Texas Quotable: Tom Herman ‘heartbroken’ for seniors after crushing senior day defeat

Here are highlights from Texas’ postgame press conference after the Longhorns’ 23-20 loss to Iowa State.

Head coach Tom Herman

On if they let Iowa State score the go-ahead touchdown

“We talked about it on that second down play. Had they not gotten it, we were going to try to hold them. Had they gotten the first down, then yes we would’ve let them score on the next play. But it wound up being a moot point because they scored anyway.”

On knowing his team is likely eliminated from Big 12 Championship contention

“Heartbroken for our seniors. Heartbroken for the rest of the team. But still understand that we’ve got a job to do.”

On why they called the second half fake punt

“The thinking on the fake punt was that we’ve worked it for two weeks. Knew it was there. They did a good job defending (tight end Cade Brewer). If you watch the replay, you’ll see Roschon Johnson wide open on the corner route. He didn’t see him.”

On why he’s the right guy to remain the head coach

“That’s not for me to decide. I feel like where we have the program right now compared to where it was when we took over, the future is very bright. We’ve won a lot of big games in our time here. Didn’t win a conference championship two years ago when we made the game. Played for an opportunity to go to that game here today, and we lost in the last couple minutes.”

Corner Josh Thompson

On Iowa State’s passing game

“They have a really good quarterback. Obviously have great tight ends. It was in the game plan to do everything that we could to stop those guys. Obviously they made some big plays.”

On how painful it was to lose

“Honestly, the feeling of being eliminated, it hurts a lot. And mainly because, I came in with this senior class. Just seeing the hurt on everyone’s faces.”

On why Texas didn’t have what it took this year

“Honestly, it was a very weird year. Especially not having a spring ball. I’m not here to make any excuses or anything. … We’ve got two more games left. Starting Sunday we’re going to go out there and compete.”

Defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham

On coming up short in the end despite playing well as a defense

“Honestly, looking back at the score, that last drive that we were on defense, I felt like we could’ve executed better. We just didn’t execute the things that we were coached to do. I feel like if we did those things, the outcome would be different.”

On not being able to get over the hump as a team

“It kind of falls back on the little things, things behind the scenes that people in the stands don’t see, maybe you don’t even see. The small, maybe minute details of the game. I think we’re just missing those today. Sometimes, we’ve missed them from week to week, and that’s why we don’t seem complete.”

On how they move forward without Big 12 title hopes

“Really have to take a look at ourselves and see what we’ve done wrong, see what we can improve at. Come this Sunday, we’ve got to go to work and continue to improve and finish off these last two games.”

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger

On his emotions after the game

“Frustrated. Confused. Wish it didn’t have to go this way.”

On what the biggest frustration is

“We still haven’t played a great game where both sides of the ball we’re playing really well. That’s frustrating. Confused that we have so much talent and we can’t put it all together. A lot of self-inflicted mistakes. Again, there’s frustration.”

On the last sack before the game-tying field goal attempt

“Last play of the game was four verticals was a checkdown underneath, that was to try to hit the checkdown and then call a timeout, then have a good shot at a field goal. Didn’t see the guy behind me coming. I may have been able to get the ball out of my hands, but I didn’t want to risk turning it over. I had to just eat it.”