Double Coverage 09-03-2021

T H E D A I LY TEXAN PRESENTS

Double Coverage VOL. 16 ISSUE 1 | Sept. 3, 2021

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

TEXAN Myah Taylor

STAFF PICKS

Kaitlyn Harmon

Angelina Braese

Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Vincente Montalvo

Hannah Williford

Christina Huang

Ross Fisher

Jenny DeVico

Blaine Young

No. 1 Alabama @ No. 14 Miami

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

Alabama

No. 17 Indiana @ No. 18 Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Indiana

Indiana

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Iowa

Indiana

Iowa

No. 23 Louisiana @ No. 21 Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Texas

Louisiana

Texas

Texas

No. 5 Georgia vs No. 3 Clemson

Clemson

Georgia

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Georgia

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

No. 16 LSU @ UCLA

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

UCLA

UCLA

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

LSU

No. 9 Notre Dame @ Florida State

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Louisville @ Ole Miss

Louisville

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

Louisville

Ole Miss

Louisiana

Ole Miss

Ole Miss

No. 19 Penn State @ No. 12 Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Penn State

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Penn State

Wisconsin

Penn State

Wisconsin

Rice @ Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

Rice

Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas

No. 2 Oklahoma @ Tulane

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Week # Results

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Overall Record

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

overall standings

Double Coverage Editor

EDITOR’S NOTE

Kaitlyn Harmon Design Editor

Jenny DeVico

Photo Editor

Blaine Young

Copy Editor

Angelina Braese

Writers Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Vicente Montalvo

Christina Huang

Hannah Williford

Ross Fisher

Managing Editor Myah Taylor

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Matthew Boncosky Angelina Braese Jenny DeVico Ross Fisher Nathan Han Kaitlyn Harmon Christina Huang Vicente Montalvo Myah Taylor Hannah Williford Blaine Young

If you’re anything like me and the rest of our wonderful Double Coverage staff, the first Saturday of college football feels like Christmas morning, but better. And not only is college football back, but Texas football is back in its true glory for the first time in what feels like an eternity. So, whether you’re a reader, a student, a Texas faculty member, a general sports fan or a diehard Texas fan, enjoy Saturday in the stands along with 100,119 other fans. Sports bring us together, and more importantly, so does Texas football.

Kaitlyn Harmon

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

filled to the brim Texas football returns to normalcy without gameday protocols in place.

By Christina Huang @stina_huang

t

he Steve Sarkisian era of Texas football kicks off Saturday at Darrell K Royal- Texas Memorial Stadium with the Longhorns’ season opener against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. While Saturday marks Texas football’s new beginning, the threat of COVID-19 still looms over the 2021 season.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott barred any state-funded institutions from implementing vaccine mandates, but UT has implemented procedures to encourage students and faculty to get vaccinated.

The University recently launched a vaccine incentive program that includes a weekly prize drawing for students and faculty who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Winners can receive cash prizes or tickets to a home football game with University of Texas President Jay Hartzell.

In a statement released Aug. 18, Hartzell emphasized the importance of vaccinations to keep the UT community safe.

“We start the fall semester encouraging all community members to wear masks indoors, and we are continuing to offer vaccines and regular COVID-19 testing,” Hartzell said. “If you have not been vaccinated yet, now is the time, as it is our best tool to combat the virus.”

Although Hartzell has made his stance on the vaccine clear, the lack of a vaccine mandate means that not all players and fans will be vaccinated come Saturday. A New York Times COVID-19 vaccination tracker claims 58.2% of Texas adults are fully vaccinated. Dallas Morning News’ Chuck Carlton reported that as of Aug. 5, the Texas football program has a 90% vaccination rate among players, and COVID-19 testing is available for unvaccinated players.

jack myer

“We’re all just trying to protect one another,” Sarkisian said in early August.

Despite the football team’s high vaccination rate and Sarkisian’s comments, Texas Athletics has made no mention of vaccines or mask wearing for fans attending Saturday’s matchup against No. 23 Louisiana.

Texas Athletics is not requiring fans to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter the stadium and currently has no mask mandate in place. Across college football, only LSU, Tulane, Oregon and Oregon State are requiring spectators to provide proof of vaccination at stadium gates. LSU will also require unvaccinated fans to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before kickoff. Tulane and both

Oregon and Oregon State will also require fans to wear masks at all times, including outdoors.

Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte announced on April 20 that Texas will return to 100% capacity in the fall.

“We are planning for 100% capacity at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium this fall, and all of our Texas Traditions are back and better than ever,” Del Conte said.

During the 2020 season, DKR operated at 25% capacity, putting no more than 18,202 fans in the stands. This Saturday, DKR could be at full capacity for the first time since Sept. 7, 2019, when UT filled the stadium to 99% capacity for Texas’ game against LSU. It was the highest attendance of the 2019-2020 season.

/ the daily texan file

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

GAMEsTO WATCH

By Vicente Montalvo

|

no. 19 penn state vs. no. 12 wisconsin

@VMont20

SEPT. 4, 11:00 a.m. CT, FOX The Nittany Lions and the Badgers will square off this weekend for the first time since 2018. With Penn State winning the last four matchups between the two, head coach James Franklin looks to continue his program’s dominance. After experiencing his first losing season at Penn State in his seven years as head coach, Franklin has no other choice but to get his program back on track. Senior quarterback Sean Clifford will look to lead Penn State in his final season in Happy Valley after finally getting the starting nod last season. Whether or not the Badger faithful will jump around at Camp Randall will come down to the Badgers’ experienced defense. The Wisconsin secondary consists of 10 upperclassmen who will attempt to make Clifford scramble for downs.

No.1 alabama vs. no. 14 miami SEPT. 4, 2:30 p.m. CT, ABC The reigning national champions will open their season in Atlanta, Georgia, where head coach Nick Saban looks to win his 10th SEC Championship in December. The Crimson Tide underwent massive changes with the departures of Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, star running back Najee Harris and Davey O’Brien Award winner Mac Jones, but with the departures comes the addition of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. The former Houston Texans head coach will look to get off to a quick start with sophomore quarterback Bryce Young. Young is slated against Miami’s defense-centric head coach Manny Diaz who will assume defensive play calling this season. Yet, against the Tide’s 10-man returning defense, the Hurricanes shouldn’t worry too much about their offensive production with D’Eriq King under center. King returns for another year of eligibility and looks to lead “The U” back to prominence. The Tide rolled its way through last season finishing its national championship season 13–0, but can the Hurricanes put a stop to their win streak in week one?

No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 3 Clemson SEPT. 4, 6:30 p.m. CT, ABC The Tigers return to an all too familiar field at Bank of America Stadium where head coach Dabo Swinney and team won the ACC Championship in 2020. This time around, Swinney will not be able to rely on Trevor Lawrence, the first overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. In seasons past, Swinney relied heavily on Lawrence to put up big numbers for the Clemson offense, but with the quarterback now suiting up on Sundays instead, DJ Uiagalelei is the JUMP

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DOUBLE COVERAGE

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next man up. A sophomore with little playing experience, Uiagalelei is slated to be the next breakout star for the Tigers. Georgia comes into Saturday’s most competitive contest having won the last six of seven matchups against Clemson. Junior quarterback JT Daniels took snaps in the last four games of Georgia’s 2020-2021 season, throwing for 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions. The primetime game will be a quarterback showdown between Daniels and Uiagalelei.

San José State at No. 15 USC SEPT. 4, 4:00 p.m. CT, PAC-12 NETWORK After capping off an almost perfect campaign last season, the Spartans are looking to do something they have never done before: beat USC. San José State will kick off its season with former SEC quarterback Nick Starkel under center. With one game under his belt throwing for four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, Starkel anticipates to showcase his talent within the walls of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando will have his hands full as he tries to pressure Starkel in the pocket. For Starkel, time and precision will be a commodity in this California matchup.

Florida Atlantic at No. 13 Florida SEPT. 4, 6:30 p.m. CT, SEC NETWORK In its first meeting since 2015, Florida Atlantic is headed back to the Swamp looking to test a Florida team that lost offensive weapons quarterback Kyle Trask and tight end Kyle Pitts to the NFL. Playing limited minutes in his previous three seasons with the Gators, redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones is looking to prove that his time on the bench was worth the wait. The only thing that now stands between Jones and his success is newly hired Florida Atlantic defensive coordinator Mike Stoops who will count on disrupting the young quarterback’s rhythm.

sark plays his first card

By Matthew Boncosky @mboncosky

One of the many reasons former Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger endeared himself so easily to Longhorn fans was thanks to his local roots as a Westlake High School product. With Ehlinger’s departure to the NFL, Hudson Card is Texas’ next signal caller tasked with carrying on the legacy of Austin-raised Longhorn quarterbacks.

Card, a redshirt freshman, hails from Lake Travis High School, Westlake’s rival Austin quarterback factory. While the longstanding rivalry between the two schools on Friday nights is heated, Card set aside their differences to learn from Ehlinger’s example during the one year their times at Texas overlapped.

“I saw the way Sam prepared his body in the training room, to film, to extra work,” Card told Inside Texas in early August. “Really, (it’s) the preparation and everything that comes along behind the scenes that no one sees that really pushes you to the next level.”

Card appears to have done enough work behind the scenes in Steve Sarkisian’s eyes.

Texas’ newly acquired head coach recently named Card the starting quarterback over junior Casey Thompson.

“Hudson’s earned the right to be the starter,” Sarkisian told reporters Monday, while noting that Thompson would also take snaps in Saturday’s game.

How much of a rotation the two quarterbacks make remains to be seen. To Ehlinger though, Card has a natural athletic ability, so much so that the redshirt freshman received several scholarships as a wide receiver before making a seamless transition to the quarterback position at Lake Travis.

Ehlinger recalled being wowed by Card’s effortless ability to throw perfect spirals in practice.

“Hudson’s just a special player, there’s really no other way to put it,” Ehlinger said in February during a media availability

before the NFL Draft. “There were often times in practice (when) I was watching him throw, and I’m like ‘Gosh darn it, why can’t I do that? Why can’t I spin it the way he can?’”

Card’s special ability to sling the ball earned the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback ranking in the nation’s 2020 recruiting class. With a full year of development under his belt watching Ehlinger thrive combined with Thompson’s four-touchdown performance at the 2020 Alamo Bowl, Card was ready to battle for the starting job.

The competition spanned all offseason as neither Card nor Thompson separated themselves from the other toward the starting position. Reports eventually began to circulate that Card had gained the edge toward the end of camp, with Sarkisian finally confirming his decision to name Card the starter on Monday.

A key part of being a successful starting quarterback is gaining a team’s trust. After all, the quarterback is the leader of the offense. Every decision post-snap is up to the man under center, and every other offensive player must trust that whoever takes the snap will be capable of deciphering the right decisions and executing upon them well.

“Clearly, he’s got to drive the car on the field and get people aligned,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “I do think we’ve got a great deal of leadership on our team that is there for one another, and the quarterback would be no different.”

That responsibility can be overwhelming to a young player, but according to senior offensive lineman Derek Kerstetter, Card has earned the trust of his offense. Now he just has to trust himself.

“He’s really just come into his own this year and I’m excited to see his progression throughout the season,” Kerstetter said.

“It’s been fun to watch a guy that’s from the Austin area come in and just be excited about being at the University of Texas and play his butt off.”

copyright courtesy of texas athletics, and reproduced with permission

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

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joshua guenther

Texas has everything to gain and everything to lose Saturday against Louisiana after a bold offseason.

By Kaitlyn Harmon @kait_harmon

T

exas football has no other choice but to come out of the gates swinging.

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte’s move to give Tom Herman the boot and a $15 million payday was a bold move. But what was even bolder was choosing to bring in Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian as the new man in

charge. Sarkisian’s resume includes only two NCAA D1 head coaching positions — two unsuccessful stints, at that.

In the offseason, Sarkisian’s “all gas, no brakes” campaign altered the camaraderie of the locker room, completely revamping the environment Herman built during his four-year stay in Austin. Sarkisian bringing in an arsenal of new coaches for his staff was the first of many right moves he made during the offseason, but only Saturday’s matchup and contests beyond will only prove if Del Conte made the right move in bringing him to Texas.

Texas football prides itself on sitting atop the throne of Big 12 football, or at least trying to. With consistent losses to Oklahoma and the Sooners finding their way to the College Football Playoff Semifinals in 2019, Texas finds itself lost in OU’s wake. Yet, the Longhorns look to revive their record books and take back the Big 12 until their tentatively scheduled 2025 departure to the SEC.

“I didn’t take this job blind,” Sarkisian said in an Aug. 5 press conference. “When you take a job at the University of Texas, you know, we’re everybody’s biggest game. Any time you play the University of Texas, it’s every team’s biggest game of the year … we need to focus on us and the task at hand and what we’re trying to get accomplished.”

Sarkisian’s first task comes against a matured Louisiana defense. The key to a Texas win and a successful first season in the Sarkisian era is establishing dominance upfront.

Hudson Card, who will start the game against the Ragin’ Cajuns, will need ample protection upfront as he finds his way downfield against Louisiana’s defense.

The No. 23 Ragin’ Cajuns have had two years to mature and grow a young defense, creating a defensive threat against Card and the offensive line. A Louisiana defense made up of upperclassmen could create chaos. If the redshirt freshman ends up scrambling for downs in Week 1,

/ the daily texan file

it could set the offensive tone for the Longhorns’ season.

Under Herman, the 2020 Texas team went 7–3 overall and 5–3 in conference play. In Herman’s third year as head coach, the 2019 Longhorns finished 8–5 overall and 5–4 in Big 12 contests. When Herman first arrived on the Forty Acres in 2017, Texas concluded its first season with Herman at the helm 7–6 overall and 5–4 in conference, play.

It’s no surprise that Texas football and Longhorn Nation yearn for change. After four seasons of mediocrity, Longhorn fans deserve a 10-win season and a more dominant performance in the Big 12.

If Texas loses its home opener Saturday against Louisiana, fans will have every right to question Del Conte’s choice in hiring Sarkisian. Texas has everything to gain this Saturday with a win against the Cajuns and everything to lose with a home opener loss under a new coach that required a $15 million buyout.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

NEW MAN IN CHARGE BRINGS NEW WAVE OF COACHING STAFF coach at Alabama from 2014 to 2015, where he also worked under Nick Saban for four seasons between 2007 to 2010 in the same role. In 2017, Davis served as the defensive line coach at UT-San Antonio and was a part of a defense that ranked fifth nationally in total defense. Davis’ football career began at LSU where he played for the Tigers as a nose guard.

By Hannah Williford @HannahWillifor2

In a new era of Texas football, head coach Steve Sarkisian came to Austin with a fresh coaching staff in mind. With 11 assistant coaches, only three return from previous seasons, including co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate, wide receivers coach Andre Coleman and running backs coach Stan Drayton.

Here are the eight new coaches making their burnt orange debuts on Saturday:

Terry Joseph

Kyle Flood

Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Kyle Flood joined the staff in January after following Sarkisian from Alabama, where he worked as an offensive line coach for two seasons under esteemed head coach Nick Saban. During his time in Tuscaloosa, Flood groomed multiple first-round draft picks from the offensive line and helped win the 2021 National Championship. Before his stint at Alabama, Flood was Rutgers’ head coach for four seasons where he helped to lead the Scarlet Knights to three bowl game appearances.

Pete Kwiatkowski

Pete Kwiatkowski joins Texas from Washington where he resumes his role as a defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach. Before the former Washington defensive coordinator made his move to Texas, Kwiatkowski spent seven seasons in Washington and four seasons at Boise State,

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

Sarkisian brings in defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach Terry Joseph from South Bend, Indiana. Joseph held the same role with the Fighting Irish for three seasons, where the team finished 25th in total defense in 2020 and made its way to the College Football Playoff. Before his time at Notre Dame, Joseph worked at North Carolina and Texas A&M as the defensive backs coach at both.

AJ Milwee

where he began his football career as a player in the 1980s.

Kwiatkowksi has been praised for his stability, with eight defenses ranked in the top-15 over his combined 11 years in Washington and Idaho. During his time with the Huskies, Washington won the Pac-12 Conference twice.

Jeff Banks

Another Alabama coaching product follows Sarkisian to Texas. Former Alabama special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Jeff Banks joined the Texas coaching staff in January to continue coaching in

his respective roles, in addition to a third role as assistant head coach. Banks held the same coaching position for three years at Alabama under Saban and five years at Texas A&M. During the Crimson Tide’s national championship season, Alabama had zero blocked kicks and ranked ninth in punt return average. Under Banks’ leadership, Alabama kicker Will Reichard made every field goal and extra point of the 2020 season after a tumultuous season in 2019.

Blake Gideon

Texas

alumnus

Blake

Gideon returns to the Forty Acres this season after two special teams coordinator jobs at Ole Miss and Houston. Although the former Texas defensive back and team captain worked as a special teams coach in his previous jobs, Gideon will come back to his roots as Texas’ safeties coach.

Bo Davis

The Detroit Lions’ Bo Davis returns to Texas this season as the defensive line coach after working in Detroit and Jacksonville with the Jaguars. In between Davis’ time in the NFL, he served as a defensive line

AJ Milwee also followed Sarkisian from Alabama to Texas, where he will now serve as a quarterback coach. As Saban’s offensive analyst, Milwee was a part of Alabama’s 2020 National Championship team.

Prior to his time in Tuscaloosa, Milwee acted as Akron’s offensive coordinator.

Torre Becton

From California, Torre Becton joins the Texas coaching staff as the director of football performance, which functions as an intermediary role for the team. Becton comes from a similar position with the Bears where he spent four seasons.

DOUBLE COVERAGE

10

running it back t e x a s f o o t b a l l r e t u r n s k e y p l ay e r s

By Ross Fisher @rossfisher23

The void Sam Ehlinger leaves behind at the Texas quarterback position is so large that two will fill his shoes, as both redshirt freshman Hudson Card and junior Casey Thompson are set to take snaps against Louisiana on Saturday.

Following the departures of Ehlinger, linebackers Juwan Mitchell and Joseph Ossai, defensive back Caden Sterns and wide receiver Brennan Eagles, Texas enters a massive rebuild phase headed by its new head coach, former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

While Sarkisian leads the charge, several returning players can contribute to new leadership during their prospective breakout seasons, which should inspire some optimism among the Longhorn faithful ahead of the upcoming season.

Here is a look at the two most important returners on each side of the ball: Bijan Robinson

At the back end of the 2020 season, then-freshman Bijan Robinson emerged as a star on last year’s Longhorn team which finished 7–3 on the way to an Alamo Bowl triumph over Colorado.

Having split carries with then-sophomore Roschon Johnson and junior Keaontay Ingram to cap off the season, Robinson only carried the ball 86 times, finding his way into the endzone four times. Despite the now-sophomore’s lack of touches, Robinson averaged the second most yards per carry of any FBS running back with 50 or more touches, with an impressive 8.2 yards per carry.

Now entering his sophomore year as the focal point of Sarkisian’s offense — possibly as the focal point of the whole team — Robinson is poised for a potential record-breaking season. Robinson was named to the preseason All-American team and could find his way to New York City come December as his name is in contention for the Heisman, according to many college football experts.

Joshua Moore

If the junior wasn’t Ehlinger’s main weapon last season, he will certainly be the number one receiving option and the go-to-guy for Card following the loss of Eagles to the NFL. As a sophomore, Moore led Texas in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. The Yoakum, Texas, product’s nine receiving touchdowns tied for the most in the Big 12 last season. On the first play of the 2020 season against UTEP, Moore broke through the field with a 78-yard receiving touchdown, tying him for the longest reception made by a Big 12 player in 2020.

DeMarvion Overshown

Of Texas’ top five leaders in total tackles last season, Overshown is the only Longhorn who returns to suit up at DKR in 2021. The weakside linebacker, nicknamed Agent 0, was second in total tackles and tied for second most solo tackles for the Longhorns last season.

Agent 0 not only displayed his ability to stop the run last season, but also proved to be a terrific pass defender. Overshown recorded two

copyright texas athletics, and reproduced with permission

interceptions and seven pass breakups, making him the leader in both categories. The now-senior finished his junior season with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, proving himself to be one of the most well-rounded players on last year’s defense.

Alfred Collins

Collins is the least proven of the four highlighted returners, but the incoming sophomore showed all that he can do toward the end of last season. Collins has the potential to be new defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s most

important defensive linemen this fall.

Collins showcased his defensive ability in the Alamo Bowl against Colorado when the second-string defensive lineman picked off a Buffalo pass at the line of scrimmage. Collins finished his 2020 season with a recorded 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups and 18 total tackles.

The Bastrop, Texas product is officially listed behind senior Jacoby Jones on the depth chart going into week one, but Collins could easily find himself in a first-string position on the defensive line if he heads into the season with the same momentum as the Colorado pick.

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

NOTES FROM THE OPPONENT

By Nathan Han @NathanHan13

The Daily Texan spoke with Zachary Nagy, sports editor of Louisiana-Lafayette’s The Vermilion ahead of the Longhorns’ upcoming weekend matchup against Louisiana.

The first Louisiana player Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian mentioned in his Monday press conference was quarterback Levi Lewis. What should Longhorn fans expect out of Lewis on Saturday?

The Daily Texan:

receivers coach, two with Sarkisian. Has Napier mentioned the bond the two of them share?

He hasn’t necessarily mentioned that. But you know in the back of his mind, it’s got to be something he’s thinking about and definitely wants to show out in front of him for sure.

ZN:

The other Ragin’ Cajun Sarkisian pointed out was defensive lineman Zi’Yon Hill. What should Texas fans know about Hill?

DT:

He was an All-Sun Belt guy.

That’s somebody we expect to have a great year. Maybe even put his name into NFL Draft talk, into the late rounds.

I would worry about Zi’Yon Hill. I think Zi’Yon Hill is a problem. He is somebody who can give offensive lines hell all season long. I think he’s going to try and show out in a big game and in front of a big crowd.

ZN:

When it comes to Levi Lewis, he’s one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the country. He can use his legs, he can throw on the run, he can get the ball into tight windows. He’s returning around seven of the receivers he used last year, so he’s going to have the weapons there.

I expect a lot of Levi Lewis.

Zachary Nagy:

Sarkisian also talked about coaching against Louisiana head coach Billy Napier, who coached five years at Alabama as a wide DT:

What to expect from experienced Lousisiana squad

only lost one game last year.

What’s the biggest change from last season regarding the returning starters?

ZN: What’s changed from last sea-

son is experience. We’re bringing back about 20 out of 22 starters from a year ago. The only void is at running back, which I think will be filled, and I think that experience from a year ago is going to translate to this year.

Of course, Louisiana went to Ames and upset Iowa State in a convincing victory. But is the team prepared to come to a full DT:

capacity stadium here in Austin and play under that pressure?

Head coach Billy Napier has been under the lights. He’s been at several top Power Five programs, like Alabama and Clemson. He’s firing this team up to get ready for these bright lights and eventually, the goal is to become a Power Five team down the line. So you gotta show out against these Power Five teams now.

ZN:

How big of a game is this for Louisiana, and what could a win mean for the program?

DT:

We played Texas A&M a long time ago in Lafayette. A lot of people have probably said that’s the biggest game in program history. But we weren’t nationally ranked, we didn’t have this (national) recognition. Now, we’re nationally ranked in the AP poll. So is Texas.

The team might play it off and say, ‘This is just another game. This is just the new normal.” But up to this point, right now, I think this is definitely going to be the biggest game in program history.

ZN:

With Hill, Lewis and others, Louisiana is returning a lot of starters from a team that DT:

copyright andre j. broussard

/ the vermilion, and reproduced with permission

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