Unexpected Turns
There have been some unexpected turns to the Longhorns 2013 season so far. The Horns trailed New Mexico State briefly late in the first half before turning things around and winning 56-7. Then the team took a wrong turn down a narrow, unlit road and drove off a bridge in Provo, leaving David Ash concussed, defensive coordinator Manny Diaz’ career faltering in the murky waters, and Mack Brown’s tenure at Texas on life support. The Horns fared no better on the brightly lit thoroughfares of Austin and Royal-Memorial, as Ole Miss left them choking in the dust and the sports writers, bloggers and commentators polishing Mack Brown’s coaching obituary.
After a marginal win over a poor Kansas State team, a controversial win over lowly Iowa State, and with David Ash’s future uncertain because of lingering concussion symptoms, no one but Mack Brown believed Texas was on the right road heading into the Oklahoma game in Dallas. Bright yellow warning signs appeared as Belmont hawked unsold student tickets for the Oklahoma game to disinterested, disheartened and disgusted Longhorn season ticket holders. Regular tickets were selling for face value and below. Woe was us.
Then, as suddenly as the road had turned dark and narrow, the running lanes widened in Dallas and Jonathan Gray and Malcolm Brown ran through them to daylight, giving Texas their biggest win in three-and-a-half seasons. It looks like Mack, Major, and Greg Robinson may have turned down the road that might take them to a championship.
Phrasing a question the way my father might have, “Do we now believe Texas has become the team we hoped they would be before the season started?”
“I don’t know, Dad. I think there are probably a few unexpected turns left this season, starting with the TCU game.”
What if the running road turns a little bumpy in Fort Worth? Will Mack and company stay patient, or will they lose their way again by chucking the running game and instead chuck the ball all over the lot? What if Case McCoy turns careless versus TCU or some other opponent? What if he gets injured and the Horns have to turn to Tyrone Swoopes, who has never taken a snap in a game above the high school 2A level of competition?
With all these sudden turns, the season already seems like it’s been a long one, but we’re only half way through it. Caution! Sudden and unexpected turns ahead.
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It’s been 19 years since the Longhorns have played TCU in Ft. Worth, and I’ll be there Saturday night. I have fond memories of the last and only time that I’ve been to a game at TCU’s Amon Carter stadium. It was in 1982, one of my favorite Texas football seasons. The Longhorns featured quarterback Robert Brewer, Herky Walls (the 1982 version of Daje Johnson), defensive lineman Tony Degrate, and Kiki DeAyla, and linebacker Jeff Leiding. Texas finished 1982, 9-2 for the regular season. I promise you it was the best 9-2 Texas team ever. The Horns lost a close non-conference game to Oklahoma 28-22. In their next outing they lost to #4 SMU in a game that turned on SMU’s fourth quarter 79-yard touchdown pass from Lance McIlhenny to Bobby Leach. On the play, Texas’ Jitter Fields was in perfect position for an interception, but he let the ball bounce of his chest and right into the hands of Leach, who was behind him. It was one of those darned unexpected turns.
Texas won their next two games, 27-0 over Texas Tech and 50-0 over Houston. The TCU game was on November 13, and it was the eighth game of the season and the fifth Southwest Conference game. Texas was 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, one game behind conference leader SMU. Heavily favored Texas trailed 21-17 at halftime but rallied with 21 unanswered points in the second half for the win. After the game, it was reported that Texas quarterback Robert Brewer, who hadn’t played well, was suffering from the flu and hadn’t been expected to play. I had a date to the game, and we were with David Bergstrom and his girlfriend Kim, who went to SMU. Walking to our car after the game, we passed some people who were listening to the end of the SMU-Texas Tech game in Lubbock on their car radio. Tech had just tied SMU with less than 30 seconds left in the game. I started celebrating because a tie for SMU put the Horns in a position to possibly win the conference despite their loss to SMU. My celebration was short-lived. On the ensuing kick-off, SMU’s Bobby Leach took a lateral pass from far across the field and ran 93 yards for the winning touchdown. Kim cheered and I stood there dumbfounded by yet another unexpected turn. Good times and good memories nonetheless.
Love Ya Blue
The recent passing of Bum Phillips and Bud Adams reminded me of the years when we were all Houston Oiler fans. It might be more accurate to say we were all Houston “Earler” fans, for it seemed to me that in 1978 and ’79 the Oilers with Earl Campbell were a natural extension of the 1977 Longhorns. I dare say that even for Dallas Cowboy fans there was something more exciting and loveable about the Oilers at that time. That Oiler fight song was so bad it was great. We’re in the air and on the ground, always in control, and when you say the Oilers, you’re talking Super Bowl. ‘Cause we’re the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers…..
And of course Earl’s 81-yard touchdown run in “The Dome” against Miami on Monday Night Football was one of the greatest moments in Texas sports history.
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Conversations
An old friend texted me late Saturday afternoon with a question, Are A&M and Missouri showing the SEC that the Big 12 can play with them? I answered, no. Missouri and A&M are a year-and-a-half out from Big 12 play. That’s an eternity in college football. To sharpen that point, what does a Johnny Manziel A&M have to do with the A&M that last competed in the Big 12? Absolutely nothing. Here’s a prediction. Both Missouri and A&M will lose at least two regular season games from here on out. If Missouri makes the SEC Championship game they’ll lose. I agree that the SEC is not as strong across the board as they have been recently, but I still think Alabama, LSU, Auburn, and probably South Carolina would win the Big 12 this year.
Had an actual face to face conversation with a friend Sunday afternoon. He was wishing that the four team college football playoff would start this year because surely, there would be more than two undefeated teams left before the final BCS rankings. Au contraire mon frère. I predict that there will only be one undefeated team left at the end and that team will be Baylor. Baylor in the National Championship Game—pretty freaky eh? If I’m wrong and there are two undefeated team, Baylor being one of them, there will be much consternation in Waco when the Bears lose out on a BCS berth to a one loss Oregon, Alabama, or Florida State.
HooK eM,
W.E.
Over/Under Contest
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