Former Texas QB David Ash defends Arch Manning after Longhorns QB1 booed by fans

Texas fans inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium let Arch Manning hear it last Saturday. As Manning played poorly, boos began to rain down from the crowd. Not what anybody expected this season in Austin, let alone with UTEP on the other side.

Since then, all kinds of support for Manning have come in. Former Longhorns quarterback David Ash was the latest, defending the current QB1 on social media. Someone getting booed is something Ash experienced during his playing days, watching it unfold with another highly-rated quarterback, Garrett Gilbert. Maybe not the comparison Texas fans want to see but Ash appears confident Manning can turn is play around.

“I typically keep a pretty low profile but I watched a great QB get booed off a field about 14 years ago and he left UT and went on to have a 5+ year NFL career,” Ash said via X. “Last year I watched @ArchManning come off the sidelines against Miss. State and as per, get a zero pressure almost immediately. With a free rusher in his face he planted his back leg, threw a blind faith high ball over 50 yards (for a TUDDY) and then took one on the chin from the oncoming blitzer. He was probably 19. That play requires intelligence, accuracy, instincts, athletic ability and most of all TOUGHNESS. I’ve seen everything I need to see.

“He continues to make plays week in and week out. As with any young quarterback, he’s on a growth journey. Out chasing perfection every day. There will be highs and lows. But at some point he will be playing for us in a national championship game. Don’t be the guy who feels guilty cuz you weren’t ride or die. I will always be content with a team that is TOUGH and has INTEGRITY. Arch and co have every bit of that and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year. Give me a tough team with a tough quarterback and let the points, plays, stats, wins and losses fall where they may and with a talent like Arch… I got a good feeling.”

Ash spent the 2011 season as a true freshman watching Gilbert play, a year where Texas finished 8-5, two years removed from a national championship. He took over as the starter in 2012 but injuries sadly derailed what appeared to be a promising career on the 40 Acres. Years later, Ash can see a success story unfolding before our eyes.

Everyone is wondering where the Manning we saw against Mississippi State went. Based on that game, Ash believes in the skill set Manning possesses. Finding a way to make it translate is a completely different story. Right now, he is just a tick off and not connecting well with the Texas wide receivers.

Manning certainly hopes the lowest valley took place against UTEP. The opportunity to climb up begins on Saturday with another home game. Texas plays host to Sam Houston State, another matchup where the Longhorns are expected to win and win big.

One week later, the next real challenge comes when SEC play gets underway. The Florida Gators hosts Texas on Oct. 4, a program going through its own struggles. Ash hopes Manning looks like his old self in the near future but will be supporting the UT quarterback either way.