Here are the highlights of Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s media availability via Zoom on Wednesday:
--- Ehlinger was asked if he might rip up a piece of turf on Friday and take it home to remember his football tenure at Texas. He said that action would be selfish. Instead, he is focused on Iowa State.
--- Ehlinger’s response when asked what he intended to accomplish at Texas: “When I was at Westlake, I wanted to come in and leave the University of Texas football program better than it was when I got here, whatever that may look like. Whether that be in the locker room, on the field, off the field. That was just kind of my mentality. So, still got work to do, and still have a great opportunity in front of us.”
--- I asked Ehlinger if there was a chance he might return for another year since this season does not count against a college athlete’s eligibility. Ehlinger said, “I haven't given much thought to that at all. Just focused on beating Iowa State.”
However, I followed up by pointing out he received a Senior Bowl invite, and Ehlinger said, “No, I hear you. I think I'll know further down the road. Just focusing on focusing on this season.”
--- When Ehlinger stepped on campus, he did not have the advantage of redshirting and learning from an upperclassman quarterback. Instead, it was a lot of trial-and-error for Ehlinger. Here was his response when asked about that experience and what he teaches the young quarterbacks in that room: “There were a lot of things I learned the hard way. There’s a of different things that come up during the season that I try to highlight for the younger guys, whether that be a read on the field, or the way that the preparation should go throughout the week. How to read a defense. How to look at what helps me looking at a defense. Off the field, too. How to deal with the pressure of playing a Texas and what it takes off-the-field to be a leader on the team. There's a lot of different things that if something pops up, I try to highlight or point it out for them. I'm just trying to help them. They're obviously incredibly talented players, and I hope that they can be the best ever come through Texas.”
--- Ehlinger said his college football journey has been an absolute blessing and he loves the University of Texas. In addition, he loves the relationships he built off the field.
--- Ehlinger was asked a very intriguing question. Joe Cook asked if Ehlinger had to assemble a college highlight reel, which play would be the first one shown. Ehlinger said the scramble and touchdown pass to Armanti Foreman against USC.
--- Ehlinger on how he would like to be remembered at Texas: “I hope to be remembered as a quarterback and leader. That he did the best that he could, and tried to make others around him better. The love for the game and the love for the University of Texas. What am I most proud of? I’m most proud of the way that our team has continued to fight through adversity with everything that's been presented to us, whether that be losses, outside noise, whatever it may be. We've never splintered. We've always just stayed together as a group, as players, and that bond and love is real.”
--- Ehlinger said he does not regret declaring, “We’re back” after the Sugar Bowl victory to cap off the 2018 season. However, he would not do it again: “I don't regret it because I learned from it. It's one of those things that I'll look back and be like, that was pretty funny. I was still a teenager, so, you can expect something like from a teenager. It was a great learning moment for me. I definitely don't have any regret about it. Now, would I do it again? Probably not.”
--- Ehlinger was asked if he told former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, “Take the loss [curse word], and he smiled while saying he did not remember.
Photo via HookEm.com
--- Ehlinger was asked if he might rip up a piece of turf on Friday and take it home to remember his football tenure at Texas. He said that action would be selfish. Instead, he is focused on Iowa State.
--- Ehlinger’s response when asked what he intended to accomplish at Texas: “When I was at Westlake, I wanted to come in and leave the University of Texas football program better than it was when I got here, whatever that may look like. Whether that be in the locker room, on the field, off the field. That was just kind of my mentality. So, still got work to do, and still have a great opportunity in front of us.”
--- I asked Ehlinger if there was a chance he might return for another year since this season does not count against a college athlete’s eligibility. Ehlinger said, “I haven't given much thought to that at all. Just focused on beating Iowa State.”
However, I followed up by pointing out he received a Senior Bowl invite, and Ehlinger said, “No, I hear you. I think I'll know further down the road. Just focusing on focusing on this season.”
--- When Ehlinger stepped on campus, he did not have the advantage of redshirting and learning from an upperclassman quarterback. Instead, it was a lot of trial-and-error for Ehlinger. Here was his response when asked about that experience and what he teaches the young quarterbacks in that room: “There were a lot of things I learned the hard way. There’s a of different things that come up during the season that I try to highlight for the younger guys, whether that be a read on the field, or the way that the preparation should go throughout the week. How to read a defense. How to look at what helps me looking at a defense. Off the field, too. How to deal with the pressure of playing a Texas and what it takes off-the-field to be a leader on the team. There's a lot of different things that if something pops up, I try to highlight or point it out for them. I'm just trying to help them. They're obviously incredibly talented players, and I hope that they can be the best ever come through Texas.”
--- Ehlinger said his college football journey has been an absolute blessing and he loves the University of Texas. In addition, he loves the relationships he built off the field.
--- Ehlinger was asked a very intriguing question. Joe Cook asked if Ehlinger had to assemble a college highlight reel, which play would be the first one shown. Ehlinger said the scramble and touchdown pass to Armanti Foreman against USC.
--- Ehlinger on how he would like to be remembered at Texas: “I hope to be remembered as a quarterback and leader. That he did the best that he could, and tried to make others around him better. The love for the game and the love for the University of Texas. What am I most proud of? I’m most proud of the way that our team has continued to fight through adversity with everything that's been presented to us, whether that be losses, outside noise, whatever it may be. We've never splintered. We've always just stayed together as a group, as players, and that bond and love is real.”
--- Ehlinger said he does not regret declaring, “We’re back” after the Sugar Bowl victory to cap off the 2018 season. However, he would not do it again: “I don't regret it because I learned from it. It's one of those things that I'll look back and be like, that was pretty funny. I was still a teenager, so, you can expect something like from a teenager. It was a great learning moment for me. I definitely don't have any regret about it. Now, would I do it again? Probably not.”
--- Ehlinger was asked if he told former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray, “Take the loss [curse word], and he smiled while saying he did not remember.
Photo via HookEm.com
