Texas HC Nash Savage Joins "The Pat McAfee Show"
Pat McAfee: Ladies and gentlemen, joining us today is the man, the myth, the damn Nitro legend himself — Coach Nash Savage! Coach, how the hell are ya!? We haven’t had you on solo since the Syracuse days — what gives, huh?
Nash Savage: Always good to be here, Pat. And hey — that intro never misses. You’re right, it’s been a minute. I was on last year with Kadin before the Orange Bowl, but yeah, it’s been a while one-on-one. Honestly, that first season at Georgia, I was locked in. Year two, after some brutal losses to Florida, I felt like I had to grind harder — play it straight. But trying to “fit in” isn’t who I am. That mindset led to the move to Texas. Now we’re back to doing it the old-fashioned way — loose, confident, with swagger… and most importantly, we’re back to winning.
McAfee: I mean, even with that rough Orange Bowl loss to Ball State, it’s been a hell of a turnaround. You went 9-0 to start last year, and even with three losses in your last six to close it out, it was the best Texas has looked in a long time. Now you’re sitting at 6-0 again — do you think you’ve shut the door on the doubters?
Savage: Let’s just say that SEC Championship loss to Georgia didn’t exactly help quiet the critics, Pat.
McAfee: [laughs] I wasn’t gonna twist the knife, Coach, but yeah… the boo birds were out heavy after that one. Is there a little rivalry brewing between you and the Georgia faithful?
Savage: Not from my end. Despite how it’s spun, I’ve got nothing but respect for Athens and the Georgia program. I just wasn’t in the right headspace when I was there — that’s on me. But listen, Georgia fans are passionate as hell. If I gotta take a little heat to take pressure off my players and keep them focused? I’ll be the villain. No problem.
McAfee: You heard it here first, folks — Coach Savage ain’t duckin’ NO smoke, especially if it’s coming from barking Bulldog fans.
Now let’s talk about this offense. You said in the offseason the Nitro offense was coming back, and so far? Whew. Mo’s been cookin’. He’s also leading the nation in both touchdowns and interceptions. Is that something you’ve gotta rein in? Or are you looking at the bigger picture?
Savage: It’s all about context, Pat. If it’s a deep shot with five seconds left in the half? That’s a calculated risk. But if we’re trying to protect a lead or shift momentum, that’s where we’ve gotta be smarter — as a team. Mo’s responded well when we’ve needed him most. But as we gear up for the postseason push, we’ve gotta recognize when a punt is better than a turnover. That’s not just on Mo or Colt — that’s on me too. I’m aggressive by nature. Sometimes we all need to check ourselves.
McAfee: Speaking of Colt — Colt McCoy is in year two as your OC, and despite losing guys like Sharga and Pettis, this offense hasn’t missed a beat. You’ve had great success with former QBs on your staff — cough Kadin Semonza cough — is Colt built from the same cloth?
Savage: Colt’s got a unique perspective. He was a top recruit, a record-setter at Texas, even if folks held the lack of a title over his head. Then he found success as both a starter and a reliable backup in the league — and that requires a deep understanding of the game. Coaching was a natural fit. He’s sharp, he’s detailed, and he’s a hell of a motivator. If he gets a shot at running his own program someday? I won’t be surprised if he hits the ground running.
McAfee: Alright Coach, gotta hit you with some recruiting talk. You guys are on fire — landing the No. 1 overall recruit William Montez. But folks are saying he might not fit your man-heavy scheme?
Savage: That’s still to be determined, Pat. On paper, maybe he’s not your prototypical man corner. But we’re not in the business of wasting talent. Just look at Jayden Singleton — he moved from corner to safety and is having a great year. Montez is a baller. If he makes plays, we’ll find a spot. That was our message to him all year, and it stuck.
And if you look back at my recruiting history, it’s not just talk. I’ve always stocked the linebacker and secondary rooms with top talent — and we’ve never had a player transfer out. The expectation is simple: you make plays, we’ll put you in the right position to keep making them.
McAfee: Alright… last question, and this one ain’t from me. This dude “Soapy” has @’d me all week and even called the show, made me promise to ask you this. His words, not mine…
Where’s the pigment in the secondary, loc?
Savage: [laughs] Oh, man… here we go. It’s the return of the white corner! Cooper DeJean opened the door, and we’re just keepin’ the train rollin’.
And Soap, if you’re listening — Emilio Samuel is Latino, my man. So there goes that theory.
McAfee: [laughing] You heard it here first! Coach Savage is revolutionizing the DB room one ethnically ambiguous lockdown corner at a time!
Savage: Alright Pat, let’s wrap this before you get canceled.
McAfee: Probably a good call, Coach. Appreciate you — and here’s hoping we get Savage vs. Semonza: Part Two come playoff time!
