Texas football coach Tom Herman addressed the media after practice on Wednesday. Here are the highlights from his media availability:
--- Herman on bye week practice: “Really good couple days. I like the energy, the accountability. I think our guys watch the same video as we do, and understand we have not performed our standards here the last few weeks, but that we've still got plenty of football left to play. Our backs are against the wall. We're on the ropes. However you want to say it. We'll find out what kind of fighters we have. I think Malcolm Roach said it best after the game. The only thing we know how to, the only thing we are trained, is to come to work and just get better. Fundamentally, get better schematically get better as coaches, come together as a team, and punch our way off the ropes. I love the energy. I was really, really impressed with the energy last couple days.”
--- Herman said Cade Brewer has some tendons torn off the bone in his ankle. Doctors had to clean up that area, along with the TightRope surgery. He is optimistic Brewer can play in the bowl game.
--- I asked Herman what he has been preaching to his team during the bye week. He said the focus has been on relationships: “We got a lot of older veterans, and a lot of young guys, and we've got to find those bridge guys from the older group to the younger group. Last year, when Andrew Beck spoke, people listened, and the reason why was because we had a sophomore name Sam Ehlinger who could relate to the younger guys. Right now, we’re talking to Joseph Ossai, Keaontay Ingram, Keondre Coburn, Junior Angilau to make sure we bridge that gap, and that the young guys have the same sense of urgency as the older guys. I think it's all about, again, getting better fundamentally, from a football … Football IQ is kind of a cliche a little bit, but just understanding simple things, like angles, leverage, things like that. Really about getting back to the basics, and we’ll start worrying about Kansas State on Sunday.”
--- Herman said the feedback he has received from the leadership council has been positive. In addition, Herman said when things are not going well, human nature is blame others, complain about your circumstances, and defend yourself. Herman said, “We had a good heart-to-heart team meeting on Tuesday about we can't have. That we have to fight human nature. If you want your outcome to change, you've got to change your response. The old adage, if you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to keep getting what you got. So, we've got to crank the urgency level up for some guys, and the attention to detail for some others, but I think they all are very keenly aware that there's a lot of football left to be played. I know we’ll be excited to be back home in a week.”
--- Herman said there have not been any conversations about getting freshmen who have not played this season on the field during the final four regular season games Freshmen can participate in four games and still maintain a redshirt season. Herman said that could change, but nothing is imminent.
--- Herman will hit the recruiting road on Thursday. He will address the media again on Monday.
--- Herman on bye week practice: “Really good couple days. I like the energy, the accountability. I think our guys watch the same video as we do, and understand we have not performed our standards here the last few weeks, but that we've still got plenty of football left to play. Our backs are against the wall. We're on the ropes. However you want to say it. We'll find out what kind of fighters we have. I think Malcolm Roach said it best after the game. The only thing we know how to, the only thing we are trained, is to come to work and just get better. Fundamentally, get better schematically get better as coaches, come together as a team, and punch our way off the ropes. I love the energy. I was really, really impressed with the energy last couple days.”
--- Herman said Cade Brewer has some tendons torn off the bone in his ankle. Doctors had to clean up that area, along with the TightRope surgery. He is optimistic Brewer can play in the bowl game.
--- I asked Herman what he has been preaching to his team during the bye week. He said the focus has been on relationships: “We got a lot of older veterans, and a lot of young guys, and we've got to find those bridge guys from the older group to the younger group. Last year, when Andrew Beck spoke, people listened, and the reason why was because we had a sophomore name Sam Ehlinger who could relate to the younger guys. Right now, we’re talking to Joseph Ossai, Keaontay Ingram, Keondre Coburn, Junior Angilau to make sure we bridge that gap, and that the young guys have the same sense of urgency as the older guys. I think it's all about, again, getting better fundamentally, from a football … Football IQ is kind of a cliche a little bit, but just understanding simple things, like angles, leverage, things like that. Really about getting back to the basics, and we’ll start worrying about Kansas State on Sunday.”
--- Herman said the feedback he has received from the leadership council has been positive. In addition, Herman said when things are not going well, human nature is blame others, complain about your circumstances, and defend yourself. Herman said, “We had a good heart-to-heart team meeting on Tuesday about we can't have. That we have to fight human nature. If you want your outcome to change, you've got to change your response. The old adage, if you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to keep getting what you got. So, we've got to crank the urgency level up for some guys, and the attention to detail for some others, but I think they all are very keenly aware that there's a lot of football left to be played. I know we’ll be excited to be back home in a week.”
--- Herman said there have not been any conversations about getting freshmen who have not played this season on the field during the final four regular season games Freshmen can participate in four games and still maintain a redshirt season. Herman said that could change, but nothing is imminent.
--- Herman will hit the recruiting road on Thursday. He will address the media again on Monday.
