Following Thursday's practice, Texas coach Tom Herman addressed the media for the first time since he was identified as the other assistant coach who visited a Miami-area strip club with former Ohio State receivers coach Zach Smith during a 2014 recruiting trip.

"What was reported was four and a half years ago when I was an assistant coach. My wife knew exactly where I was, had no issue with it," Herman said. "I'm happy to cooperate and be honest, truthful, transparent with the NCAA if they so need me to be.

"I understand the responsibility that comes with being the head coach at the University of Texas, and I take that responsibility very, very seriously. And right now, that responsibility includes me being laser-like focus on preparing our team to win a game in less than 48 hours in Washington, D.C."

Herman also said he's spoken with Texas president Gregory Fenves and athletic director Chris Del Conte regarding the situation.

"We've had some conversations," Herman said.

On Tuesday, an Ohio State spokesman confirmed to The Columbus Dispatch that Herman was, in fact, the other Buckeyes assistant who was with Smith during the 2014 strip club trip. Herman served as Ohio State's offensive coordinator from 2012-14.

Records show that Smith spent roughly $600 of his own money during the strip club visit.

Herman was asked Thursday to comment on a potential NCAA violation occurring during the strip club visit with Smith, since any money used to pay for high school coaches who may have accompanied them would incur a violation.

"No, not until the NCAA asks me to," Herman said.

The No. 23 Longhorns open the season against Maryland on Saturday at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

More notes from Herman's media availability Thursday:

-- Herman named freshman Cameron Dicker as the starting kicker. Dicker, an Austin native and Lake Travis High School product, was able to beat out last year's starter, senior Joshua Rowland, for the job.

-- Herman said he would be "surprised" if junior linebacker Jeffrey McCulloch doesn't play Saturday. McCulloch has been nursing a strained pectoral for a couple of weeks now.

"He ran around well today," Herman said.

McCulloch remains a game-time decision, though.

-- Redshirt freshman tight end Rob Cummins had knee surgery and is expected to miss 8-12 weeks.

-- In regard to the new NCAA rule for this season that allows a team to play freshmen in up to four games without them burning a redshirt, Herman said his plan is to have every one of Texas' freshmen play in at least four games.

"I mean why not, right?" Herman said. "But we'll figure that out in terms of when those games happen later on in the season."