Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
AUSTIN, Texas -- After learning by a text message that Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger had doubted his team's toughness, Texas senior defensive tackle Roy Miller wasn't in any mood Tuesday to answer those taunts.
"The players didn't say that. They can speak for themselves," Miller said. "When you don't have to do something, it's easy to say. There's a lot of talking made by people in the stadium, but the real talking will be made when we stick our fingers on the line. We'll see what the bottom result is then."
Schnellenberger helped attract the Longhorns' attention for his team's Aug. 30 opener in Austin by his comments, which were reported in a student newspaper.
"Once we step out on the field with Texas, the only ones who can help us is ourselves," Schnellenberger told the FAU student newspaper. "Texas always has a very polished team that has great talent, but they aren't tough, they aren't a physically tough team."
Miller disputed Schnellenberger's contention about the Longhorns.
"I think my whole team is tough," he said.
The Longhorns ranked sixth nationally in rush defense, but were 109th in pass defense which helped account for their fall to 52nd overall and fourth in the Big 12.
But Miller said that new Longhorns defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is inspiring them to return their play to a level seen when the Longhorns claimed the 2005 national championship.
"We have a lot of pride around here," he said. "There was a time we had the No. 1 rushing defense. That kind of stuff makes you want to keep it. We want to stop people and dominate them. We want to make people look silly. It's something we want to work for."
Tim Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
