Tom Herman will be addressing the media in a few minutes. I'll post live notes in this thread once he gets started.
Herman speaking now ...
Been going and going recruiting, getting to know team, putting staff together.
Group they've assembled from staff standpoint is totally aligned with their mission and what they want to do. Assistants, support staff, academic staff. Has been a joy to work with them as they hit the ground running.
All starts in the off-season. Has enjoyed the few times he's been off the road, watching guys work out the past few days. Feels he knows the recruits better than their own players. Now is the fun time to get to know their current players. It's a team full of great chemistry - everybody around the football program. Have added six or seven support staff jobs. Have a new football academic liaison.
Casey Horny .... have not typically done much publicizing of quality control coaches. Horny came in under unique circumstances. Horny was vetted by Herman and several others at UT, including Mike Perrin. Before he came on board, had some very direct conversations and Herman believes he had no knowledge of what was going on at Baylor. Horny clearly understands he shouldn't have been a part of the social media discussion and ill-advised tweet. Horny understands that and regrets that. Herman and Horny both feel for the victims at Baylor. Horny understands Herman's expectations at UT and will be a positive influence at UT.
Going to have a renovation of the weight room and the entire first floor of the field house with graphics. Some of that has already begun.
Have also begun forging strong relationships with the UT lettermen. Great seeing the Colt McCoys and Jamaal Charles coming back through the program.
Building a successful program is not just about football. It's about academics, life after football, social life ... building the complete man.
On the class of 2017 ... excited. He's proud of the calculated nature how they went about this class. Most cases in years of transition staff, that signing class has the highest rate of attrition and off-field issues, and highest rate of players who can't play. They were not going to fall into that trap. That happens when you go and chase stars and people you don't know. Recruiting at very core is about relationships, about people. Two weeks in December, three weeks in January ... can't just go out and beat everyone in the country for people they've been recruiting for years.
Wanted to bring in quality young men who fit their culture and way of doing things. Did extensive background on all of them and are excited about how they fit needs on the roster.
They recruit players they feel can help win national championships and they feel each of their signees can do that. Some can help year one, some will need to develop. They don't sign back-ups. They sign guys they feel through their evaluations can help them win championships.
It's nice to be home. Great to be back in Austin. Great to be around the UT players and really start that part of the journey of the season.
On stars and rankings ... there is validity to those. You look at correlation and causation of top ranked recruiting classes and winning programs, they're real. Usually a five-star kid has five-star talent. What the rankings don't do, they don't crack their chest open and look at their heart, their work ethic, what their coaches say about them. There are a lot of three and four-star guys who are undervalued. He doesn't frown upon the rankings, but to have a realistic expectation of a transition class that only signs 19 guys to be top 10 is silly. Will they be there next year? "Absolutely. Absolutely we will."
On 2018, it's a calculated effort. Recruiting is getting earlier and earlier. With December signing day on the horizon, have to get out in front of those guys. Mission has to be to keep best players in the state of Texas. Relationships with H.S. coaches is paying big dividends and they've already begun building relationships with top players in the state.
His first year at Ohio State, signed 19 guys, fifth rated class in the country. Only three out of 19 wound up playing significant time for Ohio State. Thinks you learn, let's not let history repeat itself. Let's do it differently, do it measured, do it calculated. Can't care about what experts say. They know these players, what they're capable of, know their coaches. Didn't want to fall into the same trap that a lot of coaches fall into year of transition.
On the comment about Texas having to recruit like Iowa State - was misquoted. He was asked if it reminds him of his days at Iowa State and he said yes, because they have to fight and claw for players. It won't always be that way because they're Texas. That comment was taken way out of context, was very much misquoted. He was asked if this year felt like when he was at Iowa State and he said it did, because you have to grind and turn over every stone. Very much misquoted in that. "We're Texas. We're going to get it back in terms of recruiting the way Texas should, in very short order."
One of the things they did at Houston was recruit at a high level for a non-power 5 school. A lot of their guys getting picked up late and signing with power-5 schools. They had relationships with a lot of these guys already (the previous commits), none of which left. Great credit to the coaches who came over in December. The first two weeks, they had only four coaches on the road recruiting. That took its toll during a very important two weeks before dead period. Credit to the four coaches who came in and immediately went into those players' homes, told them what Texas is about and rekindled some relationships.
Facilities ... there does need to be a wow factor. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and his constituents are 17 year olds. Facilities have to be the best at Texas. He said it at the last press conference ... he hasn't been told no yet. Coaches and players win games, administration wins championships. Texas is in full speed, mach 8 mode to get it done and it's going to get done before you can blink your eyes.
On players leaving the state of Texas ... guys at Houston in their first year committed to the vision, the people and the education. They committed before they ever played a game. Wants to do the same thing at Texas.
On going after guys who were committed to Houston ... he made it very clear to their staff, as long as Houston did not have a head coach, they could offer them if they felt like they could win championships at UT. Once either Orlando or Applewhite got the job, the young man would have to decommit for them to recruit them. They offered them when Houston didn't have a head coach.
On guys going out of state ... you have to win. Class of 2018 coming up, they've seen two winning seasons of Texas football since they were 10 years old, four losing seasons. They have to build those relationships, forge those foundations, make everything that's great about the program, the university, the city of Austin, known to the players. Winning helps, but they have to show them. The Texas recruits know is different than the Texas the older generation knows. Have to show them what Texas has been in the past and what Texas is capable of being in the future.
On JUCO signings ... definite intention at kicker and at defensive end. Needed some physicality at the Mike LB position. Orlando watched Christmas break watching film of last year, thought they needed someone to come in at LB. Gary Johnson is a phenomenal athlete, can really hit. Ran 100 m dash in H.S. in 10.59 at 215 pounds with no blocks. Kicker was an obvious immediate need. Length and size at DE was an immediate need. Over Christmas break, Orlando and staff came to him and said if they can get Gary Johnson, they need to take him because he can contribute right away.
On Casey Horny, he was unaware of the allegations as they were going on. Was never even interviewed by Pepper Hamilton. Was a non-factor by anyone involved with the investigation. As for Horny's job title and relationship with the head coach ... "I would take job descriptions very loosely as well."
On Sam Ehlinger ... Herman called him the wrong name (with a soft g) for two months before realizing how it was pronounced. He fell in love with Ehlinger for two reasons, neither that show on video tape. He was Gatorade player of the year in the state last year. But what stands out is what he's gone through in his life, he's transitioned that into a real leadership quality. He's an alpha male. He's a competitor. Loves that about QBs. The second thing, the kid was committed to the University of Texas, tears his meniscus early in the year. A lot of players would have shut it down, not Sam. He said get him back on the field as fast as he could. Four weeks later, he's on the field. Two games later, breaks his thumb. Surely he'd shut it down then. Not Sam Ehlinger. He comes back, plays in a couple playoff games and then broke his hands. People focus on injury-laden senior year. Didn't have to be, he kept coming back. Tells him he loves football and he's a good teammate that kept putting himself out there. Is he going to push Shane? Herman hopes so. There are zero starters on the team. None. No depth chart. Told the team if they're going to earn a spot on the team, they're going to earn it in January and the off-season.
Tight end ... thinks that position is as complex as the quarterback in their offense. They need an extremely versatile guy who can split out in the slot, put his hand on the ground, can be an H-back. Have had tremendous success with those guys in his career. It's a critical role in their offense. May be in the shotgun and up-temp, but it's a pro style offense. They run run plays that are just like the NFL, they just happen to do it from the gun. One year at Ohio State, they played 98 percent of snaps in the 11 personnel because their TE was so athletic. Cade Brewer is athletic, frame is there to grow. Reese Leitao too. They're excited about both of those guys. Tight end in their offense is so critical.
On Gary Johnson at 211 pounds. Doesn't know if he's a middle linebacker and if they'll move Malik to the edge. He hasn't watched one snap of film and he's not going to. Assistants have. He doesn't know exactly where they're lacking or where they need to move guys around, but he's confident in coach Orlando and other guys to put people in the right place.
On Toneil Carter and Daniel Young ... they recruited them because they feel they have the potential to be very good. Carter, great job with the staff and their relationship with his high school coach helped remind him Texas is the place for him. Daniel Young may be the steal of the class. Only played RB for two years. Played LB until his junior year. Young's junior film was good, not great. His senior film was fantastic. Young and Carter have different running styles, which is good.
He thinks this is the end of the roster but is sure there will be attrition so he doesn't know for sure on any other additions to the roster.
That's it for today.
Herman speaking now ...
Been going and going recruiting, getting to know team, putting staff together.
Group they've assembled from staff standpoint is totally aligned with their mission and what they want to do. Assistants, support staff, academic staff. Has been a joy to work with them as they hit the ground running.
All starts in the off-season. Has enjoyed the few times he's been off the road, watching guys work out the past few days. Feels he knows the recruits better than their own players. Now is the fun time to get to know their current players. It's a team full of great chemistry - everybody around the football program. Have added six or seven support staff jobs. Have a new football academic liaison.
Casey Horny .... have not typically done much publicizing of quality control coaches. Horny came in under unique circumstances. Horny was vetted by Herman and several others at UT, including Mike Perrin. Before he came on board, had some very direct conversations and Herman believes he had no knowledge of what was going on at Baylor. Horny clearly understands he shouldn't have been a part of the social media discussion and ill-advised tweet. Horny understands that and regrets that. Herman and Horny both feel for the victims at Baylor. Horny understands Herman's expectations at UT and will be a positive influence at UT.
Going to have a renovation of the weight room and the entire first floor of the field house with graphics. Some of that has already begun.
Have also begun forging strong relationships with the UT lettermen. Great seeing the Colt McCoys and Jamaal Charles coming back through the program.
Building a successful program is not just about football. It's about academics, life after football, social life ... building the complete man.
On the class of 2017 ... excited. He's proud of the calculated nature how they went about this class. Most cases in years of transition staff, that signing class has the highest rate of attrition and off-field issues, and highest rate of players who can't play. They were not going to fall into that trap. That happens when you go and chase stars and people you don't know. Recruiting at very core is about relationships, about people. Two weeks in December, three weeks in January ... can't just go out and beat everyone in the country for people they've been recruiting for years.
Wanted to bring in quality young men who fit their culture and way of doing things. Did extensive background on all of them and are excited about how they fit needs on the roster.
They recruit players they feel can help win national championships and they feel each of their signees can do that. Some can help year one, some will need to develop. They don't sign back-ups. They sign guys they feel through their evaluations can help them win championships.
It's nice to be home. Great to be back in Austin. Great to be around the UT players and really start that part of the journey of the season.
On stars and rankings ... there is validity to those. You look at correlation and causation of top ranked recruiting classes and winning programs, they're real. Usually a five-star kid has five-star talent. What the rankings don't do, they don't crack their chest open and look at their heart, their work ethic, what their coaches say about them. There are a lot of three and four-star guys who are undervalued. He doesn't frown upon the rankings, but to have a realistic expectation of a transition class that only signs 19 guys to be top 10 is silly. Will they be there next year? "Absolutely. Absolutely we will."
On 2018, it's a calculated effort. Recruiting is getting earlier and earlier. With December signing day on the horizon, have to get out in front of those guys. Mission has to be to keep best players in the state of Texas. Relationships with H.S. coaches is paying big dividends and they've already begun building relationships with top players in the state.
His first year at Ohio State, signed 19 guys, fifth rated class in the country. Only three out of 19 wound up playing significant time for Ohio State. Thinks you learn, let's not let history repeat itself. Let's do it differently, do it measured, do it calculated. Can't care about what experts say. They know these players, what they're capable of, know their coaches. Didn't want to fall into the same trap that a lot of coaches fall into year of transition.
On the comment about Texas having to recruit like Iowa State - was misquoted. He was asked if it reminds him of his days at Iowa State and he said yes, because they have to fight and claw for players. It won't always be that way because they're Texas. That comment was taken way out of context, was very much misquoted. He was asked if this year felt like when he was at Iowa State and he said it did, because you have to grind and turn over every stone. Very much misquoted in that. "We're Texas. We're going to get it back in terms of recruiting the way Texas should, in very short order."
One of the things they did at Houston was recruit at a high level for a non-power 5 school. A lot of their guys getting picked up late and signing with power-5 schools. They had relationships with a lot of these guys already (the previous commits), none of which left. Great credit to the coaches who came over in December. The first two weeks, they had only four coaches on the road recruiting. That took its toll during a very important two weeks before dead period. Credit to the four coaches who came in and immediately went into those players' homes, told them what Texas is about and rekindled some relationships.
Facilities ... there does need to be a wow factor. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and his constituents are 17 year olds. Facilities have to be the best at Texas. He said it at the last press conference ... he hasn't been told no yet. Coaches and players win games, administration wins championships. Texas is in full speed, mach 8 mode to get it done and it's going to get done before you can blink your eyes.
On players leaving the state of Texas ... guys at Houston in their first year committed to the vision, the people and the education. They committed before they ever played a game. Wants to do the same thing at Texas.
On going after guys who were committed to Houston ... he made it very clear to their staff, as long as Houston did not have a head coach, they could offer them if they felt like they could win championships at UT. Once either Orlando or Applewhite got the job, the young man would have to decommit for them to recruit them. They offered them when Houston didn't have a head coach.
On guys going out of state ... you have to win. Class of 2018 coming up, they've seen two winning seasons of Texas football since they were 10 years old, four losing seasons. They have to build those relationships, forge those foundations, make everything that's great about the program, the university, the city of Austin, known to the players. Winning helps, but they have to show them. The Texas recruits know is different than the Texas the older generation knows. Have to show them what Texas has been in the past and what Texas is capable of being in the future.
On JUCO signings ... definite intention at kicker and at defensive end. Needed some physicality at the Mike LB position. Orlando watched Christmas break watching film of last year, thought they needed someone to come in at LB. Gary Johnson is a phenomenal athlete, can really hit. Ran 100 m dash in H.S. in 10.59 at 215 pounds with no blocks. Kicker was an obvious immediate need. Length and size at DE was an immediate need. Over Christmas break, Orlando and staff came to him and said if they can get Gary Johnson, they need to take him because he can contribute right away.
On Casey Horny, he was unaware of the allegations as they were going on. Was never even interviewed by Pepper Hamilton. Was a non-factor by anyone involved with the investigation. As for Horny's job title and relationship with the head coach ... "I would take job descriptions very loosely as well."
On Sam Ehlinger ... Herman called him the wrong name (with a soft g) for two months before realizing how it was pronounced. He fell in love with Ehlinger for two reasons, neither that show on video tape. He was Gatorade player of the year in the state last year. But what stands out is what he's gone through in his life, he's transitioned that into a real leadership quality. He's an alpha male. He's a competitor. Loves that about QBs. The second thing, the kid was committed to the University of Texas, tears his meniscus early in the year. A lot of players would have shut it down, not Sam. He said get him back on the field as fast as he could. Four weeks later, he's on the field. Two games later, breaks his thumb. Surely he'd shut it down then. Not Sam Ehlinger. He comes back, plays in a couple playoff games and then broke his hands. People focus on injury-laden senior year. Didn't have to be, he kept coming back. Tells him he loves football and he's a good teammate that kept putting himself out there. Is he going to push Shane? Herman hopes so. There are zero starters on the team. None. No depth chart. Told the team if they're going to earn a spot on the team, they're going to earn it in January and the off-season.
Tight end ... thinks that position is as complex as the quarterback in their offense. They need an extremely versatile guy who can split out in the slot, put his hand on the ground, can be an H-back. Have had tremendous success with those guys in his career. It's a critical role in their offense. May be in the shotgun and up-temp, but it's a pro style offense. They run run plays that are just like the NFL, they just happen to do it from the gun. One year at Ohio State, they played 98 percent of snaps in the 11 personnel because their TE was so athletic. Cade Brewer is athletic, frame is there to grow. Reese Leitao too. They're excited about both of those guys. Tight end in their offense is so critical.
On Gary Johnson at 211 pounds. Doesn't know if he's a middle linebacker and if they'll move Malik to the edge. He hasn't watched one snap of film and he's not going to. Assistants have. He doesn't know exactly where they're lacking or where they need to move guys around, but he's confident in coach Orlando and other guys to put people in the right place.
On Toneil Carter and Daniel Young ... they recruited them because they feel they have the potential to be very good. Carter, great job with the staff and their relationship with his high school coach helped remind him Texas is the place for him. Daniel Young may be the steal of the class. Only played RB for two years. Played LB until his junior year. Young's junior film was good, not great. His senior film was fantastic. Young and Carter have different running styles, which is good.
He thinks this is the end of the roster but is sure there will be attrition so he doesn't know for sure on any other additions to the roster.
That's it for today.
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