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Tom Herman calls Texas ‘the mecca of college football’ | Golic and Wingo

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Tom Herman labels the University of Texas “the mecca of college football” ahead of his third season in Austin.

Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman appeared on ESPN’s Golic and Wingo on August 5, 2019, to evaluate the state of the program as the team prepares to open the season ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP Poll. Herman emphasized the university’s elite infrastructure, the intensity of the fan base, and the program’s unique access to in-state high school talent to justify the “mecca” designation.

• Texas is entering the 2019 season with its highest preseason AP ranking since 2010.
• Herman’s 17-10 record through his first two seasons stands as the third-highest win total for a Texas head coach in that span, trailing only program legends Darrell Royal and Mack Brown.
• Junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger returns after becoming the first player in school history to pass for 25 touchdowns and rush for 15 in a single season.

The Program’s Recent Resurgence

Herman’s tenure represents a shift from the instability that plagued the program under his predecessor, Charlie Strong, who finished his three-year stint with a 16-21 record. The momentum intensified following the 2018 campaign, where the Longhorns finished 10-4 and secured a 28-21 win over No. 5 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. This marked the program’s first 10-win season and New Year’s Six bowl victory since 2009.

Herman’s 17-10 mark over his first two campaigns has fueled a return of the “Texas is back” sentiment, which gained national traction following quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s post-Sugar Bowl comments.

Recruiting and Infrastructure Investment

Herman identifies the ability to secure talent as a cornerstone of the “mecca” environment. The program landed the No. 3 national recruiting class in 2018 and followed it with the No. 7 class in 2019, which led the Big 12. That 2019 haul is anchored by Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Jake Smith. With this talent influx, the College Football program aims to maintain its status as a consistent national contender.

The September Litmus Test

The focus in Austin has shifted to the September 7 marquee non-conference matchup against LSU at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game serves as the first regular-season meeting between the two storied programs since 1954. With the Longhorns ranked No. 10, the outcome will provide an immediate measure of the team’s standing against an elite SEC opponent and determine if they can validate their preseason expectations.