Texas set for Utah in Alamo Bowl
Win on final night of the 2010s could give program momentum heading into the ’20s
SAN ANTONIO — If Sam Ehlinger could retract his post-Sugar Bowl podium proclamation, he probably would.
In fairness, it’s hard to fault the then-20-year-old quarterback for his “We’re back!” in a moment of unexpected triumph. The Longhorns were in an adrenalized haze, and everyone felt the win over fifthranked Georgia was the precursor to something grander.
Turns out last year was the anomaly. Texas (7-5) is back, all right — with the latest disappointing year in a long run of mediocrity.
Tom Herman’s third season as UT coach has cost several staffers their jobs, most notably demoted offensive coordinator Tim Beck (replaced by Ohio State’s Mike Yurcich) and fired defensive coordinator Todd Orlando (replaced by former Rutgers coach Chris Ash). More are likely on their way out.
It was another bruise on a
program that has suffered many since the divorce with Mack Brown in December 2013.
Still, there is a chance for some redemption in Tuesday’s Alamo Bowl against No. 11 Utah (11-2) at the Alamodome. And there is a chance for those who knew the highs of 2018 to learn
how to dig themselves out of the mud.
“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, because they weren’t here for that first spring, that first season, the things that this senior class and junior class went through,” Herman said Monday. “They’re looking at them like, man, you guys got it easy. You just walk into 10 wins, a New Year’s Six bowl victory, all that. You think those things just fall out of the sky at Texas.”
If there has been any playerdriven dissent after an underwhelming season, the Longhorns are keeping the disarray in the locker room.
Ehlinger said he believes his teammates are locked in on the Utes, a College Football Playoff hopeful until the final weekend of the regular season. No one is sitting out to protest or prepare for the draft, though freshman linebackers David Gbenda and Byron Vaughns were sent home Monday for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
“The buy-in level, I think everybody right now is — we’re having fun,” Ehlinger said Sunday. “It would be very easy for guys to kind of doze off and have a foot out the door, but I don’t sense that at all. I think everybody has done a really good job of being mature about the situation and controlling what we can control and going to work.”
The Longhorns are healthy and rested, having last played Nov. 29 in a 49-24 win over Texas Tech.
Senior wideout Collin Johnson (hamstring) and junior tight end Cade Brewer (ankle) are expected to start. Sophomore punter Ryan Bujcevski (clavicle) is back. A secondary battered seemingly all season is as complete as it’s been since preseason, with Chris Brown, Anthony Cook, B.J. Foster, Jalen Green and DeMarvion Overshown all cleared to go.
And they’ll have a city and stadium largely on their side, a welcome boost for an underdog coveting a win before the clock strikes midnight.
“I don’t know that it’s been really a challenge to keep them together,” Herman said. “Obviously, the regular-season record wasn’t what we hoped it w"as. At this point, that’s irrelevant. They want to win the game just as bad as they wanted to win game one, game two, especially because of their admiration for this senior class.”
Texas should be thankful to be free of the 2010s. A win on New Year’s Eve could be exactly what this program needs heading into the ’20s. Just don’t expect Ehlinger or his teammates to make any outrageous podium statements if the Longhorns find a way to beat the Utes.
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