Texas football: Herman building to last in Austin

Tom Herman believes his team can compete now, but the real endgame is success for years to come

The phrase 'Texas is back' has been repeated so much since the Longhorns' impressive 28-21 win over Georgia it's gone from question to statement into meme territory and while Tom Herman is embracing high expectations, he's also aiming at a lasting culture of winning in Austin. 

"I lean on Coach (Dabo) Swinney at Clemson a bit," Herman said during Big 12 Media Days. "I think it took him, what, seven years to win his first national championship? Coach (Mack) Brown was the same. I am not saying we're setting the bar at seven years, but what I am saying is we want to win championships and we want to win them now, but we were brought here to rebuild a program and that takes time."

"We weren't brought here to just have a really good season in year two. We were here to rebuild a program that's capable of sustaining success and we feel like we are on our way there."

Texas is coming off its first 10-win season since 2009 and first New Years Six Bowl win since 2008 just two years after Herman inherited a 6-7 program from Charlie Strong. 

While he hasn't reached the talent level he believes the program can achieve, Herman does believe his team is ready to compete for a championship now rather than later. 

"Not all of our 85 scholarship players are at championship level yet, but we certainly have enough that if we play our best and develop the way we think we can, that we can compete for a championship, certainly.