Herman plans to pick Brown’s brain for some advice
AUSTIN — Mack Brown knows all too well what Tom Herman is facing right now.
In December 1997, Brown was chosen as the Texas coach successor to John Mackovic, who over six seasons went 41-28-2 with just one bowl win. Brown’s tenure at UT is now the stuff of legend — 158-48 record, 10 bowl victories, nine consecutive 10win seasons and the 2005 national championship — but his final four years (30-21 record) had fans and boosters clamoring for change.
If it can happen to Mack, it can happen to Tom, though Texas (6-5, 4-4 Big 12) hasn’t reached that breaking point with its well-compensated thirdyear head coach just yet.
Still, this frustrating and substandard season has left Brown’s former graduate assistant in the crosshairs of many a disgruntled fan. And there might not be anyone better for Herman to reach out to right now than one of the few who have been in this position before.
Herman said Monday he planned on reaching out to Brown later that day. He’s part of the coach’s small circle of confidants.
“Coach Brown, certainly, just because he knows this place,” Herman said. “Coach ( Greg) Davis, I think, and having (analyst) Larry Fedora in the building every day has been really beneficial for me.
“So those are the ones that — (along with) my wife — the circle is small, I can tell you that. They’ve been good help along the way.”
There have also been reports of discord within the locker room as players and coaches trudge toward the end of a season none of them expected. And Herman’s head-butt stunt against Baylor felt like an act of desperation meant to enliven a group on the verge of splintering.
But the players, at least publicly, have kept faith in Herman and his staff.
“He does still have the locker room,” sophomore linebacker Joseph Ossai said Tuesday.
“And you sense it because no one’s given up. If you watch the games, we’re still fighting, we still believe and we still have hope in him as a leader. I have 100 percent faith, and I would hope the other guys do, and I feel they do.”
We’ll see Friday whether Brown’s pep talk and Ossai’s faith help lead to a win over Texas Tech (4-7, 2-6) at Royal
Memorial Stadium.
Shorter prep time changes routine
The Longhorns’ annual Black Friday game always requires some adjustments by coaches and players.
“It’s a big hindrance in terms of, we’re having to game plan into the wee hours of a Sunday night after just getting back from a road game, then Monday morning, then the kids having to practice on a Monday, which is a big change in routine because it’s a huge class day,” coach Tom Herman said. “In fact, we will have some players miss practice today because of class conflicts.”
“Toughness Tuesday” — the lone full-padded practice of the week — was held on a Monday, and the team’s following two practices were each moved up a day.
The Longhorns will reconvene Thursday at the hotel for a special Thanksgiving edition of “Family Friday.”
“In years past, it’s probably over 100 family members have joined us in that,” Herman said. “They will all say goodbye to their families on Thursday night and we will resume our normal ‘Family Friday’ schedule after that. I think the kids and the families really, really appreciate us allowing them to at least have some semblance of a Thanksgiving meal with their son.”
Injury report not getting any shorter
Texas will again be without sophomore cornerback Anthony Cook (knee), senior receiver Collin Johnson (hamstring) and junior tight end Cade Brewer (ankle).
Redshirt sophomore left tackle Sam Cosmi (ankle), junior linebacker Juwan Mitchell (hamstring), senior receiver Devin Duvernay (knee contusion), sophomore corner Jalen Green (ankle), sophomore safety DeMarvion Overshown (ankle) and sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram (ankle) will all be limited in practice this week as they recover from various injuries.
As for freshman tailback Jordan Whittington ,Texasis still trying to determine what exactly is causing his discomfort following surgery in September to address lingering issues connected to a history of sports hernias.
“Jordan Whittington, we re-MRI’d his pelvic area,” Herman said. “There is no abnormalities as far as anything unrelated to the pubalgia. We have sent those pictures off to the doctor in Philadelphia and (are) waiting for him to evaluate him. The last time we did it, obviously he said that everything looked great and cleared him to play. But ‘J-Witt’ has been in a lot of pain, so we’ve got to figure out what’s going on with him.”
Whittington, a five-star athlete and the state’s No. 2 recruit last year, has not played since recording two catches for 17 yards in the season opener against Louisiana Tech.