So, is Colorado a good team?

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 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.

 

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.

 

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.