Mother Nature may have other plans for Texas baseball this weekend, but head coach Jim Schlossnagle is keeping a cool head—and a sense of humor—as the Longhorns prepare to open an SEC series against Mississippi State.

Scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch Friday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the series opener faces a shaky forecast with steady rain expected across Austin throughout the day. However, Schlossnagle remains optimistic that, at worst, the game might see a delay rather than a full cancellation. The evening forecast shows the rain tapering off, and since the Longhorns play on a turf field, conditions could improve quickly.

"I've learned to kind of let a lot of that go," Schlossnagle told reporters Thursday. "My saying is, if you don't like weather, you should have been a basketball coach. Sweep the gym floor, play, you get cool clothes. I'm a big college basketball fan, so maybe I should have picked that if I don't like the weather."

While coaches do have some input on game start times, Schlossnagle says he largely defers to Texas's game operations team. The SEC will have the final say on any cancellations or rescheduling. Earlier Thursday, Schlossnagle mentioned to a local radio station that he'd prefer a late start Friday over a Saturday doubleheader, calling doubleheaders "unhealthy" for teams.

Schlossnagle also noted that neither he nor Mississippi State's Brian O'Connor would want to start a game with a high chance of being stopped within three innings. Beyond the toll on pitchers, he acknowledged the ripple effect on everyone involved—from stadium staff to ticket-takers and ushers.

"When I'm a part of the decision, I try to take into account everybody," Schlossnagle said. "That includes the people that have to come open the stadium and stand out in the rain, the ticket people, the ushers, all that."

For now, Texas fans can keep their rally caps on and their rain gear handy. Whether it's a Friday night showdown or a Saturday doubleheader, this SEC series is shaping up to be one worth watching—weather permitting.