Texas coach Charlie Strong is always brutally honest, and his transparency was on display after an embarrassing 41-7 loss against BYU on Saturday at home.
BYU dismantled Texas, 40-21, last season, and many described that loss as one which triggered the end of Mack Brown's tenure. Players were forced to live with that embarrassment for nearly a year. Strong's coaching staff used that game as an example of how Texas needed to play better. It was the poster child for futility.
However, Strong said he sensed his team was going to be embarrassed again after watching them during warm-ups.
"Just the whole demeanor. Just how they took the field. Just how they carried themselves," Strong said. "If you've been around long enough, you know. I knew that. I told them that before we ever went out. I said we're not ready to play. When you're not ready to play, this is a good football team, and we're probably going to go out here and get embarrassed."
It is definitely perplexing, to say the least.
Strong has spent the entire offseason trying to instill certain attributes into his team, but it is hard to tell if his message is getting through. He has dismissed eight players from the team, while four are currently suspended. One player had his suspension lifted on Monday, but was suspended two days later.
Regardless, Strong will keep pounding the rock until his current players listen, or until he obtains a new group of athletes willing to take their place.
10 other things you need to know
1. Strong confirmed the suspensions of Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle, but said he has not determined how many games each player would miss. Instead, Strong said he would take it week-by-week before deciding when they will be allowed to play again.
2. Despite this distractions, and David Ash's injury, Strong would not attribute Saturday's loss to what occurred prior to the game.
3. This is the first time Strong had to deal with reporters after a loss. As you can expect, he answered questions, but the negativity started to get old after several minutes. He answered each question, but it is easy to understand his lack of enthusiasm.
4. Players and coaches refused to blame the defensive meltdown in the third quarter on the lack of offensive production. Quandre Diggs said the team jogs 2.7 miles every Friday in the offseason and did not believe fatigue should be an excuse.
5. QB coach/assistant head coach for offense Shawn Watson said they simplified plays for the offensive line against BYU. Watson also said he was encouraged by what he saw on Saturday.
6. In addition, Watson said they limited the playbook for Swoopes and tried to put him in a position to be successful.
7. Swoopes said he was nervous when the game first started, but eventually settled down after taking a few hits. He was encouraged by his performance and believes things will improve. Swoopes is unsure if David Ash will play this season, but said he prepares each week as if he was going to start.
8. Johnathan Gray described the loss as embarrassing. He never expected to lose to BYU this way two straight years.
9. Defensive coordinator Vance Bedford blamed poor tackling on the 28-point offensive explosion BYU enjoyed in the third quarter.
10. Bedford said he did believe the problems his defense had against BYU were fixable. He believes his team will have to continue working on tackling techniques during practice.
By the Numbers
2 - missed field goals by Nick Rose in the past two games
3 - third-down conversions on 15 attempts against BYU
4 - turnovers by the Longhorns
6 - consecutive quarters Texas did not allow a touchdown before that streak was broken in the third quarter.
8 - straight completions for Tyrone Swoopes before his first incompletion
13 - amount of yards on Swoopes' first touchdown pass at Texas
17 - points scored off turnovers by BYU
30 - yards on BYU quarterback Taysom Hill's touchdown run, which was highlighted by him jumping over Dylan Haines. Hill finished with 134 rushing yards and three touchdowns
34:13 - time of possession by BYU compared to Texas' 25:47
106 - rushing yards by Texas (Johnathan Gray had 48, Malcolm Brown added 33 and Swoopes finished with 25)
197 - offensive yards by BYU at halftime
429 - offensive yards overall by BYU
93,463 - people who attended Saturday's game in Austin
Postgame quotes
Charlie Strong
On building pride after this loss
"We still have games to go play. This is a great game to see how we're going to grow from it. We're going to learn from it, and we'll see with this game just where we are and just how well the leadership will step up now and if the seniors can take the leadership and go lead this football team and finish the year out. We're looking at it. It's the second ball game. We still have 10 to go play."
On Swoopes' play and if he built confidence
"Tyrone played well to be placed in the position he was placed in. Just very pleased with Tyrone. We had some drops, and even though he stood in there and one time he took the sack, but just for him to go out there for the first time, I'm very pleased with the way he played and just how he totally managed the offense and just did a great job."
On facing UCLA next week and how they will bounce back
"Well, we have to go play them at their own schedule. We haven't had a chance to look at them, but we have to go play. It's a road game, so you really have to pack your defense down and just see if we can maintain our focus and go play against a really good football team."
On if he knows when David Ash is coming back
"I don't know that."
Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Vance Bedford
On head Coach Charlie Strong saying the team was not ready to play
"We didn't play very well. It was 6 0 at halftime. We came up in defense and gave up 28 points. When you give up 28 points in one quarter, you're not ready to play. He's right about that. We didn't tackle like we needed to tackle. The quarterback is a Heisman Trophy candidate if you watched this game today because we didn't tackle him. We should have tackled him five more times. He came through it, threw a couple of passes when he should have been sacked, ran the ball when he should have been sacked. So we made a guy look good, and he is a good player. Like I told you guys earlier, reminds me a little of Tim Tebow."
On if the team has a wounded pride
"How wounded is the pride? For one day. You know what? If your pride gets in your way, then you're going to have some problems. It makes for a long year. I told the defense this. You've got today, you've got tomorrow to watch that video and then it it's time to move on to UCLA because the team we're going to play is pretty dog gone good. We have another athletic quarterback, and we have to be ready to play."
On seeing fans leave the game early
"I would have left early. If I was a fan, I would have left early. After seeing that mess right there, I would have been right there with them. I would have left early. But you know? My dad didn't leave early. He's my biggest fan. He was there tonight with my wife. They stayed there the entire time. You know what? Hook 'em for my dad and my wife and my brother-in-law."
BYU QB Taysom Hill
On if they got frustrated after moving the ball but scoring no points
"I wouldn't say frustrated was the word. I think we just needed to clean things up and execute better. I took a couple of shots down early in the first half. Just down in the end zone, things get narrower and we need to execute on a higher level. We'll get that on film and we'll see what we can do to clean that up."
On if he felt it was matter of time for them to start scoring points
"Honestly in my mind, and I felt the vibes from the team that it was just a matter of time. A lot of that that was that our defense was playing so well that had great field position and it allowed us offensively we had momentum and their defense was on their heels."
QB coach Shawn Watson
On how he could tell the demeanor of the team wasn't right pregame
"You can just tell by the demeanor of the team. We're around them so much. We live together in this facility. We pour ourselves into these players. When something isn't right, we can all tell. I know exactly what you're talking about now. We just felt like there was a lack of attention that you have to have. It's one of the lessons that we'll get taught here. We know. I've been around Charlie Strong for 34 something years now. That man will get it taught. I've been with him in the heat of the action. We've sent teams back in and stopped the warm ups and sent them back in. He'll get that stuff fixed."
On being predictable with the small offensive package
"I don't think so. We were able to move the ball. There were so many different options. No, I don't think so."
On Tyrone Swoopes
"Ty played a good game tonight. I walked off the field encouraged by what I saw in him. Is he a done product? No. He's got lot of work to do, yet I was really encouraged with his poise and the way he prepared for this game and how he played. That showed me he's ready to take steps as a quarterback."
Quandre Diggs
On the disappointment of the loss
"It's very disappointing. We didn't come out and play the way we should have played and with a team like this, they are going to continue to grind the ball all game. You just have to continue to bounce back. We failed to do that tonight. Like I said, we just have to watch film, correct our mistakes and get ready for next week. We have another big one."
WR John Harris
On the second straight loss to BYU
"It hurts a lot. It almost feels like we went back to Utah and lost that game again. It hurts a lot but we're going to move on from it, we're going to learn from it, and we're going to move on to the next one and get the next win."
LB Jordan Hicks
On being a leader and getting everyone ready for next week
"We have to rally the troops. We have to get back, have to make sure this is put behind us. Twenty-four hour rule so once we come back out here tomorrow it's Sunday and in practice we have to be focused on UCLA."
QB Tyrone Swoopes
On his feelings after his first career start
"Of course you don't want to lose. I mean, this game is not about me. We lost the game. It was good to get the first time under my belt, but I wish we could have won."
On what the team needs to do to be better against UCLA next week
"Like I said earlier, we just have to execute. We have to execute the blocking patterns up front. When we execute, our backs are going to get the yards that they can. We have great backs. So, we will be fine next week."
This post was edited on 9/7 12:46 AM by Suchomel
BYU dismantled Texas, 40-21, last season, and many described that loss as one which triggered the end of Mack Brown's tenure. Players were forced to live with that embarrassment for nearly a year. Strong's coaching staff used that game as an example of how Texas needed to play better. It was the poster child for futility.
However, Strong said he sensed his team was going to be embarrassed again after watching them during warm-ups.
"Just the whole demeanor. Just how they took the field. Just how they carried themselves," Strong said. "If you've been around long enough, you know. I knew that. I told them that before we ever went out. I said we're not ready to play. When you're not ready to play, this is a good football team, and we're probably going to go out here and get embarrassed."
It is definitely perplexing, to say the least.
Strong has spent the entire offseason trying to instill certain attributes into his team, but it is hard to tell if his message is getting through. He has dismissed eight players from the team, while four are currently suspended. One player had his suspension lifted on Monday, but was suspended two days later.
Regardless, Strong will keep pounding the rock until his current players listen, or until he obtains a new group of athletes willing to take their place.
10 other things you need to know
1. Strong confirmed the suspensions of Desmond Harrison and Kennedy Estelle, but said he has not determined how many games each player would miss. Instead, Strong said he would take it week-by-week before deciding when they will be allowed to play again.
2. Despite this distractions, and David Ash's injury, Strong would not attribute Saturday's loss to what occurred prior to the game.
3. This is the first time Strong had to deal with reporters after a loss. As you can expect, he answered questions, but the negativity started to get old after several minutes. He answered each question, but it is easy to understand his lack of enthusiasm.
4. Players and coaches refused to blame the defensive meltdown in the third quarter on the lack of offensive production. Quandre Diggs said the team jogs 2.7 miles every Friday in the offseason and did not believe fatigue should be an excuse.
5. QB coach/assistant head coach for offense Shawn Watson said they simplified plays for the offensive line against BYU. Watson also said he was encouraged by what he saw on Saturday.
6. In addition, Watson said they limited the playbook for Swoopes and tried to put him in a position to be successful.
7. Swoopes said he was nervous when the game first started, but eventually settled down after taking a few hits. He was encouraged by his performance and believes things will improve. Swoopes is unsure if David Ash will play this season, but said he prepares each week as if he was going to start.
8. Johnathan Gray described the loss as embarrassing. He never expected to lose to BYU this way two straight years.
9. Defensive coordinator Vance Bedford blamed poor tackling on the 28-point offensive explosion BYU enjoyed in the third quarter.
10. Bedford said he did believe the problems his defense had against BYU were fixable. He believes his team will have to continue working on tackling techniques during practice.
By the Numbers
2 - missed field goals by Nick Rose in the past two games
3 - third-down conversions on 15 attempts against BYU
4 - turnovers by the Longhorns
6 - consecutive quarters Texas did not allow a touchdown before that streak was broken in the third quarter.
8 - straight completions for Tyrone Swoopes before his first incompletion
13 - amount of yards on Swoopes' first touchdown pass at Texas
17 - points scored off turnovers by BYU
30 - yards on BYU quarterback Taysom Hill's touchdown run, which was highlighted by him jumping over Dylan Haines. Hill finished with 134 rushing yards and three touchdowns
34:13 - time of possession by BYU compared to Texas' 25:47
106 - rushing yards by Texas (Johnathan Gray had 48, Malcolm Brown added 33 and Swoopes finished with 25)
197 - offensive yards by BYU at halftime
429 - offensive yards overall by BYU
93,463 - people who attended Saturday's game in Austin
Postgame quotes
Charlie Strong
On building pride after this loss
"We still have games to go play. This is a great game to see how we're going to grow from it. We're going to learn from it, and we'll see with this game just where we are and just how well the leadership will step up now and if the seniors can take the leadership and go lead this football team and finish the year out. We're looking at it. It's the second ball game. We still have 10 to go play."
On Swoopes' play and if he built confidence
"Tyrone played well to be placed in the position he was placed in. Just very pleased with Tyrone. We had some drops, and even though he stood in there and one time he took the sack, but just for him to go out there for the first time, I'm very pleased with the way he played and just how he totally managed the offense and just did a great job."
On facing UCLA next week and how they will bounce back
"Well, we have to go play them at their own schedule. We haven't had a chance to look at them, but we have to go play. It's a road game, so you really have to pack your defense down and just see if we can maintain our focus and go play against a really good football team."
On if he knows when David Ash is coming back
"I don't know that."
Defensive coordinator/secondary coach Vance Bedford
On head Coach Charlie Strong saying the team was not ready to play
"We didn't play very well. It was 6 0 at halftime. We came up in defense and gave up 28 points. When you give up 28 points in one quarter, you're not ready to play. He's right about that. We didn't tackle like we needed to tackle. The quarterback is a Heisman Trophy candidate if you watched this game today because we didn't tackle him. We should have tackled him five more times. He came through it, threw a couple of passes when he should have been sacked, ran the ball when he should have been sacked. So we made a guy look good, and he is a good player. Like I told you guys earlier, reminds me a little of Tim Tebow."
On if the team has a wounded pride
"How wounded is the pride? For one day. You know what? If your pride gets in your way, then you're going to have some problems. It makes for a long year. I told the defense this. You've got today, you've got tomorrow to watch that video and then it it's time to move on to UCLA because the team we're going to play is pretty dog gone good. We have another athletic quarterback, and we have to be ready to play."
On seeing fans leave the game early
"I would have left early. If I was a fan, I would have left early. After seeing that mess right there, I would have been right there with them. I would have left early. But you know? My dad didn't leave early. He's my biggest fan. He was there tonight with my wife. They stayed there the entire time. You know what? Hook 'em for my dad and my wife and my brother-in-law."
BYU QB Taysom Hill
On if they got frustrated after moving the ball but scoring no points
"I wouldn't say frustrated was the word. I think we just needed to clean things up and execute better. I took a couple of shots down early in the first half. Just down in the end zone, things get narrower and we need to execute on a higher level. We'll get that on film and we'll see what we can do to clean that up."
On if he felt it was matter of time for them to start scoring points
"Honestly in my mind, and I felt the vibes from the team that it was just a matter of time. A lot of that that was that our defense was playing so well that had great field position and it allowed us offensively we had momentum and their defense was on their heels."
QB coach Shawn Watson
On how he could tell the demeanor of the team wasn't right pregame
"You can just tell by the demeanor of the team. We're around them so much. We live together in this facility. We pour ourselves into these players. When something isn't right, we can all tell. I know exactly what you're talking about now. We just felt like there was a lack of attention that you have to have. It's one of the lessons that we'll get taught here. We know. I've been around Charlie Strong for 34 something years now. That man will get it taught. I've been with him in the heat of the action. We've sent teams back in and stopped the warm ups and sent them back in. He'll get that stuff fixed."
On being predictable with the small offensive package
"I don't think so. We were able to move the ball. There were so many different options. No, I don't think so."
On Tyrone Swoopes
"Ty played a good game tonight. I walked off the field encouraged by what I saw in him. Is he a done product? No. He's got lot of work to do, yet I was really encouraged with his poise and the way he prepared for this game and how he played. That showed me he's ready to take steps as a quarterback."
Quandre Diggs
On the disappointment of the loss
"It's very disappointing. We didn't come out and play the way we should have played and with a team like this, they are going to continue to grind the ball all game. You just have to continue to bounce back. We failed to do that tonight. Like I said, we just have to watch film, correct our mistakes and get ready for next week. We have another big one."
WR John Harris
On the second straight loss to BYU
"It hurts a lot. It almost feels like we went back to Utah and lost that game again. It hurts a lot but we're going to move on from it, we're going to learn from it, and we're going to move on to the next one and get the next win."
LB Jordan Hicks
On being a leader and getting everyone ready for next week
"We have to rally the troops. We have to get back, have to make sure this is put behind us. Twenty-four hour rule so once we come back out here tomorrow it's Sunday and in practice we have to be focused on UCLA."
QB Tyrone Swoopes
On his feelings after his first career start
"Of course you don't want to lose. I mean, this game is not about me. We lost the game. It was good to get the first time under my belt, but I wish we could have won."
On what the team needs to do to be better against UCLA next week
"Like I said earlier, we just have to execute. We have to execute the blocking patterns up front. When we execute, our backs are going to get the yards that they can. We have great backs. So, we will be fine next week."
This post was edited on 9/7 12:46 AM by Suchomel
