Texas football talent

... seem to be having an impact already.

The arrival of the 36-year-old Muschamp and 29-year-old former Texas icon Major Applewhite as running backs coach is an indication that Brown is interested in shaking some of his team's recent lethargy with a double shot of youthful coaching enthusiasm.

That moxie was noticeable at UT's first practice. Muschamp was in his players' faces, screaming and exhorting from the first whistle.

After linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy returned an interception for a touchdown against Texas' first-team offense, Muschamp excitedly sprinted along with his defense down the field after the pick and jumped into the middle of the celebration.

"Your intensity sometimes has to overcome your talent," Muschamp said. "I wasn't very talented when I was a player and I had to overcome that with my intensity. As a coach, I don't have a lot of experience, but I try to overcome it with intensity. We've got to get the guys to play that way."

Applewhite appears to be the same way, sometimes cajoling his troops with audible blue language that was a little foreign -- and maybe even a little unsettling -- from his ways as a player. It was almost like seeing Lassie turn into an attack dog.

The Major, an attack dog? Now this I gotta see.

New Coaches, New Ideas

But from reading the reports from the first two practices that were posted earlier, it sounds like there's a noticeable difference in the attitude and intensity of the team. If that carries over into the first couple of games this fall, then I'll start believing.

Muschamp also has been saying what BON'ers have been clamoring for since the start of last year - the depth chart will have nothing to do with seniority and everything to do with talent.

...he has hinted at some changes that could bring more speed to the defense. Among the ideas he's toying with include moving defensive ends Lamarr Houston and Aaron Lewis inside to tackle to boost the unit's speed and playmaking abilities. That would also address one of the Texas defense's biggest personnel needs after the departure of starters Derek Lokey and Frank Okam.

"We're going to get the best 11 we have on the field," Muschamp said. "If it means moving a linebacker to end or an end to tackle or a corner to safety, we're going to get our best out there."

He's also promised a clean slate with no preconceived notions about a depth chart until after spring work concludes with the Longhorns' annual Spring Jamboree scrimmage on March 29.

Despite this early enthusiasm, ESPN writer Tim Griffin still picks Texas 3rd in the Big XII Power Rankings.

One other little tidbit that I hadn't read about before. Nothing like hitting coaches where it hurts - in there wallets - to get someone's attention!

According to the Austin American-Statesman, Brown's four offensive assistant coaches received pay raises after the season, while Brown recommended that the defensive coaches not receive any -- despite the Longhorns' 10-3 record that placed them in the top 15 of the final rankings for the eighth straight season.