True Freshman, True Quarterback:
Why Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns should start Sam Ehlinger
The time old college football dilemma, who to start at quarterback?
First-year head coach of the Texas Longhorns Tom Herman, has quite a decision to make. With a 4–5 record and bowl eligibility on the line, Herman needs to name a permanent starting quarterback that can lift this Longhorn team up from mediocrity.
His two choices, sophomore Shane Buechele and true freshman Sam Ehlinger, haven’t made it an easy decision for their coach. Both actually, are fully capable statistic wise.
Buechele has started four games for the Longhorns and has 1067 yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions, and a 65.2 completion percentage.
Ehlinger has started five games and has 1419 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 55.7 completion percentage.
However there is one thing that edges one out from the other, heart.
When you watch Buechele, you are watching a kid that is playing quarterback for a Division 1 football team.
When you watch Ehlinger, you are watching a kid that is playing for the team he has loved and supported since he was a little boy. You are watching a lifelong, diehard fan. You are watching loyalty at its finest.
If you don’t think that distinction matters, you’re wrong, because it translates onto the field.
Take the Texas vs Oklahoma game for example, it resulted in a loss for the Longhorns, but you wouldn’t know it by Ehlinger’s post game reaction.
As the Longhorn team was heading back to the locker room, chants of “Texas sucks!” bellowing throughout the Cotton Bowl, Ehlinger threw up the horns symbol and pumped it proudly.
This wasn’t the first time he has shown such pride to be wearing burnt orange and white, I first noticed it when Texas played USC at the Coliseum in September.
After every Texas score it seemed,even when they were trailing, Ehlinger could be seen holding up the Longhorns’ symbol to the Texas fans in the stands, conveying to everyone the fight and pride he had in his heart for his school.
Ehlinger has continued this throughout the games he has played in, and it is a welcome showing of loyalty in a sports age where undying loyalty to a team from fans and recruits, depends on an undefeated record.
Another aspect about Ehlinger that puts him ahead of Buechele, is his raw emotion.
In the games I have seen Buechele in action, he rarely shows any feeling. Sure after a nice touchdown pass he may get excited, but what about when the Longhorns are down?
What about when things aren’t going as planned? That is when the mark of a true leader can be seen, and Buechele in his quiet, almost shy demeanor, hasn’t shown that he is the quarterback that wants to win more than anyone else.
Ehlinger however…..just take a look at the example below.
The Longhorns down by 10 to the #8 ranked team in the country, need to get something going in the fourth quarter. Yes they need two scores, but they also need to increase moral.
It’s no secret football players feed off how their quarterback carries himself, especially the offense.
Down 10 points in the fourth?
With a QB who is shouting encouragement at his guys, assuring them being down two scores can easily be rectified?
Those 10 points will look like a crack to step over rather than a mountain to climb.
On the other hand;
Down by 10 in the fourth?
With a QB who looks like a deer in the headlights?
Those 10 points will look like Mount Everest.
You can see which of the two Ehlinger is above, and he isn’t even suited up.
Yes Ehlinger being a duel-threat can run and evade a lot better than Buechele behind a troubling offensive line, but that shouldn’t be the only reason Texas fans should want to start him.
He just has it.
That it being something you can’t quite put into a clear cut definition, but rather something you can only feel.
I’m not even a Texas fan and I can feel it. Tom Herman should too.
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Dina Colunga is a proud USC alum whose words can be found at Ball Control Offense, The Unprofessionals, and Reign of Troy. Connect with her on Twitter @alwayscompete, and Instagram @dinatrojan.
