DALLAS -- Individual meetings for Texas players with head coach Charlie Strong are far from foreign, but the Longhorns’ head coach still managed to surprise his team.

Strong told around 35 of his veteran players to report for an individual meeting with him in the conference room next to his office this spring. When the players opened the door, they were instead greeted by the entire Texas football staff.

Each of the Longhorns’ assistant coaches and many of the general assistants were seated around the table eyes trained on the players as they entered to the room.

Welcome to the Texas football hot seat.

“They thought they were just going to see me, but when I got them in they were kind of shocked,” Strong said. “I started off by saying what I needed to say about them and then every coach around the table got to say something.”

One by one Texas’ coaching staff addressed the players, with offensive coaches voicing their opinions on defensive players and vice versa. Strong wanted each Longhorn to know what he required from them, and the message came without filter.

“Sometimes you need those meetings so the guys understand exactly what you feel and what you think about them,” Strong said.

Strong indicated the reactions from the players walking into the room were priceless, and those who sat in the hot seat indicated as much.

“When you get in there all eyes on you it’s kind of shocking,” Texas senior defensive back Duke Thomas said. “Some people were shocked. Everything in the program is transparent, and they’re going to let you know how they feel and how you stand.”

Johnathan Gray was one of the Longhorns to be put on the hot seat this offseason.

There may have been some visceral responses from a few players, but Strong said that attitude was squashed quickly because “there wasn’t too much to defend.”

Some of the players who earned a trip to Strong’s meeting included: Thomas, senior running back Johnathan Gray, senior center Taylor Doyle, senior wide receiver Marcus Johnson, junior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes and freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard.

These were not quick conversations, either; each lasted between 15 and 45 minutes with some stretching longer. After a while, the surprise wore off and players were less shocked by the staff. But the blunt nature of the conversations never dulled.

“It was good to hear the coaches say how they see you,” Gray said. “I think it helps the team get better and what we’re trying to accomplish. There’s no hiding from it now.”

For some players, the experience was less intensive than others. Doyle, for instance, was just asked how he felt about the team heading into next year. It was a transparent conversation between player and staff Doyle was happy to have.

“They want to open up that dialogue so players can talk with the staff and voice concerns with the staff, and I really value that,” Doyle said. “I think it’s pretty special.”

The staff held these meetings in the spring because Strong wanted to cleanse the program of any complacency. Texas’ season-ending loss to Arkansas still enrages Strong, and he felt the team had yet to match his level of intensity.

“That hamburger shouldn’t taste as good after you lose a game,” Strong said. “But some of these guys after you eat two or three they tasted very good.”

It remains to be seen how the surprise interventions will impact the team next season, but some of the players said they already seen a tangible difference in the team’s work ethic.

“I’ve noticed an atmosphere change,” Thomas said. “It’s a simple want to get better. Guys want to do extra. Before it was doing what’s mandatory, but that’s a small part of what we want to do.

“I’m really excited for what it’s going to look like back on grass.”