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STILLWATER, OK – Many Texas Longhorn observers were ready to write Tom Herman’s football obituary on Saturday.
Two members of the 2022 recruiting class decommitted this past week. After 5-star quarterback Quinn Ewers delivered a devastating right hook that staggered Longhorn nation, receiver Phaizon Wilson delivered the knockout blow when he decommitted as well. This occurred during a week when Herman was constantly criticized for his receiver and running back rotation. He was ripped for the lack of sacks by his defensive line. His team was 3-2 and clinging for life in the Big 12 race. Oh, and Texas was traveling to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, the guy who defeated this program seven of 10 times in the past decade. The sixth-ranked Cowboys were led by quarterback Spencer Sanders, running back Chubba Hubbard and receiver Tylan Wallace.
Many Longhorn fans were ready to donate their support to Urban Meyer after a loss against Oklahoma State in lieu of flowers.
When this team trailed by 11 points in the third quarter after Tylan Wallace’s 9-yard touchdown reception, it felt like Oklahoma State was going to squeeze the fight out of Herman’s team. If there was a fractured locker room, that is when the finger pointing would have occurred. Guys would have gone through the motions if they did not believe in Herman and his staff. It would have been ugly.
However, D’Shawn Jamison took this team off life support with he scored on a 100-yard kickoff return (Jay Boulware, I was kicking about your special teams unit last week … we cool?). Jamison was penalized for throwing a shhh gesture – should not have been a flag – but it was very symbolic. That “be quiet” sign could apply to every skeptic who believed this squad was going to give up.
There is no quit in Tom Herman’s Longhorns.
“A lot of resiliency shown by this team,” Herman said. “Every member of this team this coaching staff, support staff, our fans. We feel like we're never out of a game. We haven't been out of a game.”
If we focus on that one topic, Herman is right.
Texas is 4-2. One loss was a was by two points against TCU. The other was by one possession against Oklahoma (eight points since the Sooners were forced to go for two in overtime). This is not a team that gets blown out.
Yes, Texas did struggle against Texas Tech. Worst game of the season by Texas. Texas was defeated by TCU, but held its opponent to three field goals in the red zone. Texas trailed Oklahoma, 31-17, in the third-quarter before forcing overtime. In addition, Texas forced three turnovers against Oklahoma.
After two straight loses, Texas rebounded and defeated Baylor, holding the Bears to three points heading into the fourth quarter. Texas forced four turnovers during a win against Oklahoma State.
“We lost one by two points with an opportunity with the ball in the one-yard line [TCU],” Herman said. “We lost the four-overtime thriller to our arch-rivals. We're a lot different team than we were back then, too. A lot different, and will be a lot different this weekend, because again, we are a work in progress, with no spring ball, no summer, very unique training camp. We just continue to improve. Continue to fix mistakes. There were so many things out there that happened that we have to correct.
“The only way to do that is to continue to go to work and coach these guys on the improvements that they need to make. For the most part, they've been very receptive. Very eager to learn the intricate details of the new offense, the new defense, and some of the new special teams things that we're doing. They understand that it's not going to happen overnight, but as long as we continue this trajectory of improvement, we're going to have a chance in every ball game that we're in.”
Here is the crazy thing.
Texas is still in the Big 12 race.
The Longhorns are currently tied for fifth place, but have a chance to climb up the conference. Texas will host West Virginia (4-2, 3-2), followed by a road trip to Kansas on November 21, a home game against Iowa State on November 28, and a season-ending road trip against Kansas State. If Texas wins out, it will advance to the Big 12 Championship Game.
Think it is impossible?
Again, have you met 2020 yet?
Clearly, this team has several obstacles to overcome.
The penalties need to get fixed. The blocking for Sam Ehlinger must improve. The run game showed some improvement, but still has challenges. The defensive backs have to cover much better and cut down on pass interference penalties. Sam Ehlinger can play better. This team is far from a finished product.
Yet, you cannot deny its effort.
I must admit to being wrong about Herman.
Here is what I said after the loss against Oklahoma.
“After the game, Herman looked defeated. He reminded me of the President who aged dramatically after four years in office. Herman did not have any answers. He talked about how great practice was last Sunday in an effort to show how close his program is to winning football games like this. The coach did not understand his fan base is more concerned about the product they are witnessing each Saturday.
“This is the moment when you save a fighter from himself. Herman is not winning the way he or the fan base desires. Recruiting is not going well. Literally, a player quit during the middle of a game this season. Longhorn fans are pissed about his team’s lack of participation in The Eyes of Texas. Herman will not throw in the towel, but I sensed if Del Conte tapped him on the shoulder after Saturday’s game and said they should discuss an exit plan. Deep down, Herman might be relieved to get out of this situation. That is just my opinion and nothing I heard from my sources.”
I was wrong.
Herman is more like the fighter who scores a knockout after being knocked down twice in one round.
On fourth-and-4 on Oklahoma State’s 24, Herman decided to go for it. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger connected with Jake Smith to give the team a 34-31 lead.
Of course, Oklahoma State marched down the field with ease and tied the game.
Then that Texas blitz on fourth-down to seal the win.
“[Defensive coordinator] Chris [Ash] said, hey, Herm, I’m going to zero blitz them. You good with that?,” Herman said. “I smart alecky said … I think I said, well at least we got the lead and it’s not third-and-17. It was a hell of a call by him. Very well executed by our guys. We brought more than they had to block which, which flushed Spencer Sanders out of the pocket.”
One thing has become apparent this season.
There is no quit in Tom Herman’s Longhorns.
Funniest Things You Will See This Week
There is no way you can watch this only one time
If Tommy from Goodfellas had a dog
She reminds me of my mom
At least we know what she will be in counseling for later in life
Sports On A Dime
1. We are witnessing greatness. Joseph Ossai is dominating defensively in away I have not witnessed during my tenure at Texas. I need longtime Longhorn fans and observers to tell me the last time they witnessed a Texas defensive player play on such a high level.
2. Herman may not mention his name, but Ryan Bujcevski deserves props for his performance against Oklahoma State. Bujcevski has struggled this season, but averaged 47.1 yards per punt on Saturday. He caught a high snap on Cameron Dicker’s 40-yard FG attempt before halftime. Bujcevski sold a roughing the punter penalty to extend a Texas drive in the fourth quarter. Texas does not defeat Oklahoma State without Bujcevski’s performance.
3. Rumors of a fractured Longhorn locker room have been greatly exaggerated:
4. If Texas wants to extend its win streak, it must clean up the penalties. This is what the penalties have looked like this season:
UTEP 6-55
Texas Tech 10-100
TCU 12-92
Oklahoma 11-121
Baylor 5-50
Oklahoma State 13-142
5. Oklahoma State rushed seven defenders on fourth-and-7. Ehlingher recognized the blitz, rolled out of the pocket, and threw a touchdown pass to Jake Smith. Tom Herman said it was the best play of Ehlinger’s career. It was arguably the most important play by Texas on Saturday.
6. Speaking of Ehlinger …
7. Texas fans should keep an eye on the Alamo Bowl and Texas Bowl as postseason possibilities. Here is a portion of a recent USA Today article that explains why:
“To make bowl season more viable, the NCAA even previously removed the requirement that teams needed to win at least half their games to be eligible to play in them. This year, teams with losing records would be allowed to fill bowl slots if desired.
“This in turn could lead to bowls extending invitations to teams earlier than usual. In normal seasons, many of the bowl team selections wouldn't be made until after conference championship games in early December.
"We don’t have to wait until the last day to find who’s bowl-eligible, who’s not and how many bowl-eligible teams we're going to have to work with," Carparelli said. "The conferences are going to play a more active role in determining what order their teams are slotted in terms of filling bowl opportunities."
Geographical considerations also likely will play a role in bowl selections.
"They want to maintain some sense of regionality as much possible, to minimize the distance the student-athletes have to travel to keep them safe and also to save some money," Carparelli said.
8. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler’s confidence is growing.
9. Gervonta Davis left uppercut against Leo Santa Cruz on Saturday night will rank as one of the most brutal knockouts you will see
10. Mercedes, my goodness
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