‘I Thank God, I Thank RT’: Longhorns Pour Hearts Out to Rodney Terry, Head to Sweet 16

Through the love-filled and touching words Sir’Jabari Rice, Timmy Allen and Dylan Disu had for Rodney Terry after Saturday’s win over Penn State, you’d think he was the reason they all chose to transfer to Austin.

To sidestep any awkwardness, the Texas Longhorns have generally avoided making any demands or speaking the obvious. 

But after Saturday’s 71-66 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, the team couldn’t have made it more clear the way they feel about interim coach Rodney Terry and the future they want for him.

“I wouldn't want to play for anybody else right now,” guard Sir’Jabari Rice said. “RT is the man. I thank God and I thank RT for putting me in this position, us in this position, to be successful.”

Despite being thrown into confusing circumstances, Terry has Texas two wins away from reaching its first Final Four since 2003, which was the program’s first appearance in that round of the NCAA Tournament since 1947. 

Texas’ players had to sit helplessly as the unexpected and frustrating news of Chris Beard’s arrest and subsequent suspension came quite literally in the middle of a season where the approach was national championship or nothing.

While still having to prepare to host a tough Rice Owls team the same day Beard was arrested on Dec. 12, the Longhorns had to come to grips with losing the coach that had recruited and convinced many of them to join the program.

But through the love-filled and touching words Rice, Timmy Allen and Dylan Disu had for Terry after Saturday’s win, you’d think he was the reason they all chose to transfer to Austin.

“When I've got somebody like that in my corner I'll do anything for them,” Allen said. “And I'm just blessed, man. Like he said, God is great. God don't make mistakes. Everything happens for a reason and I'm blessed to be here be on this team with my big, my dog, man.”

Allen, sitting to the right of Terry, wrapped his arm around him and smiled. 

After Texas had responded to Penn State’s 10-0 run with a 10-0 run of their own to take back command in the closing minutes of the second half, Allen and Terry knew the win was secured and embraced on the sidelines.

Later in the press conference, he showed even more love both for Terry and the idea of him becoming the next head coach at Texas.

Terry hardly wanted to be talked about after a win that saw guys like Disu dominant with a season-high 28 points while Allen did it all with nine points, three assists and a season-high 12 rebounds.

“I think everything is on these guys,” Terry said. “They've done an incredible job this year. It's not about me, not about me at all. These guys have done it, they've stayed the course.”

Allen waited for his head coach to finish, then interjected.

“But give RT his credit,” Allen said.

While the question of Terry’s potential promotion to head coach was unavoidable both for him and the players, these kind of heartfelt responses from the entire team has been a blinding sign that they want the world to know how highly they think of Terry.

Just ask the players, and the answer can be found both through their actions and reflections of him.

Or there’s the simple response.

“Why not RT?” Rice said.

No. 2 seed Texas heads to Kansas City to take on the No. 3 seed Xavier Musketeers on Friday with a spot in the Elite 8 on the line.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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