Beaty, Herman to meet for first time as head coaches

Back in 2007 David Beaty and Tom Herman worked together on the Rice staff under David Bailiff.

Beaty was in his second year as the wide receivers coach after joining Rice as the head coach at MacArthur High. Herman was the offensive coordinator at Texas State in 2006 and joined the Rice staff the following year.

"He's a very dear friend of mine.," Beaty said of Herman. "I have a lot of respect for him as a coach, period, but as a head coach and the job that he's doing there. We know that we've got a great challenge ahead of us, but this is a fun one for our guys. "

Beaty said he and Herman are close friends and do a lot of talking in the off-season. Since the beginning of the year the communication hasn't been as consistent.

"We don't really get to talk as much anymore," Beaty said. "But we get to text quite a bit. I texted him last week and he hit me right back. We just haven't texted a lot during this week. This is going to be one of those that we don't talk a lot until we see each other midfield. "

Herman said on Tuesday they shouldn't have to use the Jayhawks win over Texas last year as a big motivation ploy. But Beaty thinks it could be factor for the Longhorns to come out ready to play.

"Now they're going to be motivated and we get it.," he said. "We understand it. So we're going to have to be at our peak, which, we will. We'll be there. We'll be ready to go. "

Last week against Baylor the Jayhawks had three starters leave the game due to injury. Quarterback Carter Stanley, safety Mike Lee, and cornerback Shak Taylor didn't return to action.

Beaty will know more before today's practice.

" We'll see how they progress this week," he said. "Hopefully we'll have all three of them available. But we'll see. I'll have another report right after this press conference today from our department down low that will let me know whether they're going to be able to practice full today or what. "

Texas enters Saturday's game with one of the best defenses in the conference. When Beaty watched Texas on film offensively, defensively and special teams it was the defense that caught his attention.

"I think the thing that sticks out to me the most is defensively, man, they do a good job.," he said. "They're stinking talented. They're big, they're fast and they're strong, and they can run, and they're pretty good. Coach Orlando does a great job."

Kansas center Mesa Ribordy said Texas is right there with TCU as one of the best front fours they have seen. Beaty said their defensive front led by Poona Ford will be a challenge.

"One of the guys that sticks out to me more than anybody is that Poona Ford kid, that No. 95.," Beaty said. "That dude is a beast up front. He's a problem. He really is. He's a good, good football player. I think a lot of it starts with him and those guys up front. It allows those guys in the back end to play freely in their coverage. So they're pretty good on the defensive side, one of the better teams I've seen in the conference. "

Beaty was asked about the crowds at recent games and what kind of support he has seen.

"We're going to do our job regardless," Beaty said. "But I would say this, you deserve better, but we need you. We absolutely need you. You are the magic. "

He pointed to the crowds at Allen Fieldhouse and how they can play a part in the team's success.

"Tonight across the way, you're going to be the magic.," he said. "Because if you weren't there, it would be a much different game, I'm just telling you. You're the magic, and we need you, and thank you for staying with us. You deserve better. It's coming. Stay with us. Have courage enough to stay with us. "