Burnt Ends (11-10)

[HornSports Staff]

The point on a brisket is typically the fattiest cut. Pitmasters often trim the point and select edges off a whole brisket and return them to the smoker.

Are burnt ends tough, chewy worthless cuts of meat, or are they a heavenly bites of smoky goodness? I suppose it depends on who you ask...

Rather than discard trimmings and fat, we chose to savor all the information that flows through the site. So, sit down and help yourself to some burnt ends.

***DO NOT FORWARD***

Let’s start things off by talking about Tyrone Swoopes’ ankle. Reports surfaced that he was on campus and wearing a walking boot.

PANIC!

Or not. At least not according to some:

“Look…Swoopes is fine. He’s only in a boot to try to accelerate healing. And that’s misleading because it’s not like he’s injured. They wanted him in a boot because the less his ankle moves, the faster swelling goes down. It’s proactive and precautionary. Anyone saying otherwise is just trying to grab attention.”

But….he’s limping?

“Ever worn a walking boot? You’d limp too.

*****

While we’re on the subject of Tyrone Swoopes…

It seems everyone has an opinion on him. That’s not unusual for the quarterback at UT, what is interesting is how widely opinions differ on UT’s trigger man. And it’s not just fans that are divided in their thoughts. Take a look at what people close to the team are saying…

CURRENT PLAYER: “I don’t know how he does it, man. He just won the biggest game of his career and all everybody is saying is, ‘When you gonna get better, Swoopes?’ – that’s tough, man. He didn’t ask for this - He didn’t ask to start this year. He didn’t ask for the OL. All he’s done is the best he can do. I can’t ask for more than that.”

TEAM SOURCE A: “He’s a good kid, but there’s no burning desire to be great. That limits his potential.”

EX- COLLEGE PLAYER: “People need to quit making excuses. Name one thing that he’s done that says to you that he should be the starter next year.”

EX-LONGHORN PLAYER: “I’m not sure if Ty is capable of being what they need from the quarterback in their offense. To be fair, it’s not obvious to me what they’re looking for in a quarterback either. Right now, it’s about alternatives – the coaches don’t have any. Even if they did, Swoopes is not costing them games, so I don't think they’d be using them.”

TEAM SOURCE B: “I’m waiting for the switch to flip. He needs to go from ‘Aw shucks, I’m happy to be here.’ to ‘I am going to do this and here is how it’s going to happen.’ He has to own it and right now that isn’t there. The thing that concerns me is that I’m not sure that it’s in him.”

HIGH SCHOOL COACH: “From my perspective, he’s definitely improved. As a coach, I’m interested to see how much he grows before next August.”

*****

Mike Finger of the SAEN tweeted today about the possibility of four upper classmen returning for an extra year of availability (on a medical redshirt in most cases). It caused enough of a buzz that we checked in with one of our team sources to see what is being said about the possibility of guys returning:

Dom Espinosa: “It’s going to come down to whether Dom wants his football career to be over. If he decides he’s ready to move on with life after football, then there’s no reason for him to come back. If I was projecting right now, I’d say it’s about 60/40 that he’ll hang it up…maybe even higher.”

Des Harrison: “The number of people that truly know what the plan is with Harrison is very small – and when I say ‘very’, I’m talking less than 5 people. Everything else you read is a guess. If you want me to guess, I am not expecting him back. But again, I’m not in that inside circle on Des, so they could surprise all of us. Based on what I know, I’d say ‘No’.”

John Harris: “He’ll listen to NFL people about his draft stock and make a decision based on what he’s told. The reality of his situation is really just settling on him – he is realizing that he has a chance to play professionally. I know for a fact that he hadn’t considered that, so to gauge his interest level or what kind of pick it would take to pull him to the league is way premature. I’ll know more in a few weeks after he has had time to think about it all.”

Jordan Hicks: “I’ve seen the game film. I’ve heard the coaches talk. Hicks has played his way into the draft. With his injury history, I think he has to make the jump and get paid if he can. Another year with Charlie and BJM would make him a force, but is it worth the risk given his history?”

Tank Johnson: “I started considering him as a returning starter as soon as we got news that his surgery went well.”

*****


Reggie Hemphill-Mapps (2016 WR) had 3 TD’s in Manvel’s win over Pearland last Friday to claim the Division 22-6A championship. 
HornSports caught up with him after the game and asked if his commitment was solid to UT,  “Oh yes sir.  Without question.”

We also asked Hemphill which player his style most resembles. According to him, he says his friends tell him he plays like Alabama’s Amare Cooper.  But (with a big smile) he says he has the smoothness of Andre Johnson (Texans WR).

*****


HornSports had an opportunity to talk recruiting with Darius Alexander (2016 DT) from Hightower High School (Missouri City).
When we asked Alexander which teams he was hearing from lately, he said that Mississippi State and TCU were two that have been in pretty constant contact lately.  Evidently he’s liking the attention...Alexander told HornSports that those are his two frontrunners right now. 

When we asked if the Longhorns were still in the consideration, he said “No, not really right now”,  but then added that Texas is still sending him mail.

*****

As we talked about last week and on game day, the Horns’ game against West Virginia was a Who’s Who list in recruiting. Flexing the pull of UT, Texas hosted commits and recruits from Florida to California. It was a bi-coastal effort with a heavy dose of Texans added for good measure.

Vance Bedford shared some insight into Texas recruiting when he said, “If you go outside of Texas right now, The University of Texas is large to fans, to recruits, to coaches. In the state right now, when you talk to recruits and sometimes even coaches, they don't see us that way. We need to get back to that where in the state they see us that way. Out of the state? You go to Georgia, they say "that's The University of Texas." You go to Indiana, they say "that's The University of Texas." You go to Florida, they say "that's The University of Texas." You call a recruit sometimes here in Texas and they think oh, that's just Texas. We've got to get back to when we call a recruit here in the state of Texas, they say "that's The University of Texas." The excitement in the voice is back. “

With that in mind, suddenly the recent rash of scholarship offers to kids in the state of Florida takes on new meaning. Texas hosted several targets from Florida over the weekend, and we caught up with one of them about his visit. He asked us not to share his name (which is understandable after you read his comments):

“On the real, it started as just a cool trip to take. Who doesn’t want to go see UT? Then I got there and met everybody. Then we went to the game. Man, I don’t know. Now it’s all different. It was much more than I expected.”

“I mean, you hear about UT at home, but it’s just a big name. The locals [colleges] get the love. You see Friday Night Lights on TV…but then you come here and it’s all for real.”

 

[Lord Vader]

1st.

(Kidding)

 

[Worster1]

Delicious burnt ends!  The comments on Swoopes are very interesting and accurate.  The comment from the Team Source A above is spot on -" he has no burning desire to be great and that limits his potential." 

I watched Swoopes being interviewed on LHN Monday night - post WVU game - "no burning desire to be great" - this was clearly evident during this interview.  For example:  he was asked a question to the effect: Do you want to be really good and lead the team at QB or just play well and manage the position.  With zero emotion he answered " just manage the position".  He just wants to drive the bus ya'll - he is capable of more but either he has little to no confidence he can really improve and step up one or more levels or he is just not hungry to get better or be great.  Based on what I heard him say during that interview I think he is just not hungry... but I could be wrong.

So ladies and gentlemen, as was stated above, the coaches believe they have little to no better alternatives to TS driving the bus right now - so this is what we have for the last 2 games and possibly a bowl game.

Hook 'Em!

 

[texasdobbs]

Any thing being said on offering insurance to Hicks, Harris, and big Brown?

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Swoopes has a ton of potential. Honestly, in the offense that Strong is trying to build, a bus driver is all that's needed when you have a solid offensive line and a good running game. The problem is that throughout much of the season, we haven't had that.

 

[Duke C #11]

In the 50+ years I've been a Horn fan, one topic is always consistently #1 among fan discussions - who is our QB and who will replace him next year if he doesn't get better?

 

[streettopeschel]

whether Swoopes has 'it' and will be the man, i do not know. He shows things sporadically that make me think he could, but almost immediately he'll do something that makes me wonder.

as for persona and how he answers questions one thing i'd say is i can't imagine a kid from a BFE 1A HS finding himself the starting QB at UT 16 months after graduation. ideally, he'd be holding a clipboard and would never have had a microphone in his face this year. but it is what it is.

 

[UTK66]

Delicious burnt ends!  The comments on Swoopes are very interesting and accurate.  The comment from the Team Source A above is spot on -" he has no burning desire to be great and that limits his potential." 

I watched Swoopes being interviewed on LHN Monday night - post WVU game - "no burning desire to be great" - this was clearly evident during this interview.  For example:  he was asked a question to the effect: Do you want to be really good and lead the team at QB or just play well and manage the position.  With zero emotion he answered " just manage the position".  He just wants to drive the bus ya'll - he is capable of more but either he has little to no confidence he can really improve and step up one or more levels or he is just not hungry to get better or be great.  Based on what I heard him say during that interview I think he is just not hungry... but I could be wrong.

So ladies and gentlemen, as was stated above, the coaches believe they have little to no better alternatives to TS driving the bus right now - so this is what we have for the last 2 games and possibly a bowl game.

Hook 'Em!

Good post.

As has been stated many times in regards to TS, we're all still waiting for the switch to flip. Biggest question is, will it ever flip?

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Any thing being said on offering insurance to Hicks, Harris, and big Brown?

I'm sure that'll be handled by UT if anyone decides to come back.

Don't hold your breath on any of these 3 - especially Malcom.  NFL payday is too good to pass up.

 

[Worster1]

Look, Coach Strong has stated on numerous occasions that TS - "has to get better".  He just cannot play not to lose games or just manage the position.  He is capable of more than that and the team needs him to be much better than that.

Hook 'Em!

 

[doc longhorn]

Swoopes will not remain as the starting QB for UT if he continues to show the inconsistency he has.  It's that simple.

I have been a Swoopes advocate because of the physical tools that he has and because I think he was unfairly bashed by people with Heard agendas.

But it is time for him to start showing some gains in consistency.  Playing like he does, now, is okay for teams like Sam Houston State, but not for the University of Texas.  We expect more, nay, we demand more - fair or not.

The being young and inexperienced card is still applicable, but it is fast approaching it's expiration due date.

What is most unsettling to me is the continuing reports of how bad Heard has looked in practices.  He is another, whereby the young and inexperienced card is about to run out.  At least, next year, he has the protection of the fans knowing he has not taken a snap in varsity competition.  He will be given a pass, for this, until he won't.  Swoopes never had this luxury.  He was bashed from day 1.

 

[texasdobbs]

Swoopes will not remain as the starting QB for UT if he continues to show the inconsistency he has. It's that simple.

I have been a Swoopes advocate because of the physical tools that he has and because I think he was unfairly bashed by people with Heard agendas.

But it is time for him to start showing some gains in consistency. Playing like he does, now, is okay for teams like Sam Houston State, but not for the University of Texas. We expect more, nay, we demand more - fair or not.

The being young and inexperienced card is still applicable, but it is fast approaching it's expiration due date.

What is most unsettling to me is the continuing reports of how bad Heard has looked in practices. He is another, whereby the young and inexperienced card is about to run out. At least, next year, he has the protection of the fans knowing he has not taken a snap in varsity competition. He will be given a pass, for this, until he won't. Swoopes never had this luxury. He was bashed from day 1.

Zack Gentry must not be a bust....

 

[texasdobbs]

I'm sure that'll be handled by UT if anyone decides to come back.

Don't hold your breath on any of these 3 - especially Malcom. NFL payday is too good to pass up.

I know that Big Brown is probably gone.... but Hicks could come back.... and I was just curious if anyone had heard any rumblings of this¿

 

[doc longhorn]

I know that Big Brown is probably gone.... but Hicks could come back.... and I was just curious if anyone had heard any rumblings of this¿

Don't really need any behind the scenes gossip on this.  Logic dictates that, if Hicks thinks, or is told, he will go high enough in the draft, he will be gone from UT.  If not, he will try to get an exemption.

 

[texasdobbs]

Don't really need any behind the scenes gossip on this. Logic dictates that, if Hicks thinks, or is told, he will go high enough in the draft, he will be gone from UT. If not, he will try to get an exemption.

¿¿¿¿

 

[TheContractor]

Swoopes will not remain as the starting QB for UT if he continues to show the inconsistency he has.  It's that simple.

I have been a Swoopes advocate because of the physical tools that he has and because I think he was unfairly bashed by people with Heard agendas.

But it is time for him to start showing some gains in consistency.  Playing like he does, now, is okay for teams like Sam Houston State, but not for the University of Texas.  We expect more, nay, we demand more - fair or not.

The being young and inexperienced card is still applicable, but it is fast approaching it's expiration due date.

What is most unsettling to me is the continuing reports of how bad Heard has looked in practices.  He is another, whereby the young and inexperienced card is about to run out.  At least, next year, he has the protection of the fans knowing he has not taken a snap in varsity competition.  He will be given a pass, for this, until he won't.  Swoopes never had this luxury.  He was bashed from day 1.

None of us know if the switch will flip, we can all guess. I just don't see a lot of tools. I see size. I don't see speed, i don't see desire, i don't see good mechanics, i don't see the ability to make plays and i definitely don't see "it."  

Could it be bc he is 19 years old, sure. I don't know him as a person. I don't know if he is watching film at midnight or if he is dreaming of national titles or something else. But on field production and what I personally have seen from 20+ plays last year to 9 starts this year, i don't see him as the future. My hopes for 2015 are solely on Heard who i haven't seen 1 college snap from or even practice. 

You have to game plan around Swoops not for Swoops and as of 11/11/14, thats the bottom line. I hope it changes. 

 

[TheContractor]

Zack Gentry must not be a bust....

Btw 1 of Gentry or Heard must be a very good player at a young age. If both are busts we will have interesting decisions to make in the future. 

We, meaning not me but not even my wife listens to me, you think Belmont will? haha

 

[Matt Cotcher]

None of us know if the switch will flip, we can all guess. I just don't see a lot of tools. I see size. I don't see speed, i don't see desire.....

On "desire" that depends on how you mean it. Swoopes is a really, really genuine kid. He wants to perform well and please his teammates. It is obvious that they mean the world to him.

Where this gets interesting (IMO) is that Swoopes hasn't made the connection yet that if he truly wants to win and please his teammates, he has to be selfish. Without getting too deep into couch psychology 101, the biggest way to please teammates is to focus on himself - turn all that energy inward and have confidence that by being great, he will ultimately achieve what he desires (making his teammates happy).

 

[TheContractor]

On "desire" that depends on how you mean it. Swoopes is a really, really genuine kid. He wants to perform well and please his teammates. It is obvious that they mean the world to him.

Where this gets interesting (IMO) is that Swoopes hasn't made the connection yet that if he truly wants to win and please his teammates, he has to be selfish. Without getting too deep into couch psychology 101, the biggest way to please teammates is to focus on himself - turn all that energy inward and have confidence that by being great, he will ultimately achieve what he desires (making his teammates happy).

Im sure TS is a nice guy and thats good but i don't give a shit if he is.  When i refer to desire, i mean that fire, that drive to be the best. He may have that but from his body language on game day and every interview i have seen of his, i don't see it. I see an unsure, passive guy that will accept bad plays from himself and teammates and except a loss.