Texas football coach Tom Herman refuses to run away from any obstacle that might prevent him from turning the Longhorns into the championship program he envisions it will become one day.
The biggest challenge Herman faces on the field is winning two out of three games to become bowl eligible. Texas has not played in a bowl game since the 2014 season. Herman says his seniors deserve to play in a bowl game, but getting there is important for Herman and his staff. If Texas can win its next three games, coupled with a bowl victory, the offseason conversation will be full of optimism.
However, Herman has worked very hard behind the scenes this week to nip any potential dissension within his team because of the disappointing season his players have endured.
Herman discovered there was a group of players who were frustrated with being 4-5 right now, and those individuals questioned where the program is headed under his leadership. No, Herman has not lost the locker room, and to insinuate that has occurred would be a gross misrepresentation of the current state of affairs. Players are still playing hard and for each other. Many of the players like their position coaches, especially defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, while strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight has the respect of everyone in that locker room because of how he transformed their bodies this offseason.
Nevertheless, there is/was a group of unhappy players who voiced their dissatisfaction internally with this year’s offensive struggles, personnel decisions, and their lack of understanding as to why Herman constantly challenged them from the day he was hired.
Upon learning there was a group of unhappy players in his locker room, instead of ignoring the problem, Herman decided to address it prior to Saturday’s game against Kansas.
From what I was told, Herman individually met with several players this week to discuss their opinions about this season, gauge how they felt about the program, and exchange ideas. Some of the players he met with were starters, while others were key contributors. Herman was trying to figure out what could be done to keep those players in the program after this season. Even though Herman has a tough guy bravado to the team, behind closed doors, the coach has been working hard to reel back in guys who began to straddle the fence because of the losing season.
From day one, Herman demanded the respect of his players. It began with Herman chewing out the players in their initial meeting. Players were into gold, green and crimson groups during winter conditioning. Winners were treated with great food, like ribeyes, shrimp, chicken, triple chocolate cake. Loser were forced to eat soggy pancakes, runny grits, bologna sandwiches, Bush's baked beans, hots dogs and burnt burgers. They hated it at the time, but believed it would result in a payoff this season. After a 4-5 start, some players began to question if what they endured during the offseason was even worth it. From what I can tell, the years of losing began to mount for some players, especially the juniors, but players preferred to vent among each other instead of talking to a staff they have known for less than a year.
This is not the first time Herman learned about a potentially disruptive situation and tried to squash it before it became a problem.
Prior to the season, Herman discovered linebacker Malik Jefferson was unhappy for various reasons. A day before Herman was slated to meet with Jefferson’s parents to discuss the issues, he pulled the linebacker in his office for a one-on-one meeting. Herman and Jefferson hashed out their differences and put their issues aside prior to this season. Since that meeting, Jefferson has played on another level and appears destined to skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
I asked Herman how he will keep this group of players together as they endure another disappointing season, and the answer revealed he is trying to keep this team unified.
“That was for the brief kind of synopsis of the big picture,” Herman said. “Like, hey, we’re heading into the fourth quarter of this season, the last three games. They’re all winnable games. They’re all losable games certainly, too. We’ve got to play our best, but I think when you have that hope, and that confidence in what you’re capable of … that is the biggest thing. I was really worried we’d have a group of guys walking around all week, kind of woe is me, and they didn’t. They responded to our team meeting on Sunday, and it’s been a very upbeat week in practice because I think they know what’s out there to be had still.”
Here is what defensive coordinator Todd Orlando had to say about the frustrating season:
"It's like anything in life. You start to question it a little bit, and there has been none of it. Herm brought it out today. We had flex and stretch. Herm is on those guys. If they don’t finish two-plus the line, or they’re not doing things the right way, he’ll call them back. We’ve had not callbacks in two or three weeks. That tells us a little something about the mentality.
“I think at the end of the day, those kids can see it. They can smell it. They know it’s there. Now, we just have to finish and go grab it. I think it’s a little bit less. If we’re losing games 52-10, then there are going to be guys that are like, ‘This is ridiculous.’ But, when you’re so close to something, and you know it’s there, you try to keep pushing through it, and you know it’s right. I think at the end of the day, they way that we explain things is about discipline. We do this … we’re not doing it just to do it. We’re doing it because it trains your mind to be disciplined, so when the game is on the line, or there’s a critical play, or you got to make a check, or you got to do something in the heat of the battle, you’ve actually trained your mind. Not in a football sense, but just overall collectively, to be accountable. I think our kids understand that because we do a good job of explaining it that way.”
If you are looking for irony, former Texas coach Charlie Strong dealt with the same issues throughout his tenure.
Strong ran off several players who did not buy in during his first season. Some players decided to give him a chance, but left after year two. By the time Kansas knocked off Texas last season, most players were ready for a change, including some of those guys who attended Strong’s press conference the Monday after that loss. Now, some of the players who wanted Strong gone are questioning Herman.
No matter what, Herman is dedicated to building “his” team. Herman is going to lose players along the way, like every coach who inherits a group of players he did not recruit. The players who want to remain at Texas will get through this season and hope for better days in the future. Others will transfer and look for happiness elsewhere.
Regardless, Herman tried to address the potential problems within his team to prevent guys quitting on him, or losing faith, which doomed the Longhorn teams prior to his arrival.
Herman was forced to deal with the growing pains of a new program this week. The important thing for Longhorns to know is Herman ran to the potential problems, not away from them, and remains determined to build a team that embraces his principles. (Richardson)
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We previously reported left tackle Connor Williams was unsure if he would play again this season or shut it down and focus on preparing for the NFL draft. Williams is recovering from a left knee sprain and is expected to be medically cleared to play against West Virginia and Texas Tech.
Right now, multiple people associated with Williams have told us he is leaning toward playing in the final two games of this season. Herman will likely discuss Williams’ availability at his press conference on Monday.
Williams is projected to be a first-round draft pick by several NFL insiders. From what I was told, Williams has been fighting back pain as a result of the knee injury, but will try to play again this season.
We will keep you updated. (Richardson)
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In a perfect world, for Texas fans, players and coaches, the Longhorns knock off Kansas, West Virginia and Texas Tech, finishing this season with a 7-5 record and a bowl appearance. In a not-so-perfect world, Texas defeats Kansas and Texas Tech, giving the team six wins and a postseason game. The worst-case scenario is a win against Kansas, followed by two straight losses and a bowl game omission.
Let us talk about the worst-case scenario for a moment.
If Texas finishes with five wins this season, it would mark the third consecutive year of futility. Former coach Charlie Strong finished 6-7 in year one, followed by two straight 5-7 seasons. Technically, it would mean Texas missed a bowl game for three straight years. The last time Texas missed three consecutive bowl game appearances was between 1991 and 1993 (David McWilliams coached the team in 1991 before John Mackovic took over). Even if that doomsday scenario occurs this year, Herman is seemingly willing to take a five-win team to a bowl game.
At least six wins and a winning percentage of at least .500 are needed to officially be bowl-eligible, and 80 teams are needed to fill all of the bowls. However, there were not enough eligible teams to fill up the bowls last year, which resulted in a 5-7 North Texas team playing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against Army, while Mississippi State went to the St. Petersburg Bowl with a 5-7 record. The Bulldogs faced Miami (Ohio) .
Each school has to make certain requirements, and those who are curious can read more about it here:
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/gotta-fill-the-bowls/
When Texas finished 5-7 in 2015, Strong was not interested in participating in a bowl game, but people associated with the program told me they believed Herman would take a different approach. From what I was told, Herman would likely view a bowl game, even as a five-win team, as a chance to give his young players more practice time. Since Herman is trying to lay a foundation this season, the extra practice time for young players would benefit the team.
Obviously, this is the worst-case scenario. If Texas handles its business in the next three games, this potential situation can be avoided. (Richardson)
