This year’s Red River Rivalry may not have dazzled with explosive plays and a high-stakes score, but the final result proved another statement win for Texas.
The Longhorns stunned the Oklahoma Sooners 34-3 on Saturday and soared to their first 6–0 start to the regular season since 2009.
But the victory wasn’t convincing enough for Oklahoma senior defensive back Billy Bowman Jr., who voiced how unimpressed he was with Texas’ offensive performance during the post-game press conference.
“In my mind, they didn’t earn what they got,” Bowman said. “We gave it to them.”
Déjà vu hit. This wasn’t the first time that Texas’ ability to finish out a game was questioned. Michigan senior quarterback Davis Warren spoke nearly the exact words following a 31-12 defeat from Texas in week two.
Yet if there’s anyone who knows how to drown out the negative white noise of competitors, it’s head coach Steve Sarkisian. When asked about Bowman’s quote on Monday, Sarkisian didn’t hesitate to snap back with a simple response.
“Not my problem. We won. Next game.”
Those seven words are a product of the one adjective that Sarkisian has eagerly used throughout the season: enamored. It means to be filled with love or feelings of admiration toward something, and in the eyes of Sarkisian and his team, that something is Texas.
“We need to continue to stay enamored with us and what we need to do and focus on the task at hand and not get caught up in what you guys are talking about or anybody else is talking about,” Sarkisian said. “It’s not what other people say. It’s actually about what we do.”
Since he instilled the culture of being enamored with nobody else but themselves, the Longhorns have seized control of every game they’ve played, focusing on nothing but the effort they put out on the field. Oklahoma marked the third game of the season where Texas didn’t allow a single touchdown, and the Longhorns have outshined their opponents 259-38 in scoring.
Senior defensive back Jahdae Barron has especially taken a liking to the word, describing how the process of building that mindset started in the offseason and has earned them all six wins so far this season.
“It wasn’t (just) now. Our preparation was in the summer — our culture Wednesdays and things like that,” Barron said. “(We’re) just trusting the coaches’ plan, and just being one and always being enamored with us.”
Consistent and productive preparation is arguably the most important for winning in a sport that doesn’t spare anybody from the good, the bad and the ugly. That’s why fellow defensive back and junior Michael Taaffe said he never takes a win for granted while he has the time since they’ve slowly become hard to gain in such a ruthless environment.
“You gotta enjoy every single win in college football because it’s really hard to do,” Taaffe said. “You gotta prepare every day like it’s the most important day, and that’s what we try to do.”
