Welcome to the 1st Real Year of Charlie Strong's Texas Football Program

For Texas head coach Charlie Strong, Year 2 is the new Year 1.

Starting over is good in its own way. Sometimes it's necessary. There were lessons to be learned from the Longhorns' 6-7 campaign in 2014, but largely, it was forgettable. Plagued by disciplinary issues, injuries, poor offensive play and blowout losses, Strong's first year in Austin was highlighted by plenty of negatives. In hindsight, things weren't as bad as they were made out to be; six wins and a bowl appearance isn't the same as going 1-11, but it certainly felt that way at times. 

If there's one big positive Texas can take from last season, it's that it's over and done with. What happened, happened, and it can't ever be changed. But 2015 isn't just a new year from a literal standpoint, it's also the year Strong can finally put his stamp on the program. 

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

Consider this first and foremost: What did you hear about Texas this summer? Probably a lot about the quarterback battle between Tyrone Swoopes and Jerrod Heard, right? Maybe some things about a few transfers or players not showing up to campus. The ongoing legal battle between Oklahoma State and offensive coordinator Joe Wickline over buyout money remains one of the most absurd—and completely avoidable, if we're being honest—stories in college football. 

Some of those things can be frustrating to a program, to be sure. Here's what we haven't heard about, though: dismissals and suspensions. What a stark contrast from a year ago. 

Strong, of course, dismissed nine players from last year's team and suspended even more. As he explained at Big 12 media days, the decision to part ways with players was never his first choice. 

"So much was made last season about the suspensions. I want you to understand this. My goal is never, ever to kick a young man out of the program," Strong said. "I want them to have every opportunity to be successful, but decisions are made, and sometimes guys feel like they want to do things their way. When that happens, then we have to make a decision on our end." 

The series of dismissals and suspensions truly marked a change in regime in a way nothing else could. Whether Strong will thrive at Texas or not, he's going to do things his way. And players can either get on board or go somewhere else. 

To date, Texas hasn't had to dismiss players like it did in 2014. If nothing else, that tells you the players on the roster—both new and left over from the Mack Brown era—have bought into Strong's vision. It's no longer just former cornerback Quandre Diggs taking a stand. These players on the whole are a reflection of their coach. 

As is Texas' Week 1 depth chart heading into the opener against Notre Dame:  

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Texas depth chart. pic.twitter.com/AMZKNBGX8d

— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) August 31, 2015"

In all, 15 freshmen and 11 sophomores are featured on the two-deep. Several freshmen—receiver John Burt, linemen Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe, linebackers Malik Jefferson and Edwin Freeman and defensive back John Bonney—are listed as starters. 

These are Strong's recruits, and if all else is equal, the coaching staff is going to go with the young players to build the program back up. This has been Strong's philosophy dating back to his days at Louisville, as Chris Hummer of 247Sports noted:  

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By the end of the 2011 season, the Cardinals had eight true or redshirt freshman listed as a starter on the depth chart. Including sophomores, there were 12 underclassmen listed as starters for the Cardinals in their final game of the season against South Florida. In addition, Louisville’s long snapper, punt returner and main kickoff returner were all underclassmen.

The team's final record that year did not improve – Louisville repeated its 7-6 performance from the year before. But the underclassmen the Cardinals played in 2011 helped lay the foundation for the future. It provided support, too. Over the next two seasons, the Cardinals went a combined 23-3 overall with two bowl wins, one of which included a upset victory over Florida in the 2012 Sugar Bowl.

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But introducing so many freshmen also means changing the pace of preseason camp. 

“There’s so many first-time starters now, we’re slowing down the installation,” defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said this month, per Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We’re just trying to get the foundation in.”

There's a certain amount of hand-holding, but that's to be expected. The positive sign is that young players have been competing hard and pushing their more veteran teammates. That part can't go unnoticed, because it means no one is interested in waiting in the wings for their turn. That's the kind of mental approach that translates on the field. Whatever happens against the Irish on Saturday, Strong is confident the freshmen who do see playing time will do things at full speed. 

Make no mistake, there will be growing pains. Even Jefferson, for as heralded as he's been this offseason, will goof up. It happens, and it's going to keep happening for a while, as Strong told Max Olson of ESPN.com:

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You know how some guys put pressure on themselves. I don't want to see that happen to him [Jefferson]. He's going to put so much pressure on himself to always make sure he's always going to be right. No, you're not always going to be right. We do make mistakes. Just grow within the system and it will happen for you.

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Inserting so many young players against an experienced and talented team like Notre Dame could easily result in a loss. The Irish, after all, have their sights on a College Football Playoff spot. Yes, it's Strong's job to win games (and to do so quickly), but that only happens when he puts who he thinks are the best players on the field. If those top players with the highest ceilings are freshmen and sophomores who lack experience, then there are going to be some bumps in the road along the way. 

Ultimately, Strong is willing to live with that if he knows they'll play hard for him. In time—maybe even this year—it'll pay off. Don't be surprised if the second half of the 2015 season feels far more optimistic than the second half of the '14 season. 

However Saturday's game in South Bend goes, Strong seems committed to giving his recruits a chance to thrive. This is his team now—the team for which he'll ultimately be judged. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. All quotes obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.