Litman Lake
Football and school soccer analyst
AUSTIN, Texas – On the eve of Texas’ opening College Football Playoff sport towards Clemson, Steve Sarkisian addressed his staff, strolling the fellows by means of the previous couple of months. From summer time conferences the place he requested every participant to write down about their life struggles, to dropping out once they misplaced playmakers to season-ending accidents, to the current, the place he highlighted beginning left sort out Kelvin Banks and quarterback Quinn Ewers, who’ve been coping with their very own accidents. He additionally referenced the 2 losses towards Georgia.
Sarkisian requested every participant to write down down a private problem they confronted this season and the way they responded, then write a observe to a teammate they have been pleased with for managing their problem.
The fourth-year Texas coach all the time speaks to his gamers the evening earlier than a sport, however this time he did not know his phrases can be so prescient.
The Longhorns put collectively a whole sport Saturday afternoon at Darrell Okay. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, dominating within the trenches and the operating sport en path to a 38-24 win over Clemson. For a lot of the afternoon, Texas appeared like a nationwide title contender, just like how Notre Dame, Penn State and later Ohio State appeared of their respective CFP video games.
But the top consequence did not come with out some troublesome moments.
“It’s ironic when a number of the belongings you speak about come true,” Sarkisian stated after the sport. “Literally, my speech to the staff – after some Xs and Os that might have been needed within the sport – was about adversity.
“When we get knocked down, we get again up and I’m so pleased with them for that tonight.”
Clemson offered the Longhorns with issues instantly, as quarterback Cade Klubnik, who was making a triumphant return to his hometown of Austin, engineered what was a virtually seven-minute landing run on the opening possession. Klubnik received the ball out shortly, made good selections and received his staff on the sector early.
Texas responded, scoring 21 unanswered factors and taking a 28-10 lead at halftime. Ewers was exact in his execution within the first half and completed the sport 17 of 24 for 202 yards, one landing and one interception.
Earlier this week, Sarkisian was requested why he thinks Texas might win the nationwide championship. He talked about his staff’s depth and flexibility, saying that “we are able to lean on totally different elements of our staff to win any fashion of play that is offered to us” and “we are able to face up to accidents when guys get knocked out of video games.”
So within the second half, when the Longhorns misplaced two beginning offensive linemen, they did not panic. Right sort out Cameron Williams and heart Jake Majors went down on consecutive performs and didn’t return.
Offensive coordinator Kyle Flood trains his linemen to play a number of positions, so Texas has been capable of proceed its dominance within the operating sport. Additionally, Flood has needed to be inventive in altering up his offensive line prior to now. When Banks missed seven performs within the Longhorns’ 17-7 win over Texas A&M on Nov. 30, it was Trevor Goosby who crammed in at left sort out after which began the SEC championship towards Georgia. Against Clemson, Goosby stepped in at proper sort out. Starting left guard Hayden Conner moved to heart and Cole Hutson, who usually performs proper guard, moved to the left facet.
“We all depend on one another, all of us belief one another,” Conner stated of all that shuffling. “When Kelvin went to Texas A&M, Goosby got here in and we did not miss a beat. That’s simply what we prepare for.”
Entering Saturday’s showdown, the Longhorns had given up simply 4 passing touchdowns all 12 months. Klubnik hauled in three passes on Saturday alone, whereas additionally turning into the primary quarterback to cross for greater than 300 yards towards the Texas protection this season. The junior sign caller completed the sport 26 of 43 for 336 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. His ultimate rating got here on fourth-and-6 from the Texas 7-yard line when he hit an open TJ Moore in the long run zone to make it a one-score sport.
On the subsequent drive, Jaydon Blue broke free for a 77-yard landing run to offer Texas extra cushion. Blue had been out of the lineup because of an early-season ankle harm and ball safety points, however the junior performed his greatest on the largest stage, speeding for a season-high 146 yards with two touchdowns in victory. Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards and two scores because the Longhorns piled up 292 yards on the bottom, their highest speeding complete of the season.
“It hurts for a protection while you’re simply operating, operating, operating and you’ll’t cease it,” Texas security Michael Taaffe stated.
After Blue’s landing made it 38-24, Matthew McConaughey — the Longhorns’ self-proclaimed “tradition minister” — led the 101,150 followers in attendance in a “Texas Fight” chant. The stadium lights went out, everybody turned on their cellphone flashlights, and McConaughey grabbed the microphone.
Electricity nonetheless pulsed by means of the stadium when Clemson received the ball again. Klubnik made some explosive throws downfield and received his offense to the 1-yard line, however the Texas protection supplied goal-line place, stuffing the Tigers on each third and fourth down.
“This is simply who I’m,” Sarkisian stated. “We weren’t good and we received a bit free on the again finish and so they made some performs. And credit score to Clemson and credit score to Cade. But on the finish of the day, when our backs are towards the wall, what resistance from our line by 1 yard to get that cease.”
Sarkisian would have most well-liked a sustained push to complete the sport with 7:24 left. But on fourth-and-1, Arch Manning, who received right into a sequence of short-yardage conditions, fumbled the snap and Texas turned the ball over on downs. In a final ditch try at a comeback, Klubnik marched his offense down the sector. Facing fourth-and-6 from the Texas 26, he appeared for Moore — who led all receivers with 116 yards — over the center. And it was none apart from Taaffe – Klubnik’s greatest pal and former highschool teammate – who broke up the cross to shut out the sport.
“I do not know if this was our greatest sport defensively, however after we needed to have it, they made these performs,” Sarkisian stated. “And that, to me, is the signal of an ideal protection.”
After the band performed “The Eyes of Texas,” the music shortly transitioned to Jermaine Dupri’s “Welcome to Atlanta” because the Longhorns transfer on to play Arizona State within the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day. As the music blared, a drone mild present hovered above the stadium, forming the letters “ATL” embellished with a peach.
A 12 months in the past, Texas was eradicated within the playoffs and has had a foul style of their mouth ever since. That loss – to Washington within the four-team semifinal – is an unresolved adversity that has lingered within the background of this season.
“Let us not neglect,” Sarkisian stated. “To come as shut as we have been and never have the chance to get into that (nationwide championship) sport, I feel it actually fueled us, frankly.
“We nonetheless have a few video games to play to get there.”
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Strong Like a Woman,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her to @LakenLitman.
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