OTF Premium College World Series: Texas press conference with Jim Schlossnagle, Luke Harrison and Carson Tinney

[Jeff Howe]

Tinney: "It's great to be here, but the job hasn't even started."

[Jeff Howe]

Harrison and Tinney are both asked about Dylan Volantis.

Harrison said the physical tools have always been there, but he's seen a lot of Volantis grow and mature since his freshman season. Specifically, off the field, Harrison said Volantis has done a lot on how own to change his preparation and how he takes care of his body.

[Jeff Howe]

Harrison's last time in Omaha was in 2022, when Texas was eliminated by a Texas A&M team coached by Jim Schlossnagle.

[Jeff Howe]

Tinney said the Longhorns maximizing their time together is a great way to fill the time before Saturday night.

Whether it's going out to eat or hanging around the stadium, Harrison said the Longhorns are looking forward to taking in the College World Series as a team.

[Jeff Howe]

Tinney said, "It's to be expected" that Texas is in a CWS bracket with three other SEC teams.

"We play in the best conference in the country," he said.

[Jeff Howe]

Harrison said the benefit of playing in the SEC is the depth of the league and how it prepares you for anything you see in the postseason.

[Jeff Howe]

"The key to getting any good hitter out is throwing strike one," Harrison said when asked how the Longhorns plan to handle Daniel Jackson.

[Jeff Howe]

That's it for Harrison and Tinney. Schloss will now take questions from the media.

[Jeff Howe]

"At Texas, the fact that it's the 39th trip, it's a bad season if you don't finish it in Omaha," Schloss said before mentioning that the success of other sports on the Forty Acres has put additional pressure on the Longhorns. "The standard is very high among all of our coaches."

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss: "We're excited to be here, excited to represent Texas and we understand the assignment."

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said he can't remember a time at this stadium where the wind was blowing out like it was today or like it's expected to on Saturday.

[Jeff Howe]

Georgia is "more than likely going to hit some homers," Schloss said. "The question is, 'How many men are going to be on base?'"

Keeping free passes to a minimum will be huge, to say the least, Schloss said.

[Jeff Howe]

"If Dylan executes his pitches, more often than not," Schloss said, the odds will be in the Longhorns' favor.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said the Longhorns can't get caught in the matchup with Georgia.

It's about pitching, throwing strikes, playing good defense and timely hitting, which is the case in most baseball games.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said he's glad Dariyan Pendergrass is healthy because the outfield in Omaha is big and there's a lot of ground to cover.

[Jeff Howe]

It was "a horrific taste" Texas got in Hoover at the SEC Tournament, but Schloss said the Longhorns have made the most of it by being able to set up the pitching staff for the postseason.

[Jeff Howe]

"It is what it is" Schloss said regarding having to recruit from the transfer portal while trying to get ready for a game in Omaha.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss, who's on the board for the American Baseball Coaches Association, said there will be discussions in the offseason regarding whether the portal window should stay the same or move to where it opens after the College World Series.

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said Carson Tinney has grown as a leader on the team throughout the season.

"He loves being a Longhorn," Schloss said of his All-American catcher.

[Jeff Howe]

After pressing early in the season, Schloss said we're seeing the best version of Carson Tinney now that he's settled in, gotten to know his teammates and relaxed.

[Jeff Howe]

Sam Cozart is "mature beyond his years," Schloss said. He's emerged as one of the top leaders on the team as a freshman.

[Jeff Howe]

Like Anthony Pack Jr., Schloss said Cozart has the right combination of confidence and humility that all of the great players he's coached have possessed.

[Jeff Howe]

Other than Max Grubbs, "we're in a really good spot," in the bullpen, Schloss said.

He specifically said Brett Crossland threw well this week and that Haiden Leffew "is in a good spot."

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss said he's "super proud" of the fact that Texas is the first Power Conference program to have 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases in a season.

Schloss said the goal has been for Texas to be diverse enough offensively to score runs, no matter the conditions. 

[Jeff Howe]

Schloss: "We want to be an all-encompassing offense every year. Those are the ones that are toughest to prepare for, so we'll take whatever they give us."