It’s Thanksgiving. Turkey day. Grandma’s stuffing day. Momma’s mashed potatoes day. It’s the day before the Texas Longhorns take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home.
It’s also been a somewhat commotional week within for the 6-5 Texas football program. But despite that, coordinators Tim Beck and Todd Orlando reportedly aren’t worried about the future of their jobs, even as the Longhorns have continued to struggle down the stretch, according to a report in the Austin American-Statesman’s Hookem.com earlier this week.
“I can look in the mirror. I work really hard. I do a really good job. I’m proud of what I’ve done,” Beck, who’s led Texas’ offense for the last three seasons, told reporters after Tuesday’s practice, referring to his job security in the near future. “I feel like I coach these guys hard, I recruit hard. That’s up to coach Herman and the University of Texas and what they feel they need to do. That’s out of my control.”
Indeed.
Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando offered a similar piece of sentiment when asked about his long-term future in Austin.
“Here’s what I’ll tell you, when you get to a place like this, every second of every day is work your tail off. You get to be my age off of that, there’s an understanding. It doesn’t matter. You come in here and do the best job.”
But have Herman and his staff actually done the best job this year? That’s a question that’ll be answered when the Longhorns close out the regular season this week with either a win or loss to the Red Raiders, and then again during the postseason bowl season.
WHAT THE TEXAS HEAD HONCHOS ARE THANKFUL
- Asked what he’s thankful for during Monday’s press conference, head football coach Tom Herman said, “I am extremely thankful for the health of my family, my wife and three kids. I’m thankful for this team and for their fortitude. I’m thankful that – I think I said it postgame, when the game was for all intents and purposes over, to play as hard as our defense did on fourth down to get that stop and to jog our starters out there with 43 seconds left and still wanting to score, that told me a lot about this team and to be thankful for that fortitude. ... I’m thankful for the people in my life that are honest with me and that love me. Family and friends that are there for me. ...” His favorite Thanksgiving food: his family’s ravioli.
- Asked whether he’s cooking for the team and what’s he thankful for during Monday’s press conference, head men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart said, “The first thing that I’m thankful for is we had two members of the Wounded Warrior Project that basically spent a ton of time around our team in the week leading up to the New York trip, and then they were with us for that whole trip, everywhere – in the locker room, practice, right behind the bench during the game. Those guys, I’m thankful for them, and I’m thankful for all the people that they kind of represented for us as a basketball program. Their humility level and passion and commitment to a greater cause of protecting our country and each other is really, really special. I learned a lot from them, being around them, and I want those guys to know that they’ll forever be a part of our team.”