The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Football notebook (Dec. 23)
12.23.2014 | Football
Longhorns head to Houston on Christmas Eve.
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Bowl Prep Schedule
After practicing in Austin on Christmas Eve morning, the Longhorns will depart for Houston later Wednesday afternoon. On Christmas day, the team will go through a morning workout before gathering together for a team dinner.
"I just want everyone to gather so we all have a gift and that way the whole team is together, and we're going to give them something so that we can enjoy Christmas Day," said head coach Charlie Strong. "We're going to practice and then also enjoy Christmas Day."
On the 26th, both Texas and Arkansas players will participate in the Rodeo Bowl at George Ranch Historical Park. In an authentic Texas Rodeo experience, the teams will square off in seven competitions, ranging from an offensive line dance-off, to a hay bale toss, all the way to a race to see who can tackle and chalk brand a live calf the fastest.
Bowl activities wrap up on Saturday the 27th with a luncheon, a visit to DePelchin Children's Center and a game night that evening. The AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl is set for 8 p.m. Central on Monday, Dec. 29.
Senior Class Celebrates
Head coach Charlie Strong has repeatedly praised his senior class this season for its resiliency after opening the year 2-4, but recovering to earn a bowl berth. In order to thank them, Strong held his annual dinner for the seniors and their families on Friday at The University of Texas Club (click here for the photo gallery). The coaching staff presented each student-athlete with a framed jersey, one token they'll have before playing for the last time in burnt orange. Most of the senior class has graduated. In fact, when Texas takes the field vs. Arkansas it will have 22 graduates on its roster, tied for first in the nation heading into the bowl season with Alabama, Clemson, Kansas State and Louisville. Sixteen Longhorns graduated this semester and six more in previous ones.
All-Star Game Invites
So far, four Longhorns have accepted invitations to postseason all-star games. CB Quandre Diggs and LB Jordan Hicks are on the roster for the Senior Bowl (Jan. 24 in Mobile, Alabama). In addition, RB Malcolm Brown is confirmed to play in the East-West Shrine Game (Jan. 17 in St. Petersburg, Florida) and DS Nate Boyer in the Medal of Honor Bowl (Jan. 10 in Charleston, South Carolina). Rosters for the games have not been finalized. Another possible destination for Longhorn seniors is the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl (Jan. 17 in Carson, California).
Hutchins' switch proves pivotal
It's been a challenging year for the Texas offensive line. The Longhorns lost their leader in center Dominic Espinosa in the season opener. Of the eight first-time starters on offense this season, five were on the offensive line. Texas used five different starting lineups in the first seven games of the season before finding consistency with the same unit over the last five games. Perhaps no player better represents this year's o-line than Marcus Hutchins, a fourth-year player who started the preseason on the defensive side of the ball.
Hutchins, a junior from DeSoto, Texas, started his college career on the offensive line before switching to defensive tackle in the 2013 preseason. When the new coaching staff came in, Hutchins was asked to come back over to the offensive side, an idea he embraced for the betterment of the team. These switches are not all that uncommon, but for Hutchins to start all 12 games – including the last 11 at left tackle – is a testament to his hard work.
"It wasn't expected, but coming from defense and going back to offense was something that wasn't brand new to me since I started out on offense," said Hutchins. "So, when [the new coaching staff] asked me to come over and play offensive tackle I said, 'Sure, anything for the team,' and I just worked my tail off and landed in a starting position."
Hutchins also says he saw the switch back to offense as a second chance to play a key role, given to him by the coaching staff.
"This staff here is a players' staff. They're all about the players. They want to see you succeed not only on the field, but off of the field. So, when this new staff came in I felt like it was a way for me to identify myself to show them what I really can do and show the reason I really was recruited here."
Looking at Arkansas
Arkansas comes into the bowl matchup with one of the best rushing attacks in the nation. With running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins both topping the 1,000-yard rushing mark, the Razorbacks are the only team in the nation with a pair of teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in the regular season. As a team, Arkansas is averaging 220.3 rushing yards per game.
Texas, meanwhile, is 26th nationally in total defense allowing 348.3 yards per game. Opponents have averaged 162.1 rushing yards per game.
The Arkansas defense is also strong. Defensive end Trey Flowers has 45.5 career tackles for loss, tied for the second most nationally, and the Razorbacks are the only team in the nation to shut out two ranked teams in 2014 (LSU and Ole Miss), doing it in back-to-back weeks in November.
That makes for a balanced team that finished 6-6 despite playing the hardest schedule in the nation, and Strong knows the Longhorns will have to be sharp on both sides of the ball to get a win.
"They have two backs that have rushed for 2,000 yards. The quarterback does a good job of just managing the game," said Strong. "He throws the ball, but he throws it well enough where he does get completions and they're able to move the chains. Defensively, they come with so much pressure. The ends are unbelievable outside, where they're able to force the pocket, push the pocket. When you do try to sit back, they can get the pressure on you.
"So it's going to be a good matchup for us. Offensively, we have to move the ball. Can't get behind on first and second down. Defensively, it's going to be about us being able to stop the run."
