On transferring their recent success to a road game ... Two things, you want to be honest with players about the environment and team you're going to play. Ton of respect for KSU. Physical, well-coached. They know what kind of game it's going to be. Know their crowd shows up regardless of record, will be hostile. Also tell them, the formula for success will never change, regardless of venue, and that's preparation. Be confident in preparation and cut it loose on game day. Reminded them of that each day this week. Routine is the same. Instead of 20 minute bus ride to hotel, they're on an hour and a half plane ride. But still be in hotel, routine should never change.
It's always easier said than done, regardless of what you're talking about. Thinks they're in a good place. Thinks the guys understand that winning on the road is more difficult than at home. But it's not something they're going to wake up on Saturday and flip a switch. They've been preparing all week and have had a good week.
Will leave at the same time as usual for a road game, will do family in Austin, walk through in Austin, meetings in Austin. Will get to the hotel, hang out. Will get to stadium about 10 minutes earlier than they do for home games so guys can walk around, get the feel. Then will get pads on and get ready to play.
On KSU playing both QBs ... not expecting anything, just preparing for the system, preparing for the other 10 guys. They understand the strengths of both guys, will be prepared. But when you talk about preparing for QBs, unless the discrepancy is so marked in terms of ability level in running/throwing, you really just try to defend the system, formations, down and distance, etc.
Thoughts and prayers to the family of Julius Whittier. He'll always have a special place in Texas football history.
On being able to sell things like not having recent success against TCU, troubles in Manhattan ... They've talked about not winning at KSU since Sterns was 2 years old. Sounds cliche, but the way they go about their business, when they walk into meeting room on Tuesday, they're 0-0 against KSU right now. That's their record. This team is 0-0 against KSU. They're 0-0 this week, preparing tails off to try to go 1-0 this week.
They're in a mature place that they can say, "we've done some really good things the last couple weeks, would be ridiculously foolish to change what got them to that point" and the guys genuinely believe that.
On this game being a trap game ... Texas hasn't won at KSU in 16 years, it's a road conference game. They're not worried about any other opponent, past or future. Not viewing it as a trap game.
Offense looks a lot different than last year's KSU game for a variety of reasons. They've developed, players who played last year are better, have some new faces that have sped up the development. Also, can't overstate the continuity factor of the offense, running the same system for the second year in a row. Ehlinger is much more comfortable in his own skin because he knows the offense and feels really comfortable with the mental side of the game. When you're comfortable and confident, that's when your talent can really shine.
It's always easier said than done, regardless of what you're talking about. Thinks they're in a good place. Thinks the guys understand that winning on the road is more difficult than at home. But it's not something they're going to wake up on Saturday and flip a switch. They've been preparing all week and have had a good week.
Will leave at the same time as usual for a road game, will do family in Austin, walk through in Austin, meetings in Austin. Will get to the hotel, hang out. Will get to stadium about 10 minutes earlier than they do for home games so guys can walk around, get the feel. Then will get pads on and get ready to play.
On KSU playing both QBs ... not expecting anything, just preparing for the system, preparing for the other 10 guys. They understand the strengths of both guys, will be prepared. But when you talk about preparing for QBs, unless the discrepancy is so marked in terms of ability level in running/throwing, you really just try to defend the system, formations, down and distance, etc.
Thoughts and prayers to the family of Julius Whittier. He'll always have a special place in Texas football history.
On being able to sell things like not having recent success against TCU, troubles in Manhattan ... They've talked about not winning at KSU since Sterns was 2 years old. Sounds cliche, but the way they go about their business, when they walk into meeting room on Tuesday, they're 0-0 against KSU right now. That's their record. This team is 0-0 against KSU. They're 0-0 this week, preparing tails off to try to go 1-0 this week.
They're in a mature place that they can say, "we've done some really good things the last couple weeks, would be ridiculously foolish to change what got them to that point" and the guys genuinely believe that.
On this game being a trap game ... Texas hasn't won at KSU in 16 years, it's a road conference game. They're not worried about any other opponent, past or future. Not viewing it as a trap game.
Offense looks a lot different than last year's KSU game for a variety of reasons. They've developed, players who played last year are better, have some new faces that have sped up the development. Also, can't overstate the continuity factor of the offense, running the same system for the second year in a row. Ehlinger is much more comfortable in his own skin because he knows the offense and feels really comfortable with the mental side of the game. When you're comfortable and confident, that's when your talent can really shine.
