April 24, 2025 • 9 mins
Welcome to "The Morning Kickoff Show" with Mike "Hardball" Hardge & "The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry. The guys have a conversation with Texas Baseball Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle as they talk about the upcoming series with Texas A&M. How are the team is continuing to play at a high level. What's the latest on the team's injury report. What adjustments will be made to the pitching rotation. How well Jonah Williams is playing & what is the expectations going further. You can hear it all here on “The Morning Kickoff Show!”
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He is the number one coach of the number one
team in the land. He is the head coach of
Texas Baseball. As they finished off a week that is
pretty impressive after they swept the Auburn Tigers, who were
number eight at the time, and then went down to
Sam Marcus and won an epic battle for teen to eleven.
(00:22):
But everybody wants to talk about what's happening this weekend.
He is coach Jim Slasnagel and coach let's go back
to the Auburn series. You guys have found a way
to make it happen. Kimball Schustler had one of the
best weeks, which he was rewarded for for being SEC
(00:42):
co Player of the Week. Your pitching staff rallied after
Jared Spencer was relieved early. What is it about this
team that just always seemed to find a way?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Well?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Thanks, first of all, thanks for having me on. I
mean we can pitch, you know, even though we were
banged up a little bit. Uh. I think anytime you
throw enough strikes and and keep the team keep the
score down, then you have a chance to win. Uh
with uh, you know, with maybe wonder one or two swings.
But it's just the competitive spirit of a team and
(01:18):
the grit of this team and the tech you know,
Texas fight in this team is it's It sounds coachy,
but it's if you've seen us play, sometimes it's not pretty,
but they find a way to uh to win more
than they lose at this point, and they're fun to
be around. And especially that older group, uh Galvan and
(01:38):
Schuschler and Max Belou and Jalen and Gath Barno and uh,
you know some of those guys on the mound. Casey
Borb is really kind of coming into his own a
little bit. So it's it's fun to be around. And
they play for each other and what we call it,
we kind of try to out team the other team,
you know, and that that includes the guys on the bench.
So it's not always pretty, but the results at this
(02:02):
point will take it. But we have a whole new
opening day tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Coach, we had you on early in the season and
you told us that temper your expectations and I try.
I'm trying my best, but I'm feeling, like real Claire,
it's hard for me to keep these alligators down. I'm
bringing out the pump pomps and everything. I'm hey, I'm
all ut right now, Like, how do you get your
(02:29):
team to not just look at the press that you
know they're there, how well they're doing it?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, you know, I mean I think in today's world,
that's really hard to do. I just think these guys
feel like they they prepare like champions, they expect to win,
but they truly do respect the game, and they you know,
and they we don't fear any opponent, but we respect
every opponent. But it's more more about, you know, again,
(03:01):
playing to a standard and not a scoreboard. And you know,
we had multiple conversations this week about the things that
we have to be better at. And when you get
into you know, that's why you know, weekends like this
weekend or any SEC weekend, certainly when you're playing a
rival and there's so much you know, attention brought to it,
(03:23):
it's a personal challenge and a team challenge to keep
your head, keep your head in the sand, and keep
your blinders on and focus on self improvement. And I
think today's young person gets caught up in the comparison
game and I'm better than you or that person's better
(03:46):
than me. When all we can do is try to
be the best version of ourself every day and we
know that a we can get healthy. So if we
can get healthy before you know, the end of the season,
then maybe we can even play better. But it's just, uh,
it's just a matter of being the best version of
our of our own team. And when you look at
(04:09):
it that way, when you compare yourself to yourself and
not anything else, then you keep your head out of
the clouds, and uh, don't even read that stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
We're talking to the head coach of the Texas Longhorns,
Jim Slasnagel coach. I want to get right into it.
This is a big weekend obviously, but there's some adjustments
that may or may not be made, so I'm gonna
give you an opportunity to talk about it. Jared Spencer
is someone that has been your Friday go to guy.
(04:38):
He came out on Thursday of last week. What is
the latest, uh with Jared Spencer.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, Jared's Jared's gonna visit with some medical people today
him and his family and uh try and figure out
what the best long term decision is for him. And
so you know, we should know more by the end
of the of the day. He's certainly not going to
pitch this weekend or pitch, you know, anytime soon. I
(05:06):
wouldn't think. I mean, let's let's we get some and
unless we get some awesome news or some creative, you know,
ideas from wherever he goes today. But we knew that
after Thursday night, well we knew he you know, he
was gonna at least have to skip one start, so
we tried to prepare for it over the course of
last weekend. We wanted Ruger to throw a little bit
(05:26):
on Saturday, but then get him out as soon as
we could. We like his mentality and who he is
as a as a person, as a and as a
pitcher to handle Friday night. Luke Harrison will pitch on Saturday,
and more than likely to be Jason Flores on Sunday.
But you know, we'll just tba to see how it goes,
(05:47):
all right.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And then the other question is Jonah Williams. Jonah Williams
has captured the hearts and minds of so many Longhorn fans.
I thought he shot a ball out of right field
the other day for his first home run. I think
he thought that too, But now he is in the
conversation of being your left fielder. What's the latest on
(06:08):
Jonah Williams and the expectations of this young man.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, you know, there's no expectation. I mean, he's he's
going to be in the lineup if he's healthy and
ready to go, and you know, the expectation is just
for him to keep competing. I think if you watch him,
he's into every pitch, not just in his own at bats,
but I mean he's he's into every single pitch in
our dugout. He's very much an encourager. He'll challenge a
(06:35):
team even at seventeen years old. So you know, he
tried to avoid that tag on Tuesday night and I
think he's fine. You know, he tweaked, he tweaked something
in his leg. We took him out real quick just
to you know, make sure, you know, give us the
best chance for him to be back out there this weekend.
(06:58):
But you know, we'll see how it feels today. But
he's a tough, competitive athlete man, and he's different I
frankly than thirty five years. I've never coached anybody like
this guy in terms of in terms of the all
around athleticism plus competitive spirit plus competitive intelligence. He's very
(07:19):
smart on an athletic field. I mean he's very smart everywhere,
and a great teammate and just a joy to be
around in every sense.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Coach, I'm gonna let you go with this. Obviously, this
is a huge weekend for so many other reasons. Obviously
a lot of folks are talking about this weekend. How
are you, as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns
trying to just take it all in. I know you've
been around the game for a long time. It's another
game to you day one, as you said opening Day.
(07:52):
But obviously there's gonna be some type of feeling going
into this weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, I wouldn't. I'd be lying
if I didn't tell you that. You know, this is
a different one, you know, on a on a somewhat
similar scale. My first year at A and M, we
played TCU in a regional final and that was tough,
but not like a three game series in the SEC.
So it's gonna be good to see, you know, the
(08:21):
kids that we were part of coaching last year, and
we have great relationships with those guys. We'll get a
chance to win their career is over to spend time together.
But you know, right now, my job is to coach
to the Texas Longhorns, and a win this weekend only
counts as one win. A loss only counts as one loss,
and they're not. We can't make it anything more than that.
(08:42):
It's great for the fans. It's an unbelievable rivalry that'll
be around. It's been around long before any of us,
It'll be around way after any of us are even here.
So it's an honor to be a part of it
on no matter what side you're on.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
No doubt. Well, good luck, and we'll be out there
and I know it's gonna be a fun, fun weekend
and the venom will be freeing out there, man, So
enjoy yourself and have a good one.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
All right, take care, have a good day, coach, no problem.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
There. He is coach Jim Slosnago previewing this weekend, and
there were some big news that was there. Make sure
you get over to the podcast page if you missed
any of it. Coming up next hour number two of
the morning kickoff right here on sports Radio AM thirteen hundred.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
This is all
He is the number one coach of the number one
team in the land. He is the head coach of
Texas Baseball. As they finished off a week that is
pretty impressive after they swept the Auburn Tigers, who were
number eight at the time, and then went down to
Sam Marcus and won an epic battle for teen to eleven.
(00:22):
But everybody wants to talk about what's happening this weekend.
He is coach Jim Slasnagel and coach let's go back
to the Auburn series. You guys have found a way
to make it happen. Kimball Schustler had one of the
best weeks, which he was rewarded for for being SEC
(00:42):
co Player of the Week. Your pitching staff rallied after
Jared Spencer was relieved early. What is it about this
team that just always seemed to find a way?
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Well?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Thanks, first of all, thanks for having me on. I
mean we can pitch, you know, even though we were
banged up a little bit. Uh. I think anytime you
throw enough strikes and and keep the team keep the
score down, then you have a chance to win. Uh
with uh, you know, with maybe wonder one or two swings.
But it's just the competitive spirit of a team and
(01:18):
the grit of this team and the tech you know,
Texas fight in this team is it's It sounds coachy,
but it's if you've seen us play, sometimes it's not pretty,
but they find a way to uh to win more
than they lose at this point, and they're fun to
be around. And especially that older group, uh Galvan and
(01:38):
Schuschler and Max Belou and Jalen and Gath Barno and uh,
you know some of those guys on the mound. Casey
Borb is really kind of coming into his own a
little bit. So it's it's fun to be around. And
they play for each other and what we call it,
we kind of try to out team the other team,
you know, and that that includes the guys on the bench.
So it's not always pretty, but the results at this
(02:02):
point will take it. But we have a whole new
opening day tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Coach, we had you on early in the season and
you told us that temper your expectations and I try.
I'm trying my best, but I'm feeling, like real Claire,
it's hard for me to keep these alligators down. I'm
bringing out the pump pomps and everything. I'm hey, I'm
all ut right now, Like, how do you get your
(02:29):
team to not just look at the press that you
know they're there, how well they're doing it?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Yeah, you know, I mean I think in today's world,
that's really hard to do. I just think these guys
feel like they they prepare like champions, they expect to win,
but they truly do respect the game, and they you know,
and they we don't fear any opponent, but we respect
every opponent. But it's more more about, you know, again,
(03:01):
playing to a standard and not a scoreboard. And you know,
we had multiple conversations this week about the things that
we have to be better at. And when you get
into you know, that's why you know, weekends like this
weekend or any SEC weekend, certainly when you're playing a
rival and there's so much you know, attention brought to it,
(03:23):
it's a personal challenge and a team challenge to keep
your head, keep your head in the sand, and keep
your blinders on and focus on self improvement. And I
think today's young person gets caught up in the comparison
game and I'm better than you or that person's better
(03:46):
than me. When all we can do is try to
be the best version of ourself every day and we
know that a we can get healthy. So if we
can get healthy before you know, the end of the season,
then maybe we can even play better. But it's just, uh,
it's just a matter of being the best version of
our of our own team. And when you look at
(04:09):
it that way, when you compare yourself to yourself and
not anything else, then you keep your head out of
the clouds, and uh, don't even read that stuff.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
We're talking to the head coach of the Texas Longhorns,
Jim Slasnagel coach. I want to get right into it.
This is a big weekend obviously, but there's some adjustments
that may or may not be made, so I'm gonna
give you an opportunity to talk about it. Jared Spencer
is someone that has been your Friday go to guy.
(04:38):
He came out on Thursday of last week. What is
the latest, uh with Jared Spencer.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Yeah, Jared's Jared's gonna visit with some medical people today
him and his family and uh try and figure out
what the best long term decision is for him. And
so you know, we should know more by the end
of the of the day. He's certainly not going to
pitch this weekend or pitch, you know, anytime soon. I
(05:06):
wouldn't think. I mean, let's let's we get some and
unless we get some awesome news or some creative, you know,
ideas from wherever he goes today. But we knew that
after Thursday night, well we knew he you know, he
was gonna at least have to skip one start, so
we tried to prepare for it over the course of
last weekend. We wanted Ruger to throw a little bit
(05:26):
on Saturday, but then get him out as soon as
we could. We like his mentality and who he is
as a as a person, as a and as a
pitcher to handle Friday night. Luke Harrison will pitch on Saturday,
and more than likely to be Jason Flores on Sunday.
But you know, we'll just tba to see how it goes,
(05:47):
all right.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And then the other question is Jonah Williams. Jonah Williams
has captured the hearts and minds of so many Longhorn fans.
I thought he shot a ball out of right field
the other day for his first home run. I think
he thought that too, But now he is in the
conversation of being your left fielder. What's the latest on
(06:08):
Jonah Williams and the expectations of this young man.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Yeah, you know, there's no expectation. I mean, he's he's
going to be in the lineup if he's healthy and
ready to go, and you know, the expectation is just
for him to keep competing. I think if you watch him,
he's into every pitch, not just in his own at bats,
but I mean he's he's into every single pitch in
our dugout. He's very much an encourager. He'll challenge a
(06:35):
team even at seventeen years old. So you know, he
tried to avoid that tag on Tuesday night and I
think he's fine. You know, he tweaked, he tweaked something
in his leg. We took him out real quick just
to you know, make sure, you know, give us the
best chance for him to be back out there this weekend.
(06:58):
But you know, we'll see how it feels today. But
he's a tough, competitive athlete man, and he's different I
frankly than thirty five years. I've never coached anybody like
this guy in terms of in terms of the all
around athleticism plus competitive spirit plus competitive intelligence. He's very
(07:19):
smart on an athletic field. I mean he's very smart everywhere,
and a great teammate and just a joy to be
around in every sense.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Coach, I'm gonna let you go with this. Obviously, this
is a huge weekend for so many other reasons. Obviously
a lot of folks are talking about this weekend. How
are you, as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns
trying to just take it all in. I know you've
been around the game for a long time. It's another
game to you day one, as you said opening Day.
(07:52):
But obviously there's gonna be some type of feeling going
into this weekend.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yeah, I mean, I mean, I wouldn't. I'd be lying
if I didn't tell you that. You know, this is
a different one, you know, on a on a somewhat
similar scale. My first year at A and M, we
played TCU in a regional final and that was tough,
but not like a three game series in the SEC.
So it's gonna be good to see, you know, the
(08:21):
kids that we were part of coaching last year, and
we have great relationships with those guys. We'll get a
chance to win their career is over to spend time together.
But you know, right now, my job is to coach
to the Texas Longhorns, and a win this weekend only
counts as one win. A loss only counts as one loss,
and they're not. We can't make it anything more than that.
(08:42):
It's great for the fans. It's an unbelievable rivalry that'll
be around. It's been around long before any of us,
It'll be around way after any of us are even here.
So it's an honor to be a part of it
on no matter what side you're on.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
No doubt. Well, good luck, and we'll be out there
and I know it's gonna be a fun, fun weekend
and the venom will be freeing out there, man, So
enjoy yourself and have a good one.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
All right, take care, have a good day, coach, no problem.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
There. He is coach Jim Slosnago previewing this weekend, and
there were some big news that was there. Make sure
you get over to the podcast page if you missed
any of it. Coming up next hour number two of
the morning kickoff right here on sports Radio AM thirteen hundred.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
This is all
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