Since all the Mack Brown bashers seem to love the Horns loss to OU two weeks ago, I wanted to ask this question about CU before the game. Do you guys think this is a good team? Based on the evidence, they appear to be one. Ranked 14th in the nation, 6-1, undeated in the Big 12. Their only loss came against a very good and undefeated Fresno St. team in an opening day game where they really beat themselves. Since then, they've been pretty dominant, including a rout over Colorado St. (who should've beaten Fresno last weekend), an exceptional performance at Kansas St., and a win over then undefeated A&M. Does this CU team sound pretty good? Imho, they certainly do, and I hope all of you Mack Brown and Texas bashers aren't afraid to recognize it when (or if ) Texas wins Saturday. You guys have to understand that it is unfair to compare this year's team to the failure's 2 years ago or even last year. Mack said before each season that they were not ready to be a contending team. They were too young and inexperienced in the Texas system. This is the first year under Mack Brown where he has both his own players and the experience necessary. It isn't fair to look at last year, or two years before, etc., and limit this team based on what team's failures. This season is different. Did we lose to OU? Yes, but it shouldn't be extremely disappointing. They are possibly the best team in the country, and we played them tough to the end. If you watched that game, you know it was really a 7-3 score throughout, and we kept right with the #1 team in the BCS standings. A couple of breaks just didn't go our way (including Hybl's injury), and we lost a close game to a great team. Don't call for Mack's head yet! This weekend should be a chance for Mack and the Horns to silence some of the critics with a win against a top team, and I hope most of you realize that and give them some credit if they win this game. I really think Texas is ready for the game this weekend, and while it may stay close for a while, I think Texas will break through offensively and beat a very good team in the second half. Texas 23, Colorado 13 P.S. Don't give up hope for a Rose Bowl run just yet... with the way the schedules break down with the seven teams ahead of us, a OU-Nebraska split and an upset over UCLA might spring us up in the polls. We'll see.
If OU and Nebrska split, the winner of the 2nd game (Big 12 Chap) would be ahead of us in the polls. We need OU to lose twice to have a chance to win the Big 12 game and then a shot at the Rose Bowl if either the Pac10 or Big East does NOT have an undefeated team. Not totally unrealistic possibility (OU could lose twice (Nebr + Am or at Tech) and the Pac10 will be tough to run the table in), but still quite a long shot.
If he has his own players and the experience necessary, he should be held accountable for not winning the big game against OU. Texas is a better team than OU, and they lost. Also, you've got to love a coach that makes excuses before the season starts, like you so eloquently point out. I wish I had that kind of job security. Does anyone else find it funny that the UT running backs seem to get benched when they don't perform, but not the quarterback?
If he has his own players and the experience necessary, he should be held accountable for not winning the big game against OU. Texas is a better team than OU, and they lost. Are they? It's at least debatable. OU has won 19 straight games, is a national champion, and are #1 in the BCS. Can you really blame him that much for not beating this type of a team? Also, you've got to love a coach that makes excuses before the season starts, like you so eloquently point out. What else is he supposed to say when asked about the unrealistic predictions from the fans? That he agrees? The fans expected too much from Texas when they were young. Does anyone else find it funny that the UT running backs seem to get benched when they don't perform, but not the quarterback? Chris Simms has had a fabulous season, except for one pretty average game against OU. Did you happen to notice his 6 touchdowns last weekend? (5 passing, 1 rushing) Major Applewhite sure didn't perform against OU last year (Texas was down 42-0 before scoring), but I don't think any of you were asking for Major to be benched at this time last year. If OU and Nebrska split, the winner of the 2nd game (Big 12 Chap) would be ahead of us in the polls. You think? I think it's possible that we sneak in the back door in front of them, but who knows... BTW, I think it's also possible for Nebraska to lose the first game to OU, and then the game at the end of the season to Colorado. Remember, Colorado has a good team this year, and the game is in Boulder. If Nebraska lost those two games but beat OU in the big 12 championship, we would be ahead in that scenario.
Every week, I send a short college football predictions email to some of my friends -- half serious, half joking. Here's my UT prediction for this week: <I>Texas vs. Colorado -- Oh boy, a big game AT HOME. It's been a while. If Simms plays, UT wins 21-14. If Simms goes out with an injury (bruised ego), UT wins 42-7.</I> I think Colorado is a good team, but their offense is sketchy. UT's defense should shut them down. If Simms starts, Colorado gets the 7 extra points on an interception returned for a TD. I actually think UT will win by about 10. If our offense had a clue, they should score 30+ fairly easily based on talent (in my opinion).
on a scale of 1 to 10, with u of h being a 1 and oklahoma a 10, I would give this game against Colorado a solid 7.5 on the Howstrongawinometer. but I'm no Mack basher I'm no Horn hater I'm a midnight toker this would be our strongest win of the year to date. unfortunately, winning this game alone will not be enough to wipe clean the short history of performing poorly in the biggest games. it would be a step, though. I've come to the peaceful conclusion that that's what this Horns team is about: taking a step. I agree with Mack that the title talk is still premature. we have to finish in the top 10 first. we need to win a conference title first. what happened with ou last year was a college football anomaly and is not the path most programs take to their "first" national championship. on the flip side, it could be argued that losing this game to Colorado would be even worse and more season-disintegrating than the ou loss. the more I think about it, I definitely feel that way. if you lose to Colorado, at home, you probably blow your shot at finishing in the top 10, and you've also just made your Big Game resume look that much worse. so, factoring in that new amount of pressure [the pressure of knowing you're completely F'd if you lose this game], I'd raise my ranking of this game to at least an 8. HOOK THEM!
FYI, pep rally on 6th and Trinity tomorrow night at 9PM sponsored by Budweiser. Come out early Saturday afternoon. We want to show CU how we do things in Texas. They haven't been here since '94 I think. On the game, CU's offense will face a defense the likes of which they've never seen. Their running game will falter early as they are without Marcus Houston (out for season). Their QB will have to deal with a hostile crowd at DKR, and will be intimidated by Redding and Thornton. Our offense usually performs on another level at home, and this game should be no different. Don't think CU has anybody to stop Roy and BJ, and having Cedric in the backfield should keep the defense honest. Look for TE Bo Scaife to have a breakout game against his former Colorade HS buddies. I'm predicting a big win at home this Saturday. Come early, be loud, stay late. Hook 'Em. Texas 48 Colorado 17
ABC 2:30 POOR AGGIES!!! Last week vs CU = no tv This week vs KSU = Fox Syndication Keep on watching Sidelines! Funny can't quite describe it.
I think Cat just wants to know whether CU is a good team or not, before the game. He and I don't want to hear how "average" CU is if we win. BTW, we should not lose this game, but stranger things have happened.
No doubt I will give props to Mack and the guys if we win. An ugly win is acceptable against a team like CU. An ugly win is not acceptable against non conference fillers. I don't think we should set our sights on a Big XII Championship this year. A 10-1 season no matter what bowl we play in is an improvement over last year. Let's try to win it this year.
my barometer for whether this year is a success for the Horns is whether we finish in the Top 10 in the polls.
If we lose this game, I'll agree that we underachieved this season, and that Mack Brown isn't a great gameday coach. (unless some rare circumstances occur like Simms/Benson getting hurt, etc.) This is a big game, and it's in Austin, and we should/need to win it. I feel pretty confident, but if I'm wrong, I'll definitely admit my mistakes in judging Mack Brown and this year's team.
Anyone know who Colorado's backup QB is? It looks like Craig Ochs may miss the game today with a concussion. He's listed as a gametime decision, but a Colorado paper reports that he will not get the start.
Oregon's losing to Stanford. We should move ahead of Florida. Fresno State (AP, you suck), gone. #6 this week? Not too bad.
Chris Simms and Mack Brown win a big game for Texas in style. Can any of you still deny that this is a very good, possible national championship caliber team? The only blemish on our record was a very close game against the #1 team in the country (in the BCS). Can you really get on them that much for losing that game? Texas is still very alive in the national title chase, esp. with Oregon's loss against Stanford. We should be 6th on Sunday, and 5th the following Sunday, passing the NU/OU loser. 4th would come soon after that, when either Miami or Virginia Tech loses. All we'd need after that would be Oregon to knock off UCLA, and for the NU/OU loser next week to win in the Big 12 championship, and we may be right there. Our strength of schedule may really rise the way UNC is playing too.
