On Tuesday, The Girl Herd, peppered me with 40 questions on Texas football and adjacent to Texas football. I was told this is similar to what Vogue does, though Vogue asks 73 questions. I didn't dare ask why the number was 73 but did ask that we pare it down to 40 questions regarding the 40 Acres.
On Tuesday, The Girl Herd, peppered me with 40 questions on Texas football and adjacent to Texas football. I was told this is similar to what Vogue does, though Vogue asks 73 questions. I didn’t dare ask why the number was 73 but did ask that we pare it down to 40 questions regarding the 40 Acres.
We also discussed the team. Here’s the video if you care to watch.
1. Prefer watching the game at home or in person?
Home. It’s easier to focus on the game and I enjoy the routine I have with my family when I stay home. That written, I love going to the games, tailgating, and catching up with friends.
2. Favorite Longhorn team goes to what year?
2008. The reason being it was such a pleasant surprise and had the highest highs (Texas-OU) and lowest lows.
3. Icy Whites or Burnt Orange?
Burnt orange. The road unis are great but Texas and burnt orange are synonymous.
4. Tailgate drink of choice?
Colbeer. When the ice slushes just right.
5. Favorite college football stadium not including DKR?
Notre Dame. It’s like being on a movie set. The campus is fun to explore. I should note I did not attend the Texas game there in 2015. Had I, I’d probably think the campus was dystopian. I was at Notre Dame-Michigan in 2012.
6. Favorite NY6 Bowl stadium / city?
Give me the Rose Bowl for stadium but New Orleans for city.
7. Best game you’ve ever covered?
2023 Alabama. The home fans didn’t know what hit them—stunned disbelief. They hadn’t seen the Tide handled like that in well over a decade.
8. Most electric player you’ve seen in person?
VY. I thought about Ramonce Taylor because it was so much fun to watch him turn the corner and smoke the defense. Ditto Jamaal Charles.
9. Who’s the best coach in college football today?
Steve Sarkisian. I like to be ahead of the curve. Sure, Kirby and Dabo each have two and Ryan Day just won one but I think Sark is primed to go on a run that really already started. I don’t think there’s a Texas fan alive that would trade him for any other coach in the country.
10. Favorite under the radar recruit you’ve covered?
Charles Omenihu. He had a chip on his shoulder like no other. I remember telling him in his high school coaches’ office when he weighed 215 pounds that his best football would be played in the NFL. His eyes lit up. He had talent, and length, but it was his drive that sold me.
11. Who’s the most underrated coach in the country?
Kyle Whittingham. I just love the way his program operates. Throwback program.
12. Favorite Texas Longhorn player of all time?
Malik Jefferson.
13. Most talented Texas roster you’ve ever seen?
This one. There are guys on third-team at a number of positions who are more talented than the guys on first-team.
14. Who’s your favorite all-time Texas QB?
Sam Ehlinger. He could win with his head, heart, arm, or legs. Tough. Leader. Gave Kyler an earful. Quarterback success is so dependent on timing.
15. What’s the biggest recruiting battle you’ve covered?
Arch Manning was the biggest from a national standpoint. How could it not be? But the heat around Malik Jefferson’s due to A&M being the other school and in the throes of the #WRTS (we run this state) nonsense made it massive. Charlie Strong HAD to have that win. Like with Arch, you didn’t just get the player—a number of others wanted to follow him. Colin Simmons‘ was fun, too. I put in an RPM while he was on his Texas OV but it was contentious all the way until he announced.
16. Who’s the best recruiter in the game right now?
Sark, but it also depends on what you’re factoring for. He has his pitch down but what I really like is how frequently he nails the mental evaluation. I’m sure there are slicker recruiters out there but there’s a lot more to it than having the gift of gab.
17. Who’s the next breakout star for Texas?
Skill players get the headlines but give me OT Trevor Goosby. I think he’ll be drafted in the first round after this season.
18. Who’s the best offensive mind in college football?
I give the nod to Kalen Deboer but you could go Sark, Lincoln Riley, Lane Kiffin, etc.
19. Who’s the best defensive coordinator in college football?
Penn State’s Jim Knowles and I’m not sure it’s close. Love PK, though.
20. Who’s a can’t-miss Texas freshman this season?
With the qualifier being “this season” give me Graceson Littleton. He’s one of the hungriest guys in the program and there just happens to be playing time available at Star (nickel). That’s the key, this is a hard depth chart to crack for a freshman.
21. Which position room is primed to make the biggest impression in 2025?
Edge. It might end up being the best position room in the country, regardless of position.
22. Best college town atmosphere?
Oxford. I’m a hopeless romantic when it comes to smaller college towns. Now throw in chandeliers hanging from tents…There are a lot of places I still need to go, though.
23. Favorite college football analyst?
Ian Boyd. I don’t know why The Girl Herd laughed when I said it. Just kidding, while I did say it to be humorous, I do love how Ian isn’t afraid to go against the grain. We don’t call him contrarIAN for nothing. He knows so much more than the national talking heads and can defend all of his points.
24. Most overhyped program in college football?
I went with USC. It would have been easy to say A&M but I think Mike Elko is a real football coach. They’ll go 8-4 as etched in the Magna Carta but the program will be in a better place than last year. I’ve never believed in Lincoln Riley’s ability to cultivate a tough culture.
25. Most slept-on program in the country?
SMU. This season they won’t be as good as last year but I think they’re building for the long haul. Texas Tech is buying position players, I think SMU is buying positions.
26. Who’s the best dual-threat QB right now?
Sam Leavitt. A lot of his athleticism shows up as he’s buying time to throw but he can run. His brother was a special teamer and safety in the NFL.
27. Who’s a transfer that’s about to explode this year?
Tight end Jack Endries. He and Arch have expedited the rapport it takes to punish defenses. Sure-handed and a pretty good athlete to boot. Pencil in 50 catches and 600 yards.
28. Favorite non-Texas team to watch?
South Carolina. I watched the Gamecocks a lot last year and was entertained each time. LaNorris Sellers might be the most fun player to watch in CFB.
29. Most underrated assistant coach at Texas?
Jeff Banks. He should be a head coach somewhere.
30. What’s a rule you’d change in college football?
Fans should be able to throw bottles on the field when the officials are blatantly wrong.
31. What’s the best Texas home game you’ve attended?
Missouri ’08. Texas smashed them and the crowd was the rowdiest I’ve ever seen in DKR. We had to drive back to Houston after the game but never got tired because we were so wired.
32. What’s the most fun part of your job?
Meeting people and that goes well beyond the players and coaches. E.g., most of IT’s investors were cultivated from the community. Simply covering UT has opened a lot of doors.
33. What’s a misconception people have about recruiting?
That it’s all about money (it’s just mostly about money). I kid. While money does matter, Texas makes a lot of hay with the holistic sell—development, winning, academics, culture, atmosphere, and, yes, NIL.
34. Who’s the next Texas Heisman candidate?
Arch.
35. Favorite memory from the Red River Rivalry?
When they got over the hump in 2005. The 2004 game was such a letdown and Horn fans were over the rivalry entirely. The Stonie Clark game-saving tackle was epic. 2018, the Dicker game winner, was also one to remember. Take the loss….Kyler.
36. Which coach gives the best soundbites?
Lane Kiffin. Mike Leach was the GOAT. Mike Gundy has provided a lot of entertainment, too.
37. Most overlooked state for recruiting talent?
Mississippi. Everyone knows about Texas, Florida, California, Louisiana, and Georgia, but some real freaks come out of Mississippi.
38. Which player has the highest football IQ you’ve covered?
Jamal Adams or Michael Taaffe. It almost felt blasphemous to compare Adams to Michael Griffin when he was a sophomore in high school but that kid had “it.” Taaffe is an obvious answer.
39. Favorite offseason storyline?
Roster management. If Texas wins it all there’s a real chance it was won when they added key players through the portal and retained all the elite talent. Ohio State “won it” a year before they actually won it.
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40. Final one—What’s your boldest prediction for Texas Football in the next 5 years?
I’ll just say, I really wonder what will happen if Sark wins a national title.
Category: General Sports
