JIM VERTUNO
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, fans join in singing "The Eyes of Texas" after Texas defeated UTEP 59-3 in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas. The University of Texas' long-awaited report on the history of the school song “The Eyes of Texas” found it had “no racist intent,” but the school will not require athletes and band members to participate in singing or playing it at games and campus events. The song had erupted in controversy in 2020 after some members of the football team demanded the school stop playing it because of racist elements in the song’s past. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Report finds 'no racist intent' behind song 'Eyes of Texas'

By Jim Vertuno Mar. 09, 2021 11:52 AM EST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The University of Texas' long-awaited report on “The Eyes

FILE - In this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, then-Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is shown before an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in this Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, file photo. University of Texas System regents on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, approved a six-year, $34.2 million guaranteed contract for new football coach Steve Sarkisian, while the school still owes his fired predecessor more than $15 million. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Texas regents approve Sarkisian $34.2 million contract

By Jim Vertuno Feb. 25, 2021 12:34 PM EST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — University of Texas System regents on Thursday approved a

FILE - Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian walks the field before an NCAA college football game against Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in this Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, file photo. New Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is building a staff that has a whole lot of Alabama flavor. The former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator formally announced most of his new staff on Friday, with three assistants coming with him from Alabama after winning the national championship two weeks ago.(Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP, File)
Sarkisian builds Texas Longhorns staff with Alabama flavor

By Jim Vertuno Jan. 22, 2021 05:10 PM EST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — New Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is building a staff that

FILE - This Dec. 29, 2020 file photo shows Texas head coach Tom Herman during the second half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game against Colorado in San Antonio. Texas has fired football Herman, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, after four seasons of failing to win a Big 12 championship and making only one appearance in the league title game. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Texas fires Herman after 4 seasons, hires Tide OC Sarkisian

By Jim Vertuno Jan. 02, 2021 12:16 PM EST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas was tired of waiting for Tom Herman to deliver a Big

FILE - In this Nov. 21, 2020, file photo, Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson (6) runs 75-yards to score a touchdown on the first play of an NCAA college football game against California in Corvallis, Ore. Jefferson was selected as the PAC-12 offensive player of the year along with Colorado running back Jarek Broussard. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman, File)
Ehlinger last captain standing for Texas vs Buffs in bowl

By Jim Vertuno Dec. 28, 2020 04:26 PM EST
And then there was one. Texas had seven team captains when

FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2016, file photo, former Texas football coach Fred Akers autographs a football during the Texas Sports Hall of Fame induction class news conference in Waco, Texas. Akers died Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, at age 82, his family said. Akers twice led the Longhorns to undefeated regular seasons before Cotton Bowl losses each time denied Texas a chance for a national championship. (Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune Herald, via AP, File)
Fred Akers, Texas coach who flirted with glory, dies at 82

By Jim Vertuno Dec. 07, 2020 09:12 PM EST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Fred Akers followed a coaching giant at Texas and came

Texas kicker Cameron Dicker (17) reacts after missing the field goal to send the game into overtime against Iowa State during the second half an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Texas coach Tom Herman avoids talking about his future

By Jim Vertuno Nov. 30, 2020 04:57 PM EST
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Tom Herman batted away questions about his

Texas players, including Sam Ehlinger (11), sing "The Eyes Of Texas" after an NCAA college football game against Baylor in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Texas players stay on the field for "The Eyes of Texas" song

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 24, 2020 09:08 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — There was still no school band but the song still played.

Baylor's Mark Milton (37) knocks the ball away from Texas' Joshua Moore (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Ehlinger helps Texas beat Baylor 27-16 to end skid

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 24, 2020 07:16 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sam Ehlinger passed for an early touchdown, then ran for

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, fans join in singing "The Eyes of Texas" after Texas defeated UTEP 59-3 in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas. Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, he expects players to “stand together as a unified group” to show appreciation for the school and fans during the playing of the school song “The Eyes of Texas” after games, but didn't say what will happen if they refuse. The song has exploded into a thorny controversy after several football players and other athletes said over the summer they no longer wanted to sing it because of its uncomfortable connections to racist elements of the school's past. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Conflict raging over 'The Eyes of Texas' school song

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 23, 2020 02:17 AM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Losing football games is one thing at the University of

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) scores a touchdown against Oklahoma during an NCAA college football game in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Herman says no mandate for Texas players over school song

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 20, 2020 06:24 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Tom Herman said Monday there is no mandate

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger scrambles during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. Oklahoma won 53-45 in four overtimes.(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Texas AD "expects" players stand together for school song

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 14, 2020 07:36 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte said Wednesday he

People wear masks as they walk the main concourse at Fair Park in Dallas on Sept. 19, 2020. The Texas and Oklahoma college football matchup will be a different game-day atmosphere this year with small crowds, no State Fair, a few food vendors, masks and social distancing. (AP Photo/LM Otero
Texas-Oklahoma won't look or feel the same in 2020

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 09, 2020 01:05 PM EDT
Tim Taylor's plans for the Texas-Oklahoma game have changed. Instead of

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to throw against TCU during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Old-man Ehlinger and freshman Rattler face off in Texas-OU

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 07, 2020 03:20 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger is the old man of the Red

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) looks to throw against TCU during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Max Duggan and TCU beat No. 9 Longhorns again 33-31

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 03, 2020 04:31 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas ran out of comebacks against Max Duggan and TCU.

Texas defensive back Chris Brown and wide receiver Kai Money celebrate their win over Texas Tech after an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday Sept. 26, 2020, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Mark Rogers)
No 9 Texas hopes to fix tackling woes Duggan and TCU

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 01, 2020 01:20 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Two games into the season and new defensive coordinator

Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman (10) warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger lost his top receiving targets from a year ago but has found plenty of options so far in 2020. The No. 8 Longhorns spread around seven touchdowns to seven different receivers in their first game. Now they go on the road to open Big 12 play against Texas Tech. Bowman was one of the top freshman quarterbacks in the country in 2018 only to have part of that season and much of 2019 wiped out by injuries. He's back and threw for 430 yards against Houston Baptist. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
Ehlinger has plenty of passing options at No. 8 Texas

By Jim Vertuno Sep. 24, 2020 01:34 PM EDT
Losing two of the most prolific receivers in program history left Texas with a

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) celebrates with Joshua Moore (6) after a Texas touchdown against UTEP during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman via AP)
Ehlinger leads No. 14 Texas romp over UTEP 59-3

By Jim Vertuno Sep. 13, 2020 01:07 AM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sam Ehlinger threw a 78-yard touchdown to Joshua Moore on

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 file photo, Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai (46) and defensive lineman Peter Mpagi (45) rush LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during an NCAA football game in Austin, Texas. (Nick Wagner/Austin American-Statesman via AP, File)
No. 14 Texas eager to get to kickoff with opener vs UTEP

By Jim Vertuno Sep. 10, 2020 02:46 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — For Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, each day of summer

FILE - Texas linebacker Joseph Ossai (46) hits Utah wide receiver Derrick Vickers (8) during the second half of the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. Ossai should have a big season in a new position. A linebacker in Texas' old 3-4 scheme, Ossai led Texas in tackles, then switched to a rush end position in the Alamo Bowl and delivered three sacks in a dominant win over Utah.(AP Photo/Austin Gay, File)
Texas chases Big 12 title with Ehlinger and rebuilt staff

By Jim Vertuno Sep. 01, 2020 01:29 PM EDT
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Back when everything was still normal in college football,