Herman wants to play A&M this season
AUSTIN — As the COVID-19 pandemic forces American sports leagues to confront an increasingly harsh reality, both the Big 12 and SEC are considering moving to a “plus one” football format this year composed of a full conference schedule and one additional nonconference game.
That has kept alive hope that a Week 2 matchup between Texas and LSU still could be played Sept. 12 in Baton Rouge. But might the leagues somehow come to an agreement that instead would feature a resumption of the UT-Texas A&M rivalry?
Longhorns coach Tom Herman is hoping the desperate situation forces the in-state enemies to reach some sort of agreement.
“We’ve reached out to try to play in the past — didn’t go real well,” Herman said Thursday during a virtual luncheon hosted by the Touchdown Club of Houston. “Maybe this will be the catalyst to make it happen.
“I haven’t heard anything like that. But who knows? Desperate times call for desperate measures. And we’d love to play
’em, I know that.”
Texas also is scheduled to play South Florida (Sept. 5) and UTEP (Sept. 19) this season before starting conference play. The road trip to LSU is the back half of a home-and-home series the program set in 2014.
The Aggies’ nonconference slate features the Sept. 5 season opener against Abilene Christian in College Station and home meetings with North Texas (Sept. 12) and Fresno State (Oct. 10).
The Longhorns and Aggies haven’t played each other since 2011, the latter’s final season as a Big 12 member. Fans have been clamoring for the rivalry to resume since then, though those pleas haven’t forced either side to budge.
“You know, it’s mindboggling to me that Georgia and Georgia Tech figure out a way to play every year,” Herman said. “ClemsonSouth Carolina, Iowa-Iowa State, Kentucky-Louisville, I mean the list goes on and on and on of in-state rivals that happen to be in different conferences playing every year.
“I hope someday that we can figure out a way to be like everybody else in the country.”
Earlier this month the
Big Ten announced it would move to a conference-only schedule for 2020. The Pac-12 is expected to follow suit with an official announcement next week, according to the San Jose Mercury News. And the Big 12, ACC and SEC are expected to make announcements about the 2020 season before August.
Herman said he’s not privy to discussions among NCAA and Power Five higher-ups right now. All the fourth-year Texas coach knows is he’s planning for football to be played in 2020, and it’d be a sweet and wholly unexpected surprise if this strange season included the renewal of an ancient rivalry that has remained dormant too long.
RB shows promise
Herman on Thursday had high praise for freshman running back Bijan Robinson.
The former Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe Catholic standout was one of the nation’s most coveted recruits when he committed to Texas last August. He ended his prep career as the nation’s No. 1 running back and No. 15 overall recruit, per the 247Sports composite.
And even with veterans such as junior Keaontay Ingram and sophomore Roschon Johnson on the depth chart, Robinson is expected to become an instant contributor whenever college football is played. At least that’s how Herman and new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich see it.
“Oh, he’s gonna play,” Herman said. “I mean there’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. We feel better about that room than we did this time last year. He’s put together like a guy that’s been in college for four years. He’s fast, he’s big, he’s got soft hands out of the backfield, and unbelievable body control.”
Robinson has the look of the next great Texas tailback. He’s got the pedigree, too.
Unstoppable out of the backfield at Salpointe Catholic, Robinson racked up more career touchdowns (114) and rushing yards (7,036) than any other player in the history of Arizona high school football. He also became the first running back in state history to top 2,000 yards in three straight seasons.
And if Robinson turns out as good as advertised, he might one day force Texas to change the name of Campbell-Williams Field inside Royal-Memorial Stadium — renamed this month to honor Heisman-winning UT tailbacks Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams — again.
“I think that’s his plan,” Herman said.