Herman’s debut at UT to serve as a distraction
Two men sat at the bar of a TexMex restaurant near downtown San Antonio on Thursday afternoon. While they waited for their enchiladas, they watched a TV.
Tejano music drowned out the sound, but they clearly could see what the topic was.
The man at a podium on the screen was familiar to them. It was Tom Herman. “It’s still weird to see him in burnt orange,” Alan Jimenez said. “I don’t know if I’m over it yet.”
Jimenez, 37, evacuated from his home with his wife and kids to stay with friends in San Antonio during the Hurricane Harvey
flooding. They hope to head back in a few days to assess the damage to their home in the Missouri City area.
On Thursday, he met friend and fellow University of Houston fan Curtis Thurman for lunch.
The two talked about college football to pass the time.
“Sick of talking about the flood,” Jimenez said. “I guess since we can’t watch UH this week, we’ll see how Herman does in his first game. Should be interesting.”
While it’s hard to think of anything other than the Greater Houston area and those affected by the flooding, college football is starting in full this weekend.
The distraction will be welcomed by many and the entertainment value is always high.
UH won’t make its season debut with Major Applewhite at the helm after Saturday’s game against UTSA was cancelled.
Herman, the former UH coach, will make his grand entrance at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday as the Longhorns host Maryland.
Worthy of a ranking?
Herman’s debut is one of the most anticipated in recent memory. After going 22-4 and putting a national spotlight on UH the last two seasons, he became the country’s hottest coach.
Every time a coaching job emerged, so did rumors that Herman would take it.
When Charlie Strong packed his bags, it was inevitable. Herman would head to Austin.
Now the pressure is on for Herman to fix Texas — a premier program that has struggled to return to its winning ways.
And if there was any
doubt that the expectations are high for Herman to turn things around, look no further than the preseason rankings.
The Longhorns went 5-7 each of the last two seasons but enter their opener at No. 23.
“I don’t know why we’re ranked in the Top 25,” Herman said. “I hope it’s not because of me.” Oh, it is. Herman and company could live up to it. He has a promising, young team and is in a conference that has been down overall the last couple of years.
The time is right for Herman to take the magic he brought to Houston down the road to state capital.
He needs to win six games at least, and to beat Oklahoma to really convince the masses he belongs in the captain’s chair at Texas.
OU is without Bob Stoops for the first time in nearly two decades. The Sooners have experience back — mainly in quarterback Baker Mayfield — but have new coach Lincoln Riley on the sideline.
Riley was a hot assistant this year as his name popped up repeatedly for good head coaching positions, including UH. He hung tight at OU, likely knowing he would be Stoops’ replacement in the near future.
The near future came quickly as Stoops made his exit in July and Riley was announced as the new coach the same day.
Baylor, which had become a Big 12 juggernaut in recent years, is in rebuilding mode.
The Bears also are under new rule. Temple’s Matt Rhule took over the program, which is recovering from a sexual assault scandal that has rocked the athletic department over the past year and a half.
Turnaround expected
Oklahoma State might boast the most stable program in the Big 12. Ranked No. 10, the Cowboys return most of their high-powered offense.
Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury is on the hot seat, but the guy knows offense. That won’t matter if the Red Raiders don’t drastically improve on defense, though.
TCU had a disappointing 2016, but the Horned Frogs are prime for improvement and were picked to finish fifth in the league in the media’s preseason poll.
All that said, the door is open for Texas to win more games this season and live up to the hype Herman brought with him.
Herman can win. He has proven that.
But Texas isn’t UH. This is a step up. When he turned things around at UH, he was celebrated. At Texas, the turnaround is expected.
Whatever happens, Herman will bring a lot of attention to the Longhorns. They already are in the spotlight, and the season hasn’t even started.
“I think he can win there,” Jimenez said. “That’s going to sting a little if he does, honestly. But it will be fun to watch.
“And it does help take our minds off everything we have to deal with at home this weekend. We might not have our UH football back yet, but at least we have something to watch this weekend.”
jenny.creech@chron.com twitter.com/jennydialcreech