Here are the highlights of Texas sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s media availability on Tuesday:
- Ehlinger was asked about his postgame exchange with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and said he was moving on to Baylor. In addition, Ehlinger said it was pretty irrelevant at this point.
- Ehlinger described Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer as an excellent player. Ehlinger said they have been friends since middle school and is looking forward to seeing Brewer on Saturday.
- When asked about Drew Brees setting a new NFL passing record on Monday, Ehlinger described Brees as an awesome person.
- Ehlinger loves the “nasty” play of his offensive line this season. He said nastiness and physicality is the mantra of the team. He praised their physical play. In addition, Ehlinger said it is not an out of control physicality, but controlled.
- Ehlinger on the offensive line pushing receiver Lil’ Jordan Humphrey on third-and-20 against Oklahoma: “Understanding that regardless of the situation, regardless of the down-and-distance, regardless of the time in the game, we’re always striving to play with that mentality, and striving to play with that physicality. That play, a lot like the play last year against Kansas State when the o-line just surged into the end zone to win the game in double-overtime, those two plays resemble what we want to have.”
- Ehlinger said being able to take a knee during a win indicates Texas is playing four quarters of football now. He said the team confidence is increasing every week.
- Ehlinger on how the offense has changed since Maryland: “I feel like now we’re playing less uptight, per se. We’re not afraid to make mistakes. We all understand that no one is going to play a perfect game. No one has ever been 100 percent on their assignments. We’re playing carefree, but also controlled and smart. Playing offense in football is the most interpersonal squad in any game because one guy can mess up on defense and everyone is fine, but if one guy messes up on offense, the play is ruined. Understanding that as offensive unit that we all have to work together, all 11 guys at the same time, interpersonally being on the same page, we understand that’s what it takes. Understanding that we have to all be on the same page, and we have to execute at the same level in order to be successful, and I think we’ve learned that by now.”
- Ehlinger said just because the offense scored 48 points in a win against Oklahoma does not mean they have arrived or played a perfect game. He is happy the offense is progressing, but Ehlinger is not complacent.
- Ehlinger on Tom Herman telling him to grip-it-and-rip-it during a phone conversation prior to Saturday's game: “It’s part of the added confidence, but smart confidence. Understanding that playing with confidence doesn’t necessarily mean just taking every play and going crazy with it. It’s having confidence in the fact that I know the situations. Grip-it-and-rip-it, I don’t want to aim the ball. I don’t want to try to fit it into the perfect window. Throw the ball at the guys and let them go get it because we have really good athletes. That’s part of not trying to play perfect. I’m not trying to play perfect. Not trying to do too much, play playing with confidence, and understanding that our guys are really, really good.”
- There was an awkward moment on Tuesday. Ehlinger was asked if he should be a Heisman candidate. After staring straight ahead and not responding for 15 seconds, Ehlinger finally said, “That’s not up to me.”
- In addition, Ehlinger was asked if he should at least be in the Heisman conversation, and said, “I’ll let you decide that.”
- Ehlinger was asked about his postgame exchange with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and said he was moving on to Baylor. In addition, Ehlinger said it was pretty irrelevant at this point.
- Ehlinger described Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer as an excellent player. Ehlinger said they have been friends since middle school and is looking forward to seeing Brewer on Saturday.
- When asked about Drew Brees setting a new NFL passing record on Monday, Ehlinger described Brees as an awesome person.
- Ehlinger loves the “nasty” play of his offensive line this season. He said nastiness and physicality is the mantra of the team. He praised their physical play. In addition, Ehlinger said it is not an out of control physicality, but controlled.
- Ehlinger on the offensive line pushing receiver Lil’ Jordan Humphrey on third-and-20 against Oklahoma: “Understanding that regardless of the situation, regardless of the down-and-distance, regardless of the time in the game, we’re always striving to play with that mentality, and striving to play with that physicality. That play, a lot like the play last year against Kansas State when the o-line just surged into the end zone to win the game in double-overtime, those two plays resemble what we want to have.”
- Ehlinger said being able to take a knee during a win indicates Texas is playing four quarters of football now. He said the team confidence is increasing every week.
- Ehlinger on how the offense has changed since Maryland: “I feel like now we’re playing less uptight, per se. We’re not afraid to make mistakes. We all understand that no one is going to play a perfect game. No one has ever been 100 percent on their assignments. We’re playing carefree, but also controlled and smart. Playing offense in football is the most interpersonal squad in any game because one guy can mess up on defense and everyone is fine, but if one guy messes up on offense, the play is ruined. Understanding that as offensive unit that we all have to work together, all 11 guys at the same time, interpersonally being on the same page, we understand that’s what it takes. Understanding that we have to all be on the same page, and we have to execute at the same level in order to be successful, and I think we’ve learned that by now.”
- Ehlinger said just because the offense scored 48 points in a win against Oklahoma does not mean they have arrived or played a perfect game. He is happy the offense is progressing, but Ehlinger is not complacent.
- Ehlinger on Tom Herman telling him to grip-it-and-rip-it during a phone conversation prior to Saturday's game: “It’s part of the added confidence, but smart confidence. Understanding that playing with confidence doesn’t necessarily mean just taking every play and going crazy with it. It’s having confidence in the fact that I know the situations. Grip-it-and-rip-it, I don’t want to aim the ball. I don’t want to try to fit it into the perfect window. Throw the ball at the guys and let them go get it because we have really good athletes. That’s part of not trying to play perfect. I’m not trying to play perfect. Not trying to do too much, play playing with confidence, and understanding that our guys are really, really good.”
- There was an awkward moment on Tuesday. Ehlinger was asked if he should be a Heisman candidate. After staring straight ahead and not responding for 15 seconds, Ehlinger finally said, “That’s not up to me.”
- In addition, Ehlinger was asked if he should at least be in the Heisman conversation, and said, “I’ll let you decide that.”
