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A smattering of off-season workout nuggets on the eve of Big 12 Media Days...
I've had a chance over the last few days to accumulate a few morsels of information on the football team as it gets ready to wrap its final stretch of off-season workouts this month before taking a slight break before the season begins in earnest when the team reports in early August.
1. The team morale is very good right now. At the risk of unloading a ton of yearly hyperbole your way, there is an excitement that exists right now as you'd expect with almost every team in America, but all the right words about the attitude of this group seems to be in the right place.
Perhaps the thing that stood out the most to me in conversations with those around the program this week was the acknowledgment that the underclassmen have, as a group, embraced a leadership role that is not typical in college football.
"I know everyone will point to someone like
Malik and say he's the leader, but we've got a group of young guys that believe something special is going to be created by their (recruiting classes) and they are pushing each other and thriving because of the motivation that comes with thinking they have a chance to be special."
Another source was a little more direct.
"(The players) didn't come here to play like some (*******)," the source said. "If (the young players) have to lead, then (they'll) do it. (They) didn't come here to feel like (they) did in some of those games last season and there's a commitment to make sure that doesn't ever happen again. "(They're) tired of feeling like that.
"We need to stop being humiliated. It's time to humiliate everyone else."
2. The incoming freshmen class has fit in like a glove with the rest of the players. According to those I spoke with this week, the members from the 2015 recruiting class have gone out of their way to make those players feel welcome and comfortable. Essentially, there's a feeling that exists that the 2015/2016 classes are in this together arm in arm.
3. If there's a negative piece of news to pass along,
I don't get the sense that anyone feels like anyone has completely pulled away in the competition heading into camp.
"All of those guys are working hard and they take turns having the best day," one source with knowledge of workouts said.
In talking to various sourcing, everyone had an idea of who the starter would be this season, but none told me that one quarterback from the trio of
Ty Swoopes, Jerrod Heard and Shane Buechele had stood out clearly from the others.
For the record, hearing that "everyone is playing well" and that there hasn't been a clear leader isn't what you'd exactly like to hear a few weeks away from the start of camp.
4. A sense of urgency definitely exists at wide receiver.
"They can count," one source said of the numbers at the position. "If you let someone get a rep over you, you might as well give him your position and your number, and just transfer."
5. Brandon Jones might be the freshman whose name is being mentioned the most.
"I love that guy," one source who has spent some time with Jones in the last few weeks. "Nobody has had to tell him to work, not once. He came here to take someone's job and I love that about him. He works as hard and competes as hard as anyone. That's my guy."
6. I can't believe I'm writing these words, but everyone I spoke with had something positive to say about Tristan Nickelson.
"You guys have been talking shit about him and he's out to prove he's not the worst lineman. That boy is hungry."
When I mentioned that I had been especially tough on Nickelson's projection in the starting line-up, my source officially put me on blast.
"Ok, you've been talking too much shit," he said with a laugh. "He knows what people say. Keep it up, though. He's been a different guy this summer because of people like you saying he can't play."
7. Patrick Hudson has quickly opened eyes. When you can kill it in the weight room, you'll quickly earn respect among your peers in the locker room and that is exactly what has happened.
"I can't wait to see that big dude in a few weeks. I told one of the guys that he was going to get body-slammed by him at some point this season and he told me, 'I ain't getting body-slammed, but he might get someone else like that if they take a play off.' Personally, I think he's going to body-slam a
fewguys.
8. Finally, I asked three different people who they thought was the best player on the team that no one is talking about.
Their answers?
Edwin Freeman. Breckyn Hager. Kent Perkins.
War room
Things move fast in college football.
In one of the stranger conversations I’ve had with a college coaching acquaintance, my phone rang on Thursday about 30 minutes after the news that
Texas was predicted to finish 5th in the Big 12 this year by the conference’s media. A guy that I know in the business that used to work in the Big 12 as a coach, but now recruits the state of Texas as an out of state power five assistant had a question for me after seeing the results of the media poll on our message board.
(Note: Yes, I did get a bit of a chuckle out of the knowledge that this particular coach was surfing Orangebloods during the summer looking for off-topic posts, at least according to him)
“They aren’t going to give Charlie (Strong) an extension if they finish fifth, are they?” the coach asked.
“I’m of the state of mind that he’s going to return next year if he can get to 7-5 and not get epically embarrassed along the way. There can’t be any 66-3s in there,” I told him. “But, an extension? Man, I don’t know. I have a hard time believing they’d give him more money and years until there’s a real return on their investment.”
“That’s what I thought,”he replied back.
Then the two of us had a conversation about a potential problem in the weeds for the Longhorns that we’ll simply call “The 7-5 Problem”.
With the Longhorns recruiting as well as they are opposing coaches that recruit the Lone Star State, the next piece of negative recruiting that the Longhorns coaching staff will face on the recruiting highways centers on the back end of Strong’s contract, a five-year deal that still has three years left on it.
“It’s not negative recruiting, it’s effective bull-shitting,” the coach said with a laugh. “Everyone is going to do it. If there’s a kid we’re looking at that is considering Texas, you better believe we’re going to ask him why he would go play for Charlie when he’s not going to be there. I’ll ask him him, ‘You gonna transfer with him to his next school?’ You better believe the next time that kid talks to that staff, he’s going to ask them about
Charlie’s contract after they’ve heard 30 coaches pretty much whisper the same thing in his ear."
A moment passed and then the coach laughed.
“Our coach is in the same situation as Charlie, but them Texas kids don’t care about our guy’s contract. They care about
Charlie’s contract, though.”
There’s no reason to overreact at this discussion because everyone knows to some degree that Strong is coaching for his job this season, which means that rival coaching staffs will be itching to read Strong’s last rights to recruits the first time there’s a 20+ point loss this season (should that occur). That’ pretty obvious stuff, but there’s no getting around the fact that if Strong gets his fourth year as most expect, the discussion of the school’s long-term commitment will be
thetopic of 2017.
I reached out to a high-level connection of mine on Thursday afternoon following my conversation with the coach and asked him about how the situation might be handled, given that it’s a potential looming conversation piece.
“Well, as you know, there are extensions and then there are guaranteed extensions. The first is possible,” the source said.
With that nugget is a look into the window of the soul of the Texas athletic department right now in its relationship with Strong.
It might make a public effort to give appearances of a long-term relationship following this season for recruiting purposes.
It is not ready to give out guaranteed years on a contract worth potentially tens of millions, no matter how much it wants him to succeed, until Strong rewards his investors with a really successful season and a 7-5 record isn’t that.
Just win, baby. This entire discussion changes on a dime if the team wins nine or 10 games this season, especially with the way recruiting has been going. All of this probably becomes moot at that point.
However, should the team perform exactly as it’s being projected going into the season, it’s going to set up a potentially interesting 2017 tap dance and you’ve just been given a head’s up that it’s the next card the recruiting opposition is going to start playing with more force in future months. (Ketch)
*****
The Sunday Pulpit: Questions Charlie Strong should expect to hear during Big 12 Media Days
It is about damn time.
There is no need to continue engaging in threads debating Hilary Clinton vs. Donald Trump. We can mostly get past the LeBron James legacy conversations. The risque “Girl of the Day” threads can safely fly under the radar. It is finally time to ignore baseball – excluding the 10 people who watched the All-Star game – and move onto our favorite sport.
Get the San Antonio crew together for another happy hour, y’all
Texas football is back.
Big 12 Media Days will begin in Dallas on Monday, and we will learn what this year’s meaningless conference motto will be. Anybody remember “One True Champion” until commissioner Bob Bowlsby borrowed a page from the i9 Sports playbook and split the title between Baylor and TCU? Last year, the slogan was “Every Game Matters," which was clearly not the case since the conference added a championship game. Of course, this is the same league that was not in favor of granting Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield an extra year of eligibility before magically give him one more season after a huge backlash. At this rate, the league might switch media days from Dallas to Houston just to remain consistent.
There goes my media credential.
Texas coach Charlie Strong will participate in his third Big 12 Media Day on Tuesday. He will address the room during a press conference at 10:05 a.m. before a breakout session from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Strong has dealt with the media for a long time, which means nobody can bait him into answering questions. He will either give a direct answer to the question, or deliver a playful laugh and avoid the topic. From a reporter’s perspective, Strong’s style beats the confrontational exchanges with coaches many of us have endured at some point in our career. Imagine having to walk on pins and needles covering Nick Saban.
Strong will receive plenty of questions this week with training camp on the horizon. Here is a list of questions Strong must be prepared to answer during Big 12 Media Days (sorry, I banned myself from “Top 10 reasons why …” headlines a while ago, and it has been liberating).
Are you prepared for Shane Buechele to start? –UT followers know Strong will attempt to downplay his freshman quarterback. However, Strong is seemingly following a script to keep Buechele and the other quarterbacks motivated before the freshman is eventually named the starter. Strong will receive plenty of questions about Buechele during his press conference and breakout session. All you need to know about this competition is Tyrone Swoopes was not asked to participate in Big 12 Media Days. If a senior quarterback is not associated with a major preseason media event, it means there is a good chance he will not play much this year. If Strong delivers another story about Buechele's work ethic this offseason, the commute to work for UT fans on Wednesday morning will be less stressful.
Are you concerned about your job security? –This topic is not the elephant in the room anymore. After compiling an 11-14 record during two seasons at Texas, the speculation about Strong’s job security will be a huge topic this season. Strong can point at his outstanding recruiting classes to show there might be brighter days ahead. Strong has said numerous times he just needs to win, which means he knows this question is coming.
How many wins will save your job? –What is the magic number? Is it seven wins? Eight wins? Every UT follower has an acceptable win total in his or her head. Obviously, Strong wants to win them all. Strong cannot say he is aiming for a 7-5 record because the backlash for not trying to win a conference title will be overwhelming. Instead, Strong has to sprinkle some optimism into his answer without painting himself into a corner.
How important is the season opener against Notre Dame? –This is a question on which Strong can really expand. There was so much excitement about the program prior to last year’s season opener against Notre Dame. Texas’ loss was so disappointing, Strong demoted former play-caller Shawn Watson and benched Swoopes in favor of Jerrod Heard. Clearly, Texas wants to avoid a repeat of last season, especially since this year’s game will be nationally televised on a Sunday. This will be another opportunity for Strong to provide his fan base with some hope.
Is the defense going to be better than last season? –Sure, Texas ended last season with an impressive win against Baylor. However, Texas gave up 395 rushing yards against a team without a quarterback and zero intent to throw. The secondary should be better than last season, but it will mean nothing if the defensive line fails to stop the run, or apply a pass rush, for a second consecutive season. This will be Strong’s opportunity to talk about his freshmen defensive lineman and their immediate impact. Just like last year’s season opener against Notre Dame, Texas cannot afford to have a defensive performance similar to what occurred in 2015.
How can you get the Longhorns to perform better on the road? –Inviting friends over to watch Texas play on the road only ended well one time last year. Texas was 1-4 on the road last season (not including its victory against Oklahoma). More importantly, the Longhorns were outscored 167-53 during those games. For those not interested in doing the math, Texas’ average road loss was 33-11. Maybe the team needs to stay at Marriotts, invest in body pillows, or ask each player to download a sleep sound on his phone (rainforest is very soothing). Regardless, this will be another area of inquisition.
Are D’Onta Foreman and Chris Warren ready to lead this team? –This "thunder and thunder" combination of running backs has the potential to bring plenty of offensive excitement this season. Foreman finished last season with 685 rushing yards and five touchdowns before a hand injury sidelined him for the final two games. Warren rushed for 276 yards and four touchdowns against Texas Tech and 106 yards in the season finale against Baylor. It will be up to both running backs to take pressure off Buechele this season.
How did you get those Baylor players? –The conspiracy theorists/Art Briles apologists in Waco had a lot to say about Texas acquiring players who were previously committed to Baylor. Instead of trying to understand why those young men did not want to attend a program that enabled sexual assaults, and removed Briles as a result of his actions, some Baylor supporters were content to accuse Texas of plotting to bring down their program the entire time.
Today, the Longhorns take over Baylor. Tomorrow, Red McCombs leads the troops into Turkey.
Strong will be asked about his new players, and some Baylor fans will act like they are the victims instead of … you know … the women who were sexually assaulted.
Is Malik Jefferson ready to command Texas' defense? –I think the majority of people who follow the program believe the answer is yes. Jefferson has quickly become the face of UT’s program. He is the team’s best pass rusher, and the young man is not afraid to lay a hit. More importantly, he is extremely mature and been one of UT’s best recruiters. Jefferson leads a group of young and talented linebackers. There probably are not enough positive things Strong can say about Jefferson.
Other questions he might hear:
What are you expecting from Sterlin Gilbert’s offense in year one?
Will you move Kai Locksley to receiver at some point this year?
Is Collin Johnson the real deal?
Where did you go on vacation this summer?
Have you heard anything about that kicker who wants to walk on?
Can Charles Omenihu have an impact this year?
Does the addition of former Baylor commit Patrick Hudson strengthen your offensive line?
Who will start at nickel cornerback?
Is there any chance you ditch the mock turtle neck this season?
What about Jerrod Heard?
How do you feel about the Big 12 Championship Game?
Who will be in the mix to return punts and kickoffs?
Coach, will you win national championship this season and eat Amy’s Ice Cream to celebrate? (that will be from my man
Anthony Geronimo).
Is the pressure to win at Texas getting to you?
Can you identify any similarities between year three at Louisville and Texas?
There are probably good questions I missed. You are ready to pound the keyboard and post your thoughts under this column. Go for it.
Texas football is back.
It is about damn time.
Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (Thanks, Malik.)
My favorite thing about Malik Jefferson has nothing to do with his ability to make sideline-to-sideline plays on the football field.
Or his ability to rush the passer.
Or anything related to him putting on a helmet and pads.
No, it turns out the thing that Jefferson provides me the most has nothing to do with the exhilaration that brings us all together on Saturdays. Instead, it has everything to do with the rest of the days that we all live together and navigate life in a very complicated world.
Malik Jefferson gives me hope at a time when I feel like that four-letter word is needed the most.
In the last few weeks alone in college football, we’ve seen an up-close look at one of the worst college/NCAA scandals and cover-ups just 100 miles down the road from Austin, indications that Joe Paterno protected an animal over children for at least a quarter-century and everywhere you look are cheats, liars and enablers of the worst kind. The sludge seems so sick that I’ve even questioned my choice in life to engage in a life’s work that takes advantage of the same passion that often bears so much responsibility in so many of these ugly situations.
Earlier this week, I was putting together a show sheet for two hours of radio and realized as I was writing it all down that every single segment was full of some sort of college football ugliness and none of it was actually related to something on the field. And right when I’m ready to scream, “No more!”, Jefferson is there to remind me of the best parts of my job.
It’s him taking pictures with others or showing kindness to a smiling child that glowingly looks up to him.
It’s him always seeming to lift up his teammates with words of encouragement or kindness.
It’s him wrapping his arms around the word “potential” and turning it into realization.
One of the best things about my job is watching kids change their lives through this little game that we all love to obsess over, knowing that years and years of hard work can eventually translate into a life forever changed. Yet, when I talk about Jefferson’s “potential” being realized, I’m speaking more about him as a man than athlete. In this time of division and conflict in our country, it’s refreshing to see someone like Jefferson engaged in discussions and working to be part of the solutions in this world that is in dire need of a few.
In all, Jefferson is just a really good young man that seems to genuinely cares about people… all people. We’re in an age when everyone can be so angry and mean on social media, yet I can’t ever remember seeing him write something that would make me cringle.
I hope I’m not putting too much pressure on the kid in writing this, but he should feel zero pressure because all he needs to do is keep being himself.
Stay gold, Malik. We like you just the way you are.
No. 2 – My question for Charlie Strong at Big 12 Media Day...
“Coach, after two seasons of sub .500 football, can you set the bar for success for the upcoming season right now and tell us how many wins would define a successful season? Obviously, the obvious answer is all of them, but what’s the real answer? What is the minimum bar for success in your mind, so that we all have an idea of how to follow the season as it unfolds?”
No. 3 – Advice for Sterlin Gilbert...
At some point during the pre-season or during the season, Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert is going to be asked about his thoughts on his mentor Art Briles.
Although he certainly hasn’t asked for my advice on what to say, I’m going to give it to him anyway.
“No comment.”
Period.
While his instinct might be to defend Briles, like so many others that have worked under the former Texas high school coach, Gilbert needs to stay out of the fray. There’s nothing to gain at all in any comment made and there’s enough on his plate this season in his first season in Austin without adding any kind of added pressure.
Don’t defend him. Don’t claim he’s misunderstood. Don’t tell us there’s another side to him.
Frankly, if Art isn’t willing to come out of the shadows to speak for himself and answer some critical questions, he doesn’t deserve to have others attempt to do it for him.
No. 4 – Ryan Newsome’s departure proves patience is not a virtue...
If a college football player transfers in the woods when he can’t crack the two-deep, does it make a sound?
Barely a year removed from his arrival, Newsome’s name has been on the transfer-watch list seemingly as soon as he signed with the Longhorns last February. Unable to make a dent as a true freshman last fall and unable to create a true niche for himself coming out of the spring, Newsome made the decision that we’re likely going to see more of in the next year.
The bottom line in college football in 2016 is that if a kid can’t meet unrealistic goals early in his career, he’s likely going to transfer as soon as the depth chart seems too high to climb. Now this isn’t the only layer to the decision, but the fact that Newsome wasn’t projected to play a lot this season did have a big part to play, as the news of his unhappiness lingered in the grapevine for the last couple of months.
With enough wide receivers on the roster to go three-deep in five-wideout sets, there’s just not enough reps and balls to go around for this many players. It’s a game of survival of the fittest and those that can’t be the fittest will likely transfer to a school that gives them a second game of survival to play.
If there’s a silver lining to losing Newsome, It’s that it should open up even more reps to incoming freshman Devin Duvernay, who everyone is itching to give the ball once the team reports.
Transfers are part of the current landscape in college football and when you have 60 sophomores and freshmen on the roster (make that 59 after today), something has to give.
On Sunday, it was the former star from Aledo.
No. 5 – Buy or sell …
(As always, all of these questions were submitted by actual Orangebloods subscribers.)
BUY or SELL: If Malik Jefferson plays the way we all expect him to play this year and next, he still comes back for his senior year?
(Sell) I view Jefferson as a guy that is a serious candidate to depart for the NFL after the 2017 season, as should everyone. Enjoy him while he’s here.
BUY or SELL: The Cal game will set the tone for the upcoming season and tell us where the Longhorns are in the rebuild process?
(Buy) Whatever happens in the Notre Dame game happens, but how this team responds in the very next game that matters (its first road game) will be very telling.
BUY or SELL: The Longhorns will have a better than .500 record against their in-state rivals AND Oklahoma this season and finish with a bowl win that has us drooling for next year and administers a ball whack in recruiting that causes a shockwave that shifts the moon in its orbit?
(Sell) I’ll give the Longhorns two out the four games involving Oklahoma, TCU, Baylor and Texas Tech, but I can’t give them three.
BUY or SELL: Fans and media being too quick to write off Heard as the starting QB in the first game?
(Sell) I don’t want to say there’s zero chance that he starts the opening game, but I’m pretty comfortable giving him about a 3.3-percent chance.
BUY or SELL: It is not as significant an issue as it once was that we do not have an impact TE player now that we have switched to this offensive scheme?
(Buy) You’d love to have an OJ Howard is you can get one, but this offense doesn’t need that guy to survive and thrive.
BUY or SELL: The Notre Dame game, if we win, will mark the largest and most excited crown ever to rock DKR Memorial Stadium?
(Sell) Come on, man, I know it’s been a while since the stadium is rocked, but let’s not act like a Texas crowd has never seen a big-time win.
BUY or SELL: Major Tennison made a smart move?
(Buy) The smart move is to do what’s best for him and he seems to be doing that. Wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
BUY or SELL: With a gun to your head, you really believe the Big XII media poll is wrong and Texas finishes 3rd in 2016?
(Sell) Gun or no gun, it’s hard for me to put this team above 7-5 right now.
BUY or SELL: Jason Hall, Dylan Haines and Naaashon Hughes are all replaced by game 2?
(Buy) The smart money is to say that it will be two of the three, but I’ll go ahead and say all three. Even if I’m wrong, it might only be by a game or two.
No. 6 – A confession on the eve of Big 12 Media Days...
I’m fully supportive of Oklahoma being labeled as the team to beat as presumptive No.1 team in the Big 12, but you’ll forgive me if I don’t look at the Sooners as a fearsome favorite.
It’s impossible for me to wipe away both the memories of the butt-kicking a below-average Texas team gave them or the thrashing that Clemson gave the Sooners in the playoff.
In both games, I kind of felt like Baker Mayfield was far from an elite of the elite player and that team as a whole can be had if you punch first hard enough.
There… I said it.
Gerry Hamilton 
