ESPN's Mark Schlabach Comes Down in Favor of the Horns

by mikey 4 on Nov 24, 2008 1:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

"Likes" us in a perverse way then...

The WSJ article is a backhanded compliment if ever I’ve seen one. If the point is that Texas deserves to go this year, that point is lost amidst the constant babbling about the 2004 Cal Golden Bears getting screwed by Mack Brown and karma. It isn’t a very good article and distracts from the current debate because the author is likely a slightly bitter Michigan grad who wishes the Wolvs had played the Bears and not VY.

"Like I said, I'm going to bleed orange until the day I die." -V.Y.

by 4th and 5 on Nov 24, 2008 3:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that part is annoying

but his analysis of this year’s 3-way tie is right on.

by mikey 4 on Nov 24, 2008 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is true.

I guess my biggest reason for disliking the article is that the article almost seems to subconsciously argue for Texas to get dissed. His point doesn’t seem to be “Hey, Texas may get unfairly booted out” so much as “if OU jumps them, Mack Brown is getting what he deserves.”

"Like I said, I'm going to bleed orange until the day I die." -V.Y.

by 4th and 5 on Nov 24, 2008 4:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here we go...

From almost all the talking heads I’ve heard on T.V., this is the general consensus among all of them. Hopefully the swell continues, and word continues to spread.

Hook ’Em

by Texas Shiv on Nov 24, 2008 1:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wow....

Stoops gets on the soapbox first, and pretty much bashes Tech in order to bash to UT. Mack Brown keeps it classy by pointing out that there is, in fact, still some football to be played, and he’d rather not get into it now. And in the midst of what will end up being one of the most suspenseful weeks for UT, Tech, and Sooner fans alike, Mr. Schlabach starts things off with a Texas Sized “Hook ’Em” for all the voters to see.

Mr. Schlabach, I approve.

by liveUT on Nov 24, 2008 1:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes. I never knew how much I liked Schlabach until now.

Strength of schedule
Oklahoma: Two of Oklahoma’s 10 victories came against two of the worst teams in college football. The Sooners beat Chattanooga (a 1-11 FCS program) in their Aug. 30 opener and also defeated Washington, which just lost to Washington State to fall to 0-11. Oklahoma didn’t play Big 12 North champion Missouri during conference play. The Sooners’ 11 opponents have a combined record of 66-58.

Texas: The Longhorns didn’t play an FCS opponent and beat UTEP 42-13 on the road. They also beat defending Sun Belt champion Florida Atlantic 52-10 and Rice 52-10. The Owls are 8-3 and are still in contention to play for the Conference USA championship. Texas beat an SEC opponent, Arkansas, 52-10. The Longhorns’ 11 opponents have a combined record of 79-54.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders had no margin for error because they played two FCS opponents, beating Eastern Washington 49-24 and Massachusetts 56-14. Texas Tech’s 11 opponents have a combined record of 71-52.

Advantage: Texas. (No FCS opponents were on the schedule, and it played Missouri.)

Oklahoma is the hot team as the regular season comes to an end. But Texas is a better team.

The Longhorns have already proved it on the field.

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 2:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Something that people aren't talking much about

OU’s best argument for losing to Texas was losing Ryan Reynolds in the RRS. Pummeling Tech on defense killed that argument for them. When one of your best goes down another man has to step up in his place and if nobody in particular does then it has to be a team effort to take care of business. If a team as rich in talent as OU is can’t stop Texas then it’s nobody’s fault but their own that they couldn’t stop us in that fourth quarter.

by seth78 on Nov 24, 2008 2:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Schlabach is doing a chat right now

Here’s My favorite part so far:

Jim (Stillwater): I am no OU fan, but guys like you keep bringing up that Texas beat OU head to head is a mute point. YOU GET THAT? It is a mute point. If all win saturday and it is a 3 way tie,(which I pray does not happen) then you cannot look head to head when making a decision. All 3 teams have 1 loss and all beat each other! If you genuinely think Texas is the best team or has done more then fine and great. But don’t say they are because of the head to head game THAT LOGIC DOES NOT WORK IN A 3 WAY TIE! I know you will not dare post this comment!!! Mack Brown has you in his pocketesees!!!!

Mark Schlabach: (2:14 PM ET ) No, I ripped Texas earlier this season. But you can’t say Oklahoma is better than Texas because the Sooners beat Texas Tech, either. Texas played Texas Tech in Lubbock. Oklahoma played them in Norman, where the Red Raiders have never won under Leach. Texas played a four-game stretch that was brutal, ending with Texas Tech. Texas beat Oklahoma on a neutral field.

My favorite part is when Jim from Stillwater uses the malapropism “mute point” when he means “moot point” and then repeats it just to make sure that everyone realizes he is not intelligent. A close second is when Schlabach casually acknowledges his ripping of Texas earlier this year (for which I ripped him).

by billyzane on Nov 24, 2008 2:49 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

Also liked this one:

Ashley, Houston: If Texas and OU played on a neutral field this year who would win? Oh wait…

Mark Schlabach: (2:16 PM ET ) Thank you…

by billyzane on Nov 24, 2008 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

Hmmmmmm...

It seems then, that which team is better (Texas) is the real mute point, eh Jim?

by hornalum08 on Nov 24, 2008 2:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I heart Ashley NT Whills

by Horncasting on Nov 24, 2008 3:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Couple of others from his chat:

by Horncasting on Nov 24, 2008 4:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And here they are:

Jim (St. Louis, MO): If OU and Texas played on a neutral field TODAY, who would win?

Mark Schlabach: I don’t know. I think it would be a great game. Texas hasn’t exactly fallen off the map since that game, you know? They lost on a great play at the end of a great game.

Rob (Barre, VT): Mark, Mark, Mark…You know (as well as everybody else who has a brain) that the Texas victory over Oklahoma was an upset. Mississippi over Florida was an upset, Oregon State over USC was an upset, and Texas over Oklahoma was an upset. Just because you upset a better team doesn’t mean you’re better than them – ok? If you’re going to apply the old “head-to-head” rule apply it across the board – otherwise it just sounds like sour grapes.

Mark Schlabach: Texas is every bit as good as Oklahoma. Again, beat them on a neutral field. They have a Heisman Trophy-caliber QB. A very good defense. Why was it an upset?

John, DC: No one gets to complain unless they win all their games and get left out. OU, Texas, Tech, USC, and so on. All had their chances and all lost. As for OU and Texas, it’s not hard to come up with equally compelling arguments for either, and I think anyone who is trying to argue for their “objective” method is kidding themselves. It’s necessarily a subjective choice given a 3 way tie.

Mark Schlabach: Agreed….So why not go to the most objective factor — head to head?

Mark (Atlanta): Since when is Dallas, TX neutral?

Mark Schlabach: Split 50-50 as far as tickets. People tell me Norman is closer to Dallas than Austin. I need to look. I’ve always said the same thing about Jacksonville. It is in Florida, after all.

————————————————————————————————————————
Bruce (Dallas): 3 hours from Austin and three hours from Norman – 45,000 texas fans and 45,000 OU fans – that is neutral

Mark Schlabach: Thank you, sir.

Whitt (Houston): Mark, have you voted yet in the AP poll or USA Today poll? Whats the pulse on voters with a full brain like yourself that are waiting till the last week to vote and will rightfully tip the scales back to where they should be with TX over OU based on non-objective head-to-head wins and a clear lead in the non-objective BCS computer poll?

Mark Schlabach: Don’t vote. Never have. Wasn’t allowed to do it when I worked in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. I hope guys will wait to the very end, and I think they will. I think many guys will fall back to head-to-head when filling out the final ballot. Last year, they picked LSU because the Tigers won the SEC. Logic usually wins out.

Tyler (Kansas City, MO): We all are well aware that you are obviously a UT fan over OU. You keep saying OU won in norman and UT lost at TTU. TTU didn’t just lose in Norman they were embarrassed. Pretty sure that was a statement game and the coaches agreed with it. Wouldn’t you agree that OU has had a harder non-conference schedule?

Mark Schlabach: I think Cincinnati and TCU are better than Rice and Arkansas, yes. But Texas played Missouri and Oklahoma didn’t. Texas played in Lubbock; Oklahoma played the Red Raiders at home. Texas played Oklahoma, MIssouri, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in four straight games. Oklahoma played Red Raiders and Oklahoma State in consecutive games. Texas’ schedule was tougher.

by Horncasting on Nov 24, 2008 4:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Man, reading Mark's responses

sit well with me. I can only hope the voters share his opinion.

by goingforthecorner on Nov 24, 2008 5:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Norman..

I think is actaully 3 miles closer to Dallas than Austin.

by Longhorns84 on Nov 24, 2008 8:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it was a mute point until Schlabach posted it

Jim from Stillwater was simply adding additional pressure. He said Schlabach would not post the comment, and that would thus render his point mute. It’s funny because Schlabach not only defied Jim from Stillwater’s dare, but in the same stroke he made Jim from Stillwater’s point semantically incorrect.

by Meekrob on Nov 24, 2008 3:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mute?

There is no such thing as a mute point. MOOT. “I wanna tell her that I love her but the point is probably moot.”

If Rick Springfield can get it right, so can Okies.

Garrett Gilbert: 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

by jordansb on Nov 24, 2008 3:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Being from Oklahoma he probably meant moo point

You know, a cow’s opinion. It doesn’t matter.

by Horncasting on Nov 24, 2008 3:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice

great show…

by acho81 on Nov 24, 2008 4:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

it's moo.

by jc25 on Nov 24, 2008 10:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Schlabach summed it up wonderfully...

I have not seen a better case made… we need to have this one bronzed and run with it all week.

1 Peter 2:17

by HornsFan87 on Nov 24, 2008 3:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I love it

Our biggest critics all season are now rallying behind us. I just wish we could get Mark May on board, even though I can’t stand him, but he is saying that Colt should get the Heisman so I can’t really hate him completely.

by seth78 on Nov 24, 2008 3:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice

jeff(dallas): Did you watch the OU-Texas game? OU was 3 horrible calls and a Ryan Reynolds knee injury away from easily winning that game. Your logic makes no sense because if you value head to head match ups then you have to keep Tech ahead of Texas.

SportsNation Mark Schlabach: Again, Texas played Texas Tech in Lubbock. Oklahoma played them at home. The Citadel was 52 points away from beating Florida.

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 3:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

biased

I can tell by the way that you called it “OU-Texas” that you are a bitter, biased Sooner

by acho81 on Nov 24, 2008 4:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

meh its alphabetically correct

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

J. Darin Darst from his chat on CBSSportsline.com

I would only throw Texas Tech out because they lost late and got blown out. In the world of college football, if you lose late, it’s a killer.

So that leaves Oklahoma or Texas. I think the Sooners are playing the best football right now, but I would have to put Texas ahead of Oklahoma and here’s why:

Both teams have one loss and Texas beat Oklahoma on a neutral field by 10 points. Plus Texas’ only loss came on the road on the last second of the game.

It the whole argument is that the “regular season matters” — you have to give it to Texas

by billb on Nov 24, 2008 3:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Link?

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 4:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OK

http://www.sportsline.com/mcc/groups/post/9355477/11885105#comments

by billb on Nov 24, 2008 4:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks,

Much appreciated…

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PB or billyzane...

Is there any way to set up a “sticky” post that contains a running list of these quotes from journalists after the fold?

by mikey 4 on Nov 24, 2008 3:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Schlaback=good

While we’re on the subject of writers helping us, have y’all ever noticed how SI’s Stewart Mandel hates us? Every week there’s some biased comment on why we aren’t very good.

by acho81 on Nov 24, 2008 4:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You know he has us over OU, right?

And I read him regularly and only the most biased of homers can say he hates UT. He’s a Big 10 guy — I can’t imagine he loves or hates any Big XII team.

by kjm017 on Nov 24, 2008 5:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've never noticed the hate either

but I think he said he’d put OU above UT if they beat OSU.

by ajax77777 on Nov 24, 2008 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dear billyzane,

Thank you for turning the tide of Schlabach in our favor. You are awesome. That is all.

Ultra Horn.

Excitedly nervous in 08.

by Ultra Horn on Nov 24, 2008 4:31 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pat Forde?

Any way we could get him on our side? He’s the Heisman Watch guy for ESPN, and that could get Colt some votes. By the way, Gene Menez is awesome (SI.com)

by acho81 on Nov 24, 2008 4:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Menez is making up for 2005

If I remember correctly, he was all over Bush and Leinart that year while not giving VY proper credit.

by BigTexBD on Nov 24, 2008 5:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, the entire country was all over Bush that year...

He just followed the pack.

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 5:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Does that mean they are all shaved now?

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 5:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mariotti just gave us love on ATH.

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 4:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

ew.

by billyzane on Nov 24, 2008 4:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Calishaw and Page did not

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 4:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I feel dirty.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Nov 24, 2008 4:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we are at the point we need all the help we can get

Including Cowherd, Marrioti, et al.

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 4:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

undoubtedly.

i’ll roll around in the dirt if i have to. but it’s still going to make me want to take a shower.

by billyzane on Nov 24, 2008 4:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Where did he touch you....?

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He rubbed my kindle gently

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 5:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My god the mental images...

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I quivered and whispered in his ears, Hook'em

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 5:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kornheiser gives Texas love on PTI

Perhaps the most recognizable mascot in sports, and certainly the toughest looking, Bevo is a fixture

by run Bevo run on Nov 24, 2008 4:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Funny

how Wilbon is Kornheiser’s partner on PTI and gaves us negative love

by acho81 on Nov 24, 2008 4:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think they are supposed to take opposite positions....

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 5:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Its like a contractual obligation, so discount anything they have to say

Not to mention PTI — just ignore those “debate” style sports shows.

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Colin Cowherd goes to Texas

Download his podcast on Itunes today to hear it. “Thundering Herd.” He says that there is no way you can put Oklahoma in when Texas beat OU on a neutral field.

We need to make a sportswriter score sheet. Has anybody found an article from a national publication or personality saying Oklahoma should go because they are “playing better right now?”

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 4:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Skip Bayless on ESPN First Take

Said OU over Texas. Skip admitted to growing up a Sooner Fan. Yes, I know he sucks, but his is a national personality.

by Horncasting on Nov 24, 2008 4:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Personality? He's a national asshole. nt

by whills on Nov 24, 2008 10:09 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

If I must be honest...

…I’m a little uncomfortable with this “Texas beat OU and that’s the only thing that matters” line of thought. That’s not true. The fact that Texas beat OU is extremely important but plenty of other things matter as well. I strongly believe that those other things tilt towards Texas too, and that Texas should be ahead. But to say that head to head is the only thing that matters is a bit dense.

But I suppose if that’s what it takes to force human voters to come to the decision they should be able to come to using proper logic, so be it. Spout off all you want, Schrutebag.

by billyzane on Nov 24, 2008 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

But I think people are simply using “Texas beat OU on a neutral field” as shorthand for “all of the little factors are pretty much a wash, and the only significant distinction is that Texas beat OU on a neutral field.”

by mikey 4 on Nov 24, 2008 5:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's why I liked the Schlabach article that went through all of the arguments...

But, the same way a national presidential campaign can be won with one catchy slogan, if Texas can shape the argument to a very simple “45-35 Neutral Field” argument, they will be home….

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 5:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BZ- Anyway to get some insight in to the conversations with Schlabach?

I am not asking for you to post all the emails, I am just intrigued to see how you approached the first message you sent him and what his reaction was. I always respect writers who respond to emails from their readers, especially when they respond to someone who disagrees with them on a subject.

by Hookem4life84 on Nov 24, 2008 5:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

He actually contacted me first with a good natured e-mail.

We wrote back and forth a few times, I apologized for the tone of the post, and it was all very pleasant. He’s a nice guy and I think understood why I wrote what I wrote. That’s pretty much it. Give him credit for being incredibly thick-skinned. You don’t see that a lot among sports writers (*ahem*Gregg Doyel*ahem*).

by billyzane on Nov 24, 2008 5:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta respect that.

by ctex80 on Nov 24, 2008 6:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If OU had won by only 10 or 14 on Saturday night, what would the argument be then? Would Tech be in this conversation? I’m genuinely curious. It seems amazing to me that OU would be PENALIZED for beating up on Tech by too many points.

BZ—To your credit, I think you’ve done a great job pointing out some of the inconsistencies in this entire mess (on all sides).

by DoubleB on Nov 24, 2008 5:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

OU is not being penalized for beating Tech by too many points...

I would argue that the opposite is true. After the undressing in Norman, OU looked so impressive that they made larger gains in the human polls than they would have had they won by 10-14 points.

To answer your question, Tech would definitely have a better argument. I think the fact that they lost by 44 dismisses them from the MNC talk. Even if Tech wins the league (OU loss to OSU/Tech beats MU) Tech cannot move from 7 to 2 (see the Schlabach chat as he addressed this issue). If Tech would have lost a competitive game, and managed to stay ahead of USC, then I think they would have been right in the middle of it should OU lost either to OSU (ideal) or to UM. Tech, in a conversation against Texas, would win on the head to head win the same way Texas should win when the conversation is between Texas and OU.

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 5:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In this argument . .

they are being penalized. The gist is that they beat up Tech by so many points that they’ve removed Tech from any consideration and now it goes to the head-to-head argument.

Your point is well taken that their impressive showing helped them in the polls that matter.

Regarding Tech winning the league—he may have been joking, but in answer to a question about that scenario he had Tech playing the SEC champ. I perused it so I may have missed something.

by DoubleB on Nov 24, 2008 5:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think OU is being penalized for beating Tech so badly.

But so what? That’s the nature of the debate this year.

If Tech and Texas had not played, and OU beat Tech by that much, it still would have knocked them out of the MNC picture.

But, just like Texas fans realize that since they didn’t beat Tech, seemingly unfair things may happen (being left out of the Big 12 Championship in favor of a team we beat by 10 in Dallas), Sooners need to realize that since they lost to Texas in Dallas, things aren’t necessarily going to be rational. Like being penalized for knocking Tech out of the picture.

by hornalum08 on Nov 24, 2008 6:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A close game

would definitely put Tech back into the conversation but I think that most voters would put Texas over OU. It would come down to the Bedlam game to decide if OU jumped us after beating a ranked Ok State on the road unless Baylor upsets Tech then naturally we’d go on to face Missouri.

by seth78 on Nov 24, 2008 5:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tech Out

It almost seems to me that maybe — just maybe — Tech getting taken to the woodshed is to our advantage…

I think it’s safe to say that Tech is out of the MNC picture; with that, the three-way tie become a head-to-head pick ’em between Texas and OU. I think that strengthens our neutral field win.

Stoops is milking the “if you can’t put OU in front of Texas, than you can’t put Texas in front of Tech” line of reasoning, but if it’s consensus that Tech is no longer a part of the menage a trois, then I think that makes his argument moot (I wish mute) and actually helps us. No?

by Broccoli662 on Nov 24, 2008 11:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OU's bowl record

Can someone also add as a talking point that OU has gotten to go to BCS bowls the last couple years and done nothing useful there? West Virginia? Boise State?

Meanwhile, the last two BCS bowls Texas has gone to were both fantastic games (one being the best thing to ever happen to a football field, not to mention BCS supporters).

Message:

Send OU and you’ll be proven wrong; send Texas and you’ll get great, great football.

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

OU lobbies

According to scholarly source wikipedia.org:

“Certain coaches—for example, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 —are notorious for running up the score in order to impress coaches and sportswriters who vote in the Coaches Poll or AP Poll.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_up_the_score

Whatever happens I’m glad we’re Texas. Get after the lobbying, media!

by UTexasCPA on Nov 24, 2008 5:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wikipedia citations

Best left to the Aggies.

But funny nonetheless.

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha.

I love that there are 11 examples of Stoops running up the score. Awesome.

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Unless posters on this forum aren't noting pro-OU talking heads...

…it seems like just about Skip Bayless is coming down pro-UT. Is that an accurate assessment?

by kjm017 on Nov 24, 2008 5:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely not

Because we’re down in both the Harris and Coaches poll.

by pleaseplaykindle on Nov 24, 2008 5:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm talking about those with a public forum talking about it on TV or radio...

…and not what Mark Mangino’s SID thinks.

by kjm017 on Nov 24, 2008 5:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mangino’s vote can be purchased with deep fried big macs and frosted brisket.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Nov 24, 2008 5:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well said.

the man, the myth, the legend.

by JYarbs on Nov 24, 2008 5:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Deep fried Big Macs? mmm....

by the1austin on Nov 24, 2008 6:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tech eliminated.

This is what I posted on Crimson and Cream Machine in response to their post on how its still a three way tie.

Listen Tech has no discussion in the national title hunt or the Big 12 South Title period. I don’t care where they played or how well OU played, Tech got pummeled on national TV. They are out of this. Any legitimacy that Tech had was gone out of the window. If they lost a close game or even to the tune of 14-21 points they might be in this argument. Its between Texas and OU and its that simple. Tech has the weakest resume, the worse wins, and the worst loss of the three. Beating up on lower division schools, struggling to beat Nevada, needing overtime to beat Nebraska at HOME, struggling to put away our dreadful excuse for a football team on the road where OU won the game in the first five minutes eliminates you in my opinion. They got a fluke win against Texas and beat an Oklahoma State whose coach doesn’t know what defense is.

UT’s "bad win" was against Oklahoma State at home. OU’s "bad win" was against KU at home.

Edge: Texas

UT’s top win was against you guys on a neutral field by 10 points. OU’s top win was pummeling Tech at home.

Edge: Texas

Whose loss was the "best or the "worst?" UT’s bad loss/good loss was on the road to Tech, while OU’s was on a neutral site. This is the hardest one to debate. Whose loss was worse? If the game was close and competitive between Tech and OU then you would obviously say Texas had the best loss/good loss. Well with the egg that Tech laid, I would say that OU had a better loss, in my opinion. I just don’t believe that 45 points makes that big of a difference on the road. The loss argument is the most meaningless in my opinion, because if the three way tie occurs all will have lost a game to teams with 11-1 records so there really is no bad loss like Florida’s to Ole Miss.

Even though I hate to say it, from a neutral perspective I think UT should have the edge. That win against OU really carries more weight than anything. If you OU lost on a last second play similar to what UT did to Tech than I think the argument would be headed in your direction, but it was a solid Texas win.

I have loved going on this blog and BON and reading the arguments from both sides. On both blogs, there have been posts that have said "this is from a neutral perspective and no subjectivity involved" when in reality its total bullshit. This post (refering to Crimson and Cream machine’s not mine) is biased and the one’s on BON are biased as well. There really is nothing wrong with that you wan to fight for your team and protect your team. Ultimately there really is no right answer as to who should go between the three. But I believe that it isn’t between three teams, its between two, OU and UT. I believe that this post is neutral and objective, but I’m betting you guys won’t say it because of me saying that UT should go instead of you. Again there is nothing wrong with that, but just don’t write on your post from a "neutral perspective" if you are a fan of one of those teams. I can say it because I’m not even though you may disagree that my post is neutral.

The one thing that you guys should agree on is that Tech is out of this discussion, period. You don’t do what you did on Saturday and expect to be in the discussion. For technical purposes they may be in it, but in reality they have no argument.

Some of this post was edited to fix the errors I had in Crimson and Cream and some of the names were changed because I was speaking to OU fans.

by PrimeTime2012 on Nov 24, 2008 6:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs