From Lake Wobegon to Realville

I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take
much to see that the problems of three little people
don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. –Rick Blaine

Before I get into this I wanted to make sure you understand that just because I author a blog doesn’t mean that I take myself or Longhorn Football very seriously.
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My first thought on the BYU game is, why is almost everybody so surprised about the loss and the magnitude of the loss? The Longhorn performance we witnessed Saturday night was nothing we haven’t seen before from these same players and coaches in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  As I wrote before the New Mexico St. game, never, in my memory, has so much praise been heaped on so many that have so far accomplished so little.  The most important thought I have about this game is how could Mack Brown be so wrong about how good his team was?   In case you missed it Mack spent most of the late spring and early summer telling anyone who was listening, and I’m paraphrasing, we’re ready to be back in the BCS and national championship conversation.  Heck, before the 2012 season he said we’re good enough to win all our games.

So now, two games in, the 2013 season reclamation project (fixing) is officially under way. I want to know how many more coordinators and coaches will need to be fired as the season goes on?  In case you didn’t notice it Major called an absolutely terrible game against BYU.  If the offense only scores 21 points in a loss to Ole Miss or Kansas St. will Major Applewhite be fired? 

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As of today it is the policy of Willie Earl’s Longhorn Blog to direct all criticism regarding all aspects of coaching at Mack Brown. There will be no calling out of coordinators, line coaches, strength coaches, trainers or anyone else. Readers feel free to continue to criticize any or all of the above but Willie Earl will direct all non-player criticism at Mack Brown and Mack Brown only. To quote Mack Brown directly, “…and that’s fair.”

I think Texas fans are facing an existential question. I never anticipated typing existential in a Willie Earl column. Anyway here’s the question. Are you rooting for Texas to lose enough games this year to assure that it will be Mack Brown’s last as the head coach?  Let’s face it; if Texas wins a minimum of eight regular season games Mack Brown will be back in 2014 unless he resigns voluntarily. In my opinion Texas will not win more than nine regular season games again with Mack Brown as the head coach.  If you like Mack Brown and are satisfied with nine wins as the ceiling then the answer to the question is easy.

See you again Friday near the end of what should be a very interesting week.

HooK eM,

W.E.

Over/Under Results

Brothers Smith and Scott tied for first place this week with eight correct answers. And I don’t say brothers colloquially. Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe that is John Scott’s best showing all time. Congratulations to John. He has been steadfast and relentless in the Willie Earl arena. Jerry Smith wins this week on the tiebreaker. Jerry has the hot hand so far this season as he tied for first last week before losing out in the tiebreaker.  Frances Steffensen, brother David Frink and son Robert Frink tied for third with seven correct.