Herman says Horns’ confidence isn’t shaken
AUSTIN — Week 11 of the season wasn’t supposed to look like this for Texas. But the Longhorns are lucky things aren’t worse.
A one-touchdown loss to Oklahoma on Oct. 12 left behind a bitter taste, though falling to the Sooners was understandable, especially with an expected rematch in the Big 12 championship looming.
But a 50-48 win over Kansas at home? An ugly 37-27 road loss to TCU? A defense that resides around the bottom of the Big 12 in most major categories?
No, that wasn’t what coach Tom Herman envisioned when this team came together back in August. But that’s the reality for Texas (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) with four regularseason games remaining, including this week’s home matchup with 20th-ranked Kansas State (6-2, 3-2).
A loss Saturday would end the dream of being the team to end the Sooners’ streak of four straight Big 12 titles.
“We’re going to have two teams in Austin with a lot to play for,” Herman said Monday. “I know our guys are extremely excited to be back home and extremely excited to fix some of the things that ailed us in previous weeks and show each other that we’re capable of going out and putting together a good, impressive victory.”
Herman admitted the Longhorns aren’t “firing on all cylinders,” and during the bye week the staff examined what’s broken and what can be fixed.
The staff also devoted some time to the newcomers, many of whom have been thrust into more prominent roles because of a season-long string of injuries. Herman hosted one-on-one sessions with members of the 2019 signing class and had their individual position coaches splice together a reel of 10 to 20 plays to review together.
“It was really good to reacquaint myself with those guys,” Herman said. “All of those guys are in great spirits. It’s a very personal decision if a player should come in January and graduate early. It’s a much different mindset compared to a guy that gets here in June.”
A thread of positivity ran through Herman’s weekly conference despite all the adversity, the battle wounds and the slipups. This group’s confidence hasn’t been shaken, he said.
And as always, the thirdyear coach wasn’t willing to acknowledge the future beyond this Saturday.
When asked what this team is capable of doing over the last month of the regular-season, he responded, “Going 1-0 against Kansas State.”
Pressed further, Herman didn’t budge.
“You guys think this is an act, think this is fake,” he said. “I literally had to ask somebody the question today, ‘Who do we play after Kansas State?’
“I honestly didn’t know.
It’s irrelevant to what we have in front of us.”
Help on the way for Longhorns?
Tom Herman sounded hopeful safeties B.J. Foster, Caden Sterns and DeMarvion Overshown would be active against the Wildcats. True freshman running back Jordan Whittington isalsoexpected to play for the first time since the seasonopener against Louisiana Tech.
Senior linebacker Jeff McCulloch (shoulder) hasn’t been cleared to practice yet, but the team believes there’s “a chance” he returns to practice by Tuesday or Wednesday.
“We’re going to try like heck to get Jeffrey McCulloch back to practice,” Herman said. “He was on a really good trajectory with the strength in that shoulder but it didn’t quite keep progressing.
“B.J. Foster would certainly be probable. DeMarvion is like Jeff but cleared
to practice — still a little weak in that shoulder but we’re hoping that these next 24-to-48 hours it speeds up. I would list Caden Sterns as probable.”
A healthy Sterns (knee) would help a depleted secondary that has struggled most of the season. The Big 12 defensive freshman of the year in 2018, Sterns hasn’t played since recording 12 tackles against Oklahoma State on Sept. 21, a stretch that also featured missed games by Foster, Overshown, Chris Brown and Josh Thompson.
“He has a knack for the football,” Herman said of Sterns. “He doesn’t mind throwing his body around. Extremely smart and very well-prepared.
“He’s going to study every tendency and be able to translate those studies to be able to gain a step, half-step.”