Romaine’s first interception was off Bearkats’ backup quarterback Brett Holloway. Fellow linebacker Brock Golwas batted Holloway’s pass into the air and Romaine snatched the descending ball and ran it into the end zone from 15 yards out. On Sam Houston’s next offensive drive, now with Landyn Locke at quarterback, Romaine ran in front of a wide receiver to earn the takeaway and find the end zone once again, this time for a 31-yard return.
“On the first one, we had the guard pull, so I was getting over and down and the mike backer was fitting Brock Golwas and he batted it straight up, and I saw the ball in the air and went up and got it,” Romaine said. “The second one, when the running back went to the field and they had four to that side, I had to push that way and I saw the slant coming across and the ball was right there.”
Romaine has recorded 26 tackles on the season, but he has felt he’s played below his expectations as a whole. Romaine, a two-time All-Big 12 second-team selection, said coach Joey McGuire offered him words of encouragement before Saturday’s game.
“I just feel like overall, past couple games, I wasn’t playing like myself,” Romaine said. “I was doing a little too much thinking. Before the game, Coach McGuire sent me a message just saying cut it loose and play free. I just did a lot less thinking this game.”
McGuire also acknowledged Romaine has been pressing during the first three weeks of the season by consistently trying to do too much and not seeing results come his way.
He said his message involved bringing up a former Tech linebacker, with the point being for Romaine to play his own game and play stress-free.
“I talked to him in the locker room before the game,” McGuire said. “I said, ‘Man, I don’t need Jacob Rodriguez, and he’s not coming back. I need Austin Romaine. There’s a reason we brought you here. Go out and be Austin Romaine. Go be that guy.’”
Romaine said he doesn’t feel added pressure from Rodriguez’s success last season with the Red Raiders and wants to keep his game unique.
“I mean, that was last year, and what happened last year is last year,” Romaine said. “I’m me, and I just need to continue being me.”
Romaine and the Red Raiders will travel to Boulder, Colo., to take on Colorado at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Folsom Field.