Texas newcomers must channel poise, confidence against Michigan in order to see first road victory

For any of the incoming players on the Texas roster who didn’t get to experience the hostility of Tuscaloosa last season, this weekend’s matchup in Ann Arbor is going to be a wake-up call.

The Longhorns enter the largest stadium in the country, also known as “The Big House,” as a seven-point favorite to beat Michigan on its own turf, adding fuel to the already dangerous fire that is expected to ensue on Saturday.

During the Texas football media availability on Monday, head coach Steve Sarkisian laid out the ground rules for how the guys can see success on the road in a similar fashion to how they approached last year’s matchup in Alabama, where they went on to defeat the Crimson Tide 34-24.

“I think one of the keys is that one, you have to have great poise and composure when you’re on the road in these types of environments,” Sarkisian said. “This is a game of emotion. There’s no question, but we need to make sure that we don’t get emotional in the arena. Two is playing with a real sense of confidence and belief in who we are and our style of play.”

Similarly, senior tight end Gunnar Helm mentioned that one of the key elements to a satisfying game against the Wolverines, whether it’s a win or a loss, is knowing that everyone came prepared and played to Texas’ unique standard of football. This includes having built up resilience to the stress that comes with playing on the road.

“I think we just got to play our game. These coaches put us in great positions to succeed on both sides of the ball,” Helm said when asked what he wants to see from his teammates on Saturday. “So just preparation, getting ready for this game and just not falling under the pressure of the atmosphere for the young guys.”

This might be a reiteration for all 46 returning Longhorns who did travel to Tuscaloosa, but for those just now making a name for themselves, the word ‘intimidating’ may barely scratch the surface of what they’re expecting Ann Arbor