Really brief, just really proud of our guys and the way that they responded to their opening-week
performance. I think it showed a lot about what we can be in terms of coming together, not
allowing all of the noise or distraction to inhibit our training and our getting better and getting
prepared to win a game and correcting mistakes.
Thought our guys played much more free with much less hesitation. You know, we had kind of
two themes of the week, if you will. One was a bunker mentality, that we were going to let week
ones or we were going to make sure that week one's performance drew us closer, and we weren't
going to worry about anybody other than who is in that building. Two, was cut it loose. Meaning
take the training to the field and cut it loose. Don't evaluate, don't tip-toe, don't hesitate, don't
think, just go. I thought our guys did that. So, happy with the direction we're headed.
I think when you watch the film, we are nowhere near a finished product. We won that game
because we played so hard and we've got really good players. So I think that's a start. When
you've got good players that play hard, you've got a chance. Now we've got to get those good
players playing hard and playing with better fundamentals and technique and execution each and
every play because playing a team like USC or really anybody left on our schedule, you're not
going to be able to mask some of those fundamental and technique errors with just effort and
talent like we were on Saturday.
So the guys see that, they're hungry, they want to keep getting better. They like the feeling of
improvement, and I think they're proud, too. But they also know that we've got to go into a
hostile environment to play one of the best teams in the country that's playing really, really well
right now. We're going to need to play not just really hard and not just with the talent that we
have, but we're going to have to play very, very fundamentally sound play after play after play to
stay competitive in this ballgame.
Questions?
BRIAN DAVIS, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN: Two questions, Tom. One, the big
thing is we've heard a lot about you going 6-0 vs. Top 25 opponents at Houston. First of all,
clearly you embrace that but how did you get those guys to play and win over Florida State,
maybe play higher than they were ranked?
Believed in the fact that we were going to be the best trained team on the field that Saturday and
a team that played with the greatest purpose, which was the true, unabashed love for the guy next
to you and your coaches. That was real. Obviously we weren't undefeated, so at times we had
some speed bumps.
But I think I've told this story. I had an assistant from Oklahoma call me the day after we beat
Oklahoma and said I've been here 17 years, and that is the hardest hitting team we've played. As
a head coach, that's — regardless of the score, if you can have an opponent, win, lose or draw,
call you the next day and tell you that, then I think you're on to something pretty good.

 So I think just the belief in how hard and how well that we trained, and then the purpose behind
why we play and what motivates us each and every snap.
DAVIS: And do you feel like this week is almost a moment of sorts — you're playing a very
high-profile game, the national media and everyone's watching — is it almost like a makegood for the season opener, another chance to show something?
No, I think every week, I mean, we're so far removed from Maryland, you know? That wasn't us.
We can't replay that game, so why dwell on it? I think any kind of added motivation derived
from how you performed two weeks ago or whatever it is, is probably wasted energy. So I think
each game poses its own motivation. And this one, the motivation is you're playing one of the
best teams in the country, one of the premier programs in the history of college football in the
Los Angeles Coliseum. I mean, there is plenty of motivation there regardless of what you want to
show or prove to anybody, especially now with the bunker mentality. The only people we have to
prove anything to is our teammates.
DENNIS DE LA PENA, FOX 7: Coach, kind of a three-parter. Is there anything more you
know about Shane Buechele, his prognosis? And then if Sam is gonna play, have you seen
anything in him, his temperament, his makeup, how he's a different freshman who can
maybe handle this kind of thing?
Yeah, nothing new with Shane other than he's getting better every day. We certainly weren't
going to try to test him yesterday or today, so I think tomorrow will be a big benchmark knowing
that we practice tomorrow afternoon. So I said every day he's getting better, but every day is a
new day. So is he better today than he was yesterday? Yes. Hopefully he will be tomorrow and be
able to go.
Your question about Sam. This is from the day I met him, this is an extremely mature guy. You
don't go through what he went through in 8th grade and all of a sudden have to be the man of
your household in 8th grade and not mature very quickly. So he's a bit of an old soul and really,
really mature for a guy his age and in his position. I think that's what has allowed him to step into
this role maybe a little bit easier than most.
ANWAR RICHARDSON, ORANGEBLOODS: Coach, I know this pre-dates you a little
bit, but the last two years your team is 2-8 in road games. Talk about this challenge of
playing on the road and how do you teach these guys to win away from DKR?
I think the challenge is sticking to your routine. We talk to our players about — every great
player, one of the things that is commonplace whether it's Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning or
Jerome Bettis has spoken to our staff and team — every great player has a routine, and they do
the same thing every day. They do the same thing every Friday of game week. They do the same
thing every Saturday morning of a game. So I think if you can make just getting on a plane the
only deviation in that routine, then you've succeeded.
So I think that's probably the biggest challenge, is making sure that we're dialed in and focused
just as if it were a home game. The only difference is we're going, instead of a 30-minute bus

 ride to our hotel, we're getting on the plane for a couple hours. Other than that, the meal's going
to be the same. The times are going to be the same, the pregame routine is going to be the same,
so that's the biggest thing for me.
DANNY DAVIS, AMERICAN-STATESMAN: Tom, do you have an update on Garrett
Gray and will Reese practice and play this week?
Don't know yet. I think we've still got to figure out where we want to head with the game plan as
far as Reese is concerned. Garrett will not play this week. He's got a sprain, so I think he's week
by week. Patrick Hudson, we're still waiting to get the MRI results on him. So I don't think — I
don't know about Reese. He's going to practice with us and not the scout team just because of
Garrett's situation; had Garrett not gotten hurt, I think Reese would have stayed with the scout
team. But since we're going to be without Garrett, he'll practice with the offense this week.
ALEX LOEB, LONGHORN NETWORK: Coach, what kind of role do you envision Jerrod
Heard having this week?
Big. Hopefully maybe even bigger than last week, and not in terms of plays. Hopefully we can
get a couple of those plays off the ground that kind of got stuffed. But, no, this is a guy — I think
it's important that whenever Shane gets healthy, fully healthy, I would envision you'll see Jerrod
in most every game behind center at some point. When Shane is fully healthy, that will allow him
to maybe go back and devote most of his practice time and meeting time to playing wide
receiver. But knowing that we can jog him back there and take some snaps and add a change of
pace for the defense, I think is a weapon. The good thing about him, which is different than most
"wildcat quarterbacks" is he can throw the football.
He played quarterback here at a very high level for a couple of years, so I think that dimension of
it is a lot different than most that jog a running back or a wide receiver back there. This is a guy
that's played college quarterback for a couple years. So if you want to put a bunch of human
beings in the box to stop the run, he's capable of throwing it over your head.
CEDRIC GOLDEN, AMERICAN-STATESMAN: Tom, how important was it for them to
put some good football on film and how much easier does that make preparation for a
tough opponent?
I think not necessarily on film, I think it was good for our guys to go out and see what they are
capable of. I think it allows them, when you talk about what that means for preparing and gameplanning, it gives them confidence. ... If we do what we did on Saturday, good things are gonna
happen. You trust your training and go as hard as you can, good things are gonna happen.
RICKY DOYLE, SPECTRUM: As head coach, do you like having these kind of marquee
games, if you will, on the schedule in non-conference? And do you have any memories of
the '05 Texas-USC championship game?
Um, I have mixed emotions. I think it's great for our fans. I think it's great for our program to
have these. I think it's a little different though when you play nine conference games. It makes

 scheduling, especially in a time when we're trying to rebuild this thing from three straight losing
seasons, it makes things maybe a little bit more difficult to play. I mean this year we're going to
play 11 Power Five teams, and a lot of those will be bowl teams as well. So that's a tough
schedule.
I like the fact that we get to play these games. I kind of like Alabama's model of playing them at
a neutral site each year. But I'm happy for our fans. I think it's great that two of the premier
brands in college football history are going to face off.
Uh, 2005? I knew I was going to get asked, and I tried for the life of me to figure out where I
was. I can't remember exactly. I think I might have been at the national coaches convention, I'm
not sure. But I do remember just watching Vince and just being awestruck and remembering how
many great players were on that field. Then obviously the fourth down call down there on
whatever it was, the 7-yard line or 4-yard line, was one that I remember watching very closely.
KIRK BOHLS, AMERICAN-STATESMAN: Tom, your first two games you've gotten
mixed results. Have you gotten closer to forming your identity as a team or have the
quarterback's injuries slowed that?
Yeah, I mean, I'd be remiss if I didn't admit to that a little bit. We're still trying to figure out who
we are a little bit, especially on that side of the ball. I think on defense we took some major,
major strides from a recklessness standpoint. I hate to use that word in football because maybe
people interpret it as you're not playing disciplined. That's not what I mean. I mean, figuratively
lighting your hair on fire and just going.
So I think we took some major strides there. I think we made a huge commitment to running the
football because of what we were playing on the other side. We knew we had to possess the ball.
We knew we had to keep our defense fresh and off the field as much as possible. But that is who
we want to be, too. I don't know any championship program that's ever won not being able to run
the football effectively.
So I think people saw Shane throw the ball 54 times in the first game — again, I'll keep
reminding people we were down 20 points in the second quarter and playing a defense that, quite
frankly, had structured themselves to try to take away the run. So the score and the circumstance
of that game kind of dictated that. I think we know who we want to be. It's can we be it against
really good people?
CHIP BROWN, HORNS DIGEST: Tom, Gary Johnson — looked like he flashed, maybe
he's got some instincts. What did you see? Who stood out to you, I guess, and did he?
Yeah, Gary did. He did a heck of a job in his first major action. He recommitted himself. I don't
even know if we announced, you know he had an ankle injury that he was dealing with towards
the end of camp that really, really hampered him, missed a lot of practice. He recommitted
himself on the week's preparation leading up to San Jose State. It was good to see him perform
well.

 Obviously Holton Hill is a guy that's playing at a really high level right now. I think Malik is
playing really well, playing really good football for us. You know, making the plays that he
should, making some plays that only he can make. I know he left a couple out there, that one
sack where he was clinging to the quarterback and couldn't get him down sticks in his craw. So
he's doing that.
A guy that goes unsung, probably, is Jake McMillon, you know. That's a guy I'd want in my
bunker, I can tell you that. He's a guy that you want walking by your side in a dark alley at night,
too.
ROGER WALLACE, KXAN: Tom, what impresses you and at the same time concerns you
about Sam Darnold?
The things that impress me are the things that concern me since we're playing against him. I
knew Sam. I recruited him a little bit when I was at Ohio State. His high school is right down the
road from where my mom lives, so he's really a football-smart guy. Can make every throw in the
book, he really can. From all different kinds of arm angles. So I think when you see him and you
see his stature, you think, oh, this guy can't run. The guy can run. He's pretty elusive.
I was telling John (Bianco, UT's sports information director) when I kind of had a debriefing
meeting with the defense on Monday mornings, just to kind of get a head's up on who these guys
are before I click on the film. It was like the scene from "Armageddon" when Billy Bob
Thornton's talking and Owen Wilson says, "So, scariest environment imaginable, right? That's all
you had to say, Todd, that's all you had to say. Scariest environment imaginable." So this is a
really good football team, really talented, and obviously, he's the gas in the engine.
CHUCK CARLTON, DALLAS MORNING NEWS: Tom, just revisiting your quarterback
situation to understand, if Shane's healthy is he the starter for this, or is there more at play
than just his health?
Well, no more at play. I think Shane's gotta — if Shane's healthy, he's got to go prove that he's
also competent in practice. That's just like anywhere else or any other week, I should say. So I
think if Shane can throw tomorrow and is fully cleared tomorrow, then he's going to go with the
ones. But he's got to obviously have a really good practice to make sure that he stays with the
ones on Wednesday.
BOB BALLEW, KEYE: Is there anything the program can glean from old players from the
'05 team this week?
You know, Vince comes around, so I'm sure he'll be around. We welcome that. Obviously we've
got one on our staff in Michael Huff, that is, you know, knows very intimately about that game in
'05. So everybody's welcome. Every former player is always welcome. So there will be a few
more this week than most? Maybe, because those guys like to relive those things, you know. But
other than Michael and Vince, none that are really scheduled.

 JIM VERTUNO, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Tom, hidden in that boxscore was another missed
field goal. Is that now a worry for you? How do you fix that? How closely are you
managing that?
It is a worry. We're 0 of 3 with one block and two misses. I thought the two guards handled the
internal pressure much better, which was good to see. I wish we hadn't needed that lesson. But,
yeah, we're going to evaluate where he's at and make sure that some of the other guys are getting
quality kicks in practice. The hard part with the kicker is (pause) if you or if my grandma was at
practice, she could tell you who the starting kicker should be because the kid had that good of a
fall camp. So we've got to figure out a way for him to translate how well he did in fall camp to
game day.
STEVE HABEL, HORNS ILLUSTRATED: Coach, you guys as coaches always talk about
teams' growth from the first game to the second game. Do you think your team improved
improved from what you've seen from the first game to the second game?
Oh without a doubt. I hope we continue to grow if we can. We can't stay stagnant, that's for sure.
But much closer, much tighter, much more focused and purposeful in practice than the last week.
We're hoping to see more of that this week.
Going back to last week, what kind of goes into preparing a true freshman for his first
start, and also how does that affect what you want to do?
I don't know that you prepare them any differently. Especially a guy like Sam that's been here
through summer practice, and spring conditioning and training camp and all that, he's as prepared
from that standpoint as any first-time starting quarterback whether it's a true freshman or not. I
think the biggest thing you have to do is you've got to condense. You go through there, and I just
remember a point in the game-planning last week when we were talking about third down and
said, OK, hey, from third and three to six, this is what San Jose has shown. We want to do this,
this, and this, and if they show this, we want to do this, this, and this.
But finally Tim (Beck, offensive coordinator) and I looked at each other and said we can't do that
to Sam. We can't. We're going to do this, and we're going to try like heck to make sure we're
right, and we're going to give him very small bites of the offense so that he can get good at them
and perfect them. So that's just always been kind of our philosophy, young, inexperienced
quarterbacks, you try to condense as much as you can.
If I can follow up: What percentage of bites would you say Sam had last week?
I don't know. You guys always want some quantification. I have no idea.
SAM KHAN JR., ESPN.COM: Tom, two things. Given Shane's fluid situation health-wise,
how late in the week can you stay to make that decision on that front?
I don't — I'll know when I know.

 KHAN: And secondly, given the challenge on the road and caliber of the team you're
facing, how ready mentally do you feel like they are?
(Pause) We'll find out Saturday. I feel like they will be. We're not gonna leave any stone
unturned, we're not gonna leave any I not dotted and any T not crossed, so we'll be in a good
place mentally. I have confidence that they'll respond. They showed me a lot last week in how
they responded. Now we've gotta take yet another step in returning to beat a top-five team on the
road.
CHIP BROWN, HORNS DIGEST: Tom, people look at Jerrod and say he might be more of
a fit for the offense that you've run in the past. Is it too late for him to be in the mix to try
to be the starting quarterback on this team? Why wouldn't he be in the mix?
I don't think it's ever too late. Is that the direction we want to head? I don't know, because I think
we're still very optimistic on the speed and shortness of time for Shane's recovery. Now if this
thing drags on for a couple weeks, I think that's when you've got to say, OK, big boy, let's go
give you, instead of a package, you're going to learn how to play quarterback.
Two very different things though, rather than memorizing a couple plays versus knowing the
entire offense and executing it, and managing the game. So I think, you know, was it eight carries
for 39 yards and we're already making those kind of assertions? I think is a little bit premature; 0
for 1 throwing, I think, right? Something like that. So I definitely think that's premature, but it's
not out of the realm of possibility for him to grow in that role should we need him to.
JEFF HOWE, 247SPORTS: Tom, two questions about Kendall Moore. One, what went into
playing Moore this week than he did against Maryland, and did you feel he gave you a
boost in the running game?
We felt like if we were going to make a commitment to run the football, we needed to put our
best run blocker at that position in the game. Played well at times. You know, he did some things
that if they show back up against the University of Southern California, it's going to be a bad day.
So we've got to get some mistakes and technique issues corrected, but went the right way, got in
front of people and it goes to show you just why mass is important in running the football. A
255-pound man is going to be able to displace another human being a lot better than a 230-pound
man. I don't know if it's physics or bio-mechanics, it's some kind of science word. So that's why
we brought him here. Now he's got to do it at a much more consistent level. But we were pleased
with his first real action.
ROGER WALLACE, KXAN: Chris Warren last Saturday, is that the kind of running you
anticipate? He was running pretty good last year and got hurt and didn't get a lot of
touches that first game.
Yeah, I was really happy, I think I said after the game Chris has done a really good job in the
nine months that we've been here of making sure that he pays very close attention to how low
and how physical of a runner he needs to be. I think there were times in the spring where — I

 mean, this was a kid that had a bulls-eye on his chest because he ran so upright. You know, he
took a lot of pounding because of it.
So the physicality of his running and his running style and running behind his pads, I was really
happy with him. He's made a lot of improvement there. We've still got to clean up some things
from a vision standpoint and who he's reading and when to go into what hole and all that stuff.
But from an effort and pad level standpoint, was really, really pleased with the game that he had.
KIRK BOHLS, AMERICAN-STATESMAN: You mentioned your grandma would be able
to watch practice and know who the kicker is. Does she follow your games and go to see
games?
No. I think those are two different animals. You don't know, but my grandma grew up playing
soccer. She knows kicking.
BOHLS: Does she know anything about football?
No.
BOHLS: I think most people think you're an underdog, don't like your chances.
We should, yeah. I mean, we are an underdog. I mean, this is — they've been doing this a while
at Southern Cal, we haven't. Great season last year. Quarterback is as good as there is in the
country. Skill position players all over the place that are good as there is in the country. Coaching
staff and the scheme that's as good as there is in the country. So, yeah. I mean, I would say
they're definitely the favorite.
BRIAN DAVIS, AMERICAN-STATESMAN: Tom, I wanted to ask you, going from when
you compared the offensive line to the 2014 (Ohio State) group, and Saturday —
I said they had the potential.
DAVIS: OK, then after the (San Jose State) game you said they were above-average. Where
are you mentally with those guys right now and where do you think their performance
should be?
I'm in a good place. They played better. I don't just say that because we were playing San Jose
State. I mean, they played better. There is no doubt about it. They played more cohesively, which
was good to see. A lot better communication, faster reaction and recognition to movement. So
we've still got a ways to go to reach our potential, but I was happy with the improvement they
made.
DAVIS: What about right tackle?
OK. Nobody's separated themselves. Tristan's played well; I think Denzel has had flashes.

 JIM VERTUNO, ASSOCIATED PRESS: Tom, at Texas we've seen quarterback questions
rile up the fan base. As a head coach, going into the season with an established starter, if it
gets to the point of making a change, how do you manage the locker room? Is that an issue
for the locker room?
No, I don't think so. You know, the locker room wants to win. We're professionals at our
profession for a reason, because we should have the best knowledge of how to get those wins out
of our team as coaches. So I think the players, if you've done a good job in the nine months that
you've been at a place earning their trust, then the players trust you. Coach, whatever you think
we need to do to win, is what we'll do. So that's never really crossed my mind because they just
want to win.
We're not to that point. Our starting quarterback got hurt, so we're not at that point.