Get ready for ignorant articles like this one from CBS writer Dennis Dodd, which ridiculously states that Texas in the BCS title game "doesn't feel right."
I would ask Dodd if Alabama belongs after needing two blocked field goals against Tennessee, a blown replay review against LSU and a last minute drive against Auburn, but whatever, I can look at the big picture and see that yes, Alabama did what they needed to do to be in Pasadena....just like Texas did.
Dodd also uses the ignorant argument that Texas's best win is against an Oklahoma State team that lost to Houston, while using TCU's two wins over Clemson and Virginia to pump them up, completely ignoring his own argument that Clemson has five losses, one of those to 2-10 Maryland. And Virginia, well, they're 3-9 this year, but in Dodd's completely clueless head, that is an impressive victory.
Also Dennis, if you didn't notice, Cincinnati passed TCU in the final BCS standings.
So get used to it, Texas fans. For the next 31 days, you'll hear how you don't belong here, why are we even playing this game, somebody else should be here, Mack Brown's "whining" in 2004 got Texas this game, blah blah blah blah BLAH.
Sounds just like 2005.
Of course writers like Dodd can only remember one week back.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Texas 13 Nebraska 12 Texas is the Big 12 Champion
Wow. In an unbelievable (in many ways) ending to a grueling game, Hunter Lawrence kicked a field goal as time expired and the Longhorns are the 2009 Big 12 Champions and are all but assured a trip to Pasadena to play Alabama for the national championship.
First of all, I have to give it up to the defense for an outstanding performance. They held the Cornhuskers to a dollar menu-like McDonald's order in total offense last night, and they needed every bit of that to win the ballgame. The defense faced a lot of criticism after last week's Texas A&M game, and they rebounded quite nice.
As for the offense, I'm not sure who I was most upset with:
A.) James Kirkendoll for an absolutely horrid game, dropping at least two passes, a false start and a missed hot route where McCoy threw a shorter slant and Kirk ran a deeper slant.
B.) The offensive line. They were horrible. No way to spin it or sugarcoat it, they were awful. Ulatoski and Hall should be running steps at DKR this morning because they didn't do any work last night.
C.) Colt McCoy made some awful plays that a Heisman Trophy caliber player does not make. The penultimate play was baffling, but so was the decision not to throw it away on first down when he spun out of trouble. The second interception was a turnover that a freshman quarterback makes. They blitzed several times last night and I don't remember many hot route plays where we took advantage of it.
D.) Greg Davis had easily the worst game in several years last night. Suh and their DL was dominating our OL all night, and not once did we make any adjustments for it, such as getting McCoy out of the pocket, or a screen pass, or a draw, nothing. I'm a Davis defender, but that was an embarrassment of a performance last night, and as the offensive coordinator he needs to take the blame for it.
There is a lot more to talk about. I think I'm going to have to do an Army/Navy TWTWB just to let it all out.
But what's done is done, and what is done is that the Longhorns are going to Pasadena, and there is nothing that anyone can do about it.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Week That Will Be (12.05.09)
Last Week: 2-4 ATS 5-1 SU
For the Year: 37-40-1 (.481) ($700) ATS 56-22 (.718) SU
What we learned last week:
We learned that I’m very lucky that the Notre Dame athletic department isn’t judging whether or not I get to write this column every week after looking at my ATS record…
We learned that Bobby Bowden should have retired years ago, but he’s still one of the all-time greats, and after a couple of years, maybe we’ll remember his greatness again…
We learned that Alabama won’t have a Heisman Trophy winner this year, either, unless Gene Chizik’s clock management abilities are somehow recognized…
We learned that Nebraska can give up 400 yards on defense and gain 210 yards on offense, all the while beating a 3-9 Colorado team by one possession and everyone in the country thinks they have a chance to beat Texas the following week…
We learned that Oklahoma State shall never be taken seriously as a contender for as little as a division champion ever, ever again. Have fun winning nine games at the most and considering a trip to the Cotton Bowl a successful season, because you’re never getting any closer than that…
And finally we learned that if the Aggies could play every opponent like they do Texas, they might not be a football program that changes coaches every few years, have a bankrupt athletic program and could actually leave the state of Texas for a bowl game every now and then.
Anyhow…
Anything that doesn't take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing. – Cormac McCarthy
Sixty minutes.
Although it has been a season with little suspense, it has been full of trepidation, from a tie ballgame late in the second quarter in Laramie to walking out of the Cotton Bowl happy but nervous to being down to Central Florida in the second quarter, to wondering if Colt McCoy still had it or if a running back would ever step up and take a hold of the position to Texas A&M narrowing the game to a field goal in the 4th quarter in a frenzied stadium, this season has had many, many ups, but a few heart stopping points as well.
But here they are, sixty minutes away from accomplishing a major goal, from winning the third Big 12 conference championship in Texas history, from setting up a trip to one of college football’s hallowed grounds, the Rose Bowl, to attempt to win the fifth national championship in school history, from the senior class becoming the winningest class in school history…
And doing it without Vince Young.
One of the most annoying phrases that entered the Texas fans’ vernacular after setback seasons in 2006 and 2007 was, “yeah, but that was with Vince Young.” The thought among that segment of the fan base was that the offense couldn’t possibly be any good without Vince’s virtuoso moves, without Vince’s leadership in the locker room, without Vince Young taking the reins of a game and refusing to lose it.
Don’t get me wrong, to me Vince Young is football Jesus and deserves every bit of accolade that Texas fans heap upon him, but this program is bigger than one player, and if the Longhorns win the next two games, Colt McCoy will be the most successful quarterback in this school’s history.
But that isn’t to say that this national championship would be sweeter than that one, or compared to the 1969 one, or the 1963 championship. A national championship is a national championship and should never be taken for granted, nor should it be compared to others.
As proud as we are of this program, and we have every right to be very proud of it, we have one national championship in the last 39 years. This opportunity doesn’t come along very often, and as several proud programs have proved in the past few years, you never know when you’ll have a chance for one again.
So cherish it. Soak up every single moment of Saturday, realizing that we’re on the very cusp of greatness, sixty minutes away from Pasadena. If we’re good enough to win, watch the players celebrate, watch the team run around with roses in their mouth, watch Mack hoist the Big 12 championship trophy in the air. They’ve earned it, you’ve earned it.
If you’re reading this column, you’ve given your heart, your tears and your body for this team and this moment. You know exactly why I included that quote from the great Cormac McCarthy at the top of this column.
In the first edition of this column this year, I wrote this:
In 2005, the Longhorns were told by a certain actor alumnus to “Get your goal, go on to Pasadena and live the dream.” The Longhorns adopted “Live The Dream” as a late season motto.
This year, it isn’t a dream. It is an expectation.
And I want Florida. And Tebow. Hell give him the Heisman again.
The season of redemption starts on Saturday at 6:00 PM.
The last step of redemption starts on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
FACEBOOK NEWS FEED
Jevan Snead it might be in my best interest to stay another year.
Matt Leinart has joined the group I HATE VINCE YOUNG.
Tiger Woods I’m not sure Oprah can even save me from this.
Tracy Wolfson and Verne Lundquist have joined the group We Have No Journalistic Intergrity
The State of Texas is wondering how Jacquizz Rodgers and LaMichael James got all the way to Oregon.
Tim Tebow needs a box of Kleenex.
Rick Neusheisel just crossed Pete Carroll’s name off the Christmas card list.
On to the games...
Oregon State @ Oregon -9.5:
This one is for the Pac-10 championship and if it is half as exciting as last year’s 65-38 Oregon win, we’re in for a treat.
This series is dead even over the past ten match-ups, with the home team dominating the match-up, except for the past two years where the road team has won.
The defenses are going in opposite directions in this one, as Oregon gave up 51 to Stanford and 41 to Arizona, while Oregon State has held their last four opponents to 21 points or less.
I’ll give Oregon the edge here, but only because of the home-field. These two teams look to be pretty even on the field.
Oregon 38 Oregon State 35
ATS – Oregon State
SU – Oregon
Houston -2.5 @ East Carolina:
Ladies and Gentlemen, this one is for the Liberty Bowl. That’s right, the Liberty Bowl in…….in Memphis, Tennessee, the home of bad basketball and the blues.
Anyhow, Houston is always likely to pull a stinker on you where they lose to a team that has no business being in the stadium with them, but they are also likely to score 100 points on you.
Houston wins big.
Houston 45 East Carolina 24
ATS – Houston
SU – Houston
Cincinnati -1 @ Pittsburgh:
The Big East championship and a BCS bowl berth are on the line here, as Cincinnati takes their undefeated record into Pittsburgh, where they were upset two years ago by the score of 24-17.
You have to wonder how well Cincinnati will handle being on the road with a lot of pressure. They won at Oregon State already this year, but that was early in the year, before the pressure of an undefeated season and national championship implications entered the picture.
Add to that that the weather forecast calls for a high of 35 degrees on Saturday, Pittsburgh is undefeated at home and the fact that Pitt has a solid defense that gets after the quarterback, and the Bearcats are ripe for an upset.
Pittsburgh 24 Cincinnati 20
ATS – Pittsburgh
SU – Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech -1 v. Clemson:
Yawn. Yet another boring ACC title game match-up got even worse last week when Georgia Tech lost to Georgia and Clemson was throttled by South Carolina. These teams met earlier in the year at Clemson, where Georgia Tech ran for 300 yards, got out to a 21-0 lead and then ended up hanging on for a 30-27 win.
This one figures to be about the same. The Georgia Tech rushing attack is the more consistent threat, so we’ll go with that.
Georgia Tech 28 Clemson 24
ATS – Georgia Tech
SU – Georgia Tech
Florida -5.5 v. Alabama:
This one comes down to Florida’s offense for me. Florida has struggled against good defenses this year, scoring 23 on Tennessee, 13 on LSU and 24 against South Carolina, all ranked in the top 30 in the country in total defense. If Florida struggles on offense, it keeps Alabama in the game, and one play to Julio Jones changes the ballgame.
Get ready for all-Tebow, all the time.
Florida 20 Alabama 14
ATS – Florida
SU – Florida
Texas -14 v. Nebraska:
Okay, let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. Ndamukong Suh is the real deal, putting up nice stats even though he’s been double-teamed on every play since the Missouri game (don’t check the tapes on that, I have no idea).
And Nebraska’s defense is for real. The most points they gave up all year was the 31 points in the loss to Texas Tech, but Tech had a defensive touchdown in that game and only had 259 total yards. Other than that game, the high mark is the 20 points they gave up to Colorado last week.
They’ll pose a threat to the Texas duo of Chris Hall and Charlie Tanner, who have struggled mightily at times this year, but expect the Longhorns to get Colt McCoy out of the pocket much like they did against Kansas, where we all know how dangerous he is in that situation.
On offense, the Cornhuskers would be better off picking an All-Star team from the 18th and San Jacinto tailgating lot. Both quarterbacks get playing time, but you know the old adage that if you have two quarterbacks you have none. Zac Lee has thrown for roughly half the yards that Colt McCoy has and half the touchdowns as well. Cody Green is barely completing half of his passes and has as many interceptions as he does touchdown passes.
Nebraska has a tough running duo of Burkhead and Helu, but they’re only running for 147 yards as a team, which ranks behind the often criticized Texas running game.
So where are we? We know that the Longhorns have the work cut out for them on offense, but who do you trust more, an offense that has done it against all sorts of defenses the past two years, or a defense that has yet to play an offense like this all year?
And do you trust Zac Lee to play the best game of his life, which he’ll have to do in order to beat Texas? The Longhorns had their problems on defense against Texas A&M, but those were mostly scheme issues, and Nebraska has nowhere near the firepower on offense that A&M has.
The Horns might struggle for a half on offense, but this team is keyed in, and most importantly, McCoy is keyed in.
Pack your bags for California.
Texas 34 Nebraska 13
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas
Random Hot Dallas Chick
For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for national championship tickets.
For the Year: 37-40-1 (.481) ($700) ATS 56-22 (.718) SU
What we learned last week:
We learned that I’m very lucky that the Notre Dame athletic department isn’t judging whether or not I get to write this column every week after looking at my ATS record…
We learned that Bobby Bowden should have retired years ago, but he’s still one of the all-time greats, and after a couple of years, maybe we’ll remember his greatness again…
We learned that Alabama won’t have a Heisman Trophy winner this year, either, unless Gene Chizik’s clock management abilities are somehow recognized…
We learned that Nebraska can give up 400 yards on defense and gain 210 yards on offense, all the while beating a 3-9 Colorado team by one possession and everyone in the country thinks they have a chance to beat Texas the following week…
We learned that Oklahoma State shall never be taken seriously as a contender for as little as a division champion ever, ever again. Have fun winning nine games at the most and considering a trip to the Cotton Bowl a successful season, because you’re never getting any closer than that…
And finally we learned that if the Aggies could play every opponent like they do Texas, they might not be a football program that changes coaches every few years, have a bankrupt athletic program and could actually leave the state of Texas for a bowl game every now and then.
Anyhow…
Anything that doesn't take years of your life and drive you to suicide hardly seems worth doing. – Cormac McCarthy
Sixty minutes.
Although it has been a season with little suspense, it has been full of trepidation, from a tie ballgame late in the second quarter in Laramie to walking out of the Cotton Bowl happy but nervous to being down to Central Florida in the second quarter, to wondering if Colt McCoy still had it or if a running back would ever step up and take a hold of the position to Texas A&M narrowing the game to a field goal in the 4th quarter in a frenzied stadium, this season has had many, many ups, but a few heart stopping points as well.
But here they are, sixty minutes away from accomplishing a major goal, from winning the third Big 12 conference championship in Texas history, from setting up a trip to one of college football’s hallowed grounds, the Rose Bowl, to attempt to win the fifth national championship in school history, from the senior class becoming the winningest class in school history…
And doing it without Vince Young.
One of the most annoying phrases that entered the Texas fans’ vernacular after setback seasons in 2006 and 2007 was, “yeah, but that was with Vince Young.” The thought among that segment of the fan base was that the offense couldn’t possibly be any good without Vince’s virtuoso moves, without Vince’s leadership in the locker room, without Vince Young taking the reins of a game and refusing to lose it.
Don’t get me wrong, to me Vince Young is football Jesus and deserves every bit of accolade that Texas fans heap upon him, but this program is bigger than one player, and if the Longhorns win the next two games, Colt McCoy will be the most successful quarterback in this school’s history.
But that isn’t to say that this national championship would be sweeter than that one, or compared to the 1969 one, or the 1963 championship. A national championship is a national championship and should never be taken for granted, nor should it be compared to others.
As proud as we are of this program, and we have every right to be very proud of it, we have one national championship in the last 39 years. This opportunity doesn’t come along very often, and as several proud programs have proved in the past few years, you never know when you’ll have a chance for one again.
So cherish it. Soak up every single moment of Saturday, realizing that we’re on the very cusp of greatness, sixty minutes away from Pasadena. If we’re good enough to win, watch the players celebrate, watch the team run around with roses in their mouth, watch Mack hoist the Big 12 championship trophy in the air. They’ve earned it, you’ve earned it.
If you’re reading this column, you’ve given your heart, your tears and your body for this team and this moment. You know exactly why I included that quote from the great Cormac McCarthy at the top of this column.
In the first edition of this column this year, I wrote this:
In 2005, the Longhorns were told by a certain actor alumnus to “Get your goal, go on to Pasadena and live the dream.” The Longhorns adopted “Live The Dream” as a late season motto.
This year, it isn’t a dream. It is an expectation.
And I want Florida. And Tebow. Hell give him the Heisman again.
The season of redemption starts on Saturday at 6:00 PM.
The last step of redemption starts on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
FACEBOOK NEWS FEED
Jevan Snead it might be in my best interest to stay another year.
Matt Leinart has joined the group I HATE VINCE YOUNG.
Tiger Woods I’m not sure Oprah can even save me from this.
Tracy Wolfson and Verne Lundquist have joined the group We Have No Journalistic Intergrity
The State of Texas is wondering how Jacquizz Rodgers and LaMichael James got all the way to Oregon.
Tim Tebow needs a box of Kleenex.
Rick Neusheisel just crossed Pete Carroll’s name off the Christmas card list.
On to the games...
Oregon State @ Oregon -9.5:
This one is for the Pac-10 championship and if it is half as exciting as last year’s 65-38 Oregon win, we’re in for a treat.
This series is dead even over the past ten match-ups, with the home team dominating the match-up, except for the past two years where the road team has won.
The defenses are going in opposite directions in this one, as Oregon gave up 51 to Stanford and 41 to Arizona, while Oregon State has held their last four opponents to 21 points or less.
I’ll give Oregon the edge here, but only because of the home-field. These two teams look to be pretty even on the field.
Oregon 38 Oregon State 35
ATS – Oregon State
SU – Oregon
Houston -2.5 @ East Carolina:
Ladies and Gentlemen, this one is for the Liberty Bowl. That’s right, the Liberty Bowl in…
Anyhow, Houston is always likely to pull a stinker on you where they lose to a team that has no business being in the stadium with them, but they are also likely to score 100 points on you.
Houston wins big.
Houston 45 East Carolina 24
ATS – Houston
SU – Houston
Cincinnati -1 @ Pittsburgh:
The Big East championship and a BCS bowl berth are on the line here, as Cincinnati takes their undefeated record into Pittsburgh, where they were upset two years ago by the score of 24-17.
You have to wonder how well Cincinnati will handle being on the road with a lot of pressure. They won at Oregon State already this year, but that was early in the year, before the pressure of an undefeated season and national championship implications entered the picture.
Add to that that the weather forecast calls for a high of 35 degrees on Saturday, Pittsburgh is undefeated at home and the fact that Pitt has a solid defense that gets after the quarterback, and the Bearcats are ripe for an upset.
Pittsburgh 24 Cincinnati 20
ATS – Pittsburgh
SU – Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech -1 v. Clemson:
Yawn. Yet another boring ACC title game match-up got even worse last week when Georgia Tech lost to Georgia and Clemson was throttled by South Carolina. These teams met earlier in the year at Clemson, where Georgia Tech ran for 300 yards, got out to a 21-0 lead and then ended up hanging on for a 30-27 win.
This one figures to be about the same. The Georgia Tech rushing attack is the more consistent threat, so we’ll go with that.
Georgia Tech 28 Clemson 24
ATS – Georgia Tech
SU – Georgia Tech
Florida -5.5 v. Alabama:
This one comes down to Florida’s offense for me. Florida has struggled against good defenses this year, scoring 23 on Tennessee, 13 on LSU and 24 against South Carolina, all ranked in the top 30 in the country in total defense. If Florida struggles on offense, it keeps Alabama in the game, and one play to Julio Jones changes the ballgame.
Get ready for all-Tebow, all the time.
Florida 20 Alabama 14
ATS – Florida
SU – Florida
Texas -14 v. Nebraska:
Okay, let’s get the bad stuff out of the way. Ndamukong Suh is the real deal, putting up nice stats even though he’s been double-teamed on every play since the Missouri game (don’t check the tapes on that, I have no idea).
And Nebraska’s defense is for real. The most points they gave up all year was the 31 points in the loss to Texas Tech, but Tech had a defensive touchdown in that game and only had 259 total yards. Other than that game, the high mark is the 20 points they gave up to Colorado last week.
They’ll pose a threat to the Texas duo of Chris Hall and Charlie Tanner, who have struggled mightily at times this year, but expect the Longhorns to get Colt McCoy out of the pocket much like they did against Kansas, where we all know how dangerous he is in that situation.
On offense, the Cornhuskers would be better off picking an All-Star team from the 18th and San Jacinto tailgating lot. Both quarterbacks get playing time, but you know the old adage that if you have two quarterbacks you have none. Zac Lee has thrown for roughly half the yards that Colt McCoy has and half the touchdowns as well. Cody Green is barely completing half of his passes and has as many interceptions as he does touchdown passes.
Nebraska has a tough running duo of Burkhead and Helu, but they’re only running for 147 yards as a team, which ranks behind the often criticized Texas running game.
So where are we? We know that the Longhorns have the work cut out for them on offense, but who do you trust more, an offense that has done it against all sorts of defenses the past two years, or a defense that has yet to play an offense like this all year?
And do you trust Zac Lee to play the best game of his life, which he’ll have to do in order to beat Texas? The Longhorns had their problems on defense against Texas A&M, but those were mostly scheme issues, and Nebraska has nowhere near the firepower on offense that A&M has.
The Horns might struggle for a half on offense, but this team is keyed in, and most importantly, McCoy is keyed in.
Pack your bags for California.
Texas 34 Nebraska 13
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas
Random Hot Dallas Chick
For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for national championship tickets.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Texas 49 Texas A&M 39
Exhale.
What was not surprising on Thursday night: Colt McCoy cementing his Heisman candidacy, accounting for 479 total yards, including a 65 yard TD run that will be shown about 100 times during Heisman discussions in the next week.
What was surprising on Thursday night: The defense. What the *$#@ was that?
It appears as though the Longhorns were content with sitting back in zone and letting Jerrod Johnson beat them, and he almost did. I don't know the exact numbers, but the Longhorns did little blitzing, sending four rushers for the majority of the game, and three a lot of times.
I guess I would be more discouraged if I thought the players played poorly on Thursday night, but with the exception of the first touchdown, I thought that the defense did what they were asked to do by the coaches and did it about as well as they could. Tackling wasn't always great, and of course there were some blown coverages, but I don't think as a whole our defense was "exposed" as a fraud...the coaches just tried a gameplan that failed miserably and didn't feel the need to change it up at any time during the game.
The offense was outstanding, as lost in the hubbub of McCoy's night and the defense falling apart was the rushing effort of Tre Newton, who ran for 109 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Hopefully he has locked down what has been a tumultuous position for the Horns this year.
You never know, the game might have been good for the Horns, as they were hit in the mouth and fought back with all they could, and Coach Muschamp now has a reason to get mad at his defense and make them work. Don't let the national media fool you with the talk of a team that gives up 39 doesn't belong in the national title game, Oklahoma gave up 41 to Oklahoma State on this weekend last year and USC gave up 42 to Fresno State late in the year in 2005, and the media still loved those teams.
They just hate Texas, and well, that's their problem.
We'll be back on Wednesday with a look at the Texas/Nebraska match-up in Arlington, Florida/Alabama in Atlanta and much, much more.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Week That Will Be (Thanksgiving 2009 Edition)
Last Week: 4-2 ATS 4-2 SU
For the Year: 35-36-1 (.493) ($460) ATS 51-21 (.708) SU
What we learned last week:
We learned that Tate Forcier can be a good baseball player. He threw three interceptions in six attempts in one stretch in the fourth quarter on Saturday, a batting average of .500…
We learned that Les Miles is a good liar, but the camera never lies. Lester insisted that he didn’t call a spike play with one second left on the clock on Saturday, but the camera caught him making a spike motion on the sideline, unless he was trying to fix his watch…
We learned that Jeremiah Masoli is a hell of a quarterback and should be a frontrunner for the Heisman next year along with Tim Tebow, who will still get mentioned even though he will be a fullback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers….
We learned that Oklahoma has quite a reclamation project on their hands if they want to get back to losing BCS bowl games. The Sooners are now 1-5 on the road this year, and have ONE win against teams with a winning record…
We learned that Texas will be facing Nebraska at The Death Star for the Big 12 Championship, and the way national commentators talk, the Longhorns shouldn’t even bother to show up, because the Blackshirts defense is every bit as good as it was in 1996…when a Longhorn team nowhere near as good as this one ran all over it. Hmm….
And finally, we learned that Colt McCoy and the rest of the senior Longhorns know how to go out in style. That was quite a show to watch on Saturday, but hopefully it won’t be the highlight of the season.
Anyhow…
It is that time of year again, the time where you stuff yourself with turkey and dressing while listening to your Uncle Ned tell you stories of Aunt Francine’s bad back and how he has to dress her every morning until you lose your appetite for pumpkin pie. So before we lose the will to live, let’s remember what we are thankful for this year:
To Ben Alexander, thanks for stepping up BIG TIME this year. A lot of people, myself included, was worried about the defensive line coming into the year, but the line stepped up and you were a big part of that.
To Ryan Bailey, thanks for this on an awesome day:
To Deon Beasley, thanks for your persistence. This could have been a lost year for you, but you dug yourself out of hole and have contributed big-time since you have come back.
To Clark Ford, William Harvey & Mac McWhorter, thanks for going from a walk-on to scholarship player, earning it on the field and off the field.
To Chris Hall, thanks for your work on the offensive line, and the humor in the locker room.
To Lamarr Houston, thanks for stepping it up to become a big-time player this year. You’ve had some personal hardships, but you used them as fuel to get better, and the NFL will jump all over themselves to get you on their teams.
To Sergio Kindle, thanks for your production on the field and your leadership abilities. We’ll all enjoy watching you on Sundays next year.
To Hunter Lawrence, thanks for stepping up this year and locking down the kicking game. There was a lot of shuffling at that position in the last few years, but you took the job this year and never looked back, and I have never felt uneasy when you’ve come out to kick a field goal. Here’s hoping that that translates to the NFL.
To Charlie Tanner and Adam Ulatoski, thanks for your continued leadership on the field and your work on the offensive line. We couldn’t have accomplished what we’ve done on offense the past two years without the work being done up front.
To C.A. Vergari, thanks for your work on the scout team. It isn’t a glamorous duty, but it is a necessary duty, and thanks for doing so much for so little in return.
To Roddrick Muckelroy, thanks for wrecking shop on defense. You’ve been one of my favorite linebackers ever on the 40 acres, and wish you all the luck in the world at the next level.
To Jordan Shipley, thanks for giving up your body for this program. Many made jokes at your expense (I raise my hand, too) after your first two years were wiped out by injury, but you’ve gone from high school legend to forgotten man to UT legend because of your determination to make it work. I really don’t remember you dropping a pass this year. From orangebloods everywhere, thank you for that, and we’re rooting like hell for you to make it at the next level. And we know you will.
To Colt McCoy, thanks for sticking with us until we recognized your greatness. Even after your fantastic freshman year, some were wanting the other guy, and you kept producing until we finally realized you were the guy. You came in as a three star recruit from a 2A high school, and you leave as college football’s all-time winningest quarterback, a legend in your own right at this school and most importantly, a good man who doesn’t let all of that go to his head. We’ll be watching you on Sundays next fall as well.
To Kansas University, thanks for not firing Mark Mangino last week. Firings are depressing, and we’re glad that he didn’t eat all the turkeys.
To the Tailgate Tents, thanks for lasting us all of these years. We’re uncertain of your future, but a lot of great times went on under those tents, and we’re glad that they can’t talk. Godspeed on your journey to tent heaven.
To the Excellence Playa Mujeres, thanks for getting mine and Robbi’s mind right for football season. We had a great honeymoon at this fantastic resort, and we can’t wait to go again in 2010…and take some friends with us this time.
To T-Pain, thanks for the great iPhone app.
To Pedialyte, thanks for your part in helping sick children across the country, and thanks for getting our quarterback healthy.
To Lala’s, thanks for providing the venue for the greatest airband performance of all-time, according to Kanye West.
To the Hilton Anatole, thanks for the Bloody Mary bar. If ABC and the universities are going to keep on insisting scheduling our game at 11:00 AM, it is good to know we have a friend at 7:00 AM to help us recover from the night before.
To Reggie the Scalper, thanks for the great tickets to the Kansas game. Of course they were counterfeit and we almost got kicked out of the stadium, but those were the best seats I’ve had for a Texas game in a long time and I appreciate it. Hopefully you use that money you earned for good.
To the readers on Burnt Orange Fan Zone, thanks for taking the time each week to read the column and provide your kind thoughts. There have been some great discussions over there this year, and who can ask for more than that. You’ve got a great community over there.
To the other posters on LMFZ, thanks for sticking around. The board doesn’t seem to get much traffic these days, but I’d like to turn that around, and hope you stick around.
To the Anonymous Readers of The Week That Will Be, thanks for your time and energy every week. I know this column gets forwarded every which way, and I’m glad that everyone seems to enjoy it so much. This year has been by far the easiest year to write the column, and it is because I know how much everyone appreciates it.
To Michael Drakes, thanks for the duty and service to this country that you have chosen to give to all of us. We had a great time this year getting to know you, and look forward to seeing you at tailgates and boat parties in the future. You are one of us now, and we won’t let you forget it. Semper Fi.
To Chris and Stephanie, thanks for making it to several tailgates and for having us at your house several times as well. It is always a good time with Chris and Steph, and we can’t tell you how glad we are that you guys are in our lives.
To Gould, thanks for the easiest $50 of my life! But also, thanks for your humor and goodwill. We love you and Nathalie and wish you luck on your other bet this year.
To Marlon, thanks for being a good friend to all of us. We’ve missed you these past few tailgates, and hope that everything is well and that we’ll see you around more.
To Timms and Jordan, thanks for giving Chay shit, and thanks for helping out at tailgate set-up a few times this year. We were never shorthanded this year, and you guys were always eager to help, and we appreciate it.
To Schmoopy Becky, thanks for showing us a good time in Stillwater. We hope we reciprocated the move when you came down to Austin, and we look forward to seeing you at Chay’s Christmas party.
To hornsfan44, thanks for your continued service to this country and for sticking with us on the board, as well.
To Collin, thanks for all your help with the tailgate and for introducing us to the greatness that is Plucker’s Trivia Night. And thanks for giving me a good laugh every time I see you.
To Jerry, thanks for all your help with the tailgate and for welcoming us to the Plucker’s Trivia Night crew. We like to give you shit about the Redskins, but you’re a good dude who is always concerned about our well-being, and we appreciate it.
To Pickle and Mark, thanks for being you. We love you guys, and we know it is going to be a good time if Mark and Pickle are there. We hope to see you in Arlington and LA.
To RC Horn, thanks for all your help at the tailgates.
To Blondie, thanks for the continued love for the blog!
To dahorns, thanks for your continued love for the UT tailgating scene. We like like-minded individuals, and you are certainly one of those. You’re also a good man, and we wish you and the family all the best.
To Reinheitsgebot, thanks for always giving me a laugh at the tailgates. I always enjoy talking football with you, and wish you all the best.
To TheDean176, thanks for bringing Chandler to a game and introducing another one to a great tradition. We offer congratulations to you and Krista and wish you the best of luck in the years ahead.
To Bevo71, thanks for sticking it out with us. I know you’ve had some hard times the past couple of years, but we appreciate the love that you have for this great university and are always glad to see you around.
To AtlLonghorn, thanks for your contributions to the board and for keeping me entertained with your sports updates on Twitter. I’m not sure what happened to your weekly column, but I always enjoyed it and hope it is back next year.
To eochs, thanks for continuing to keep this board up and running. Congratulations to you and Jessica, and we wish you guys all the best. Hopefully your future includes a trip to Austin.
To Makaveli, thanks for having us over to a game watching party this year and inviting us to another one. We always have a good time with you guys and hope to see you more in the coming year.
To U2-Horn, thanks for your contributions to this board and Shaggy as well. I always enjoy reading a good U2-Horn post.
To all of those that contributed to Michael’s TX/OU Fund, thanks for your generous contributions. I know this is a tough year for everyone financially, but sending a new Marine to his first TX/OU game was a very rewarding experience. I wish everyone could have seen his face all day, he had a great time.
To Music City Mafia, thanks for your contributions to the board. I hope all is well with you and your girls.
To Janet (Pickle’s Mom), thanks for sticking with this motley crew. We always enjoy seeing you around, even if we might be acting like idiots at the time. But at least we made it a year without Drew throwing your chair in the creek.
To Pope, thanks for coming to the tailgate. This year seemed like a quiet year for Pope, but I guess we still have a few more games left to leave a lasting impression.
To rtapia, thanks for being a good tailgate neighbor, which we all know is more important than being an actual neighbor. We hope to tailgate next to you guys for years to come.
To my future employer, thanks for the job!
To BarryBnds, thanks for adding some spice to the board. Sometimes we like to sit around and tell each other how pretty they are, but you like to tell us differently and sometimes we need it. I’m disappointed that you guys didn’t make it to a game this year, but there is always Arlington…
To Markaholic, thanks for the Tito’s and for sticking around the board. We know you have your hands full but we’re going to have to ask that you make a couple more games next year!
To Mr. Peabody, thanks for the fun stories on the board. You almost turned into a stranger this year, don’t let that happen. We didn’t see you in Austin, but hopefully we’ll see you guys again soon.
To OKC Longhorn, thanks for giving me an outlet to vent during Longhorns/Cowboys games via text message. And most of all, thanks for giving us shelter when we decided in the middle of the night to drive up to Stillwater and didn’t arrive in OKC until 4:45 in the morning. You’re a good man, Todd, and I wish you all the best. Just don’t yell out Ernest Borgnine in public anymore.
To El Aitch Bee, thanks for making it down to a game this year. It was good to see you, and hope to see you again soon.
To BevoisaSoxFan, thanks for bring little Pili by a few tailgates this year. It is easy to see why you couldn’t make it to more! Thanks for everything you do for us, you’re a good man, Arch. We wish you and Sylvia all the best.
To Bucharest, thanks for stepping it up big time this year. You were always a regular tailgate contributor, but this year you helped us out by securing the Tito’s for every game and by getting kegs for a few tailgates. We really, really appreciate it. We’ll have to go grab a beer sometime that isn’t consumed in a state of Texas parking lot.
To hornbybirth, thanks for always being there when we need help. You guys have become a big part of this group over the last couple of years, and you’re always willing to help out a buddy, and that is appreciated.
To 12ozLongneck, thanks for not thinking we were out of our minds when we called you at 9 PM and asked if you wanted to go to Stillwater with us. Thanks for making the trip with us and for being a good friend. We hoped to see more of you this football season, but we’ll see you around, I’m sure.
To Ben & Lindsey, thanks for sticking it out. Thanks Ben for showing up every Friday for set-up and providing the masses with free alcohol on Saturdays. We wish you guys the best and hope to see you again soon.
To Ernest, thanks for being a good friend. I could not talk to you for a couple of months but pick up the phone and it is like old times. We need you at more tailgates next year, however.
To beam,coke&horns, thanks for the satellite hook-up every week and for providing high comedy at TX/OU and every other game as well. You crazy.
To 93Horn, thanks for all that you do for the tailgate. From having to tow two objects to and from the tailgate every week to cooking our food to being the chief loader and unloader of the trailer every week to being the treasurer on gamedays, it is all appreciated very much.
To Vicki, thanks for being there for all of us. You truly are a special lady and I’m not sure what we would do without you. From providing us with food, to alcohol, to good stories with punchlines we never would have seen coming, to dance partners, to a smile on a Friday afternoon when we pull into the lot, it is all very much appreciated, and we all love you very much.
To Bob & Marie, thanks for everything that you do. From Bob providing us satellite pointing expertise to providing us with cigars or to Marie telling us to get over whatever is troubling us and be happy because it is GAMEDAY to always giving us a hug when we need it, we don’t know what we would do without you guys, either. Thank you for all that you do and all that you provide, and we’ll miss you guys in Arlington.
To Eric, thanks for the ride to Stillwater! It might have cost you a few days of grief from the wife, but it was well worth the camaraderie and excitement that we encountered along the way. Thanks for all that you do as a friend, and we all hope that for your sake your 2010 is better than your 2009.
To Seth, thanks for going off and getting better educated so that it appears that someone in this group has some ambition other than drinking beer in a parking lot. We’re so happy for all that has come to you in the last year and wish you and Valini all the best.
To Chay, thanks for continuing to be the idiot that we all know and love. You also provided a lot of help at tailgate set-up this year and was willing to help when we needed it at other times as well. You’re a good guy who is often the sparkplug for this group, and whether or not that is a good thing is certainly up for debate.
To Jeremy, thanks for providing us humor when we need it and help when we need it as well. You went a little MIA at the end of the year, but you have a lot of things on your plate this year. Congratulations to you and Stacey, and we hope to see Boy Rodriguez at a tailgate very soon.
To Drew, thanks for being the best man in my wedding. That was a huge responsibility but you took it and knocked it out of the park. Thanks for all that you do for the tailgate and for us personally. Let’s make Pasadena a trip to remember.
To the Driggers, thanks for throwing my wife the wedding that she always wanted. And even though the groom is just a prop piece on these days, I enjoyed it as well. Thank you for your continued support and for being the coolest parents-in-law that a guy could have.
To my family, thanks for the support that you gave us throughout this year. It isn’t always the easiest of times, but we get through it. Thanks for inviting Robbi into the family with open arms and for letting Drew snore on your couch during OU weekend.
To Robbi, thanks for being the perfect wife that a guy in my situation could have. From initiating the late night trip to Stillwater, to insisting that we buy plane tickets to California early, you do things that other wives just don’t do. Thank you for your support during what has been at times a troublesome year, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you and the McCoy and Shipley off-spring.
To all of our friends and family, thanks for your support this year. It was a great year, but it was also a year of hardship and heartbreak, and we couldn’t have made it through all of it without your support. I honestly don’t think we could ask for a better set of friends, and we mean that.
FACEBOOK NEWS FEED
Jimmy Clausen is wondering if the he can take a seeing eye dog on the field with him on Saturday.
Mark Mangino is headed up to the Children’s Hospital to make fun of the Leukemia kids again.
Toby Gerhart has joined the group How Long Until The National Media Starts Calling Toby Gerhart “Touchdown Toby”?
The Houston Texans have joined the group F Vince Young.
Devin Hester got a little carried away with his New Moon love.
On to the games...
Notre Dame @ Stanford -10.5:
What was once a promising season for the Irish has turned into disaster as they have lost three in a row and will likely be looking for a new head coach yet again after the season ends in a mediocre bowl. Stanford, meanwhile, is headed in the other direction. Despite a loss to Cal last week, the Cardinal are deemed a program on the rise with some young talent.
This should be a shootout. The Cardinal have a great running game and the Irish can’t stop the run. The Irish have a great passing game (if their quarterback can open his eyes), and Stanford can’t stop the pass.
I can see Stanford running away with this game, but I think Jimmy Clausen is going to the NFL after this season and is motivated to perform in front of a national prime-time audience. Stanford hasn’t won a game in this series since 2001, so they have that to contend with as well.
Stanford 34 Notre Dame 31
ATS – Notre Dame
SU – Stanford
Florida State -24.5 @ Florida:
Florida State has won four out of five, but have feasted on below average competition, while Florida is winning games, but in not always pretty fashion.
This one has not been pretty in recent years, with Florida winning by 30 last season and by 33 the year before. Florida State hasn’t won a game in this series since 2003.
I don’t see it being much better for FSU this time around. EJ Manuel hasn’t been good in place of Christian Ponder, and he’ll face his toughest defense yet against Florida.
Florida 44 Florida State 17
ATS – Florida
SU – Florida
Alabama -10 @ Auburn:
The Iron Bowl. Auburn had won six in a row until last year’s 36-0 Alabama win, a game where the Crimson Tide ran for 234 yards and ended Tommy Tuberville’s era at Auburn. Enter Gene Chizik, and many are left wondering if he will be over his head.
I don’t see Auburn having much of a chance in this one. They have some nice stats this year, but the defense they will face on Saturday is easily the toughest defense they’ll play this year, and on defense, they have struggled against the run, which Alabama will be able to exploit quite easily.
Alabama 27 Auburn 10
ATS – Alabama
SU – Alabama
Nebraska -10 @ Colorado:
Colorado is playing better after a disastrous beginning to the season, but they are still playing out the string with uncertainty following the program. Nebraska is hoping to fine-tune their offense before a match-up with Texas in Arlington next weekend.
Colorado’s offense is going to have a hard time here. Nebraska’s defense hasn’t given up more than 17 points in the last five games, and it isn’t happening here, either.
Nebraska 27 Colorado 10
ATS – Nebraska
SU – Nebraska
Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma -10:
QB Zac Robinson is expected to start for the Cowboys, which will of course be very good news for them. The Cowboys are fighting for a BCS bowl bid, which would be huge for their program.
Oklahoma is reeling, losing two out of their last three games and probably just wishing that this season would be over with. The Sooners have won 29 straight at home, but have their work cut out for them with an Oklahoma State team that is winning games with their defense. The OSU run defense is 4th in the country, and outside of the Texas game, they haven’t given more than 28 points since an early October trip to Texas A&M.
The line is the way it is because Oklahoma is Oklahoma and OSU is OSU, but I think the Cowboys take a step forward here, and frankly I wouldn’t be surprised to see it get a bit ugly.
Oklahoma State 31 Oklahoma 24
ATS – Oklahoma State
SU – Oklahoma State
Texas -21 @ Texas A&M:
The Aggies have won 2 out of 3, they have won 8 out of the last 13 at Kyle Field….blah blah blah blah BLAH.
Forget it.
That is the national media just hoping for some drama to end the season, and it isn’t going to happen.
But that isn’t to say that it is going to be a cakewalk. The Longhorns will have to bring their best game to College Station. The Aggies have scored at least 31 points in every home game this year, and have the balance between Jerod Johnson’s passing ability and the running game of Gray/Michael to keep Texas guessing.
But this is Will Muschamp we are talking about here. This isn’t Duane Akina in 2007 trying to account for the Aggies, this is Will Freakin’ Muschamp, and I think I’ll trust that he’ll keep the Aggies in check.
On offense, the Longhorns should be able to move the ball at will. The Aggies are ranked 100th in the country in total defense, giving up 157 rushing yards a game and 259 passing yards a game. If the Longhorns protect Colt McCoy (a big if considering the Texas offensive line woes and the Aggies proficiency at rushing the passer), he should have a big game.
Colt McCoy is looking to become the only Texas quarterback to ever win 12 games in back to back seasons…and he gets it here.
Texas 48 Texas A&M 17
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas
Random Hot Dallas Chick
For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for turkey and dressing.
For the Year: 35-36-1 (.493) ($460) ATS 51-21 (.708) SU
What we learned last week:
We learned that Tate Forcier can be a good baseball player. He threw three interceptions in six attempts in one stretch in the fourth quarter on Saturday, a batting average of .500…
We learned that Les Miles is a good liar, but the camera never lies. Lester insisted that he didn’t call a spike play with one second left on the clock on Saturday, but the camera caught him making a spike motion on the sideline, unless he was trying to fix his watch…
We learned that Jeremiah Masoli is a hell of a quarterback and should be a frontrunner for the Heisman next year along with Tim Tebow, who will still get mentioned even though he will be a fullback with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers….
We learned that Oklahoma has quite a reclamation project on their hands if they want to get back to losing BCS bowl games. The Sooners are now 1-5 on the road this year, and have ONE win against teams with a winning record…
We learned that Texas will be facing Nebraska at The Death Star for the Big 12 Championship, and the way national commentators talk, the Longhorns shouldn’t even bother to show up, because the Blackshirts defense is every bit as good as it was in 1996…when a Longhorn team nowhere near as good as this one ran all over it. Hmm….
And finally, we learned that Colt McCoy and the rest of the senior Longhorns know how to go out in style. That was quite a show to watch on Saturday, but hopefully it won’t be the highlight of the season.
Anyhow…
It is that time of year again, the time where you stuff yourself with turkey and dressing while listening to your Uncle Ned tell you stories of Aunt Francine’s bad back and how he has to dress her every morning until you lose your appetite for pumpkin pie. So before we lose the will to live, let’s remember what we are thankful for this year:
To Ben Alexander, thanks for stepping up BIG TIME this year. A lot of people, myself included, was worried about the defensive line coming into the year, but the line stepped up and you were a big part of that.
To Ryan Bailey, thanks for this on an awesome day:
To Deon Beasley, thanks for your persistence. This could have been a lost year for you, but you dug yourself out of hole and have contributed big-time since you have come back.
To Clark Ford, William Harvey & Mac McWhorter, thanks for going from a walk-on to scholarship player, earning it on the field and off the field.
To Chris Hall, thanks for your work on the offensive line, and the humor in the locker room.
To Lamarr Houston, thanks for stepping it up to become a big-time player this year. You’ve had some personal hardships, but you used them as fuel to get better, and the NFL will jump all over themselves to get you on their teams.
To Sergio Kindle, thanks for your production on the field and your leadership abilities. We’ll all enjoy watching you on Sundays next year.
To Hunter Lawrence, thanks for stepping up this year and locking down the kicking game. There was a lot of shuffling at that position in the last few years, but you took the job this year and never looked back, and I have never felt uneasy when you’ve come out to kick a field goal. Here’s hoping that that translates to the NFL.
To Charlie Tanner and Adam Ulatoski, thanks for your continued leadership on the field and your work on the offensive line. We couldn’t have accomplished what we’ve done on offense the past two years without the work being done up front.
To C.A. Vergari, thanks for your work on the scout team. It isn’t a glamorous duty, but it is a necessary duty, and thanks for doing so much for so little in return.
To Roddrick Muckelroy, thanks for wrecking shop on defense. You’ve been one of my favorite linebackers ever on the 40 acres, and wish you all the luck in the world at the next level.
To Jordan Shipley, thanks for giving up your body for this program. Many made jokes at your expense (I raise my hand, too) after your first two years were wiped out by injury, but you’ve gone from high school legend to forgotten man to UT legend because of your determination to make it work. I really don’t remember you dropping a pass this year. From orangebloods everywhere, thank you for that, and we’re rooting like hell for you to make it at the next level. And we know you will.
To Colt McCoy, thanks for sticking with us until we recognized your greatness. Even after your fantastic freshman year, some were wanting the other guy, and you kept producing until we finally realized you were the guy. You came in as a three star recruit from a 2A high school, and you leave as college football’s all-time winningest quarterback, a legend in your own right at this school and most importantly, a good man who doesn’t let all of that go to his head. We’ll be watching you on Sundays next fall as well.
To Kansas University, thanks for not firing Mark Mangino last week. Firings are depressing, and we’re glad that he didn’t eat all the turkeys.
To the Tailgate Tents, thanks for lasting us all of these years. We’re uncertain of your future, but a lot of great times went on under those tents, and we’re glad that they can’t talk. Godspeed on your journey to tent heaven.
To the Excellence Playa Mujeres, thanks for getting mine and Robbi’s mind right for football season. We had a great honeymoon at this fantastic resort, and we can’t wait to go again in 2010…and take some friends with us this time.
To T-Pain, thanks for the great iPhone app.
To Pedialyte, thanks for your part in helping sick children across the country, and thanks for getting our quarterback healthy.
To Lala’s, thanks for providing the venue for the greatest airband performance of all-time, according to Kanye West.
To the Hilton Anatole, thanks for the Bloody Mary bar. If ABC and the universities are going to keep on insisting scheduling our game at 11:00 AM, it is good to know we have a friend at 7:00 AM to help us recover from the night before.
To Reggie the Scalper, thanks for the great tickets to the Kansas game. Of course they were counterfeit and we almost got kicked out of the stadium, but those were the best seats I’ve had for a Texas game in a long time and I appreciate it. Hopefully you use that money you earned for good.
To the readers on Burnt Orange Fan Zone, thanks for taking the time each week to read the column and provide your kind thoughts. There have been some great discussions over there this year, and who can ask for more than that. You’ve got a great community over there.
To the other posters on LMFZ, thanks for sticking around. The board doesn’t seem to get much traffic these days, but I’d like to turn that around, and hope you stick around.
To the Anonymous Readers of The Week That Will Be, thanks for your time and energy every week. I know this column gets forwarded every which way, and I’m glad that everyone seems to enjoy it so much. This year has been by far the easiest year to write the column, and it is because I know how much everyone appreciates it.
To Michael Drakes, thanks for the duty and service to this country that you have chosen to give to all of us. We had a great time this year getting to know you, and look forward to seeing you at tailgates and boat parties in the future. You are one of us now, and we won’t let you forget it. Semper Fi.
To Chris and Stephanie, thanks for making it to several tailgates and for having us at your house several times as well. It is always a good time with Chris and Steph, and we can’t tell you how glad we are that you guys are in our lives.
To Gould, thanks for the easiest $50 of my life! But also, thanks for your humor and goodwill. We love you and Nathalie and wish you luck on your other bet this year.
To Marlon, thanks for being a good friend to all of us. We’ve missed you these past few tailgates, and hope that everything is well and that we’ll see you around more.
To Timms and Jordan, thanks for giving Chay shit, and thanks for helping out at tailgate set-up a few times this year. We were never shorthanded this year, and you guys were always eager to help, and we appreciate it.
To Schmoopy Becky, thanks for showing us a good time in Stillwater. We hope we reciprocated the move when you came down to Austin, and we look forward to seeing you at Chay’s Christmas party.
To hornsfan44, thanks for your continued service to this country and for sticking with us on the board, as well.
To Collin, thanks for all your help with the tailgate and for introducing us to the greatness that is Plucker’s Trivia Night. And thanks for giving me a good laugh every time I see you.
To Jerry, thanks for all your help with the tailgate and for welcoming us to the Plucker’s Trivia Night crew. We like to give you shit about the Redskins, but you’re a good dude who is always concerned about our well-being, and we appreciate it.
To Pickle and Mark, thanks for being you. We love you guys, and we know it is going to be a good time if Mark and Pickle are there. We hope to see you in Arlington and LA.
To RC Horn, thanks for all your help at the tailgates.
To Blondie, thanks for the continued love for the blog!
To dahorns, thanks for your continued love for the UT tailgating scene. We like like-minded individuals, and you are certainly one of those. You’re also a good man, and we wish you and the family all the best.
To Reinheitsgebot, thanks for always giving me a laugh at the tailgates. I always enjoy talking football with you, and wish you all the best.
To TheDean176, thanks for bringing Chandler to a game and introducing another one to a great tradition. We offer congratulations to you and Krista and wish you the best of luck in the years ahead.
To Bevo71, thanks for sticking it out with us. I know you’ve had some hard times the past couple of years, but we appreciate the love that you have for this great university and are always glad to see you around.
To AtlLonghorn, thanks for your contributions to the board and for keeping me entertained with your sports updates on Twitter. I’m not sure what happened to your weekly column, but I always enjoyed it and hope it is back next year.
To eochs, thanks for continuing to keep this board up and running. Congratulations to you and Jessica, and we wish you guys all the best. Hopefully your future includes a trip to Austin.
To Makaveli, thanks for having us over to a game watching party this year and inviting us to another one. We always have a good time with you guys and hope to see you more in the coming year.
To U2-Horn, thanks for your contributions to this board and Shaggy as well. I always enjoy reading a good U2-Horn post.
To all of those that contributed to Michael’s TX/OU Fund, thanks for your generous contributions. I know this is a tough year for everyone financially, but sending a new Marine to his first TX/OU game was a very rewarding experience. I wish everyone could have seen his face all day, he had a great time.
To Music City Mafia, thanks for your contributions to the board. I hope all is well with you and your girls.
To Janet (Pickle’s Mom), thanks for sticking with this motley crew. We always enjoy seeing you around, even if we might be acting like idiots at the time. But at least we made it a year without Drew throwing your chair in the creek.
To Pope, thanks for coming to the tailgate. This year seemed like a quiet year for Pope, but I guess we still have a few more games left to leave a lasting impression.
To rtapia, thanks for being a good tailgate neighbor, which we all know is more important than being an actual neighbor. We hope to tailgate next to you guys for years to come.
To my future employer, thanks for the job!
To BarryBnds, thanks for adding some spice to the board. Sometimes we like to sit around and tell each other how pretty they are, but you like to tell us differently and sometimes we need it. I’m disappointed that you guys didn’t make it to a game this year, but there is always Arlington…
To Markaholic, thanks for the Tito’s and for sticking around the board. We know you have your hands full but we’re going to have to ask that you make a couple more games next year!
To Mr. Peabody, thanks for the fun stories on the board. You almost turned into a stranger this year, don’t let that happen. We didn’t see you in Austin, but hopefully we’ll see you guys again soon.
To OKC Longhorn, thanks for giving me an outlet to vent during Longhorns/Cowboys games via text message. And most of all, thanks for giving us shelter when we decided in the middle of the night to drive up to Stillwater and didn’t arrive in OKC until 4:45 in the morning. You’re a good man, Todd, and I wish you all the best. Just don’t yell out Ernest Borgnine in public anymore.
To El Aitch Bee, thanks for making it down to a game this year. It was good to see you, and hope to see you again soon.
To BevoisaSoxFan, thanks for bring little Pili by a few tailgates this year. It is easy to see why you couldn’t make it to more! Thanks for everything you do for us, you’re a good man, Arch. We wish you and Sylvia all the best.
To Bucharest, thanks for stepping it up big time this year. You were always a regular tailgate contributor, but this year you helped us out by securing the Tito’s for every game and by getting kegs for a few tailgates. We really, really appreciate it. We’ll have to go grab a beer sometime that isn’t consumed in a state of Texas parking lot.
To hornbybirth, thanks for always being there when we need help. You guys have become a big part of this group over the last couple of years, and you’re always willing to help out a buddy, and that is appreciated.
To 12ozLongneck, thanks for not thinking we were out of our minds when we called you at 9 PM and asked if you wanted to go to Stillwater with us. Thanks for making the trip with us and for being a good friend. We hoped to see more of you this football season, but we’ll see you around, I’m sure.
To Ben & Lindsey, thanks for sticking it out. Thanks Ben for showing up every Friday for set-up and providing the masses with free alcohol on Saturdays. We wish you guys the best and hope to see you again soon.
To Ernest, thanks for being a good friend. I could not talk to you for a couple of months but pick up the phone and it is like old times. We need you at more tailgates next year, however.
To beam,coke&horns, thanks for the satellite hook-up every week and for providing high comedy at TX/OU and every other game as well. You crazy.
To 93Horn, thanks for all that you do for the tailgate. From having to tow two objects to and from the tailgate every week to cooking our food to being the chief loader and unloader of the trailer every week to being the treasurer on gamedays, it is all appreciated very much.
To Vicki, thanks for being there for all of us. You truly are a special lady and I’m not sure what we would do without you. From providing us with food, to alcohol, to good stories with punchlines we never would have seen coming, to dance partners, to a smile on a Friday afternoon when we pull into the lot, it is all very much appreciated, and we all love you very much.
To Bob & Marie, thanks for everything that you do. From Bob providing us satellite pointing expertise to providing us with cigars or to Marie telling us to get over whatever is troubling us and be happy because it is GAMEDAY to always giving us a hug when we need it, we don’t know what we would do without you guys, either. Thank you for all that you do and all that you provide, and we’ll miss you guys in Arlington.
To Eric, thanks for the ride to Stillwater! It might have cost you a few days of grief from the wife, but it was well worth the camaraderie and excitement that we encountered along the way. Thanks for all that you do as a friend, and we all hope that for your sake your 2010 is better than your 2009.
To Seth, thanks for going off and getting better educated so that it appears that someone in this group has some ambition other than drinking beer in a parking lot. We’re so happy for all that has come to you in the last year and wish you and Valini all the best.
To Chay, thanks for continuing to be the idiot that we all know and love. You also provided a lot of help at tailgate set-up this year and was willing to help when we needed it at other times as well. You’re a good guy who is often the sparkplug for this group, and whether or not that is a good thing is certainly up for debate.
To Jeremy, thanks for providing us humor when we need it and help when we need it as well. You went a little MIA at the end of the year, but you have a lot of things on your plate this year. Congratulations to you and Stacey, and we hope to see Boy Rodriguez at a tailgate very soon.
To Drew, thanks for being the best man in my wedding. That was a huge responsibility but you took it and knocked it out of the park. Thanks for all that you do for the tailgate and for us personally. Let’s make Pasadena a trip to remember.
To the Driggers, thanks for throwing my wife the wedding that she always wanted. And even though the groom is just a prop piece on these days, I enjoyed it as well. Thank you for your continued support and for being the coolest parents-in-law that a guy could have.
To my family, thanks for the support that you gave us throughout this year. It isn’t always the easiest of times, but we get through it. Thanks for inviting Robbi into the family with open arms and for letting Drew snore on your couch during OU weekend.
To Robbi, thanks for being the perfect wife that a guy in my situation could have. From initiating the late night trip to Stillwater, to insisting that we buy plane tickets to California early, you do things that other wives just don’t do. Thank you for your support during what has been at times a troublesome year, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you and the McCoy and Shipley off-spring.
To all of our friends and family, thanks for your support this year. It was a great year, but it was also a year of hardship and heartbreak, and we couldn’t have made it through all of it without your support. I honestly don’t think we could ask for a better set of friends, and we mean that.
FACEBOOK NEWS FEED
Jimmy Clausen is wondering if the he can take a seeing eye dog on the field with him on Saturday.
Mark Mangino is headed up to the Children’s Hospital to make fun of the Leukemia kids again.
Toby Gerhart has joined the group How Long Until The National Media Starts Calling Toby Gerhart “Touchdown Toby”?
The Houston Texans have joined the group F Vince Young.
Devin Hester got a little carried away with his New Moon love.
On to the games...
Notre Dame @ Stanford -10.5:
What was once a promising season for the Irish has turned into disaster as they have lost three in a row and will likely be looking for a new head coach yet again after the season ends in a mediocre bowl. Stanford, meanwhile, is headed in the other direction. Despite a loss to Cal last week, the Cardinal are deemed a program on the rise with some young talent.
This should be a shootout. The Cardinal have a great running game and the Irish can’t stop the run. The Irish have a great passing game (if their quarterback can open his eyes), and Stanford can’t stop the pass.
I can see Stanford running away with this game, but I think Jimmy Clausen is going to the NFL after this season and is motivated to perform in front of a national prime-time audience. Stanford hasn’t won a game in this series since 2001, so they have that to contend with as well.
Stanford 34 Notre Dame 31
ATS – Notre Dame
SU – Stanford
Florida State -24.5 @ Florida:
Florida State has won four out of five, but have feasted on below average competition, while Florida is winning games, but in not always pretty fashion.
This one has not been pretty in recent years, with Florida winning by 30 last season and by 33 the year before. Florida State hasn’t won a game in this series since 2003.
I don’t see it being much better for FSU this time around. EJ Manuel hasn’t been good in place of Christian Ponder, and he’ll face his toughest defense yet against Florida.
Florida 44 Florida State 17
ATS – Florida
SU – Florida
Alabama -10 @ Auburn:
The Iron Bowl. Auburn had won six in a row until last year’s 36-0 Alabama win, a game where the Crimson Tide ran for 234 yards and ended Tommy Tuberville’s era at Auburn. Enter Gene Chizik, and many are left wondering if he will be over his head.
I don’t see Auburn having much of a chance in this one. They have some nice stats this year, but the defense they will face on Saturday is easily the toughest defense they’ll play this year, and on defense, they have struggled against the run, which Alabama will be able to exploit quite easily.
Alabama 27 Auburn 10
ATS – Alabama
SU – Alabama
Nebraska -10 @ Colorado:
Colorado is playing better after a disastrous beginning to the season, but they are still playing out the string with uncertainty following the program. Nebraska is hoping to fine-tune their offense before a match-up with Texas in Arlington next weekend.
Colorado’s offense is going to have a hard time here. Nebraska’s defense hasn’t given up more than 17 points in the last five games, and it isn’t happening here, either.
Nebraska 27 Colorado 10
ATS – Nebraska
SU – Nebraska
Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma -10:
QB Zac Robinson is expected to start for the Cowboys, which will of course be very good news for them. The Cowboys are fighting for a BCS bowl bid, which would be huge for their program.
Oklahoma is reeling, losing two out of their last three games and probably just wishing that this season would be over with. The Sooners have won 29 straight at home, but have their work cut out for them with an Oklahoma State team that is winning games with their defense. The OSU run defense is 4th in the country, and outside of the Texas game, they haven’t given more than 28 points since an early October trip to Texas A&M.
The line is the way it is because Oklahoma is Oklahoma and OSU is OSU, but I think the Cowboys take a step forward here, and frankly I wouldn’t be surprised to see it get a bit ugly.
Oklahoma State 31 Oklahoma 24
ATS – Oklahoma State
SU – Oklahoma State
Texas -21 @ Texas A&M:
The Aggies have won 2 out of 3, they have won 8 out of the last 13 at Kyle Field….blah blah blah blah BLAH.
Forget it.
That is the national media just hoping for some drama to end the season, and it isn’t going to happen.
But that isn’t to say that it is going to be a cakewalk. The Longhorns will have to bring their best game to College Station. The Aggies have scored at least 31 points in every home game this year, and have the balance between Jerod Johnson’s passing ability and the running game of Gray/Michael to keep Texas guessing.
But this is Will Muschamp we are talking about here. This isn’t Duane Akina in 2007 trying to account for the Aggies, this is Will Freakin’ Muschamp, and I think I’ll trust that he’ll keep the Aggies in check.
On offense, the Longhorns should be able to move the ball at will. The Aggies are ranked 100th in the country in total defense, giving up 157 rushing yards a game and 259 passing yards a game. If the Longhorns protect Colt McCoy (a big if considering the Texas offensive line woes and the Aggies proficiency at rushing the passer), he should have a big game.
Colt McCoy is looking to become the only Texas quarterback to ever win 12 games in back to back seasons…and he gets it here.
Texas 48 Texas A&M 17
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas
Random Hot Dallas Chick
For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for turkey and dressing.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Texas 51 Kansas 20
Colt McCoy is college football's all-time leader in wins for a quarterback (technically it is a FBS record, but c'mon, FBS is college football as far as records) with 43, and will now have three more games to try to add to the record.
It was an absolutely fantastic night at the stadium, and I'm not ashamed to say that my eyes might have been a little wet when McCoy and the other seniors did their "victory lap" at the end of the ballgame.
The running game was not superb, but it was efficient, and McCoy was 2008 McCoy. The defense was a bit off, but again tightened up when they had to most of the game.
It is a short week this week with the Thanksgiving holiday, so we will be back on Tuesday with the Thanksgiving edition of The Week That Will Be, including a look at Texas/Texas A&M, OSU/OU, Alabama/Auburn, Florida/FSU and much, much more.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
The Week That Will Be (11.21.09)
For the Year: 31-34-1 (.477) ($640) ATS 47-19 (.712) SU
What we learned last week:
We learned that you can hang with Florida for a while with a bad quarterback, but that bad quarterback will make a mistake and Florida will pounce on it…
We learned that Dan Mullen has Mississippi State competitive, but they need to find an offense in the off-season if they want to go from being pesky to being a winner….
We learned that I was completely wrong on TCU. Wow. What was once a great defensive team with a manageable offense now has a great defense and a great offense. The Frogs have scored 233 points in the past five games…
We learned that Nebraska needs to keep giving Roy Helu Jr. the ball and get out of his way….
We learned that Mike Leach will send a quarterback with one leg out there, but hopefully Mike Gundy will sit Zach Robinson out a couple of games after the nastiest collision this side of Darrell’s fist to Brad’s eye on The Ruins…
And finally, we learned that Texas gets up 40-0 at the half, takes the starters out and coasts, while Oklahoma takes their starters out in a 65-10 game with 4 minutes left. You stay classy, Bobby….
Anyhow…
Earn the Right.
Nestled above a set of horns from a real Longhorn in the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletic Center on the University of Texas campus is that simple saying. Many pass it every day, some might even pay attention to it.
But as dusk falls over Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium Saturday night, the players will stream to the field, carefully touch the other set of horns under The Eyes of Texas and then pay tribute to the Freddie Steinmark landmark. Mad Dog will start his chant, the players will jump up and down and the smoke will fill the tunnel as the beginning notes to Texas Fight fill the stadium, and the words will never ring as true.
Earn the Right.
It was May of 2004 and another hot Texas summer was descending upon West Texas. In the small town of Tuscola, Texas, population 714, there was a rumbling making its way across town, not that that takes long.
Their quarterback was going to the University of Texas.
Colt McCoy, the coach’s son, who guided the 2A Jim Ned Indians to the state championship game the year before, was going where?
“I had people in my town, friends of mine, people real close to me saying that I would never be able to play here,” McCoy told the Associated Press recently.
If people in your own town didn’t think you could make it, then what would Texas fans, who are as hard on a quarterback as any fanbase in the country, going to say?
Well, first, Texas had bigger fish to think about. Louisiana prep star quarterback Ryan Perrilloux committed in July and looked to be the heir apparent to Vince Young. He had the passing ability to keep defenses honest, but like Young could take over a game with his feet as well.
The Longhorns’ offense got off to a slow start in 2004, getting shutout by Oklahoma and struggling against Missouri, leading some to wonder if Young should be shifted to receiver. Amid concerns about the offense, the prep quarterback started to flirt with LSU.
No, not Perrilloux. McCoy. Citing concerns that the Longhorn passing game wasn’t a featured part of the offense, McCoy started to look elsewhere, finally listening to the phone calls from LSU offensive coordinator Jumbo Fisher. McCoy even set up a visit to LSU, but a visit from Mack Brown and Greg Davis to the one stoplight town showed McCoy all he needed to know about where he needed to be.
In the end, Perrilloux of course shunned the Longhorns on signing day in a move that surprised nobody. An eleventh hour effort to recruit Southlake Carroll quarterback Chase Daniel didn’t work, so the Longhorns were left with only McCoy, a three star recruit who was ranked 73rd in the state, behind such quarterbacks as Daniel and Arkansas signee Casey Dick.
Fresh off a resounding victory against Michigan in the Rose Bowl to end the 2004 season, the Longhorn nation was amped up about their opportunity to win the national title in 2005. It briefly appeared that McCoy might have to back-up Vince Young on the road to the title game, but after a brief flirtation with law school Matt Nordgren decided to play one more year so McCoy was able to red-shirt.
The Longhorns did indeed win the national title that year, and after Vince Young bolted to the NFL, the Longhorns were left with redshirt freshman McCoy and incoming freshman Jevan Snead to duke it out for the starting job. With Snead’s stature and rocket for an arm, most fans thought it was a formality that McCoy was even given equal snaps in Spring practice that year.
But in a move that shocked most of the Longhorn nation, McCoy was named the starter for the 2006 season opener against the University of North Texas. The second play of the game was a 60 yard touchdown pass to Limas Sweed, and Longhorn fans had a new hero.
2006 was great for McCoy, as he set a school record for any class and tied a national record for touchdown passes by a freshman quarterback (29). 2007 was a disappointment, as McCoy threw 18 interceptions along with his 21 touchdown passes. And, of course, 2008 was another fantastic year as the Longhorns went 12-1 including a Fiesta Bowl victory over Ohio State and McCoy breaking his own school record by throwing 34 touchdown passes.
This season the Longhorns entered the year ranked #2 in the country, a clear path to the national championship game before them and a clear path to the Heisman Trophy presentation in New York for McCoy.
But the games aren’t played on paper. The Longhorns are still very much in the hunt for the national championship, but it is only in recent weeks that McCoy is again getting Heisman consideration after a shaky beginning to the season.
The next step is Saturday night. Win? The Longhorns clinch the Big 12 South title. McCoy has an outstanding performance in front of what should be the majority of the country? He can buy a plane ticket to New York and can start to smell the bronze on the trophy.
Earn the right to be a Heisman Trophy winner.
Win on Saturday and Colt McCoy becomes college football’s all-time leader in wins by a quarterback with 43, breaking the record set by Georgia’s David Greene in 2004. His record at Texas is 42-7. His record at Jim Ned High School was 34-2. That is a combined record of 76-9. It appears,
with all due respect, that the people of Tuscola were wrong.
Earn the right to be the all-time leader in wins.
But, of course, McCoy didn’t win all of those games by himself. He was part of a recruiting class that might have at the time been remembered for who it did not get (Perrilloux, Martellus Bennett, Fred Rouse), but will instead be remembered for who did come here (McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Quan Cosby, Roddrick Muckelroy, Roy Miller, Henry Melton). He is part of a graduating class that includes Lamarr Houston, Sergio Kindle and Jordan Shipley.
That graduating class sits at 42-7 for their career. The all-time leading class in Texas history since freshmen became eligible is the 2005 class, who won their 45th game on the floor of the Rose Bowl that January night.
Wins against Kansas, at Texas A&M and the Big 12 Championship Game would tie the record.
One more after that would break it.
Earn the right to be a national champion.
Earn the right to be the greatest class in Texas history.
For more on the gentleman pictured here, go here. Great story.
FACEBOOK NEWS FEED
Charlie Weis is having a garage sale this weekend…all my ND stuff will be on sale.
FSN we’re about as good at showing games as your high school AV class!
Pete Carroll wrote on USC Defense’s Wall: The last one out turn off the lights. This is California.
John Harbaugh has joined the group Bob Stoops’ Guide To Running Up the Score.
Case Keenum cancelled his flight to New York.
LeGarrette Blount is going to punch somebody if I don’t get some playing time.
Dick Tomey might not be going out on top, but I’ll be going out on top.
On to the games...
Ohio State -11.5 @ Michigan:
7-1. That is Jim Tressel’s record against Michigan. The Wolverines appear to have given up on life, losing four in a row with a lonely win against Delaware State the only thing keeping that from a six game losing streak. The defense has been atrocious, giving up 156 points in those four games.
The only that saves Michigan here is pride, but it doesn’t appear they have any of that left, either.
Ohio State 37 Michigan 14
ATS – Ohio State
SU – Ohio State
LSU @ Mississippi -4:
LSU had won six straight in this series until last year, when Mississippi went into Baton Rouge and won 31-13. Jevan Snead was great in that game, throwing for 274 yards, and they will likely need another great game from him to pull out the win.
Lots of attention was paid to Rebels RB Dexter McCluster last week, and rightfully so, but this is still the team that lost to Auburn three weeks ago and has lost to every ranked team they have played this year.
LSU’s defense contains McCluster, Jordan Jefferson tries to erase Tiger fans’ memories of Jarrett Lee.
LSU 27 Mississippi 21
ATS – LSU
SU – LSU
Oregon -6 @ Arizona:
In a convoluted situation, the Pac-10 has a chance to have a six-way tie for first place in the division. Of course those scenarios involve Washington State winning a game, and we all know that isn’t happening.
So in all likelihood this game is for the conference championship. Arizona is coming off a loss at Cal, but are undefeated at home this year, while Oregon rebounded from their loss to Stanford with a home win over Arizona State last week.
This one is very close. Give me Oregon’s experience to win, but Arizona’s youth, home field advantage and running game to keep it close.
Oregon 31 Arizona 28
ATS – Arizona
SU – Arizona
Oklahoma -6.5 @ Texas Tech:
Oklahoma hasn’t won in Lubbock since 2003, and please don’t bring up the “He Was In” game because that just creeps me out.
Which Tech team shows up here? If they hadn’t gotten their ass handed to them by Texas A&M I would be more inclined to go with them here, but they have been very inconsistent, especially at the quarterback position. Oklahoma has been very good on defense, but is it only a matter of time before they give up a big offensive game?
Give me Oklahoma. Tech’s rowdy student section will still be passed out in their dorm room for the 11:30 start.
Oklahoma 27 Texas Tech 17
ATS – Oklahoma
SU – Oklahoma
Kansas State @ Nebraska -16.5:
It is like we all fell asleep and woke up in 1999, except that I’m not in college anymore and the Internet isn’t this crazy new thing that we’re going to throw a bunch of money at even though we don’t even have any idea what it is.
KSU and NU went to the Big 12 Championship the first five years of the conference, and account for three out of the four North division wins in the championship game series.
But this is a new era. Nebraska looks to have the edge here due to their defense, but Kansas State has the rush defense to contain Roy Helu Jr. The Cornhuskers are going to Arlington, but that line is a bit crazy. Nebraska hasn’t even scored 16.5 points in four of their ten games this year.
Nebraska 21 Kansas State 17
ATS – Kansas State
SU – Nebraska
Kansas @ Texas -27.5:
Texas has won every game against Kansas in the Big 12 era, and with the team imploding around Mark Mangino this week, there really isn’t much evidence that that streak will end this week.
Todd Reesing makes his homecoming, but won’t be helped by a rushing attack that ranks 88th in the country and an offensive line that ranks 78th in the country in sacks allowed. Dezmon Briscoe is a dangerous receiver, but don’t you think the Horns put Aaron Williams on him and say go ahead?
The Jayhawks also don’t look to have much fight on defense, as they gave up 400+ yards to a Nebraska team that was asking Santa Claus for an offense so they might win their bowl game this year.
Texas wins easily, who knows what happens to Mangino, and Colt passes David Greene.
"I'm like anybody else. You really don't want to see your records broken," Greene told CBS Sports. "But if somebody is going to break the record, I would want it to be somebody like Colt. I don't know him personally, but you can tell by listening to him that he is a team guy and a very humble guy. I like that."
I can’t argue with that.
Texas 48 Kansas 10
ATS – Texas
SU – Texas
Random Hot Dallas Chick
For entertainment purposes only. Save your money for Charlie Tanner all-time winningest guard t-shirts.
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