By Steve Habel/Senior Editor
AUSTIN, Texas — Twelve hours and 19 minutes after the winning touchdown in Texas’ thrilling 50-47 double overtime victory over Notre Dame, Longhorns coach Charlie Strong reemerged in front of the assembled media for his normal Monday availability.
But this press conference was anything but normal or routine. In the overnight hours since backup quarterback Tyrone Swoopes bashed his way through the Fighting Irish for the deciding score, things had changed for Strong and his program. Without making too much about one season-opening win, the indications are there that the Longhorns are back.
Let that sink in for a minute. Now think about this statement: the world [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]of college football is a better place with Texas being a good, and maybe great, team again.
“It was a great team win for us,” Strong said. “It was a fun night. I’m so happy and so proud. Probably last year we couldn’t have won this game. Now we have to continue to build on how we got here because one game does not make a season.”
Texas won because the two-quarterback system that failed for Notre Dame worked for the Longhorns. Freshman Shane Buechele did just about everything right, save for a third quarter interception that almost cost Texas the game, and Tyrone Swoopes, a player who would rather not be in the spotlight but who’s had little choice, excelled in the power running package.
Strong said Monday that Swoopes had the advantage in the battle to be starting quarterback three weeks ago, but that Buechele had made huge strides in fall camp. Once Strong settled on the freshman as his starter — the coach said it wasn’t until Friday before Sunday’s game — Swoopes went to Buechele and told him “I’m behind you. I want you to succeed.”
It’s that kind of selflessness that can carry a team, and it’s something that Texas hasn’t had in the past few seasons, despite its handful of big wins.
“Hey, we’re 1-0,” Strong said. “We wanted make a statement and we did. There are so many things we can clean up and get better at, and we have to be happy we don’t have to play against a quarterback like (Notre Dame’s DeShone) Kizer every week.”
The Longhorns have a short week of preparation for Saturday’s home game against Texas-El Paso, which easily handled New Mexico State, 38-22, in its season opener. Strong is adamant that Texas doesn’t just go through the motions against the Miners, and he’s determined that the Longhorns give no quarter after working so hard to get where they are on this Labor Day.
Texas has an offensive formula that can continue to push it forward: use its punishing rushing attack behind D’Onta Foreman, Chris Warren II and Swoopes, a downfield passing strategy with Buechele targeting John Burt and Armanti Foreman and underneath routes with new possession receiver Jake Oliver. The hurry-up scheme of offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert was a success because, as Strong said, “we have the speed that we can speed it up with.”
Ultimately, the Longhorns will have to win with their defense, and they really didn’t stop Notre Dame’s potent attack as much as slowed it down enough to win.
Other items addressed on Monday:
• Strong said eight true freshmen played in the win over Notre Dame, most notably Buechele and center Zach Shackelford.
• Strong lamented the Longhorns’ 11 penalties, including the one called on him for sideline interference during Notre Dame’s two-point return of a blocked extra point that tied the game late in the fourth quarter.
• He lauded punter Michael Dickson’s work to “flip the field in key situations.” Dickson averaged 55 yards per punt on six kicks, including a 64-yarder.
• Strong said he expects the three Texas players injured on Sunday — offensive linemen Tristan Nickelson and Kent Perkins and safety Dylan Haines — to be ready to play against UTEP.
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