A quote from Ernest Hemmingway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises, has resonated with me for years. To oversimplify, the novel is about a small group of hard partying friends roaming around Europe in the mid—1920s. They are members of the so called “Lost Generation” loosely defined as generation reaching maturity while experiencing the devastating physical and psychological effects of World War I. One of the characters, Mike Campbell, is a Scottish WW I veteran from family money. He is asked, “How did you go broke?” He answers, “Two ways, gradually then suddenly.”

When it became a sure thing a little after 930pm last Saturday night that Texas was going to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa it occurred to me that the Longhorns had transformed into the team we Texas fans have been hoping for for more than a decade. And I thought how sudden this transformation was. Just three hours before, Texas was a team that had had great success in recruiting for years but was only 14-12 in their last 26 games. The previous week they struggled in the first half of a game against a friendly patsy in Rice. Now suddenly Texas had beaten perennial powerhouse Alabama in their stadium, coached by the college football G.O.A.T head coach with a national audience watching.

Suddenly this program and this team that had not won one of these games in years had won convincingly. This 10-point win was no fluke. Texas played great but not flawlessly notably with two dropped touchdown passes. Texas didn’t benefit from flukey trick plays, turnovers, funny bounces, or bad referee calls.

Gradually as the first half went on it became apparent to me that Texas was the better team and I texted that to my brothers at halftime. Texas is big, strong, fast, and deep. Suddenly Texas had the better quarterback against a program that has produced four NFL starting quarterbacks over the last three years.

When Texas fell behind briefly at the end of the third quarter we were all thinking here we go again. But with suddenness in 1:24 Texas scored an offensive touchdown and just like that scored another touchdown on a one-play five-yard drive after a turnover to turn a three-point deficit into an 11-point lead.

Belaboring my theme, in the immediate aftermath of the victory I sat in my den speechless about what I’d just seen. Helen looked at me quizzically expecting more of an exuberant reaction from me. After a few minutes my shocked reaction to the suddenness of Texas transformation gradually wore off. Suddenly I insisted that we find an open bar and go celebrate.

I know what you’re thinking. Hold on there, Willie Earl. Beating Alabama is wonderful, but the season has a long way to go. I understand. Not too long after the game my brother Clayton texted, “Beat Wyoming.” Exactly. That has to be the mind set for the team and I don’t see it being a problem because this team has no major flaws. Every position group has talented starters and depth. And it appears as though Sarkisian and his coaching staff know how to effectively deploy this talent and depth.

Players who made an impression

In addition to the obvious stars on the offense, Quinn Ewers, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Xavier Worthy I’m sure you noticed on defense Ethan Burke who had four tackles including a tackle for a three-yard loss and a sack for a seven-yards loss. Burke is just a sophomore.  Anthony Hill Jr., a freshman, had six tackles including two sacks. Also, you had to notice how collectively the offensive and defensive lines played very well. Ewers wasn’t sacked.

Sarkisian, MVP

I’ve been critical of Steve Sarkisian. I haven’t just been critical of play calling in certain situations, gameplans, or personnel decisions (I was critical of not replacing Ewers in the Oklahoma State game last year). I wrote that he didn’t have “It.” That he was a technician not a head coach.

My overall observation of Sarkisian was that he couldn’t win more with less. That on a lot of Saturdays the opposing coach could beat him no matter which team he was coaching. In other words, to paraphrase Bum Phillips, “He can take his’n and lose to you’re’n and then turn around take you’re’n and lose to his’n.

Well maybe Sark will never be a great coach with less than elite talent but to his credit he may never have to be. He came to Texas with a reputation as a great recruiter and he has been. In his third year he has gradually assembled a deep, elite roster that he can inspire, coach confidently and win. And I believe win big.

As great as Quinn Ewers played against Alabama in my view it was Steve Sarkisian’s coming out party. He was the MVP of the game and possibly of a great season to come.

I think my favorite scene in Tuscaloosa Saturday night was Steve Sarkisian’s smiling, fist pumping reaction when Alabama jumped offsides giving Texas a first down to run out the clock at the end of game.  I was really happy for him.

Beat Wyoming!

Hook “Em

W.E.

Songs of the Week

From Willie Earl’s Top 100

Don’t know why it took so long to get to this one.

Triple Play

This one is from my Top 100, a sentimental favorite, and thematic for the third week of the Longhorns 2023 season.