While we could go on for days moping about how unlucky ".13" is, I would like to try and shine a ray of hope on us Longhorns during these "dark days.  

First off, I have said several times throughout the year that this Texas Longhorns team reminds me very much of the 2004 team - low on expectations, high on production.  That year, Brown did a "pre-Stoops" lobbying job of getting Texas to vault over California and into the Rose Bowl vs. Michigan.  From Keith Jackson to Aaron Rodgers, no one was happy with the lobbying effort.  After losing the previous season's bowl game to Washington State, clearly UT was predicted to be second fiddle to OU going into the '04 season.  Perception became reality with our only loss that season being to eventual BCS Title game loser OU.  In the end, all UT did was provide what was thought then to be one of the best Rose Bowl games ever by defeating Rose Bowl regular Michigan 38-37.  The next season, coming off the optimism from the Rose Bowl win as well as many returning players, UT went on to finish undefeated playing the exact same conference schedule and capped off their National Title win by defeating USC in what is now the best Rose Bowl game to date. 

Next, fast-forwarding to 2008, while UT finished strong with a resounding defeat of Arizona State in the previous season's Holiday bowl, many thought Texas was again going to be second fiddle to OU.  Some even thought Texas Tech might leap over Texas.  Yet, thanks to Colt's incredible play as well as go-to receivers Cosby and Shipley, Texas finished tied with one loss with OU and Tech.  While some may say Stoops learned from the 2004 master to get the bump needed at the end of 2008, UT is poised to play in yet another BCS bowl against another Rose Bowl regular Ohio State, but this time the destination is Arizona. With a Fiesta Bowl victory, UT will most assuredly build upon the 12-1 season and begin 2009 as  a top three preason favorite.  Again, with most of the team returning and a solid crop of redshirt freshmen coming in, Colt in 2009 will have similar building blocks as VY had going into 2005’s season AND will be playing the exact same conference schedule as 2008.

Finally, let’s also hope that the comparisons don’t stop with OU either.  In 2004 and 2005, Big Game Bob lost both BCS bowl games including one BCS title game!  So while your local sports writer or bandwagon Sooners fan may goad you a little with OU’s BCS finish, relish the fact that next year promises to be another great one for the Texas Longhorns in the decade-long plus campaign under Mack Brown!