Player interviews following Strong's PC:
Senior TE Alex De La Torre
On changes in quarterback Tyrone Swoopes: A hundred eighty. I feel like last year was really his first year to get going. He's got a year under his belt; he is playing outstanding right now. You can tell he is a lot more confident and, you know, he has really taken that extra step to become the leader we need on the offensive side as well as the team.
On handling the hype: We know it's a big game, but we treat it as every other game. We have to focus on our objectives. We have to focus on winning, and we're taking it play by play, drive by drive, and we have practiced so much to where it's got to become normal to us. We have got to just go do our jobs.
On the offensive line's improvement: It helps a lot. It gets Tyrone even more time to throw the ball. That's what is building his confidence. The O-line within itself, they are pretty gritty, pretty nasty. I like it a lot. That's the type of player I think I am. It will be interesting to see Saturday night; I think a lot of really good things are going to happen.
On the freshmen: They're ready for it. They play with us, I mean we practice against guys who are at the same level as everywhere else in the nation so, they built their confidence just through practice I think. It's not normal to go in a game and not be nervous, I think after the first hit it will just be normal. You practice so much in fall camp, it's so repetitive that it just becomes a normal thing.
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Senior CB Duke Thomas
On if this team is ready: Definitely. The guys are really confident and we are talking about preaching preparation. Preparation builds confidence. In the film room twice a day we got our iPads. Everybody is in it, freshmen through seniors. We are looking to going into the game well prepared.
On the playbook being loaded to the iPad: Yeah, we are trying to go strictly digital. We don't want to use much paper anymore. It is easier for coach just to upload it right there to us and get it right where we are.
On the freshmen getting their first taste of college football this weekend: I mean just like any of us, we are going to be nervous and anxious about it. It is going to be a big game. That is what I came here for. Coach Strong and everyone knows that. I mean it is the Longhorns. That is what we came here for. We are definitely going to start it off right.
On thoughts on Notre Dame Quarterback Malik Zaire: Yeah, we have been watching film on him, but he is a big guy. We really have to corral the ball because a 220-pound quarterback, he is like a running back to us. We just got to get to him and corral the quarterback. We can't let him scramble much and (force him to) keep him in the pocket.
On playing more nickelback: I feel like I have grown more. I know more of the defense. I feel like I am comfortable there. I like being in that physical position. You get a lot more action there. And I feel like I can definitely be effective.
On managing your emotions going into a big game, the season opener, and a road game: I mean going into the atmosphere will be fun. I am going to enjoy it. But I am definitely take it as it is. It is another game. It is the same game I have been playing since I was a kid. There are fans. I mean there is just more people to watch. That is the same thing I am telling my guys. The same game they have been playing their whole lives. Get out there, have fun, and handle what we can.
I love that last line by Duke. He's calling the other DBs "my guys." He's being a leader as a senior; he's doing what Strong has wanted since he arrived last year - for seniors to step up and take control; be leaders!
There were reports throughout Fall Camp of Duke, Shiro, Jinkens, and Flowers all coaching their younger position players. This is what needs to happen to bring players together and make them a team. We may not see gigantic progress this season, but...
It. Is. Coming!
(Dang it, I think I just wet myself.)