As part of my ongoing, nationwide campaign fighting high blood pressure, binge drinking, and scaring the family dog and to promote domestic tranquility here are 10 reasons that the Texas-Alabama game is no big deal.
1. In 2023, it’s still a non-conference game that has no bearing on the Big 12 standings.
2. Texas is a seven-point underdog, and the game is in Tuscaloosa, so nobody expects Texas to win.
3. If Texas loses by less than seven points it will be categorized as a “good loss” in the national rankings and in consideration for the College Football Playoffs.
4. If Texas gets blown out, it still is a non-conference game with no bearing on the Big 12 Standings.
5. Data shows that a Texas loss (the bigger the better) results in more four- and five-star recruits committing to Texas.
6. Following up on reason #5, if you read “Orangebloods”, Horns247 or “Inside Texas” you know that recruiting is more important than wins and losses, conferences championships, and qualifying for the College Football Playoffs.
7. A loss won’t have a negative effect on the positive culture Steve Sarkisian has built within the Texas program.
8. This is only year three of Steve Sarkisian’s seven-year rebuilding plan.
9. As several of the Texas players told us last year, losses are learning opportunities.
10. Most importantly, a loss won’t affect Longhorn ticket or merchandise sales. As we’ve been informed countless times, the Longhorns are #1 in merchandise sales. This correlates with reason #5.
You’re saying to yourself, surely you jest Willie Earl. Well, my father told when I was young that the truth is often spoken in jest. He also told me that everything comes from Shakespeare or the Bible.
What does the Rice game tell us about Texas?
If you’re a glass half full person, you were very pleased with the defense’s performance. Rice was totally throttled until garbage time in the fourth quarter. The performance almost reminded me of Texas’ 1983 defense. If you don’t know about that defense, look it up.
If you’re a half empty person, you focused on the offense’s play in the first half. You might have paraphrased Texas’s fans favorite OU chant (regrettably) by substituting “the offense” or “Ewers” for “OU”. Texas’ offense’s final stats look okay highlighted by 458 total yards and 300 passing yards with an average yards per pass a very respectable 8.1. The statistical lowlights were a measly 4.1 yards per rush, a mediocre 6-15 on third down and 1-3 on fourth down conversions against weak opponent. The offensive line gave up three sacks and eight tackles for a loss.
If you’re an eye test evaluator, Texas’ 21-point third quarter wasn’t enough to give Texas’ offense a passing grade.
The performance of the offensive line–particularly the interior of the line–was ugly and realistically I don’t see how it improves enough in one week to perform passably against Alabama. Hopefully I’m wrong.
In addition to the offensive line’s performance there are a couple of cautionary tales about Texas’ performance against Rice.
1. Texas started the game flat and sluggish. Sarkisian said Texas’ standard for performance begins with high-energy. Texas looked anything but in the first half. That tells me to be worried about a flat performance or two sometime down the line 2023 resulting in a loss that derails Texas’ lofty goals.
2. Sarkisian and his coaching staff prepared an ineffective offensive game plan. I know, I know, the plan was intentionally vanilla so Alabama wouldn’t get a preview of what Sark would unveil against them. I have a different idea. Practice your best stuff against Rice and overload the Alabama defensive coaching staff and players with stuff to think about.
*****
Texas fans were more than hopeful about having a real chance to beat Alabama this year and for 2023 to be the season Texas wins the Big 12 and is a playoff contender. The Rice game probably revealed that Texas is more of a work in progress than we hoped for going to the Alabama game. I think the Longhorns’ goals for the season are still reachable, but I have a hard time envisioning Texas winning in Tuscaloosa Saturday night
Hook “Em,
W.E.
THE Song of the Week
