Managing expectations key for Tom Herman and Texas

Following the season-opening loss against the Maryland Terrapins, Texas Longhorns fans were left with a familiar feeling of disappointment. In spite of the familiar outcome, head coach Tom Herman feels like this year’s outing feels different in some key ways.

“The reason we played so poorly, in my opinion, is actually a good reason, because of how close this team has become, how badly they wanted to perform for each other, for their coaches,” Herman said. “I know that seems maybe out there a little bit, but I think that’s what the first quarter was. We wanted it so badly that we got in our own way quite a bit, and that’s correctable.”

The task ahead of Herman and his coaching staff now becomes how to overcome those issues and turn the fortunes of a program that has not won three consecutive games since 2014.

“We have to learn how to manage expectations. We have to learn how to manage self-inflicted pressure,” Herman said. “We have to learn to manage a lot of things and that’s our job as coaches to make sure we are capable of doing that.”

It’s a long season and with 11 games left on the schedule and an opportunity to still achieve their season goals, Herman believes the team will still be able to achieve those goals.

“This is one game. This is one game that doesn’t count in the Big 12 standings,” Herman said. “Like I told you guys, it’s not going to define us. It’s not. Week one will never define anybody.”