Bevo’s Daily Roundup: Tom Herman opens up about contract talks with coordinator candidates

Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman has yet to offer a contract to any potential coordinator candidates, the Austin American-Statesman’s Hookem.com reports. Even as the bed-hopping coaching carousel heats up across the college football world, Herman is making clear that he’s working on his own hiring schedule as the Longhorns prepare to take on the ranked Utah Utes in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on New Year’s Eve.

“When it happens, it happens,” Herman reportedly said during a small powwow this week.

That’s good news for Texas fans who are salivating over the potential of landing LSU passing coordinator and current college football golden boy Joe Brady as the Longhorns’ next offensive coordinator. But as previously noted by LSU head coach Ed Oregeron, it’ll take a stroke of luck, as well as a ton of money, to pry Brady away from Baton Rouge’s Death Valley.

It’s also good news for those who have been keeping an eye on USC offensive coordinator and former Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Graham Harrell’s contract extension talks in Los Angeles. As Burnt Orange Nation noted yesterday, a contract extension has sat on Harrell’s desk, so to speak, since late last week, according to a 247Sports report. In fact, the chances of landing Harrell somewhat increased for Texas after Oregon offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo accepted the UNLV head coaching position earlier this week, Yahoo Sports reports. As 247Sports previously reported, Harrell interviewed for the UNLV job earlier this month.

In other words, Harrell is still in the mix – for both Texas and, it seems, USC.

NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE IN LONGHORN LAND AND THE BIG 12

• 21 years ago today, former Longhorns running back Ricky Williams won the Heisman Trophy. Although former Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne would break the record a year later, in his senior year, Williams became the NCAA’s career rushing leader during his Heisman-winning 1998 campaign. Joining legendary running back Early Campbell, Williams was the second – and most recent – Longhorn to win college football’s most valuable player award.

• The NBA season is upon us, and former Longhorns basketball standout Mo Bamba is up-on Lebron James, at least judging by Bamba’s nasty shot block on the so-called “Chosen One” during Wednesday night’s matchup between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers.

• In Big 12 news: Six weeks into the college basketball season and five different teams have received a No. 1 ranking. Most recently, this was due to unranked Texas Tech’s topping of the top-ranked Louisville Cardinals during Tuesday night’s Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, in which the Red Raiders won 70-57. As ESPN noted, the Longhorns’ Big 12 rival entered the Louisville game with an 0-5 record against AP No. 1 teams. The streak’s over.

• In more Big 12 news: Baylor football head coach Matt Rhule thinks “[No. 4] Oklahoma will play a great game” in the College Football Playoff Semifinal against No. 1 LSU, according to ESPN. “I think you hit the nail on the head – with [senior quarterback] Jalen Hurts, [junior wide receiver] CeeDee Lamb, they have a great offense and they’re an offense that is going to run the football,” Rhule said during ESPN’s Golic and Wingo radio show earlier this week, following the Bears’ loss to the Sooners in the Big 12 Conference Championship game. “They’re going to run the quarterback. [Head coach] Lincoln Riley is going to find a way to move the ball against anybody – I truly believe that – and defensively, they are way improved from last year. [Defensive coordinator] Alex Grinch has done a great job. They’ve got twitchy, athletic guys up front. They have a great linebacker in [junior] Kenneth Murray, who’s sideline to sideline. But I think anytime you have a great quarterback like Jalen Hurts, you put him on the national stage – they always have a chance.” The Bears’ only two losses on the season came at the hands of Riley’s Sooners. Rhule obviously understands sportsmanship.