Those of you with full and busy lives might have missed Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark shedding all pretense of neutrality in the Texas – Texas Tech game. Speaking at the Red Raider Club kickoff luncheon in August he said, “I’m not going to put any pressure on you, but I’m going to be in Austin on Thanksgiving, and you better take care of business like you did right here in Lubbock last year.” I don’t suppose there’s any way for Texas officials to lock him out of the stadium is there?
Yormark has generally received praise for his stewardship of the Big 12 since he took over in 2022. You could laugh off his remarks as innocent playing to your audience, but I subscribe to, “Many a truth is said in jest.” It’s understandable if Yormark is rooting for Texas Tech but it was a really stupid thing for a league commissioner to say in a public forum. That he did is just a sign of the times we live in that are marked by the unseriousness of so many of the leaders of our public and private institutions. It doesn’t take a conspiracy buff to draw a line from Yormark’s comment to the officiating on the field. A couple of weeks ago Steve Sarkisian noted the disparity of holding calls between Texas and their opponents. If you’ve been watching the games closely you know Sarkisian has a point.
10 Wins
When Texas won 10 games in 2018 I didn’t think it was a meaningful 10-win season. They won their tenth game on their fourteenth try. Texas’ and Sarkisian’s 10 wins this season are a big deal as long as they add at least two more wins before they’re done and I’m pretty sure they will.
Harbaugh and Sarkisian
Michigan is 2-0 with Jim Harbaugh banned from the sideline. Now they face Ohio State without Harbaugh. On Colin Cowherd’s radio show this week he and Joel Klatt discussed how badly not having Harbaugh during the games hurts Michigan. They talked about Harbaugh not being the play caller on either side of the ball during games which mitigates the damage. But more importantly what Michigan will miss is Harbaugh’s composure and overall management of the team and game situations. His mere presence on the sideline gives his team confidence because he’s been there so many times before. He’s coached in the Super Bowl, and the college football playoffs, and he’s beaten Ohio State handily the last two years in a row.
The discussion made me think about how badly Texas would be hurt if Sarkisian for some reason or other couldn’t be on the sideline. The obvious difference from Harbaugh is that Sarkisian calls the offensive plays. Some of you probably think Sark not calling plays would be an advantage. Hard to know. What I can’t see on television is how much Sarkisian’s presence and game management helps Texas because every time you see him he’s staring at his laminated card. I don’t know what he’s doing when his defense is on the field. I think I prefer a head coach that has enough confidence in himself and his coaches to delegate play calling so he can manage the entire team. A National championship for Texas could change my mind.
Texas Tech
Cheered on by Brett Yormark, Texas Tech (6-5) arrives in Austin riding a 3-game winning streak. Running back Tahj Brooks had a career-high 182 yards rushing last week versus Central Florida. Quarterback Behren Morton started the season as a backup before an injury to starter Tyler Shough. Morton has 12 touchdown passes against 4 interceptions for the season. Tech’s defense is giving up 24.3 points per game.
The night Texas beat Alabama, Texas Tech at home was driving for the winning score against Oregon before a pick six in the closing moments sealed their fate losing 38-30.
This is a classic Texas versus Texas Tech matchup. Texas, shooting for the stars and Texas Tech looking to make their season successful by merely winning this game. A win away from a spot in the Big 12 Championship game, Texas could wish for an easier opponent in the regular season finale. This could get interesting.
Hook ‘Em,
W.E.
The Best and the Worst?
MacArthur Park is included in lists for the best and worst songs of all time. Which way do you lean?
“Honey”
She wrecked the car and she was sad and so afraid that I’d be mad but what the heck
That’s gold Jerry, gold!
MacArthur Park isn’t just a song; it’s a work of art, written by one of greatest writer of popular songs — ever — Jimmy Webb. This song, about unrequited love for Susie, is just one of three song Webb wrote about the woman. The others, Didn’t We, and Where’s the Playground Susie, are classics. Didn’t We has been covered by a multitude of popular singers, most notably Frank Sinatra, whose version is as wistful ballad about love lost as has ever been recorded. I believe MacArthur Park is among the greatest songs. Thanks for listening. Oh, if you don’t already know, Webb also wrote the immortal Wichita Lineman, Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, and Adios. Webb, by the way, is the only artist in history to win a Grammy for best song, lyrics, and orchestration. He is an often-overlooked American treasure. Check out his discography, and the artists who have sung his songs.