Matthew McConaughey explains what makes Arch Manning’s job way harder than his as Texas QB goes through growing pains

Coming into this weekend, the Texas Longhorns were on the brink of a full-on collapse. To straight losses to unranked opponents had the potential to snowball into a season-threatening stretch, with No. 7 Ole Miss, Mississippi State, No. 22 Missouri, and No. 18 LSU on the horizon. Making matters more critical were Arch Manning’s struggles.

Knowing how important the Ole Miss game was for Texas and Manning, Longhorns superfan Matthew McConaughey took the opportunity to get the Longhorns faithful riled up with a full letter titled “Dear UT” for The Players’ Tribune.

Matthew McConaughey has turned into one of Texas Longhorns' most important fans

McConaughey pleaded Texas fans to get rowdy at the stadium for the game, and left everyone with a chilling quote: “So here’s the question. Wanna play it safe? Tighten up? Maybe go into a prevent defense mindset? Get on our mental heels instead of our toes? Maybe just say the lines, connect the dots, play the part? Make sure not to offend anybody? Dare NOT to be great? That’s a good recipe for regret. F**k that. All gas no breaks, baby. Vince Young at the Rose Bowl.”

In his letter, he also indirectly explained what makes his job, as a film actor, so much different than that of a football player like Manning. In McConaughey’s eyes, his job is easy. Playing sports is the hard job, because you only get one chance to get it right - even though he feels his best work came on the first take.

Truth is, you only get one take. A movie set is the only place on earth where they give you five takes to get it right. In sports, and in life, it’s one and done. So make it count. Speaking of multiple takes, fact is that my best work has always been the first one.
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​In Interstellar, when Coop is watching the video of his kids on the spaceship — FIRST TAKE. In Dazed and Confused, when Wooderson says, ‘Alright, alright, alright’ — FIRST TAKE. In A Time to Kill, when Jake Brigance gives the closing argument — FIRST TAKE. In Dallas Buyers Club, when Ron pulls over to the side of the road and realizes he’s going to die — FIRST TAKE. In Wolf of Wall Street, when Hanna is beating his chest with the ‘Hmm—Hmm—Hmm’ tune — FIRST TAKE.
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​Why? Because I convinced myself I only HAD one take, even though I had more if I wanted.

Thankfully for Manning, he has more than one play throughout a game to get things right. But just one play can be the difference between a win and a loss. Thankfully for Texas, Manning got the job done against Ole Miss. And McConaughey was surely smiling the whole night through.