GAMEDAY: Iowa State
presented by Wendy Swantkowksi, DDS
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Iowa State Cyclones 1-5 (0-3) at Texas Longhorns 2-3 (0-2)
Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
Saturday, October 15th, 2016
6:00pm central time kickoff
Capacity: 100,119
photo via University Co-op
TV: Longhorn Network
Lowell Gallindo (PXP)
Ahmad Brooks (Color)
Keith Moreland (Color)
Dawn Davenport (Sideline)
Radio: 104.9 the Horn via Longhorns Radio Network
Craig Way (PXP)
Roger Wallace (Color)
Quan Cosby (Sideline)
Sirius: Channel 136, XM 199 and online channel 953
Vegas
Texas -14.5
Money lines: Texas -550, Iowa State +420
O/U: 70.5
Sharp Money: No sharp money trend unlike the last two games which had the sharps decidedly anti-Texas. Line has shifted with slight percentage public bets advantage on Texas side.
Addressing the fireworks
Rumors arose Friday about “fireworks” at a pre-Iowa State meeting with the football team; here’s what we’re hearing …
On Thursday evening, the Texas football team had a meeting, the same way it always does. At this meeting, though, there were rumors of “fireworks” which, when mentioned, serve to illustrate in-fighting and strife within the team. The use of the term is justified in some ways but not others.
Let’s start with why it’s justified, per sources:
- There was a meeting on Thursday which — atypically — included numerous players stepping up, standing out and airing lots of grievances among each other and possibly even coaches.
- It was the first meeting where Charlie Strong addressed the team regarding the rumors of his possible/imminent firing.
- Numerous leaders and important voices on the team stepped up and were reportedly brutally (and I mean brutally) honest with certain players on the team about their performance thus far this season. The players we’ve collectively heard as speaking were the Foreman brothers (from all I can tell, they seem like the players who started the whole thing off), Breckyn Hager (who we heard was probably the most brutally honest to some of his fellow players on defense of anyone), Jacorey Warrick, Tyrone Swoopes, Dylan Haines and Antwuan Davis.
Why it’s not justified:
- While it was clearly not a comfortable and fun meeting for all involved, there was no true bad blood, “there’s no divide in the locker room,” one source said and another said, “everyone knows (the meeting) needed to happen. It was productive.”
- There was no major butting of heads, overheated emotions or violence. Some players who were called out even stood up and addressed the team with apologies, etc.
- The issue raised at the beginning of the meeting -- and which set off a series of different players stepping up -- was accountability. “It was about accountability,” one source said. “Guys getting called out were listening, they realized they have to be accountable.”
- One text from a very good team source said, “Team motivated. Back in motion.”
Texas storylines
- Every week is a big week for D’Onta Foreman moving forward as he’s officially started picking up major national steam.
- Can Foreman make it seven games in a row (in ones in which he’s played) to go for over 100 yards? He’s tied for second-most in school history and would stand on his own behind only Earl Campbell (11) for the achievement of most.
- Foreman is ranked second in the nation in rushing yards per game at 145.8.
- Foreman has averaged 7.68 yards per carry over his last six games, taking his career average per-carry to 6.8 which is tied with Vince Young for best in school history.
- If you asked me at the beginning of the season — and you did — what I thought D’Onta Foreman’s chances were of leaving early for the NFL draft, I would have told you that he would leave if he received a second-round(ish) grade while considering other variables and I still feel the same way. However, I’m beginning to think that a second or third round grade is becoming more likely if he keeps things up.
- Speaking of the position, Texas RBs coach Anthony Johnson has a connection to the Iowa State football program as he was on new ISU HC Matt Campbell’s Toledo staff for the two seasons prior to Johnson joining Strong’s staff in Austin.
- Could Tyrone Swoopes join the elite company of Colt McCoy and Vince Young? Yes, technically. He only needs 89 more yards to join VY and McCoy as the only three to pass for at least 3,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 in a Texas career.
- Will Malik Jefferson finally show up in a 2016 game? Even if he goes bananas versus Iowa State, a lot of fans will hold Jefferson’s no-show against Oklahoma against him for a while.
- Dorian Leonard significantly outsnapped John Burt for the first time since both players have been on campus. Will Leonard possibly get the starting nod versus Iowa State? Leonard’s the better blocker and has been the more effective and dependable outside receiving weapon thus far when given the opportunities.
- If Kent Perkins ever wanted to have a monster day where he erupted to flash NFL potential, today would be a good one. The competition is weak relative to what he’ll see in some future matchups and he’s running out of time.
Quotable Matt Campbell:
On Texas:
“As you look at these guys, I think the thing — that at least early-on — that you notice when evaluating them is the thing that jumps off the screen; it’s just the talent and the ability of the football program.”
“They’ve got great length, they look really good on the defensive and offensive lines, great playmakers on the outside. I think the positive is the QB position, which looks like it’s really sound right now where maybe that wasn’t where it wanted to be a year ago.”
“They’ve gotten off to a start a lot like us … wish they got a quarter back here or there.”
On the atmosphere surrounding the ISU team after dropping so many close games:
“Well I’m ticked. I think I kinda made that known and, you know, I hope are kids are ticked too … everyone’s a little ticked off, I think it’s permeating through our doors you would hope.”
And what’s permeating through the doors at Texas?
Amidst the “fireworks” and media nagging; all part of yet another "crossroads" in Charlie Strong’s Longhorn career — is it anger?
Because it’s sure as hell anger within a good part of the fanbase.
This is a directional-school, perennial doormat opponent coming off it’s second win versus Texas and certainly its first shutout. This is a hungry, “ticked-off,” hot-shot, first-year head coach who’s hung with good teams until the bitter end of Big 12 games and has failed to close to this point.
Campbell's as desperate as anyone.
On Texas’ side, this is a team of prideful, athletic players who’ve been called out, who’ve done the calling out, or who’ve sat back and listened, hoping not to hear their names uttered. Most of them were thoroughly embarrassed by this thoroughly lesser opponent just last season.
And all that angst, all that emotion, everything that comes with the examination of your inner-self and yields impossible thoughts -- every bit of it.
This is revenge.
THIS. IS. GAME. DAY.
presented by Wendy Swantkowksi, DDS
. . .
Iowa State Cyclones 1-5 (0-3) at Texas Longhorns 2-3 (0-2)
Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
Saturday, October 15th, 2016
6:00pm central time kickoff
Capacity: 100,119
photo via University Co-op
TV: Longhorn Network
Lowell Gallindo (PXP)
Ahmad Brooks (Color)
Keith Moreland (Color)
Dawn Davenport (Sideline)
Radio: 104.9 the Horn via Longhorns Radio Network
Craig Way (PXP)
Roger Wallace (Color)
Quan Cosby (Sideline)
Sirius: Channel 136, XM 199 and online channel 953
Vegas
Texas -14.5
Money lines: Texas -550, Iowa State +420
O/U: 70.5
Sharp Money: No sharp money trend unlike the last two games which had the sharps decidedly anti-Texas. Line has shifted with slight percentage public bets advantage on Texas side.
Addressing the fireworks
Rumors arose Friday about “fireworks” at a pre-Iowa State meeting with the football team; here’s what we’re hearing …
On Thursday evening, the Texas football team had a meeting, the same way it always does. At this meeting, though, there were rumors of “fireworks” which, when mentioned, serve to illustrate in-fighting and strife within the team. The use of the term is justified in some ways but not others.
Let’s start with why it’s justified, per sources:
- There was a meeting on Thursday which — atypically — included numerous players stepping up, standing out and airing lots of grievances among each other and possibly even coaches.
- It was the first meeting where Charlie Strong addressed the team regarding the rumors of his possible/imminent firing.
- Numerous leaders and important voices on the team stepped up and were reportedly brutally (and I mean brutally) honest with certain players on the team about their performance thus far this season. The players we’ve collectively heard as speaking were the Foreman brothers (from all I can tell, they seem like the players who started the whole thing off), Breckyn Hager (who we heard was probably the most brutally honest to some of his fellow players on defense of anyone), Jacorey Warrick, Tyrone Swoopes, Dylan Haines and Antwuan Davis.
Why it’s not justified:
- While it was clearly not a comfortable and fun meeting for all involved, there was no true bad blood, “there’s no divide in the locker room,” one source said and another said, “everyone knows (the meeting) needed to happen. It was productive.”
- There was no major butting of heads, overheated emotions or violence. Some players who were called out even stood up and addressed the team with apologies, etc.
- The issue raised at the beginning of the meeting -- and which set off a series of different players stepping up -- was accountability. “It was about accountability,” one source said. “Guys getting called out were listening, they realized they have to be accountable.”
- One text from a very good team source said, “Team motivated. Back in motion.”
Texas storylines
- Every week is a big week for D’Onta Foreman moving forward as he’s officially started picking up major national steam.
- Can Foreman make it seven games in a row (in ones in which he’s played) to go for over 100 yards? He’s tied for second-most in school history and would stand on his own behind only Earl Campbell (11) for the achievement of most.
- Foreman is ranked second in the nation in rushing yards per game at 145.8.
- Foreman has averaged 7.68 yards per carry over his last six games, taking his career average per-carry to 6.8 which is tied with Vince Young for best in school history.
- If you asked me at the beginning of the season — and you did — what I thought D’Onta Foreman’s chances were of leaving early for the NFL draft, I would have told you that he would leave if he received a second-round(ish) grade while considering other variables and I still feel the same way. However, I’m beginning to think that a second or third round grade is becoming more likely if he keeps things up.
- Speaking of the position, Texas RBs coach Anthony Johnson has a connection to the Iowa State football program as he was on new ISU HC Matt Campbell’s Toledo staff for the two seasons prior to Johnson joining Strong’s staff in Austin.
- Could Tyrone Swoopes join the elite company of Colt McCoy and Vince Young? Yes, technically. He only needs 89 more yards to join VY and McCoy as the only three to pass for at least 3,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 in a Texas career.
- Will Malik Jefferson finally show up in a 2016 game? Even if he goes bananas versus Iowa State, a lot of fans will hold Jefferson’s no-show against Oklahoma against him for a while.
- Dorian Leonard significantly outsnapped John Burt for the first time since both players have been on campus. Will Leonard possibly get the starting nod versus Iowa State? Leonard’s the better blocker and has been the more effective and dependable outside receiving weapon thus far when given the opportunities.
- If Kent Perkins ever wanted to have a monster day where he erupted to flash NFL potential, today would be a good one. The competition is weak relative to what he’ll see in some future matchups and he’s running out of time.
Quotable Matt Campbell:
On Texas:
“As you look at these guys, I think the thing — that at least early-on — that you notice when evaluating them is the thing that jumps off the screen; it’s just the talent and the ability of the football program.”
“They’ve got great length, they look really good on the defensive and offensive lines, great playmakers on the outside. I think the positive is the QB position, which looks like it’s really sound right now where maybe that wasn’t where it wanted to be a year ago.”
“They’ve gotten off to a start a lot like us … wish they got a quarter back here or there.”
On the atmosphere surrounding the ISU team after dropping so many close games:
“Well I’m ticked. I think I kinda made that known and, you know, I hope are kids are ticked too … everyone’s a little ticked off, I think it’s permeating through our doors you would hope.”
And what’s permeating through the doors at Texas?
Amidst the “fireworks” and media nagging; all part of yet another "crossroads" in Charlie Strong’s Longhorn career — is it anger?
Because it’s sure as hell anger within a good part of the fanbase.
This is a directional-school, perennial doormat opponent coming off it’s second win versus Texas and certainly its first shutout. This is a hungry, “ticked-off,” hot-shot, first-year head coach who’s hung with good teams until the bitter end of Big 12 games and has failed to close to this point.
Campbell's as desperate as anyone.
On Texas’ side, this is a team of prideful, athletic players who’ve been called out, who’ve done the calling out, or who’ve sat back and listened, hoping not to hear their names uttered. Most of them were thoroughly embarrassed by this thoroughly lesser opponent just last season.
And all that angst, all that emotion, everything that comes with the examination of your inner-self and yields impossible thoughts -- every bit of it.
This is revenge.
THIS. IS. GAME. DAY.
