Texas head coach Tom Herman, center, takes the field with his team before an NCAA college football game against Rice Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Houston.

This week The Dallas Morning News college sports writer Chuck Carlton sat down to speak with Texas football head coach Tom Herman about the state of his program, his quarterback Sam Ehlinger and how hes making the best of trying times.

Here is the transcription of that conversation, edited for clarity.

Carlton: Im Chuck Carlton, with The Dallas Morning News. Were here with Texas football coach Tom Herman, whos headed into his fourth season -- fingers crossed that we have a season -- at Texas and is taking the time to join us in probably one of seven Zoom calls hes doing today. First, appreciate your time today, Tom.

What has a spring without football been like? I know youre doing as much as you can with your staff, with your players, but not being out on the field, not going through the ritual of spring practice, not doing all the things you associate with spring practice, whats that been like?

Herman: Before we start, I just want to make sure that you and everyone in your family is staying safe and healthy.

Carlton: Thanks for asking. Yes, and I assume you and your family are holding up OK.

Herman: Yeah, we are. One of the silver linings in all of this is as a coach, as Ive told people before, is the added family time that I get. Now Ive sat in front of Zoom meetings from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., sometimes I feel like Im working longer hours than I do in a normal year, but at least on the weekends, weve got some free time.

But that wasnt your question. Your question was about how are we doing in offseason without spring practice, without the normalcy of everything. Were doing as good as, I think, anyone in the country. Our kids are all working out. We have, or had Zoom meetings eight hours a week with our players for installation.

The one thing people may not realize is we got a lot of work done in January and February, too. The NCAA has relaxed a lot of rules over the last 10 or so years of what we can do as coaches with our players there in the offseason. We had two hours of meetings every week, which we maximized. We had position-specific conditioning drills, so our kids have been coached by their position coaches multiple times a week for two months. And just a couple of years ago they allowed us to have walkthroughs, so our players have walked through all of the base concepts.

Now the one thing that were missing is obviously the spring practice and the full-speed 11-on-11 body reps on some of these things. My biggest concern right now is the health and well-being of our players, their nutrition, them finishing strong academically with their finals going on right now, and then making sure that they have a place to work out and stay in shape.

As far as the Xs and Os go, Im not real concerned because we had so much time to install and walk through offense and defense in January and February and then eight hours a week with Zoom and the technology that we have right now with coordinators and position coaches being able to share video and telestrate on the screen, if you will. Its gone as smoothly as I could have hoped and really the one thing were missing is those 15 practices and the full-speed 11-on-11 reps.

Carlton: One thing thats come out of this is all the different scenarios out there. I know Big 12 coaches are talking about it, ADs are talking about it. How much attention do you pay to those? How much do you try to game-plan, as to, If we have this happen, if we come back in September instead of August, if we have conference-only like the Pac-12 is talking about, all these sorts of things? If you have a split schedule like Bob Bowlsby is talking about. Is that too far away? Do you have plans A, B, C, D, E?

That part of it is too far away. What the season is going to look like is way too far away. What were worried about right now is June 1. You know all the power five commissioners and conferences got together in late March and agreed on a bunch of different stipulations in terms of what we can and cant do with our players, but that was set through May 31. Well, were getting pretty close to May 31.

You know, every state has different laws. Our state just opened gyms, so does that mean we can open the weight room doors on June 1 for our players even though its discretionary or because some other state in our conference cannot? Are we bound by the lowest common denominator? Those decisions are being made well above my head by ADs and university presidents and commissioners and, first and foremost, government health officials telling us what is acceptable and appropriate and what isnt. I think the biggest thing the NCAA said is that we cant meet with our players during finals, so this week and part of next week, we havent met a whole lot.

Starting Wednesday of next week, well resume meetings with our players starting on Wednesday, the 20. Weve got contingency plans based on a lot of different scenarios that could happen June 1. As far as what the season looks like, I think the only thing that we kind of all -- and when I say all, all of us in the Big 12 and really most of the Power Five conferences -- have agreed on is that were going to need six weeks.

Whenever you tell us were going to start the season, whatever that season looks like, were going to at least six weeks prior to that to have the first two weeks kind of be an assessment -- a medical assessment of our players and see where theyre at from a physical conditioning standpoint -- and spend two weeks slowly getting them acclimated and then have training camp, and then go play the season. But whether it starts late or starts on time -- 12 games, nine games, fans, no fans, split season, spring season -- I think its way too early to tell. Again, were really just focused on: What are we going to be able to do with our players come June 1?

Carlton: During this time, youve been busy with fundraising and donations for various charities -- the Central Texas Food Bank, the Front Steps homeless shelter and I think about three or four others in Austin. What prompted you and Michelle to take those steps to go for it, and whats it meant to you on a personal level to be involved?

Herman: Well, to be honest with you, there wasnt much prompting needed. These were things that Michelle and I had done in the past. We try to lead as private a life as possible. Its something we believe in. Were fortunate enough to have resources to be able to help others that others dont. I think probably the biggest catalyst for us at least letting the world know what were doing is to try to encourage others to do the same in this extreme time of need. We werent prompted by anything. Were still helping the same causes weve always helped.

It was a matter of trying to get the word out to the Longhorn Nation and to the whole country to help these organizations that are in dire need at this point. Personally, my father died in a homeless shelter when he was 52 years old and he struggled with addiction issues. We werent able to save him. If we can help maybe save somebody elses dad, you know, were going to feel pretty good about that. You look at the food bank and Meals on Wheels, they usually spend, we toured on Tuesday the facility they have in southeast Austin, and what a massive facility, and the CEO Derrick Chubbs, told me in a normal week, they spend about 25,000 per week on food, theyre spending a quarter of a million dollars a week on food right now just to feed Central Texas alone.

That is a strain on them and their resources that is unimaginable. Then the Safe Alliance -- I witnessed some domestic abuse in my childhood, my wife has friends who have been victims of domestic abuse -- so we felt like with people being quarantined and stuck in the same house, all the statistics say that the rate of domestic violence has risen during these times because of that.

We wanted to make sure that the people who are supporting them have the resources to do so. In fact, we had a little special gift for them on Mothers Day which was kind of cool. Then the Boys and Girls Club, well, one, the emergency fund that President [Gregory] Fenves was near and dear to our hearts because the student population is our lifeblood. They are our biggest supporters so in this time of need we wanted to help them.

I was a club kid myself growing up. My mom worked her tail off but needed a place to send me after school and in the summertime. The Boys and Girls Club was always there for me in my youth so we wanted to be sure they have the resources to provide the same kind of education and nourishment that they provided me 35 years ago.

Carlton: Dont want to get you in trouble on this, so feel free to take the 5th if you want. Is there a favorite restaurant either in Austin or on the road when youre recruiting and is on your list to hit when we get back to normalcy?

Herman: Favorite restaurant in Austin, there are so many good ones. It would take too long. I literally dont have a favorite, theyre so many good ones. The one on the road that I love is in Houston is El Tiempo. I think its the best fajitas and Im a big fajita guy. Cyclone Anayas is also great when we lived in Houston. Here in town, weve, you name it -- weve tried it and everything downtown to out here to Maudies, all of the above whether youre in the suburbs or downtown, Austins got some unbelievable food.

Carlton: Now youre in the office and on Zoom calls for about 12 hours a day, waiting for calls from recruits, but you go home and theres only so much football you can do, whats it like for you? Have you developed any new hobbies, whats it like having that quality time with the family? Have things changed a little bit for you?

Herman: Oh, certainly and were not in the office so Im home all day. Im in the home office and you tell your wife and kids pretend Im not here, but that never works, so I usually get interrupted from time to time.

I think the evenings have been particularly special. I think were going on a couple of weeks in a row of all five of us sitting down to a family dinner. In all of the years combined, I dont know that we had 14 days just because of the kids different schedules, my different schedule, Michelles different schedule.

So, its been really important and then after dinner -- if theres not more recruiting calls to make -- we try to have a family game night or family movie night. Ive played more Uno then you can imagine. Monopoly, The Game of Life, Jenga -- we played the other night -- Cornhole, ping pong -- you see the ping pong table behind me.

Then we alternate -- do the kids get to pick the movie or do the parents get to pick a movie? Usually when the parents pick the movie its something that meant something to Michelle and I growing up that maybe our kids hadnt seen.

Our kids hadnt seen Ferris Buellers Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Top Gun, some of these movies that kind of shaped us growing up that we wanted to expose them to. They kind of grit their teeth and fight through it a little bit. Caddyshack isnt near as funny to my 12-year-old son as it was to me back in the day, but Ill be damned if hes going to grow up not having watched Caddyshack.

Carlton: How has the adjustment gone to the new normal in recruiting now? Weve heard about virtual recruiting, kids arent taking visits, youve had the dead period extended. What kind of adjustments have you and your staff have to make?

Herman: Weve got a greater appreciation for Facetime and Zoom. I dont know that -- had this not happened -- that we would have utilized those face to face interactions. We rely on texts and old school phone calls a lot where its neat to be able to see these kids face to face. I know its not in the flesh but its as close as we can get, so thats been good. Thats a change that will probably last well beyond the pandemic. I think its just constant communication.

Weve got virtual unofficial visits where well get a kid on Zoom. Hell have an opportunity to watch videos, some promo videos on our different departments, then talk to Brett Wohlers, [director of football student development], Kevin Washington, head of our player development department, the guy who leads our forever Texas series, our life after football series.

They talk to coach [Yancy] McKnight and they talk to me and the parents get involved. Thats the best we got, and get as creative as we can be virtually and get these kids and their parents and the key people in their lives who will help them make this decision feel as comfortable as they can with us and our program.

Carlton: A question from reader Diego, Texas fan: How much did you get done that you wanted to get done with Mike Yurcich and Chris Ash stepping in as your new coordinators and how much is left to get done in terms of that going forward?

Herman: Again, prior to everything shutting down, we had pretty much normal down and distance, normal field zone, offense and defense installed mentally. We went back and reinstalled it. Youre going to run out of things to meet about at some point, so we introduced some third down and red zone stuff on both sides of the ball, some specialty situations.

So again, the mental aspect of it is not a huge concern of mine. The kids are going to know this offense and this defense like the back of their hand mentally. Its going out and physically doing it, well have to accelerate that learning curve as soon as we get them back.

Carlton: At a place like Texas, changing one coordinator is a big deal, changing two is a really big deal. What made you decide that Ive really got to make these changes?

Herman: I think it all started offensively. I had become a jack of all trades and master of none. There are just so many things that tug at you as the head coach at the University of Texas. To be the best play caller that I could be, it was difficult for me to find the time to really dive into that and I was burning the candle at both ends.

Obviously, Im involved in the offensive game plan and our previous offensive staff, the guys that are no longer here, did a phenomenal job when I wasnt there. But being the primary play caller on game day requires so much more added time and film study that it was taking me away from them.

The second part was managing the defensive side of it. We did not perform to our expectations defensively, so to hire a guy who Ive admired from afar for a long, long time in Mike Yurcich, that was a big recruit for us. I dont want to name names, there were plenty of schools -- Power 5, big-time jobs that had offensive coordinator openings. He chose to come to Texas because he believed in what were doing, he believed in the vision and he believed in our ability to win championships here.

Then Chris [Ash] was a no brainer. Again, Chris had numerous, numerous offers whether it be in the Power 5 and even in the NFL. And this will be our third spot working together at Iowa State then Ohio State. We won a national championship together as coordinators there. I think his three-plus years as a head coach, he now has a great idea of what it means to sit in this chair. Hes done a great job of being head coach of the defense.

We underperformed on both sides of the ball at times. You look statistically, we were, I think, top 15 offense. We did some really good things offensively. Had the leading receiver in the country. Sam Ehlinger had statistically one of the best seasons in the history of Texas football. We bogged down at times, and so the only way I knew how to fix it is to look at myself as the leader of this organization.

How do we get to where we all believe that were headed? Dont get me wrong, Chuck, the trajectory is right where we thought it would be when we came in. 2018 probably, our kids played well above expectations, but weve now got a four-year starter at quarterback, a potential first rounder at left tackle from a signing class that was ranked 31st in the country or something like that.

So weve done a good job developing those guys and then having the class of 18 and class of 19 -- two classes that were top five classes now be mature guys that have been in the system, that have been with Coach McKnight and have gotten bigger, faster, stronger. We might have hit a bit of a dip -- its pretty easy to see the trajectory, the long term trajectory, is headed in the right direction.

Carlton: Another reader asks -- you can anticipate coming from somebody on the Internet -- he wants to know is Texas back? Whats it like being at a school where that takes on a life of its own because Texas is Texas? There arent many schools where people expect national prominence year in year out. It might be aspirational; it might be a hope. At Texas its expected, it seems to be.

Herman: When you win, its not enough, you didnt use the right people or call the right plays, and if you lose, God forbid the sky is falling. But I get it. I know what we signed up for.

We dont use the term back. I dont know what back is. Back means that youve settled. Youre not striving for anything beyond that. I dont know the definition of back. Our big picture goal is always to compete for championships in the months of November and December. We feel like were on our way to doing that.

We did that in just our second year here. Weve beaten two top 10 teams, one top five team and some pretty big time bowl games. We got to work out some of the kinks that had us stub our toe a few times too many last year.

In terms of us being in the national discussion, yeah, like I said I think the trajectory is there. Well never internally use that phrase back. A -- I dont know how to define it and B -- to me, youre settling for something. Each year were going to try to do this (points upward with his hand and arm). I don't know what that question means. I hope I answered it sufficiently though.

Carlton: Another question here, again, not trying to offer negative statistics. Everybody in the Big 12 knows Oklahoma has won five straight conference titles.

Herman: Were well aware, yes.

Carlton: Whats it going to take to knock Oklahoma off? From the standpoint of a competitor looking at a great rival, does that grate on you at all?

Herman: Sure it grates on us. It would grate on us if anyone won it five years in a row and it wasnt us. But for it to be our hundred and some odd-year rival and across the state line, it certainly sticks in your craw a little.

To answer the first part of your question, whats it going to take? Theyve had really good teams, theyve got really good coaches. Theyve had two No. 1 picks at quarterback, back to back years as well as a second-round pick this past year. We all know how important that position is in all levels of football. Theyve done a phenomenal job of recruiting and developing that position.

We beat them in the regular season. Couldnt pull off the second part of that, which was beating them in the conference championship game. Theres no moral victories at Texas especially when it comes to that school, but considering where we started, weve played them admirably and beaten them once in three years.

So whats it going to take? Its going to take a continued effort to recruit elite talent and to develop that talent and then hopefully one of these days theyll stop having first- and second-round draft picks at quarterback. But weve played draft picks, thats certainly not an excuse at all, weve played draft picks at quarterback damn near every week, but those three guys theyve had in the last three years were special -- really, really special.

We feel like were building something here that is sustainable and that rivalry is going to be, on a national perspective, I still think its the greatest rivalry in all of college sports because of the venue, because of the two states, because of the history of it. Weve got to do our part in making sure that we win some more of those battles.

Carlton: What do you know now? You were familiar with Texas as back up to Mack Brown, but what do you know now that maybe you didnt know when you were introduced four years ago?

Herman: I didnt know, when you take these kind of jobs, you take them sight unseen, so I didnt have a grasp at how far behind we were from our competitors from a facility standpoint. My hats off to Chris Del Conte and Greg Fenves for understanding that, realizing that and going out and raising the money to rectify that. Well have the finest facility in the fall of 2021.

What else didnt I know? I lived in Austin for two years as a graduate assistant. I had to live in Austin on $400 a month, which wasnt easy. I think on a positive note, I knew what a great city Austin was, but never had been exposed as much as Ive been exposed to what a remarkable city this is to live in and raise a family. That was a pleasant surprise.

I just think those are probably the two biggest things that I know now that I didnt know then. One, holy cow we got an issue here, and the other, holy cow, this is awesome.

Carlton: Beginning with the quarterback, Sam, seems like hes the sort of guy that seems like hes played more than four years. I guess what do people not know about Sam Ehlinger that youve seen behind the scenes that maybe people dont get about him?

Herman: The guys been on the cover of Dave Campbells magazine. Theres been a thousand articles written on him. I dont know that Im going to enlighten your audience much more than they already have been.

Ive been around some really powerful leaders in my coaching experience, but theres always been guys that are 5 stars and 2 or 3 that are 6 stars from a leadership standpoint. Elandon Roberts, middle linebacker at Houston falls into that category. Hes starting middle linebacker with the Patriots as a seventh-round pick. J.T. Barrett falls into that category and Sam Ehlinger falls into that category for me.

His ability to relate to and get the most out of so many different demographics of players on our team because the kids on our team -- theres 150 kids on our teams -- and they come from all walks of life, socioeconomic backgrounds, different parts of the country, different interests, different everything. He could put a dip in and go fishing with a few of the O-linemen and the very next day take the DBs and receivers to JMBLYA, the hip-hop music festival and nobody would blink an eye.

His ability to cross all of those boundaries. His leadership style is phenomenal to be a part of. My biggest regret is hes got to spend his senior year dressing in the visitors locker room because of this construction. Im certainly very proud of the fact that were getting a first class facility, but I wish for everything that hes done for this university and for this program and for the city of Austin, my biggest wish thatll never get granted, is that he wont get the opportunity to enjoy that as a player at the University of Texas.

As we always do in the offseason, we have a corner of our locker room set out for NFL players to come back to Austin to train in the offseason. Hell get to use it. Itll just be when hes in the NFL rather than wearing the burnt orange.

Carlton: Another position question on the offense, last year you had depth problems at running back.

Herman: I would say! Yeah.

Carlton: You were playing a converted freshman quarterback who was pretty darn good. Now with Keaontay Ingram back, Roschon Johnson, Danny Young and recruiting creating an awful lot of buzz coming from the top running backs from the country. How do you look at that position group now? And whats your comfort level?

Herman: Well if we stay healthy, its as healthy as its been in years here. We think Keaontay Ingram is an NFL player, we think Roschon Johnson is an NFL player, we think Bijan Robinson has superstar written all over him, and Danny Young is a great team guy and has his role in that position group.

The one thing, were a scholarship short there. Youd like to carry five on scholarship. Weve got four when Johnson comes in. We tried to sign two. Last year's class was really difficult when the second guy is looking across thinking youre signing the No. 1 running back in the country and hes my age, so that was difficult. So well sign two this year and well see what the future holds for Keaontay in terms of him coming back for his senior year or not.

We feel as good as we ever have at that position considering where we started and where we are now in terms of the quality and quantity of depth there. Knock on wood, we just got to make sure those guys stay healthy.

Carlton: Another reader question: You look at the top national contenders around the country. One consistent quality with all of those is the offensive line, having the big, strong mean guys up front. Its taken you a while to rebuild that. You mention Sam Cosmi being a possible first-round draft pick. Youve got multiple year starters at most positions coming back. How close are you to where you want to be with having the offensive line set? You know, going back to Ohio State, what an offensive line means to an entire football team.

Herman: Our first year there, the players we inherited at Ohio State, I think three of them were drafted. Then you move into the Taylor Deckers of the world who we recruited and wound up being a first rounder. We also had a guy named Ezekiel Elliott back there who was pretty good at covering up some deficiencies, if we had any in the offensive line.

We feel really good. Were returning three starters, playing Cosmi, [Junior] Angilau, [Derek] Kerstetter. Kerstetter will be a four-year starter. He was thrown into the fire as a true freshman and played admirably. Hes developed fine to the point where we feel like hell get an opportunity to play in the NFL, too.

The young guys have not only been developed by coach [Herb] Hand but by coach McKnight. Thats such a developmental position. Very rarely do you see freshmen or registered freshmen or true sophomores starting at that position, but unfortunately weve had to.

Well reap the benefits of that this year with Cosmi being a three-year starter and Kerstetter being a four-year starter. Angilau being a two-year starter and we feel like well have some pretty good position battles for those other two spots.

Carlton: Shifting to the defense, are you going to the four-man front with Chris Ash or a variation of the four-man front, with edge rushers, Joseph Ossai moving from linebacker to moving to one of those JACK positions for you guys. Whats your level of expectation for what that four-man front can deliver especially when you look at what it did in the bowl game, and whats the ceiling for Joseph Ossai as a pass rusher?

Herman: The biggest thing especially in our conference -- sacks are an overrated statistic in my opinion -- because in todays game the ball gets out so quickly. Youve got to make quarterbacks feel uncomfortable and youve got to disrupt them, youve got to hit them, youve got to bat passes down, the whole nine.

We felt like playing on the edges of offensive linemen gives us the opportunity to do that with our front guys rather than having to generate pass rushes from blitzing linebackers or safeties. We feel like in this league with all the RPOs -- sacks again may or may not come -- but we feel like were going to have a much better presence in terms of affecting the quarterbacks and making them uncomfortable.

You asked about the ceiling for Joe. How high can you go up? This is a kid that came in at 210 pounds, hes 255 pounds now. Hes put on 40 pounds of lean muscle. He's dropped his body fat percentage by 3 or 4%. Hes the best pass rusher weve got. Hes a very twitchy athlete. Hes a great leader. The sky is -- I dont want to say literally because that word is literally used out of context and improperly quite frequently -- but figuratively the sky is the limit for him. Hes got a very, very high ceiling for sure.

Carlton: Looking at your secondary which on paper looks like one of your most talented groups. A bunch of guys that came in -- top recruits, guys with all kinds of athletic ability hasnt really come together maybe because of injuries, maybe because of other things, but how do you look at that group and do you see those guys kind of stepping up now that theyve been on campus for a couple of years?

Herman: Oh yeah, if theres one position that weve recruited at a level at or even above anyone else in the country its in the defensive backfield. Theres going to be some big time battles for playing time and starting jobs.

You look at even just our corners. You look at the two deep and youre talking about Jalen Green, DShawn Jamison, Josh Thompson, Kenyatta Watson.

These guys are very highly recruited guys that anybody in the country would be proud to have, then go to the safeties and in 2018 we signed the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 safety in the country. The very next year we signed a five-star in Tyler Owens.

Lets dont forget that especially in this league, well be in nickel personnel most of the time, so Chris Adimora and Anthony Cook will battle for that position. You look in the back end, youre talking about Caden Sterns, B.J. Foster, Chris Brown, Tyler Owens, the list goes on and on.

The old adage is iron sharpens iron. Our goal is to get every position group to that depth so that every day at practice is a battle so that these guys are making each other better just because theyre pushing each other.

Carlton: Are you still looking for a little help in depth in linebacker in the grad transfer market, or what is your comfort level with the linebacker right now?Herman: I think its the most nerve wracking position from a depth stand point on our team right now. We feel good about the move on DeMarvion Overshown, but hes inexperienced there. We feel like Juwan Mitchell has shown us in spurts that he can play at championship level.

Im excited to see about David Gbenda. You know Ayodele Adeoye and Marcus Tillman are both coming off injuries. Theyve been very diligent in their rehab. Marcus Tillman was a guy that was certainly turning heads before he got hurt as well as [Adeoye]. [Adeoye ]had started a few games for us as well.

But theyre all young and inexperienced so if we can find a grad transfer at that position that we feel like can help us win a championship, well look at that. Weve had quite a bit of success with grad transfers over the years coming in, but we also feel like weve got a great linebacker coach in Coleman Hutzler.

But if we dont, its not the end of the world. The guys that we have on our roster currently, will be developed to the point that theyll be an asset rather than a liability.

Carlton: You made a one day trip to South Bend to visit with Brian Kelly and when you look at Notre Dame and Texas you see some similarities in terms of the tradition, the media coverage and the fan expectations. Both of you guys even have your own network. What was your takeaway, what did you bring out of that meeting with Kelly? Hes been a head coach a little longer than you have, so what was your takeaway?

Herman: Hes been a coach a lot longer than I have, all the way back to Grand Valley State, and Central Michigan, and Cincinnati and Notre Dame so he went through a coaching transition, much like we did.

He had the luxury, I call it a luxury, the year that he made a few changes on his staff, they were 4-8, they didnt go to a bowl game. He had that whole month of December and January to hire his new staff and onboard them in terms of expectations of their culture.

We were getting ready to play the No. 10 team in the country on New Year's Eve. That made December and January pretty hectic for myself. I think the biggest takeaway was one -- that, some guys are built differently, and have different responsibilities.

There are head coaches out there that call the offense and the defense, and do a really good job at it, but if youre going to do that, youve got to make sure youve got the time to do that and the support system on both sides of the ball to step away from it.

The takeaway was hire coordinators that you believe in and you trust. Get out of the offensive meeting room from time to time, build your relationship with your players and make sure youre seeing the entire enterprise of Texas football from a 30,000-foot view rather than a play caller view. It was very helpful.

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Q&A with Texas coach Tom Herman: What it will take to dethrone Oklahoma, which 80s movies he's showing his kids and more - The Dallas Morning News