ended up being the final one. War-

four straight times, scoring his first career collegiate touchdown from three yards out.

Herman made it clear how important the ground game is to the success of his team.

“We need to run the ball,” Herman said. “We’ve got an above-average offensive line. We’ve got good tailbacks. That’s who we are. That’s what we believe in.”

Facing a four score deficit, the Spartans began to go to the air more than they had done previously. They were punished for it when SJSU quarterback Montel Aaron threw a strike to Texas’ Holton Hill, who returned it the other way 45 yards for his second pick-6 of the season.

“I just saw my team blocking for me and I just used my vision,” Hill said.

Malcolm Roach

“I cut it back and I was like ‘yes, thank you.”

ren added another score from nine yards out (with an assist from Herman made sure to note how improved Hill has been as a team-

freshman guard Patrick Hudson) after Ehlinger hit two deep passes

mate.

to move the team down the field. The Texas offense had little time to rest as a fumble recovery on the ensuing kickoff gave them the

“Holton Hill, man, what a joy it’s been to watch that kid grow,” Her-

ball on the Spartan 19. Ehlinger gave two shovel passes to senior

man said. “He’s done a complete 180 from our short time here in

Armanti Foreman, who took the second one into the end zone for

nine months. For him to contribute as positively as he has in the

Ehlinger’s first career passing touchdown.

last couple of weeks is really good, because that’s a position of very It was not what Ehlinger expected his first touchdown to be like, but

little depth right now.”

he could not complain.

Hill’s score was part of a phenomenal defensive effort from the Longhorns. Texas limited SJSU to just 62 yards on 23 carries, and

“I appreciate Coach Beck giving that one to me,” Ehlinger said. “He

129 yards on 15 completions. Facing an offense that places a lot

kept flipping it and trying to get my first passing touchdown.”

of importance of running play after play to tire out the defense, the Spartans only ran 52 plays. Junior linebacker Malik Jefferson was a

The Longhorns’ eighth and final score came with the backups in, as

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19

- TEXAS vs SAN JOSE STATE -

his first collegiate start, that was good. I thought he was very poised in the pocket.

“Jerrod is a dynamic playmaker. He’s a guy comfortable back there taking snaps and comfortable in the QB run game, and that is a very needed, added dimension in our offense to equate the numbers like that in terms of not having the quarterback have to hand off to somebody, and now you’re in minus-two.”

After Ehlinger’s performance and sophomore Shane Buechele’s lack of one, Texas could have an important choice to make before heading into Los Angeles to take on the USC Trojans. It was a choice Herman said he could not make after the game.

“I think it would be premature of me to say that today,” Herman said. “We’ve got to see Holton Hill

Herman said he would know more about Buechele’s health on Tuesday and Wednesday. As far as preparing for USC? That will

The ground attack helped Texas control the game, but the two quarterback system of Ehlinger and Heard had to put it into place.

Herman took the time to compliment both of his signal-callers.

“I think Sam played good,” Herman said. “I mean, for that being

20

pretty good against a really good team in Maryland.”

true freshman Toneil Carter ran it in from four yards out to put the game at its final 56-0 mark.

how healthy (Buechele) can be. He played

have to wait a day.

“Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.,” he said. “We’re going to enjoy the heck out of this one.”

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WHAT THEY SAID...

P.J. LOCKE III

CONNOR WILLIAMS

“Definitely needed today. The wait over the summer and to go out with a loss in the first game.

Just come out here today, take big strides, keeping our mind clear that we’re not the same team from last year.”

TOM HERMAN “We’re not a finished product. I wrote down we had too many dropped balls, still a few too many penalties. Field position was not

“Our run game was our number one focus going into the game as an offense. It was good to see us go out and execute. It

great. We had a couple of coverage

started off with the O-line. All five guys, we

busts, and we’ve still got to fix our

did a great job.”

kickoff coverage to be more consistent.

Definitley not a finished product.

But, man, did our guys -- they flew around. They cut it loose and played with confidence and swagger.”

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21

THE ELITE JOBS IN C

by Paul Paul Wadlington Wadlington by

Photographs by Will Gallagher

22

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL The premise is simple.

Throw open all 128 FBS jobs. Fire every coach. Forget your regionalism.

Where would the smartest, most ambitious coaches want to coach, recruit, win big and contend for championships?

Where would I want to go based on cold-blooded calculation, irrespective of prejudice or lazy assumptions? Knowing what I know about available physical, financial and human capital, recruiting, demography, money, television, program standing and administrative commitment?

I’m not that interested in debating whether USC is the 3rd best job or the 9th. Once a program has a qualifying level of winning infrastructure, I think it’s largely immaterial. For that reason, I’m not force ranking, but establishing tranches. But have at it if you like.

The relevant question for me is: Can I win titles there? Can I field really good teams over a sustained period of time? Once you can answer that question affirmatively, the rest is up to coaching, the ability to win in living rooms, coalition building and a little luck.

The Top 20 jobs are surprisingly easy to identify, even if some teams are currently wandering the wilderness.

The Top 20 isn’t written in stone. It’s dynamic and subject to change. Largely because of demographics and a great coach that either masked fundamental weakness or a good coach who lit a spark in a place with natural advantages to show what could be. Making this list in 1970, 1980 or 1990 looks different.

This isn’t about whether Mississippi State, Kansas State or Utah can field a good team in any given year. It’s as much about ceiling as it is about floor. It also doesn’t mean any coach off of the street can coach Texas or Georgia to 12-1. It’s about upside, sustainability and the relative barriers to fielding a juggernaut.

It’s also a compelling reaffirmation for me that the only interesting football future for Texas means affiliating with the Pac 12, Big 10 or SEC.

23

- Elite College Coaching Jobs -

THE ELITE 11

All of the Elite 11 are hard to beat with respect to resources, facilities,

Only USC rivals Texas as the program with better commanding

location and demography. They’re distinguished from the rest of the

heights in recruiting. Everything you need is within a 200 mile drive

Top 20 by no poor grades in any area and a hell of a lot of A’s.

and resident competition within that sphere is modest. Both teams also retain the ability to go national.

Alabama and Florida require no explanation.

Georgia and LSU have the best football talent per capita in the counOklahoma has the weakest natural recruiting base and that’s cause

try, great demography and strong commitments to football. LSU is a

for worry, but their ability to brand nationally and dip into DFW has

historical Johnny-Come-Lately, but they experienced their own Florida

always served them well. Their fear of talent depletion also explains

effect. The Georgia job seems to be unduly minimized by college

their historical willingness to bend rules, defend bad behavior and live

football fans – it’s a terrific gig.

on the ethical margins to shore up a lack of in-state resources.

Michigan and Ohio St are the bullies of their region with national Penn State is underestimated for their total hold on Northeastern foot-

prominence and excellent support structures. Michigan’s academics

ball recruiting and their ability to shake off the worst scandal in college

have also made peace with what’s necessary to be competitive in

football history speaks to their winning infrastructure.

football.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey aren’t Georgia and Louisiana, but

Ohio State is a de facto SEC school and it’s hard to find any funda-

those states have players and Penn State takes the ones they want.

mental aspect of the program that isn’t at least an A-.

Poona Ford (95)

24

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- Elite College Coaching Jobs -

THE REST OF THE TOP 20

Every school here has a fatal flaw. They can rise into the Elite 11 –

place to live. When it comes to recruiting, both are always playing

and a few were once prime components – but they also have the

a road game. You can win big here, but it sure helps when regional

ability to fall into irrelevance by compounding a natural disadvan-

rivals falter taking care of business.

tage.

I can make good arguments for Clemson expanding the elite group

Texas A&M has the natural recruiting base and checks every box,

to 12 and I have no problem with doing so, but I’d like to see stay-

but their ahem, unique culture and their ability to shoot themselves

ing power.

in the foot seems to thwart their inevitable, obvious rise. The default Longhorn fan assumption that this is a permanent state of

Miami is the only program in my Top 20 that can weather C or D

affairs is a bad one.

grades in some key areas, but A grades for demography and location mean the material is always there.

Oregon is proof that you can buy yourself into college football relevance and grow a real football culture from nothing. The Pacific

Both Notre Dame and Stanford profit from the ability to recruit

NW is a recruiting problem and they have to raid backyards. The

nationally with unique pitches, but they’re narrowcasters. Stanford

highest beta of the Top 20.

has to dismiss 85% of the prospective athlete pool before their process even starts. The idea of listing Notre Dame outside of the

UCLA lacks commitment. That’s a problem. They’re also the only

Elite 11 would have been laughable twenty years ago, but the last

other major football program besides USC sitting in a 250 mile

two decades signal fundamental change that a TV contract and

radius of great athletes. They can also sell nationally. The path

tradition can’t obscure.

forward for building a monster here doesn’t require that much imagination – just harnessing some Cali front-running – but it will

Auburn and Tennessee have maniacal support, but they lack a

take a better coach than Jim Mora Jr.

natural talent base. Same programs, except Knoxville is a lot nicer

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- Elite College Coaching Jobs -

HONORABLE MENTION

Steep drop off here. Washington is Oregon with less money, but

peers for those scraps.

plenty of passion to win and some intangibles.

Louisville’s greatest advantage is ruthlessness. They have few Wisconsin is good because they’ve decided football is very impor-

advantages outside of a single-minded focus on athletic success as

tant to them. See Virginia Tech.

a driver for school pride and student attraction. All told, pretty effec-

The best thing that could ever happen to Arizona State is Texas

tive for a commuter school in the shadows of the Big 10 and SEC.

in the Pac 12. North Carolina and S. Carolina have underrated demography, but Tarheel basketball and Gamecock lower tier SEC

Where am I wrong?

status are their millstones.

Who are the most likely to rise into the Elite? Fall out? Are their Oklahoma State has one billionaire’s financial commitment to foot-

deep dark horses to take heed of (South Florida, UCF, San Diego

ball, but not much else. Nebraska has the commitment of an entire

State) who can ride the same demographic rise from modest begin-

state, but awful demography.

nings of schools like Florida, Florida St, Miami, LSU?

Michigan State can only eat when Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio

Where would you want to build your program?

State are full and then they have to fight with a half dozen regional

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Kraken_Texas_mechanical.indd 1

5/19/11 2:17:09 PM

ANOTHER CL

LOS ANGELES — It was almost déjà vu.

Texas came into California as an underdog to the mighty men of Troy, and despite a ton of mistakes and some home cooking, almost pulled off the improbable upset behind a stellar defensive performance and a true freshman QB who found his swagger in the 2nd half.

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LASSIC IN LA

by Justin Wells

Armanti Foreman

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Photos by Will Gallagher

- TEXAS vs USC -

S

till, the No. 4 USC Trojans forced

man on a 17-yard TD toss with :45 seconds

Ehlinger wasn’t phased. He hit fellow true

overtime with no time remaining

left in regulation to take its first lead, 17-14,

freshman Cade Brewer on an 3-yard scor-

and triumphed in double over-

and it looked like the Legend of Sam was

ing toss and double overtime arrived.

time over the Horns, 27-24, on a Chase

upon us.

McGrath 43-yard FG at the LA Memorial

Only problem was that QB on the other

One of the many bright spots was sopho-

Coliseum.

sideline, Sam Darnold, was also ready for

more WR Collin Johnson. He’s become to go-to receiver for UT QBs and made big play after big play, finishing with 191 yards on seven grabs. Ehlinger, 21-of-40, for 298 yards, two TDs, and two INTs was also impressive after a shaky first half.

“We know we’ve got a guy that’s a warrior on the road versus a Top 5 team,” Herman said about his 18-year old signal-caller.

When Ehlinger settled down, the offense came to life despite losing All American OT Connor Williams (knee), and both his running backs (Kyle Porter and Chris Warren) combining for 24 yards on the ground.

“In my first road game, in front on 90K playing the No. 4 team in the nation, it was exciting,” Ehlinger said. “Every competitor has nerves. I tried to put it all out there. My teammates deserve that.”

Malik Jefferson

Johnson agreed.

“I told ’em in the locker room there’s no

a fight. Darnold marched USC down the

“The guys played hard. That’s really all

moral victories in college football,” Tom

field in 39 seconds giving the freshman

I can ask for,” receiver Collin Johnson

Herman said. “They don’t put loss and in

walk-on kicker, McGrath, an opportunity to

said. “If we can just keep playing like that,

parenthesis say, ‘Yeah, but they played

nail his first collegiate field goal. When the

we’ll have a chance to do great stuff this

really hard.’ That doesn’t happen. It’s amaz-

31-yarder split the uprights, Pac 12 After

season.”

ing how many mistakes your team can

Dark was upon the 85K fans in attendance

overcome with attitude and effort.”

on a chilly night in LA.

The defense was the biggest surprise. After yielding 51 points to Maryland in Week 1,

Despite a sluggish offensive first half by

Darnold, who went 28-49, for 397 yards,

this group has made major strides in all

both teams, there Texas was, with the ball

and 3 TDs, hit Deontay Burnett for a 25-

facets, especially the defensive line.

and chance to win with all probability virtu-

yard TD toss on the first play of overtime,

ally lifted out of the Coliseum like morning

Burnett’s 2nd score of the night, and Texas

Charles Omenihu (three tackles, one sack,

smog in Inglewood.

once again had its back against the wall.

one TFL), Poona Ford (four tackles), and Chris Nelson (three tackles) led the defen-

Texas QB Sam Ehlinger hit Armanti Fore-

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And just like UT’s previous scoring march,

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sive front.

- TEXAS vs USC -

two plays left in the bag and they used

“We had to find our identity. We proved to

Not to be outdone were the Longhorns

them. Darnold hit Jones for a 56-yard TD

ourselves we can do this. We were having

linebackers. Malik Jefferson continues to

with no time left on the clock. Any momen-

fun.”

play at a high level in 2017. He tallied 11

tum UT thought they’d take into halftime

stops and three TFLs, not to mention the

vanished in six seconds.

quarterback pressures. “The defense was

Another positive was the feedback from players about their young QB.

having fun out there, they couldn’t wait to

Texas punched back to start the 2nd half.

get back onto the field,” said Herman.

A 12-play, 54-yard drive culminated in Josh

“We loved it,” Jefferson said emphatically.

Rowland connected on a 39-yard FG to

“A guy with that much passion and heart is

Add Texas CB Holton Hill (seven tackles,

bring the Horns within four, 14-10, early in

what you want. He thought he let us down.

two PBUs) and S DeShon Elliott (seven

the 3rd.

But he was actually the heart and soul of

tackles, two INTs, two PBUs, one touch-

this game. Him fighting, him pushing, him

down, and almost another), and this

Herman made sure to say that college

going that hard, taking those hits. You can’t

defense might’ve turned the corner. “To

football standings don’t carry asterisks. It

say any more. His performance showed

the public, it might be (Elliott’s) coming-out

trickled down to his junior LB.

how much he wanted to win that game.”

party. We see it all the time,” Hill said. “We have a lot of potential.”

“We played for each other tonight and will continue to play for our brothers and teammates,” Elliott said.

But why the sudden change over the last two weeks?

“Heart,” Jefferson said about what was different about this unit vs USC. “We took away their game (Ronald Jones and Stephen Carr) and put them in a one-dimensional offense, and we capitalized on it.

This just needs to be an every-week thing.”

It was all defense in the first half. Mostly.

USC got on the board late in the 2nd quarter when Darnold hit Burnett for a 15-yard TD grab after a 6-play, 37-yard drive at the Collin Johnson

2:40 mark.

Texas answered, on defense of all places, when DeShon Elliott took a Darnold pass

“Our guys kept fighting,” Jefferson said.

And they almost did like we’ve seen before

snow-cone style 38 yards to paydirt and

“We finally understood we have to go out

in LA.

tied the game at 7-all less than two minutes

there everyday and play like it’s a champi-

later.

onship game,” who pointed to his head as

Thinking the first half was over, USC had

to say the mental side was the difference.

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- TEXAS vs USC -

WHAT THEY SAID...

TOM HERMAN “There were a lot of tears and sorrow and dejection in the locker room but after

MALIK JEFFERSON

we lick our wounds and realize how close

“We are finally understanding that we

we came, we’ll be able to build upon this

need to play every game like a champion-

immensely. If we play every team in the

ship game. Not that we thought this was

Big 12 as hard and physical as we played

a championship game, but we needed

this team tonight, home or road, we’ll

to find that out and go out and find our

have a shot to win some games.”

identity. We preached that last week and we proved to ourselves how to work hard for each other.”

SAM EHLINGER “This was my first away game. In front of a sold out crowd at the No. 4 team in the nation, it took a little time to get used to it. That’s the competitor in me.

(I settled down) somewhere in the second quarter. It’s football. It’s a really good team, but it’s just football.”

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FIRST DOWNS RUSHING YARDS PASSING YARDS THIRD DOWNS TURNOVERS TIME OF POSSESSION

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25 71 397 6-18 2 32:46

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DEFENSE DOMIN

by Joe Cook

AMES, IA - Following an extended break with the bye week, Texas head coach Tom Herman and the Longhorns entered Jack Trice Stadium facing the challenge of stopping an offense that had scored 40 points in each of its first three games. The defense answered the challenge, limiting Iowa State to just seven points, 10 rushing yards, and 256 total yards in a 17-7 victory in Herman’s first Big 12 conference game.

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NATES CYCLONES

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Photos by Will Gallagher

- TEXAS vs IOWA STATE -

T

exas forced three Iowa State turnovers, including two

Buechele chose to take several big hits throughout the course of

interceptions by junior safety DeShon Elliott. The defense

the evening rather than sliding to avoid contact.

made Iowa State quarterback Jacob Park’s evening incred-

ibly difficult, forcing him to move out of the pocket and away from

“It depends on down and distance,” Buechele said on sliding versus

defenders time after time.

not sliding. “If it’s first and ten, I’m going to try to get down but if I need a first down, I’m going to try and go get it. It’s something I’m

Park showed an inability to throw on the run, and was sacked four

still working on from last year and this year. I need to know my body

times on the evening. His only touchdown pass and Iowa State’s

type compared to other people and be smart with my body.”

only score came as a result of a short field following a shanked Michael Dickson punt late in the third quarter.

It has been difficult for Buechele to do something that goes against his personality, but it’s something he is trying to improve on.

Sophomore Shane Buechele played under center for the first time since the season opening game against Maryland. Behind an of-

“I think it’s just competitive nature and trying to get as much as

fensive line with two backups at tackle, including freshman Derek

you can,” Buechele said. “Also, you have to be smart. Football is a

Kerstetter, Buechele managed an efficient 19-for-26 evening with

tough game. I just have to be smart in those aspects of the game.”

171 yards, one score, and one interception.

His favorite target, sophomore Collin Johnson, had extra attention paid to him by the Cyclone defenders and only brought in two catches on the evening.

Buechele’s lone touchdown came in the second quarter when he found freshman running back Toneil Carter over the middle. The ball was delivered perfectly, but Buechele took a massive hit from his blindside while getting it to the freshman.

Texas once again struggled to run the football behind an offensive line struggling with multiple facets of the game.

No Texas back averaged more than 3.5 yards per carry. Junior Chris Warren and sophomore Kyle Porter combined to rush for 2.6 yards per carry on 23

Shane Buechele -- photto courtesy of The News & OIbserver

attempts. Warren’s longest run of the evening was an 11 yard rush into the

He delivered balls to 11 different targets, completing a game-high

end zone to open the scoring up in the first quarter.z

four passes to sophomore Lil’Jordan Humphrey.

“It’s difficult as a play caller when you’re making one yard or two Even though Buechele’s stat line looks decent, he was constantly

yards,” Herman said. “You want to say ‘forget it, let’s throw it every

forced to run to make a play. Buechele carried the ball 13 times for

snap.’ That’s not the answer either. I thought the patience and per-

53 yards, with several of those runs of the scramble variety.

sistence by the offense was good. We’ve got to be better and more consistent throughout the course of the game.”

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- TEXAS vs IOWA STATE -

continue to go back to the drawing board and find ways.”

The Texas defense forced the Cyclones to also give up on the running game early. ISU running back David Montgomery came into

The defense, now the strength of the team, has been able to make

Thursday’s game averaging more than 100 yards a game. He only

up for the offense’s shortcomings in the past few weeks. Herman

ran nine times for 34 yards, and only had three rushes for three yards in the second half.

Park was unable to take the game over and threw three interceptions, two to Elliott and one to junior Kris Boyd. After the game, Elliott gave all the praise to those in front of him.

“Our d-line, 100 percent credit to them,” Elliott said. “Without them, we can’t do anything. With them playing so well it makes us able to make plays on the ball. Without our d-line, we can’t be great.”

Junior kicker Josh Rowland, who Herman referred to in his postgame press conference simply as “the kicker,” scored Texas’ only second DeShon Elliott

half points.

With Texas holding a touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, Rowland sent a line drive 49 yards through the uprights. Rowland also had

made sure to note while it could be easy to change the play calling,

a steady performance kicking off, as all four of his kicks resulted in

that doesn’t fit the identity he wants his team to have of a strong

touchbacks.

running game.

“The kicker, he’s been nails in practice,” Herman said. “Until issues

Even though there is a lot to build on, Herman made it extremely

in games become habitual, we’re going to go with what the guy has

clear after the game that they would enjoy completing a difficult

done in practice.”

task.

Following three straight strong defensive performances, Herman

“We’re going to celebrate this win,” Herman said. “Winning college

noted how much his team has grown since the first showing when

football games is really hard, really hard. Winning on the road in

they gave up 51 points.

conference on a Thursday night is even harder. We’re going to celebrate it tonight. We’re going to wake up and go to class tomor-

“We’re going to lean on our defense for the whole time I’m here,”

row. We’re going to relax on Saturday and on Sunday we’re going

Herman said. “Obviously, we’re going to want to make sure that if

to come in and go to work to go 1-0 again next week.”

a team, especially in the Big 12, is finding rhythm offensively, that we can go toe-to-toe with offenses in this league. We will. We’ll

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- TEXAS vs IOWA STATE -

WHAT THEY SAID...

TOM HERMAN

DESHON ELLIOTT “Our d-line, 100 percent credit to them,” (DeShon) Elliott said. “Without them, we can’t do anything. With them playing so well it makes us able to make plays on the ball.

Without our d-line, we can’t be great..”

On the Texas Defense: “They learned a very costly but valuable

SHANE BUECHELE “It depends on down and

lesson in that Maryland game. You can’t

distance,” (on sliding ver-

play great defense if you’re evaluating and

sus not sliding) “If it’s first

you’re thinking and you’re gauging or tip-

and ten, I’m going to try

toeing. You have to stick your foot in the

to get down but if I need a

ground and go and trust that the other 10

first down, I’m going to try

guys are going to be there right behind you.

and go get it. It’s something

Our defense for the last three weeks has

I’m still working on from last year and this year. I

been doing that”

need to know my body type compared to other people and be smart with my body.”

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18 10 246 3-12 3 19:29

- TEXAS vs IOWA STATE -

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