Texas Football: Regular Season Wrap Part 1

by PB @ BON on Dec 8, 2008 6:10 PM CST in Football Comment 55 comments

A few final thoughts after one more disappointing weekend. More team-, player-, and performance-specific thoughts on the '08 season tomorrow.

Bullets? Bullets.

Time to move on. I absolutely believe that the second best team from the South went to Kansas City, but there's no easy way to settle a three-way tiebreak when each team has a victory over one of the others. Whether or not the chosen tiebreak is the best one heading forward, there's no "clean" way to solve that kind of riddle. I'm pretty sure we've said everything we can possibly say about it, and now we move on. I'd love to see Texas aggressively prepare for and play against Ohio State; a lackluster effort would dampen an otherwise incredible season.
Keep the blame in-house. The tiebreakers suck. The BCS sucks. No playoffs suck. The corrupt coaching clans suck. All true. For my money, though, accountability has to start at home, and I do think it's fair for Texas fans to say the team isn't in Miami because of one botched play. And no, asshole, not the Gideon play. The Longhorns lost on 1st and 10 in the first quarter, when Texas meekly ran a sore-ankled Chris Ogbonnaya from the I-formation five yards deep in its own end zone.

The blame in Lubbock falls on Mack Brown and Greg Davis, who tip-toed through that first half like barefooted divas afraid because a single beer bottle had been broken somewhere on the Jones Field turf. The I-formation play (which we'd hardly seen all year); the pass into the flat to Greg Smith (wtf?); the first half shelving of the four-wide ambrosia which fueled the RRS win: Add it all up and any attempt to drop that loss on any player is a below-the-belt post-bell slug. Tech got everything they needed in the first half because our offensive approach was tepid.

The buck stops with the coaching staff. On the bright side, our DC and HC-In-Waiting gets that:

"I look at wins and losses and we didn't get it done in that particular game. It's easy to look back and say what you could've and what you should've done, and the most critical person of me, is myself. There are obviously things you'd like to have done a little differently. But, these kids have played hard and they've played with great effort and passion. I told them from the beginning that the effort is on them and the execution is on me. As long as they play hard, everything else is on my shoulders. If we don't execute well, then it's my fault."

Schedule like 'We're Texas'. I applaud Texas' commitment not to schedule any 1-AA teams. But the point is practically lost by scheduling two Sun Belt teams (in addition to Rice). Though I'll be the first to tell you that part of scheduling just comes down luck, a team like Texas should at the least maximize that which it can control. My preference: Two BCS Conference teams, Rice (good for Houston presence for Texas alums and recruits alike), and one other non-BCS Conference foe. That's neither outrageously demanding nor a self-inflicted wound to the kneecap.
Quadrennial step forward? Four years ago, a maddening 12-0 loss to Oklahoma was a big reason for Mack Brown's first big step forward (the VY elevation). Nearly four years later, the 2008 season has seemed to me a big step forward for Mack Brown, similarly catalyzed by a eye-opening loss (A&M '07). Though it's horribly painful that our '08 Cinderella story ended roadside in a broken down pumpkin, watching that stupid pony-wagon gallop past us, the parallels are both interesting and -- starting our look ahead -- exciting for 2009.

Colt McCoy announced today he'll return for a run at -- you guessed it -- the Rose Bowl. The only shame in Penn State not getting a bid to Miami this year is the lost opportunity for Colt McCoy to tell Texas fans that "We'll be back." With McCoy back all the pieces are in place for the Longhorns to make the title run we started talking about early this summer. Replacing the dominant production Texas enjoyed from Roy Miller and Brian Orakpo looms as the only potential dark cloud on a roster loaded with talent and experience. I rather like the guy in charge of the defense, though.
Sunken treasure. No coach lost more points in my style book this year than Texas Tech head pirate Mike Leach. My ability to look past the incessant whining about officiating and alleged Longhorns bias was heretofore offset by his quirky charisma and penchant for humiliating Aggies. But Leach's schtick this year devolved like a scene straight from Lord of the Flies.

So much for the conch shell being kind of cute...

The 2008 season has in my mind brought to unflattering light the ugly sides of Mike Leach's personality. From his voting in the coach's poll to the widely-reported rumors that he threw himself at Auburn's door (rebuked, according to sources), the Mike Leach song and dance has started to look to me like a junior high musical two acts too long. I'm out.

The battle for the Ann Landers Cup. I've always cautioned fans from getting carried away overplaying the "class" card. Opposing fans storm the field? "Classless!" Opposing player jaws after a good play? "No class!" And on and on. Overwhelmingly, the card is played after the opposition does something that -- if we're being fair -- is a routine part of the game/competition. Fans are going to go berserk when they win. Players will mercilessly taunt their victims (Rudy Carpenter, anyone?). Big hits and exciting touchdown strikes will be celebrated with obnoxious animation. In my mind, they're not so much acts of classlessness as they are the routines of victory in a game as emotional and big-play oriented as football.

With that said, I don't consider the environment an anarchistic free-for-all. Kellen Heard is a classless thug. And I think Doc Saturday is on the wrong side of the Kansas City run-up-the-score chatter:

First, I should say that, unless you're Chattanooga or The Citadel, I think "running up the score" is a lame excuse for failing to play 60 minutes. It's weak. No one in a game between reasonably competitive teams should ever be expected to throttle down to spare the other sideline's feelings. I can't stand allegations of "whining," but I'll make one: "Running up the score" is whining. It's for fragile losers.

To the extent Matt's making a similar point to what I disdain about overplaying the class card (too often just whining from sore losers), I absolutely agree. I even agree with Matt's reasoning and, applied generally, don't fault teams for dropping the hammer on their peers. The feelings of the opposition shouldn't much matter in how a team performs.

Still, I diverge from Matt in thinking that the principle extends far enough to cover what we saw in Kansas City from Bob Stoops. Taken in the abstract, Matt's reasoning is sound, but in context this past Saturday night, it doesn't speak to what was animating Bob Stoops. The cover that the heat of battle ostensibly provides simply doesn't exist when you lead by five touchdowns with four minutes to go. He wasn't just competing to the final gun; he was being an asshole, consciously choosing to be a dick. This has nothing to do with Missouri's -- or even Texas' -- feelings. I'd just suggest that "All is fair in love and war" doesn't mean what you do can't result in your being revealed to be an A-grade asshole.

It's a fine line, to be sure. But Big Game Bloodhound Bobby made very clear which side he's on. Here's to five-straight BCS defeats.

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agree on the scheduling

I would like to see us schedule some different BCS conference schools. Why not a school from the SEC East like Vandy, Kentucky or Tennessee? I say this mostly because I live in Tennessee now, but still. A home and home with Tennessee featuring two of the most beautiful stadiums in the country? Maybe we could even get the great Gary Danielson to announce it? Perfect, and I am sure Kiffin would jump at the opportunity.

Why not a Big East or ACC school? That would only help recruiting and national exposure. It would be an 2:30 ABC telecast that would cover the entire central, south and east of the television map.

by hayzer13 on Dec 8, 2008 6:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I believe...

that our scheduling of Arkansas should be applauded even though it was counted against us this year due to Arkansas’ recent slide. You never know (for the most part) how good these BCS conference OOC teams we play are going to be in 4-5 years from the scheduling date.

If Texas had chosen to play Tennessee instead, who could have predicted that they would be so soft this year? Same goes with various Pac-10 foes…crappy one year and then a top 25 team the next. Of course, big name matchups like Ohio State, Penn State and the like are sure bets to be tough games…but you never know when a team is going to slide when you’re scheduling these games so far in advance.

Does Texas have any big OOC games scheduled in the coming years? Notre Dame, etc?

by brownf on Dec 8, 2008 7:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody elite

But we have a home-and-home series with both UCLA and Ole Miss in the pipeline. UCLA should improve quite a bit by then, and Ole Miss is already showing great signs of improvement under Nutt (but it wouldn’t surprise me if he leaves for greener pastures before his contract is up, leaving them with another rebuilding process when we play them).

by BigTexBD on Dec 8, 2008 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Clock management

Let’s not forget that we scored the go-ahead touchdown on second down. If we had just wasted one more down, we could have run enough clock to prevent Tech’s comeback — or we could have gone all the way to fourth down to end the game right there.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Dec 8, 2008 6:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

not to mention...

snapping the ball with 20+ seconds on the play clock during several plays leading up to the touchdown. I’ll never forget the feeling that I had when we scored too early…we were going ahead and I didn’t even celebrate because I knew that Tech could at very least get into field goal range with 1:20 on the clock.

I totally understand the idea that we wanted to keep the momentum and roll on into the end zone, but with a scoring machine like the Tech offense on the other sideline, I think you run the clock down and trust that Colt can put it in the endzone, even if Tech gets an extra 20 seconds per play to prepare.

by brownf on Dec 8, 2008 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Scheduling

It’s to bad we can’t schedule in 2 of the mediocre SEC team’s in maybe 1 Pac 10 team like Oregon and a Big 10 team like Wisconsin or Iowa

by kcmorse on Dec 8, 2008 6:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I never had to read Lord of the Flies.

Oh Peter you know you can’t dog my guy without me coming to his defense. It’s my nature.

My ability to look past the incessant whining about officiating and alleged Longhorns bias…

I don’t know that his complaining about refs is incessant; it was over a year ago. To my knowledge he was not fined at all this year nor did he complain about the officiating. I think he was pretty silent on that front in 2008.

I think his voting is awesome! obviously. I agree with you that him looking at Auburn was unfortunate, but hopefully he’ll stick around in Lubbock. I never had to read Lord of the Flies so that part was over my head.

C’mon Pete, everyone loves the Pirate Captain. He’ll win you back.

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Dec 8, 2008 7:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'd be disappointed if you didn't

But when a man’s gotta scapegoat, he can’t be stopped.

Leach was fun for a while, but that ship has sailed… (Too much?)

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 8, 2008 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You're being unfarrrrrr

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Dec 8, 2008 7:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You win the internets

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 8, 2008 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not just 4 straight BCS defeats

Bobby is going for 5 :)

LSU, USC, Boise St., and WVU were the 4.

by HornigStrega on Dec 8, 2008 7:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gracias

Fixed!

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 8, 2008 7:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It looks so sad when you put them all together like that.

by ctex80 on Dec 8, 2008 7:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Attn: Stoops

Karma is coming, and his name is “Tebow”.

by brownf on Dec 8, 2008 7:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention

that ou and Ohio State could end up having lost 5 of the last 6 MNC games.

by tdwalsh on Dec 8, 2008 10:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

still...

sounds of sour grapes from us. at least they are getting there. i’m still sports sad.

by DaGoose on Dec 9, 2008 11:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

scheduling

I haven’t been around these parts for too long. Are witnessing the beginning of a general change in the attitude of Texas fans towards OOC scheduling, or has BON generally always felt this way?

I hope Muschamp combines a commitment to tougher non-conference scheduling with an agressive approach to OOS recruiting. The two can compliment each other very nicely. There tends to be very few marquee matchups early in the season, so any intersectional game featuring two BCS conference teams (especially if one is Texas) is bound to generate a good deal of national attention, which is great for recruiting. A non-conference matchup with an elite BCS school is worth its weight in gold in national attention. USC-tOSU got a ton of hype over the summer and in the first few weeks of the season.

Additionally, these sorts of matchups are fantastic for targeting recruits in specific areas. There’s a rumor going around that Jordan Hicks, an elite LB from Ohio, will be an early commit to Texas this spring. Is it a coincidence that we rolled into Columbus and beat the Buckeyes four years ago when Jordan was at a very impressionable age? After USC walloped Arkansas in back-to-back years, they ended up landing three of the best players from that state in Mustain, Williams, and Green.

To that end, I’d love to see a series with LSU set up. Lay some wood on the Tigers and Louisiana could be opened up a little bit.

by andy_wooster on Dec 8, 2008 7:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Old hat

I’ve been grousing about scheduling for years. It’s actually got to the point where we retired the topic for a bit because we’d gone round and round so many times.

This year, the topic presented itself.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 8, 2008 7:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

I’d thought I recalled reading a post defending Texas’ scheduling, though now that I think about it I think was from Billyzane.

by andy_wooster on Dec 13, 2008 10:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Scheduling

Though I’d like a serious heavyweight home and home every few years, what has perplexed me is the complete absence of teams ranked between 15-35 on the schedule. Particularly with teams that are in recruiting hotbeds and have a demonstrated history of being good but not great (See Florida State current gen, Georgia Tech, Cal – who would love a shot, Illinois, Ole Miss etc.).

The benefits, a heightened strength of schedule and even more national exposure would greatly outweigh the potential costs – Texas loses to a team they’re likely better than and still has enough time to climb back into contention.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Dec 8, 2008 8:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From the southeastern US: a home-and-home with FSU would be great, but FSU does an OOF game with UF every season, so they’re probably hesitant. If UT is in the mood for games against good-not-great programs, GT, South Carolina, Clemson, the Mississippis, Maryland, and Virgina would be good exposure opponents. Of course Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Miami, etc. would be more prestigious programs and riskier as to whether they’d potentially derail a championship season, but it’d be worth a shot.

From the Rust Belt/Great Lakes region: Michigan State, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh would be great if Mack actually wanted to open up recruiting in hotbeds, but if that’s secondary, I’d point more at Wisconsin, Iowa, Northwestern, etc. Notre Dame would be a great home-and-home.

Out west: UCLA was a good decision, IMO. Stanford in the past was a good home-away-home opponent. I think setting up games with Fresno State, Utah, and the two Arizona schools would be a good idea.

I think UT-Ark should be an annual game, not something that we have to wonder whether it will happen. While Ark isn’t strong right now, this game is good for college football and would represent a commitment to keep BCS-conference schools on the OOC schedule.

I know Mack likes to throw local colleges (UNT, SHSU, Rice, Houston, etc.) a bone, but I do wish he’d spread it out to other areas. Weaker programs can be good brush-up games, but those brush-up blowouts can be awe-inspiring to potential recruits in those nations. It works.

by burntorangehorn on Dec 9, 2008 8:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FSU is playing a home and home with OU

I think in 2010 and 2011. So I’d say they’d definitely be willing to schedule Texas at some point.

by andy_wooster on Dec 13, 2008 9:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

that's exactly my point

the national exposure from these intersectional games are priceless.

by andy_wooster on Dec 13, 2008 9:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Arkansas would have

been a great game had it been last year, but once they lost their running backs and coach, they sucked. There’s no foreseeing that kind of thing.

by tdwalsh on Dec 8, 2008 10:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's Also Ask the Bir 12 to Adopt the Big 10's Tiebreaker Rules on I-AA Games

When the Big 12 tiebreaker rules get “fixed” this summer, one thing that should be brought in is the rule used by the Big 10 to “reward” teams that don’t pad their resumes with I-AA schools. Their rules say “If there is still a tie for the championship, or if the tied teams did not play each other, the team that played more games against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams shall be eliminated.” See .

So any Big 12 team can still schedule those I-AAs all that they want to pad their stats and records (Texas Tech played two I-AA teams this year, Oklahoma played one I-AA team), but anyone who wants to compete for a Big XII division or conference title, or national title (without having won the Big 12 conference title outright) should do so at their own risk. This would also be good for us as self-discipline to keep us from ever thinking about scheduling a game against Sam Houston State. Furthermore, statistics and winning margins of games involving I-AA teams should be included in the Division I-A records. That would be like the Patriots playing a college team and being able to include the win and the stats in the NFL season statistics.

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." J.Piper

by bravobevo on Dec 9, 2008 2:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LSU

would be great.

by DaGoose on Dec 9, 2008 11:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

5 straight

I really think Big Game Bob has it in him. Come on Stoops, lay another egg for the picture. Has anyone else accomplished this?
As an aside, Matt Hayes column in Sporting News http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=494791
was originally headed that the offenses would have their hands full. Uh, Matt, OU’s offense always has their hands full. Someone obviously caought the reference and changed it. Too bad. Also note that the twit gives the Heisman to either Tebow or Bradford. Problems with attention span, Matt?

by Longhorn in Canada on Dec 8, 2008 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Non-con thoughts

Personally, I would love it if every year we scheduled an Ohio State type team as our last non-conference game of the season before heading into Big 12 play. The benefits to strength of schedule, preparing the team, recruiting, and elevating us to a consistent national spotlight and expectation are just incomparable.

And, to Texas’ credit, scheduling teams like Arkansas this year (and next until they bitched out), and UCLA coming up in 2010 and 2011, have been a fantastic step toward all of that. (Seriously, we are so lucky we locked in UCLA years ago, because as soon as Neuheisel isn’t playing a third string QB look out. The Pac 10 is going to be less of a one-team conference soon enough).

Now, all that said, for the rest of the non-conference games during the season I understand that it is much easier for a room full of AD’s and coaches at a big program like Texas to sit down and say, “hey, let’s pay $700,000 and buy a win off a Sun Belt team that won’t hurt any of our starters or have a shot at embarrassing us.” With such big turnover in rosters and schemes year-in-and-year-out the cupcake games, while unexciting gimmes for the most part, do give you a chance to at least work out the kinks and get younger players ready for the conference games that mean everything. Plus, sometimes you just get lucky. Sometimes you lock in a TCU, Cincinnatti, or Utah and by the time you play them they’re good enough to go undefeated in their Big East/Mountain West Conference and get a little buzz.

Something I would love is to make sure we play at least one of our old SWC rivals every year (Arkansas, Rice, SMU, TCU or Houston).

So, in short, in my perfect universe we’d have two throw away games from the SunBelt, MAC, etc to start off the season and then one of our old SWC pals, and then a big, historical, marquee player (Ohio State, USC, Florida State, etc) that you can usually count on to be solid if not good to close out the non-con season.

Now, all you have to do is go convince the AD’s and coaches of all these big programs that it’s ok to take the chance of losing a non-con game early in the year. ;) Good luck with that.

by KevinJ on Dec 8, 2008 8:23 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Second on SWC rivals...

I agree with your point on playing one of Arkansas, Rice, SMU, TCU, or Houston every year. We’ve done a good job of this in the past – but I think it’s important to continue it.

1. It is good karma for Mack to give the old teams a shot at Texas.
2. It’s good for recruiting (as PB said)
3. It’s fun for the kids, most of whom played against eachother in high school
4. It gives local HS coaches, families, and alumni a chance to catch a Texas game every so often withouth having to spend the travel $$$ to take the family to Austin.
5. In most years, it’s a win.

by Jonny Horn on Dec 9, 2008 12:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a tougher deal than it sounds

Horns played Houston in a home and home (actually, a 2-for-1; 2 home games, one visit), but UH insisted on playing at its home (I-AA size) stadium instead of Rice or Reliant, to reward ticket-buyers and boost home-field edge . . . UT was NOT HAPPY with that decision (2001), as I recall. I don’t see that rivalry resuming.

SMU has had a sucky program since its post-death penalty revival. There’s no point in playing them; you get nothing from it . . . Maybe June Jones changes that . . Rice has been pretty much an annual deal, on what seems to have been a 2-for-1 contract in the late 1990s and a 5-for-1 from 2003-08 . . . TCU is perfect — but the teams have met just once since the SWC ended; TCU likely won’t be willing to always play in Austin if they remain a perennial Top 20 force.

Rice series resumes in 2010, for 2 games (one home, one road), probably part of the 5-for-1 . . . No other former SWC member is on future schedules. What you have from 2009-13, with some years incomplete: Wyoming (3 games), Rice (2), Mississippi (2), UCLA (2), Central Florida (2, part of the 2007 visit to Orlando); and 1 game each with Fla. Atlantic, UTEP & La.-Monroe.

by edsp on Dec 9, 2008 12:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets hope

that UCLA becomes halfly decent in the next few years.

As for next year, we HAVE to run the table. We have to beat OU and we have to win in Stillwater. Our nonconf schedule will give us no room for error.

by goingforthecorner on Dec 8, 2008 8:27 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

UCLA

Should be good in the next couple years, I see them being a top 20 team by the time we play them. We get UCLA in LA in 2011, that should provide a good setting for Garrett Gilbert to capture Heisman votes from the west coast media.

by Hookem4life84 on Dec 8, 2008 8:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What is up with this love affair about this Gilbert guy?

I have never seen a fan base enamored about a guy who has yet to step foot on campus. You don’t know how good he will be. He could turn into the next Tim Tebow or the next Jimmy Clausen or Ron Powlous. Get over yourself. He is just a recruit who may or may not be a great player. Lets not forget that nobody heard of Colt McCoy until he started against North Texas. You guys are already making a Gilbert for Heisman campaign. Absolutely ridiculous and yet you make fun of Gary Danielson for riding a guy’s nutsack who has actually proven something while you do the same for a guy who runs over high school defenses. Give me a break.

by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 8, 2008 10:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

I have never seen a fan base enamored about a guy who has yet to step foot on campus.

Reggie McNeil?
Jerrod Johnson?

by gwh65 on Dec 8, 2008 11:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ron Powlus

I remember hating that guy growing up because I heard all the Dan Marino comparisons and loving it when his career fizzled out big time. I guess I see what you’re saying about Gilbert, although I think the point for Longhorns fans is that there isn’t any reason to think that Gilbert won’t be great. Yeah, he could fail and it would be a huge disappointment, but that’s part of the reason that Longhorn fans love him so much already—if he fails, it won’t be because there are warning flags right now. I’ll ride Gilbert’s nutsack a little bit here and say that Gilbert is the perfect fit for Greg Davis’ offense—if Greg Davis could design a quarterback from scratch it likely wouldn’t be Vince Young, but I think he would look an awful lot like Gilbert.

by GhostofBigRoy on Dec 9, 2008 12:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gilbert bested the state record for passing yards as a junior

His team just put on a 71-9 beat down in the playoffs on their way to defend their state championship.

Dude has thrown 5 interceptions all year against 48 TDs (with and additional 18 on the ground) while throwing 68% completion rate.

And we are homers.

Why not have a love affair with him?

by BoddickerIsClutch on Dec 9, 2008 10:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure that somebody had heard of Colt McCoy before he started vs. UNT.

To quote Wikipedia:

He achieved several distinctions as a high school player, including two-time Associated Press 2A Offensive MVP and first-team all-state selection. Over his career, he completed 536-of-849 passes (63.1%) for 9,344 yards and 116 TDs. He ranks as the all-time leading passer in Texas Division 2A high school history and is fourth overall in Texas high school history. McCoy also served as Jim Ned High School’s punter as a junior and senior. During his sophomore year, McCoy was also playing free safety. However, after suffering a concussion on a tackle of 215-pound Bangs running back Jacoby Jones, his father decided to not let him play defense anymore. At the time Jim Ned was 8–0, but as McCoy missed the next two games due to the concussion, Jim Ned’s season unraveled.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_McCoy#High_School_career

by burntorangehorn on Dec 9, 2008 10:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Relax dude..

I started thinking about our team in 2011 and I realized Gilbert would only be a Junior, so I thought I would throw it in there. Obviously, he could be a bust, God forbid he turn out to be like…Stephen McGee.. Have you guys jumped off of his nuts yet? I guess his 2-2 record versus Texas is “proving something”, other than that, what else did he do?

By the way, this is what happens when your team actually wins games, you look to the future and only see greatness ahead.

by Hookem4life84 on Dec 9, 2008 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody was ever on his nuts

I was never on his nuts, most of the fan base were not happy with McGee. He had his moments but in general he was a mediocre player. Also, alot of his failure had to do with the coaching staff running an offense that he wasn’t recruited for. He was a great passer in high school but Fran inexplicably decided to run a triple option attack.

by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 9, 2008 2:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The "one botched play"

could have been any one play during the course of the game. Every down presents the opportunity for someone to do something that could change the outcome.

On the otherhand, I appreciate Muschamp’s acceptance of responsibility; in my book, the biggest mistake of the game was that the defense was not coached to take Crabtree out of that play by any means.

Re: Scheduling, take a cue from Rick Barnes and boldly take on the best teams you can. I know football is different because of small number of games, but We’re Texas. We should never be afraid to put ourselves to the test.

May Colt be with you. Yeah, that's right.

by bfaut86 on Dec 8, 2008 8:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think another problem

in the Tech game was the coaches refusal to play Fozzy (when the other RBs showed they could do nothing) until we were down by 16 points in the 4th quarter. I think a little shot of Fozzy early in the 2nd quarter would have really helped, but they waited til they had no choice.

by tdwalsh on Dec 8, 2008 10:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

First on Scheduling and then on the Tech game

First, as far as scheduling, I personally think we should play Arky every year, but since they did the series with Aggie (scared much Piggies?!?) I doubt that would happen. Therefore, I think my top home home series would be USC, Alabama, Florida, Va. Tech, Michigan, and ND.

Second, as far as the Tech game, Tech came at us balls to the wall. They left EVERYTHING they had on the field against Texas as evidenced by the curbstomping in Norman AND the almost loss to Baylor at home. That being said, we played the absolute WORST half of football all season in that game. It is what it is. However, even playing that badly and Tech playing as well as they did, we still almost pulled out the win. This team is special. It is sad that they are not being rewarded, but again, we could be Tech and headed to the Cotton Bowl.

I think people have known for YEARS that the BCS is broken. Other than 2005, when was the last time there was NO controversy? 2002 maybe?

by HornigStrega on Dec 8, 2008 10:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

All this talk...

of Oklahoma laying in egg in the Championship game is beginning to concern me. All week I’ve been reading posts that virtually assume OU will lose to Florida – that they’ll choke as they always do, that Big Game Bob is going to continue his losing streak, that we’ll all be laughing when it happens. Its beginning to remind me a bit of the presumptuous banter about the “greatest team of all time” in the month preceding the Rose Bowl in 2005.

If you actually want OU to lose, then shut the hell up about it.

by BrooklynHorn on Dec 8, 2008 11:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Herbstreit

Was talking about this in one of the BCS preview shows, about how more often than not in these big games, the team with all the doubts and all the naysayers beats the team with all the hype. It’s a lot better for these kids to hear in the media about how there’s no chance they’ll win than how there’s no chance they’ll lose. I doubt OU players or UF players give a shit about what UT fans are saying, but if the media outlets are deep throating UF for the next month and nobody’s giving OU a chance, I agree that will certainly give the Sooners the motivational edge.

by littlevisigoth on Dec 9, 2008 1:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You know,

there’s a lot to be said for scheduling tougher. It looks prestigious. The upside is great. A team’s supporters can boast, “Look who we play.” But when one of those teams takes a chunk out of your hide, reality sets in. Ask Ohio State: Even if they had beaten Penn State this season, they’d still be missing the championship game.

Sorry, my learned comrades, the downside is too great for most of the elite programs to take the chance. SOS only matters to a few teams in some seasons. Alabama’s SOS this season was lousy — but they’re in the MNC game if they beat Florida. West Virginia’s NC schedule last year was W. Michigan, Marshall, Maryland, E. Carolina and Mississippi State — and the Mountaineers are in the title game if they don’t gag, at home, to 4-7 Pittsburgh.

Want an example of what playing one of the big dogss can do? Two years ago, Ohio State, Colt McCoy’s second game. Buckeyes 24-7. Right there, Texas’ repeat MNC hopes were gone. Horns reached 9-1 before Colt went down early at K-State, but at 11-1 Texas was still going to be No. 3 (to Ohio State and Florida, and if one of them had lost, to Michigan). Yeah, it looks good to get a scalp like Ohio State. But with no Ohio State on the schedule this season, the problem wasn’t SOS — it was 60 minutes in Lubbock.

by edsp on Dec 8, 2008 11:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I count 2 BCS teams in WV's OOC schedule that you listed

That counts for something, especially in some of the computers, which weight each team based on how their conference power ranking is.

by HookedinOKC on Dec 8, 2008 11:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know if we would have finished third

in 2006. I think our loss early (earlier than Florida) would have kept us at number 2. But we will never know. Just thankful Colt overcame that stinger.

by HornigStrega on Dec 8, 2008 11:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you have a point

But I don’t think everyone is arguing that we need to schedule home and home’s with powerhouse teams that have a good shot of beating us. I would just like to see us try to mix it up with different teams from different BCS conferences.

by hayzer13 on Dec 9, 2008 12:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

the whole problem with scheduling talk...

is that you tend to overreact to a particular year’s specific circumstances.

What are the odds that we would see this many one-loss teams this season? And in the end, let’s face it, Florida and OU probably didn’t get there on the strength of their non-conference schedule…

Going into the year, would anyone have thought OU’s was any harder than ours? Even after the year I’m not convinced it was, although they certainly struck gold with Cincy, and we struck a dry hole with Arkansas. In most years, that would have been reversed…

I still think that in the absence of meaningful playoffs, in the long run the kind of soft scheduling Texas (and let’s be honest, MOST other big programs do…) provides a competitive advantage. We just ran into the perfect storm this year, and we still came that close. And in the end, I still believe that the margin was not built so much on OU’s non-conference schedule so much as their um, willingness to run up huge scores. That gave them enough errant human voters that the miniscule non-conference computer advantage put them over the top. But what if Nebraska misses a 57-yard FG? Are we still having this discussion?

When/If we see a playoff with enough teams invited (a four-team tourney would only make the scheduling worse…), we’ll see a lot more big games between powerhouse programs, because the competitive advantages will then outweigh the risks.

by Pflash on Dec 9, 2008 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

OU played 2 BCS teams, plus TCU

We played 1 BCS team. Yes, going into this year most would have thought OU’s OOC schedule was harder than ours. Striking gold against Cincy was offset by the bad luck of Washington having its worst year ever.

You can never tell when the schedules are made how good or bad a team will be, but OU hedged it’s bets by scheduling these 3 teams. We basically went all in with Arkansas.

by Horncasting on Dec 9, 2008 5:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure that I...

…disagree with you in respect of Hinton being generally correct and you being right that in the specific instance Stoops was a dick. The situation was somewhat suis generis in that they had the record of 5 consecutive 60 point games to set. This would provide him a reason though not an excuse, much less and excalpatory justification. Further he could have argued that this was a reward for the offense. Still, he explicitly declined to do so and talked merely of “finishing the game” which was finished long before the last couple of scores. Moreover, they were in a position to set the record only because of the gratutous TD against OSU. In consideration of the danger of injuries to starters one cannot escape the indisputable conclusion that Bobby is a dick and a somewhat injudicious one at that. Stilll, this was not a completely routine case of running up the score.

marshalld

by duras on Dec 9, 2008 8:43 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

this year

pb, i agree completely. great post. we can watch texas dismantle ohio snake
and booby snoops crash in yet another bowl game ( just humor, no disrespect)
love the horns!! more and more/our recruiting is top notch and will continue.
i was disappointed to see so many empty seats at the Baylor game. maybe that’s
why Art Briles voted us FIFTH. he is now a part of the “axis of evil”. what was he
thinking?? glad to see mike leach take the high road also. lol
is there anyone on this planet worse than Barry Switzer? a retorical question.
2009 National Champions/ get ready to buy new hats and caps!!!

ut1ou2 for texas-ou weekend

by ut1ou2 on Dec 9, 2008 2:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

terrible first half at tech

the first half against tech cost us the game. colt made an unbelieveable comeback
and the loss is NOT GIDEON’S FAULT. unlike phillip geigar and craig curry—
now those are names that cost us a game. i look forward to deloss retiring their
numbers/ but mack being 114-26 is just incredible. love the horns.
and yes, i want ou to lay another egg. i don’t agree with the argument at all we
should root for the big 12!!

ut1ou2 for texas-ou weekend

by ut1ou2 on Dec 9, 2008 2:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Coaches take blame in public; players held accountable in private

I’m all for coaches shouldering the blame in public. I do not like coaches calling out players in public. However, players have to be held accountable in private. Safeties have to catch easy interceptions deep in their own territory. No question that if that play is made, we win the game and play Florida. Same thing on the double-team on Crabtree – poor execution lead to the touchdown. Blaming coaches for schemes is short-sighted; players have to execute the scheme. Yes, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, the I formation call in the end zone was probably a mistake and I’m sure Davis would admit that (if he hasn’t already). However, attempting to establish the running game in the first half was a sound scheme – run the ball and keep Tech off the field. It didn’t work and the game plan adjusted. But don’t forget that there were several dropped passes in the first half, including one to Shipley that would probably have been for seven points and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

Bottom line for Tech is the offense overcame its early sputterings, did its job and all the defense had to do was keep them from scoring for 1:20 and they weren’t able to. Tech started the OU game the same as us – the difference was that we had the character and tenacity to overcome the disastrous start and TT did not – again, a tribute to coaching.

What I see on this board and from others is a predisposition to blame the OC for losses that often ignores reality. All I know is that Colt McCoy has become much more of a QB than anyone ever expected and may eclipse VY as the greatest Texas QB in history. Not to give his position coach a tremendous amount of credit is plain wrong – not only for helping him develop as a QB but also in implementing a scheme for him that allows him to be his most successful – quite a significant adaptation from the zone read offense that was put together to utilize VY’s skills. That to me is great coaching – adapting schemes to maximize the talents of players (look at Rick Rodriquez’s early failure at Mich for an opposite example).

by djwsatx on Dec 9, 2008 4:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Rice

I don’t buy the argument about playing Rice every year and how it benefits recruiting in Houston. We don’t play the game in Houston but about once every 3 years and it gets almost no regional attention when it is in Austin.

If this truly is a concern, then we should bring in a decent team to play a neutral site game in Houston either every year, or every other year. That would be a game the Houston alumni and the recruits would actually care about.

by Horncasting on Dec 9, 2008 5:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs