What a football decade it's been (with one year to go): comparing this decade to previous Longhorn teams
The first decade of this century of Longhorn football has given us everything we've wanted, with the exception of more conference championships. Mack's program has provided more wins, bowl wins, overall winning percentage and the top record against ranked opponents than any previous decade. This decade even surpasses the hallowed ground of the 60's in some categories. For comparison, the earliest decade chosen was the 40's, as that was the first decade of Longhorn bowl appearances.
The 40's:
Record: 78-21-3 Winning percentage .770 Bowl record: 4-0-1 Record against ranked opponents: 11-9
Record against OU: 8-2 Record against A&M: 9-0-1
Conference Championships: 3 National Championships: 0
Signature moment: A 17-2-1 record against its two main rivals stands out the most about the decade, along with Bobby Layne scoring or accounting for all 40 points in the 1946 Cotton Bowl win against Missouri, or an underdog "second rate" Longhorn team beating Georgia 41-28 in the 1949 Orange Bowl.
The 50's:
Record: 64-38-2 Winning percentage .620 Bowl record: 1-3 Record against ranked opponents: 13-21-1
Record against OU: 3-7 Record against A&M: 8-2
Conference Championships: 4 National Championships: 0
Signature moment: Bobby Lackey's jump pass to beat OU in 1958, snapping a 6-game losing streak to the Sooners.
The 60's:
Record: 86-19-3 Winning percentage .810 Bowl record: 6-1-1 Record against ranked opponents: 14-6-2
Record against OU: 9-1 Record against A&M 9-1
Conference Championships: 5 National Championships: 2
Signature moment: Big Shootout against Arkansas with President Nixon in attendance.
The 70's:
Record: 88-26-1 Winning percentage .760 Bowl record: 3-6 Record against ranked opponents: 17-19-1
Record against OU: 3-6-1 Record against A&M: 7-3
Conference Championships: 6 National Championships: 1
Signature moment: Earl Campbell's run to the Heismann in 1977 included the first win over OU since 1970 and an unbeaten regular season.
The 80's:
Record: 73-42-2 Winning percentage .630 Bowl record: 2-5 Record against ranked opponents: 18-19-1
Record against OU: 4-5-1 Record against A&M: 3-7
Conference Championships: 1 National Championships: 0
Signature moment: Trailing Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide 10-0 in the 4th quarter, Robert Brewer led a 14-12 comeback victory in the 1982 Cotton Bowl.
The 90's:
Record: 74-44-2 Winning percentage .620 Bowl record: 2-4 Record against ranked opponents: 15-25-2
Record against OU: 7-2-1 Record against A&M: 4-6
Conference Championships: 4 National Championships: 0
Signature moment: "I feel good!" James Brown's epic upset of Nebraska in the first Big 12 Championship.
The 2000's: (With one more year to go)
Record: 97-18 Winning percentage .840 Bowl record: 7-2 Record against ranked opponents: 25-11
Record against OU: 3-6 Record against A&M: 7-2
Conference Championships: 1 National Championships: 1
Signature moment: January 4th, 2006.
The only decade that comes close to comparing to this decade's continued success is the 60's, but even that decade consisted of 7-3-1, 6-4, 7-4 and 6-4 seasons. The striking statistic from the 60's is the lack of ranked opponents, Oklahoma and Arkansas were usually the only ranked regular season opponents.
The Big 12 is a tougher conference than the SWC of the 60's, as the 'Horns have averaged four ranked opponents per season compared to two from that decade.
Finally, the lack of conference titles stings, but when comparing to the other decades, Mack would have had co-championships in 2001, 2002 and 2008, as no other Longhorn coach dealt with a split division conference.
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Comments
Nice post!
And of course the bitching about our OOC schedule will continue unabated…We play a tougher conference schedule that we have in anytime in our history. After this year, this decade will finish with the second most ranked opponents in the past 70 years, but some people think that isn’t enough. To think some people want to return to the 90s!
by Rickyspub on Aug 6, 2009 8:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I wish we were in the 90's
that’d mean I’d still be a teenager. Oh the life…
by 2Cor12:9 on Aug 6, 2009 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The 00's record against OU
is also hard to swallow.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
by zamm on Aug 6, 2009 5:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yes...
When would you say OU replaced A&M as the most hated rival?
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." - Will Muschamp
by Mulliganville on Aug 6, 2009 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Most hated rival
Good question. Even when A&M had its once in a lifetime run of 10-1 from 1984-1994, the Oklahoma game was always more highly anticipated during the offseason. The Aggies made it really easy, however, falling from relavency following their 1998 conference championship.
by Longhorn90 on Aug 6, 2009 11:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You should have our records against Arkansas too.
They were a much more important game than A&M. Beating them actually held some respect.
They ruined a couple of perfect seasons for us.
by texasfan05 on Aug 11, 2009 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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