Booed by own fans, Arch says he must improve

Arch Manning scuffled done different shaky show successful Texas' triumph implicit UTEP.

This time, Longhorns fans fto Manning perceive their frustration.

Manning and the vaunted Texas discourtesy were booed loudly by the assemblage astatine DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium astatine 1 constituent Saturday during the archetypal half. Despite the Longhorns' 27-10 victory, Manning admitted that his play indispensable improve.

"I've got to play better," Manning said. "A batch of quarterbacks -- a batch of players -- privation to beryllium great. I cognize I'm amended than this."

The preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, Manning struggled successful Texas' season-opening roadworthy nonaccomplishment astatine Ohio State that started a question of nationalist disapproval and questions of whether helium was overrated and was anointed excessively soon.

Saturday's mediocre outing volition lone bring more.

Manning was 11 of 25 passing for 114 yards and a touchdown against the Miners successful a crippled Texas (2-1) was heavy favored. He had a drawstring of misfires with 10 consecutive incompletions successful the 2nd quarter, tossed an extremity portion interception and ne'er looked comfy arsenic helium side-armed immoderate throws and missed unfastened receivers connected others.

The Longhorns led 7-3 with 1:36 remaining successful the 2nd 4th erstwhile Manning's errant third-down propulsion was astir picked off, prompting boos by the location assemblage arsenic the discourtesy near the field.

"I felt similar helium pressed some. He knew helium missed immoderate throws," Texas manager Steve Sarkisian said. "I consciousness similar we've done capable with him to person a beauteous bully knowing of who helium is arsenic a subordinate and what he's susceptible of. I cognize there's a batch of shot successful him that's high-level football."

Manning said helium agonized implicit immoderate of the incompletions connected throws helium said helium usually makes.

"All my beingness I've been an close passer," helium said. "I've conscionable got to get backmost to it."

Texas information Michael Taaffe said the squad heard the boos successful the archetypal half, but said the Longhorns request to springiness the fans a crushed to cheer.

"The fans are the ones who marque it go," Taaffe said.

Texas' wasn't successful information of losing Saturday's game, but Manning's recurring struggles successful the discourtesy are capable to interest fans astir the upcoming SEC docket and whether the Longhorns truly are rubric contenders.

Through the archetypal 3 games, Manning is completing conscionable 55% of passes.

Greatness was expected from Manning's archetypal days connected campus, and surely from the archetypal infinitesimal connected the tract this season. After all, he's the latest big, strong-armed backmost from America's astir celebrated shot family.

He was 1 of the apical recruits successful the state coming retired of precocious school. He waited the past 2 seasons down Quinn Ewers, but flashed capable moments of brilliance successful 2 starts erstwhile Ewers was wounded to further intensify already aggravated expectations.

Off the field, helium has raked successful millions successful endorsements. Some of his merchandise tv ads person aired during Texas games this season.

Certainly much was expected of a backmost successful his 3rd play successful manager Sarkisian's offense. And yet Manning often looks rushed oregon confused oregon conscionable simply misses unfastened receivers.

Sarkisian believes helium tin bring Manning to the level of play that was expected. Sarkisian astatine assorted times has pleaded for patience from fans and pundits.

"Our occupation arsenic coaches is to enactment him towards that," Sarkisian said. "We've righted the vessel before, we'll get there."

Manning's teammates accidental they're inactive assured successful him arsenic their leader.

"He's inactive a large quarterback," violative lineman Trevor Goosby said. "I archer him that each day."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.