Ten Things to Watch: North Texas

Harry · August 30, 2014

1. I could break down this game further and from every possible angle, but there's no need at this point. The bottom is that this is North Texas and if the Longhorns handle their business there shouldn't be anything to worry about at the final gun.

Charlie Strong agrees with me. This game isn't about schematic advantage or even talent as much as it is about Texas' players simply doing the little things right all of the things that Strong and this staff have drilled into their heads since January to make the players mentally and physically tougher as well as accountable in order to get the job done.

It's never about the opponent, it's about us and it's about how well we go out and compete, how well we go play and how well we play together as a team, Strong said. If we get those things established, it doesn't matter who you line up against because it's all about you and making sure that you're giving your best effort and just playing with relentless effort from four to six seconds.

2. Strong has talked about David Ash managing the game and just doing what the coaches ask of him in order to win. What it boils down to is Strong wants Ash to be confident, have command of the offense and carry himself with the presence that a fourth-year entrenched starter at the position should.

I don't know what we'll see from Ash today, but hopefully whatever he does he's efficient. That's at least how he's interpreted the message he's received from Strong and Shawn Watson. For Ash it's not that the job of winning the game has been taken off of is plate, it's instead a matter of doing whatever it takes to get the job done in order to make sure the scoreboard is in Texas' favor at the end of the game.

I'm comfortable winning, Ash said. If I hand it off 60 times and we win I'm totally comfortable with that. If I hand the ball off and it's not working and we have to throw, I'm totally comfortable throwing. I'm comfortable doing whatever it takes to help this team win and that's the job of the quarterback.

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