Your players have a tradition of visiting Dell Children's Hospital before home games. Do you think this type of off-field activity strengthens the team on the field?
We do not think you can love unless you learn to give back. Coach [Darrell] Royal told our seniors when we first came that one of his favorite sayings was "what I gave, I have... what I kept, I lost." We think that's a great message for our kids. We encourage them to get involved in all kinds of activities in the community, and we make a point of recognizing those who do.
With the Texas Longhorn's success under your tenure, how do you keep your players humbled and prepared for each game?
We try to build depth by playing a lot of players. We teach accountability, and that this is not about a person, but a team. It's better to be a giver than a taker. We try to involve as many players as possible on special teams.
Tell us about a favorite charity that you support.
Sally and I first learned about the Rise School when we were with Coach Gene Stallings and his family at the Gator Bowl when I was at North Carolina. The Stallings had a special needs son, and when we got to Austin, we got involved in the Rise School of Austin. It is a blended school, including mainstream youngsters and special needs kids. It touches a lot of lives.
Do you believe margin of victory should be taken into account by pollsters and the BCS system?
I worry that we lose sportsmanship when teams feel a need to run up a score to impress somebody. I have been on both sides of lop-sided scores, and I know how I felt when we lost. I think it is important to leave an opponent some self-esteem. If a game is out of hand, I have always felt it was more important to let your kids who may never have a chance to get into a game play. They will remember that a lot longer than they will standing on the sideline watching their teammates hang 70 points on somebody.
How do you define your responsibility as a football coach?
Always do what you know to be right. Sports is an extension of life, and you are a role model to a lot of people.
What coach did you most admire growing up and why?
My granddad, who was the winningest high school coach in middle Tennessee history at the time. He was always happy, and he never walked by anybody without making them feel good.
If you could add any collegiate head coach to your staff, who would it be and why?
Coach Royal. He takes hard things and makes them simple. And who better to choose than a guy who won three national championships?
If you were evaluating game film of yourself as a high school senior, would that player be recruited to play for Texas today?
No. I wasn't big enough or fast enough to play today.
Outside of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, what is the most electric atmosphere you've played in?
The Rose Bowl in the BCS National Championship game against Southern Cal. Both schools had great fan bases, and the stadium was just about evenly divided. And it helped that it was one of the greatest games in college football history.
You appeared in a cameo performance in an episode of Friday Night Lights. What TV shows would we find stored on your TiVo at home?
Football games and all kinds of sporting events. I also love biographies of successful people.
What is your favorite book of all-time?
The Bible.
Fill in the blank. If I weren't coaching football, I'd be ________.
A late night TV host.
What is one thing that your players would be surprised to learn about you?
I draw, like pen and ink drafting.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure junk food?
I never met a cheeseburger I didn't like!
Name one team that you have never played that you would like to face in the future. Why?
Notre Dame, because of its history and tradition.
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