Longhorns not satisfied with 3-0 start

The Texas Longhorns are 3-0 for the sixth straight season, but UT still has plenty to prove this year.

With their non-conference schedule in the rearview mirror, the No. 12 Longhorns have two weeks to prepare for Oklahoma State and their Big 12 opener on Sept. 29 in Stillwater. That will be the first true test for Texas.

"We are not satisfied," senior tailback Jeremy Hills said. "The last couple years we have been 3-0 and we have been here before. At this point in our season we are going into the second phase. We are about to start conference play and the number one thing we want to do is win our conference. But you can't win your conference if you can't beat the first team." 

Texas has outscored its opponents 148-48 and wasn't challenged much by Wyoming, New Mexico and Mississippi. So how do the Longhorns avoid a letdown against OSU after two weeks off?  

"It is just all about staying focused and looking at the big picture rather than letting yourself come down after a big success," senior tight end D.J. Grant said. "Just go out there and keep working harder as the weeks go by. You have to keep your goals up, your body fresh and your mind right." 

The Longhorns won't start game-planning for Oklahoma State until after the weekend. Instead, they are going back to the basics this week in practice and will focus on fundamentals. But that doesn't mean their mindset will change.

"The intensity is still there," said fullback Ryan Roberson, who scored his first career touchdown against Ole Miss on Saturday. "We still have to be physical, bring toughness and execute everything. Just because it is a bye week, we can't slack off."

Last year, Texas was 3-0 coming off a bye week and beat Iowa State 37-14 on the road to open Big 12 play. 

By Austin Laymance/Special to the Star-Telegram.