Prediction #1
Tom Herman will be asked by a reporter this week, “Due to the season-opening losses the last two years to Maryland, is the Louisiana Tech game a must win?”
Herman will answer, “No . . . “

Lyric #1
Is there gas in the car
Yes, there’s gas in the car
                                   – – “Kid Charlemagne”

Observation and Prediction #2
Louisiana Tech was a much better football team than Maryland in 2018. They went 8-5, including a victory over Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl. I’ll make a lightly-informed prediction that Louisiana Tech will be better than Maryland in 2019. In fact, I don’t think I’d draw much criticism if I said that, historically, Louisiana Tech has a better football program than Maryland. 

Texas will lead Louisiana Tech by seven points or less at halftime, play better in the second half than the first, and win 31-19.

Lyric #2
I crawl like a viper
Through these suburban streets
Make love to these women
Languid and bittersweet
I rise when the sun goes down
Cover every game in town
A world of my own
I’ll make it my home sweet home
                                             – – “Deacon Blues”

Observation #3

Granted, I only know what I’ve read in the newspaper and in the news online about Joshua Moore’s arrest.  But with that information, I don’t understand why at the very least he hasn’t been suspended from school and the team. 

If the school’s and Herman’s position on this is defensible, they owe the public more information than Herman’s statement, “We have talked with him and his family and are handling this internally at this time, but will continue to monitor the legal process. We will determine any further action upon the completion of that process.”

Moore’s arrest reminded me of Longhorn sophomore tight end Reese Leitao.  You may recall that Leitao — shortly after signing with Texas – was arrested and charged with a felony for allegedly selling Xanax on his high school campus. His lawyer got the charge reduced to a misdemeanor, and Leitao was allowed to enroll at Texas. He was suspended for the first three games in his freshman year, games that he was unlikely to have played in anyway.

Most young people make at least a few stupid mistakes and errors in judgment, and I’m not suggesting that Moore and Leitao should have their character and life forever tainted by their youthful mistakes.  Still, UT and Herman claim to have high standards for moral conduct.  In fact, Herman, like Charlie Strong, has core principles that include no guns and no drugs.  When and how do those principles apply?

It’s still relatively early in Herman’s tenure at Texas, but perhaps he should consider whether he wants to run his program more like his former boss Urban Meyer or more like Mack Brown.  It’s also an interesting question for Longhorn fans.

Lyric #3
Who is the gaucho, amigo?
Why is he standing in your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes?
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome
                                                 – -“Gaucho”

Observation and Prediction #4

Collin Johnson is the second best player on Texas. He’s a close second.  He’s a beast, a third-down conversion machine as well as a deep threat.  Last season, he had 68 receptions for 985 yards.  This year, he’ll be unstoppable, becoming Texas’ tenth receiver all-time to have more than 1,000 yards receiving in a season.  During the 2019 12-game regular season he will amass 80 receptions for 1243 yards.

Lyric #4
You’d never believe it
But once there was a time
When love was in my life
I sometimes wonder
What happened to that flame
The answer’s still the same
It was you it was you
Tonight you’re still on my mind
                                                   – -“The Nightfly”

Observation and Prediction #5

Eleven years ago (goodness gracious, 11 years?) this week on this here blog, I predicted to a highly skeptical readership that Texas would go 11-1 in the regular season because of Colt McCoy.  The consensus of writers, fans, and pundits was 8-4. Believe it or not, before the 2008 season I would estimate that at least half of the Longhorn fan base did not believe in McCoy. I did, because of a combination of his performance over the 2006 and 2007 seasons and the way he handled himself in interviews. I believed his wholesome, humble image was real, not an act. He seemed like a cream-of-the-crop human being to me. Also, I walked by him in the concourse of the Erwin Center during a UT basketball game in the winter of 2008, and I was surprised at what a big man (physically) he was. I’m guessing he grew at least two inches and gained 25 pounds between his freshman and junior year.  It reminded me of Johnny Moore’s growth spurt that took him from a skinny, six-foot freshman to a physical ,six-foot-three junior who became the foundation of two of Texas’ best basketball teams ever.

Sam Ehlinger had imposing size for a quarterback when he arrived as a freshman in 2017. Other than that, his growth as a player and a person after two seasons reminds me of Colt McCoy.   I’m still a little worried about how frequently he exposes himself to big hits, and like everybody else I’m concerned about him staying healthy for 13, 14, or 15 games.  If he stays relatively healthy, he’ll have as big an impact on the 2019 Texas season as McCoy had on the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Sam Ehlinger leads Texas to an 11-1 record in the 2019 regular season.

Lyric #5

Love your mama, love your brother 
Love ’em till they run for cover 
                                          – – “Turn That Heart Heartbeat Over Again”

Observation #6
You may think 11-1 is too optimistic because of the wave of new starters Texas will have. Well, no roster on any team in any sport at any level is perfect.  Texas will have eight new starters on defense, if you include the nickel-back as a starter.  There will be three new offensive line starters.  Ten of the eleven new starters are experienced backups. Nine of the eleven were four-star recruits. One was a five-star. Let me repeat that. Nine of the eleven were four-star recruits and one was a five-star. The other new starter is three-star offensive guard Derek Kerstetter, who has started 15 games over the past two seasons.  That’s an impressive list of new starters.  I submit to you that nine of the new starters are an upgrade over the starters they’re replacing.  Two of them – cornerbacks Anthony Cook and Jalen Green – should end up being better than the players they’re replacing, Kris Boyd and Davante Davis.
Texas will field the most impressive position-by-position starting lineup that they have had since 2008.  Not only will they post an 11-1 regular season record, they should post an 11-1 season record.

Lyric #6
Drive west on Sunset
To the sea
Turn that jungle music down
Just until we’re out of town
                                            – – “Babylon Sisters”

Closing Observation
If Nick Saban or Dabo Swinney were coaching the 2019 Texas team, what record do you think they would have?
The future is now, Tom Herman.

Closing Lyric
I never seen you looking so bad my funky one
You tell me that your superfine mind has come undone
Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you my friend 
Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again 
When the demon is at your door 
In the morning it won’t be there no more 
Any major dude will tell you
                                             – – “Any Major Dude”        

HooK ‘Em,
W.E.