40 Acres Sports

The Cam Newton ruling is stunning to me.  The NCAA says his father broke rules by shopping his son, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong for Cam to play stupid while boosters and Cecil Newton negotiated a private transaction.   I sort of get their point – if the school itself and the player itself didn’t do anything improper, what the heck are they going to do about it?

Jadeveon Clowney is the top recruit in the country according to Rivals.com.  He’s a bonecrushing 6’6″ defensive end from the Palmetto State that reminds scouts of Mario Williams, a former #1 pick in the NFL Draft and an All-Pro.  Cownley hasn’t committed yet but has offers from 13 BCS conference schools from Alabama to South Carolina to all the way out West from Southern Cal.  At this point, why commit to anyone?  Just get your dad to contact each school’s booster club and get the best price.   Rivals.com’s #3 prospect is a Virginia linebacker named Curtis Grant, who runs a 4.5 40 and is 6’3″, 222 as a high school senior.  There’s 22 schools after Grant and he hasn’t made a decision.  Why make any decision that doesn’t involve getting paid?  Just let your parents get a media spanking from the NCAA and smile as they cash the check.

I guess it’s nice to know that Texas has one of the wealthiest alumni bases in America, but now we face an ethical decision.  We share a conference with Oklahoma and Texas A&M – who have a long history of shady behavior and are going into the postseason while the Longhorns stay home this year.  If Pandora’s box has indeed been opened – the Ags and the Sooners both will be at the front of the line with their checkbooks open.  Texas can pay coordinators and position coaches more than the majority of head coaches in the FBS…but does any of that matter if OU and A&M start paying for five star athletes?  Just because RC and Switzer aren’t running things doesn’t mean those alums went away.

There’s probably some 14 year old freshman phenom right now leading his team into the playoffs this weekend that will become the first million dollar recruit if his dad plays this system right.  Coaches and scouts will flock to his games in 2014 watching him shred opponents while praying that their school’s rich alums and the phenom’s family can work out a deal behind their backs.  As long as the athletic department stays ignorant and the recruit’s parents tell him where he’s going to school, this is deemed acceptable by the NCAA.  He can roll onto his new campus in a 80K ride and have a 200K off campus condo if his parents bought it all for him, right?

All this talk about the NCAA closing this loophole is probably dumb.  That says that they don’t want a filthy program like Auburn to get punished for THIS season.  Auburn has faced sanctions a whopping 7 times since 1950.   This is a quote from former Auburn president William Muse after the NCAA dropped the hammer on Auburn in 1993 for alums paying players:  “If this program is to survive, there can be no more days like this one, intentional or unintentional.”

Guess you lucked out on this one, War Eagle.  Can Reggie Bush have his Heisman back now?

This post is supported by Sonic. Log on to flavortouchdown.com to enter for a chance to win the Sonic Flavor Touchdown Sweepstakes.

The 2010 season hasn’t exactly gone as everyone hoped. Okay, that’s probably a huge understatement.

Texas fans knew this would be a rebuilding year while breaking in a new quarterback and finding a replacement for the most productive wide receiver in the history of the program. They didn’t expect this. It’s not just that Texas has lost games, it’s the shocking way they’ve done so without any semblance of an offense and a sieve of defense.

Depending on what happens in 2011, this can either go down as a season where the Longhorns regrouped and reloaded or it could be the end of an era. These five players will determine which way it goes:

Garrett Gilbert

Or maybe it’s Case McCoy or Connor Wood or David Ash. Or the ghost of Vince Young. Whoever it is, the quarterback play in 2010 has been terrible and you can’t win games when you’re turning the ball over as much as the Horns are this season. Not all of this falls directly on Gilbert. His supporting cast has dropped touchdown passes, struggles to run the football, and frequently makes defensive ends you’ve never heard of look like All-Americans. The 2011 season (and rest of 2010) hinges on a quarterback stepping up and making plays and making the players around him better.

Mike Davis

There have been glimpses. One of the biggest things missing from this team is a playmaker and wide receiver Mike Davis has shown that he might be that guy. He’s a favorite target of Gilbert and can make big plays after the catch. He has to continue to get better at the consistency of his hands and his route running, but if he turns the corner this offseason he could be the guy who turns an inconsistent offense into a dominant one.

Mason Walters and Garrett Gilbert are critical to a 2011 rebound. (Image: Inside Texas)

Mason Walters/Christian Westerman

It’s been a while (2005?) since Texas fans were satisfied with the team’s offensive line play and this season it has hit rock bottom. Next year will feature at least three new starters on the line but that may be a good thing. Redshirt freshman Mason Walters has started every game this season and the results have been mixed, but he and current high school senior Christian Westerman may be your starting tackles next year and if they can give the quarterback a consistently comfortable pocket the suddenly Sonic Flavor Touchdowns are a little easier to come by. The entire line needs a makeover into a tougher, more aggressive unit and it starts with these two guys.

Aaron Williams

Williams has played great this season but not as great as some were expecting. The Thorpe Award candidate is a lockdown corner and a surefire first round NFL draft pick if he decides to leave but if he returns he immediately makes the Texas defense national title caliber. A return for his senior season isn’t as far fetched as it sounds, with the looming NFL labor issues more top draft picks will come back to school for another year than expected.

Jackson Jeffcoat

True freshman defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat didn’t play against Iowa State due to injury and his presence was definitely missed. He’s not an every down player (yet) but he’s already a dangerous pass rusher and guys that can go get the quarterback make everyone around them better. If Jeffcoat can stay healthy and progresses as hoped he should be a double digit sack guy for the rest of his career.

Texas fans will be watching. Who is going to step up and right this ship?

Log on to flavortouchdown.com to enter for a chance to win the Sonic Flavor Touchdown Sweepstakes. You could win a prize package and a VIP football trip for 6 to the bowl game of your choice. Hopefully the Longhorns win at least two more games this season and make it to one of them.

WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas’ game against the Cyclones.

1st Quarter (15:00) WTH Horn Fans?! Forget the 11AM kickoff, your Longhorns come back from an upset (did I say upset?) victory over the Huskers. The students did not come ready, the alumni fan base was not ready and we found out that the team was sure not ready.

1st Quarter (5:23) WTH Defense?! Last week we lauded the efforts of the defense and Coach Blood’s game plan. No game plan this week? The Cyclones put an 80 yard 6:37 minute drive together for the game’s first score.

2nd Quarter (14:05) WTH Hix?! You sure are built like a Longhorn lineman. You just do not have the mental makeup. You’re going to start getting the label of Flozell Adams for all the false start penalties. The penalty erased a touchdown and the Horns had to settle for a field goal. Stupid is…

2nd Quarter (13:01) WTH Williams?! I think it’s a weekly item to call out somebody named Williams. Aaron Williams is trying to get his draft stock higher with multiple duties. Returning punts better not be on his resume again. He failed to fair catch a punt that ended up rolling 74 yards to put the Horns down at the 1.

2nd Quarter (:29) WTH Red Zone?! Greg Davis needs to trick things up or we will never get in the end zone. It looked like the game plan was to out talent the Cyclones. Too bad effort was not added to the plan. Oh yeah, we missed the field goal to end the half.

3rd Quarter (10:55) WTH Monroe?! Either DJ Monroe needs to be kicked off the team for his past transgressions or give him more carries. He touches the ball once and sprints for 10 yards and a first down. Mack if you are trying to teach him a lesson. Give him the ball more. DJ Monroe and Malcolm Williams are the two biggest mysteries on this team.

3rd Quarter (2:42) WTH Vaccaro?! The arrogance by the Horns was clearly evident when Kenny Vaccaro immediately points to Christian Scott after the Cyclones put up a touchdown in the back of the end zone. Kenny points to Christian like it was his fault that the touchdown occurred. This team needs an attitude adjustment.

4th Quarter (3:09) WTH Muschamp?! Coach Blood needs to be called out for his arrogance of putting out his base nickel defensive package when Iowa State is clearly running the ball to drain the clock. The decision to out talent the opposition resulted in the Cyclones getting a crucial first down to salt the game away.

Next up for the Longhorn’s are the 25th ranked Baylor Bears in Austin at 6:00 pm on October 30th.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at 40AcresSports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!

WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas’ game against the Huskers.

Red Out Around the World {10-16-10} We are not going to forget that date either Husker fans!

1st Quarter (9:58) WTH Defense?! The defense came to play. Coach Blood put together a game plan to stop Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez. Eddie Jones stripped Taylor on their second possession and Keenan Robinson recovered the fumble.

1st Quarter (8:06) WTH VY?! I mean GG. Garrett Gilbert executed the game plan from Greg Davis to perfection which was running the ball when the opportunity presented itself. The running lane was there for a six yard scamper into the end zone!

2nd Quarter (15:00) WTH Burkhead?! You could tell that Nebraska wanted this win so bad that they were tight when the Horns jumped out to a 10 point lead to start the second half. Nebraska’s Rex Burkhead was streaking down the sidelines when he let a sure touchdown slip through his fingertips.

3rd Quarter (8:52) WTH Williams?! I know that you had to lay out to make the touchdown grab but great players make that catch. Malcolm Williams is a frustrating player. The easy ones he drops, this one was suppose to be tough.

4th Quarter (7:19) WTH Husker Nation?! Nebraska fans are the best fans in college football. But you lost a little class when you started booing after Curtis Brown was shaken up on a play. The fans thought Curtis was faking an injury to slow down the momentum that the Nebraska offense was trying to develop. You guys know better than that on how to act when a kid is injured.

4th Quarter (6:33) WTH Kinnie?! This was the last of four dropped passes for scores that proved the original thought that the team and the fan base put to much pressure on this team to win. Brandon Kinnie had a sure touchdown on a crucial fourth down play that ended any hopes for the Huskers.

4th Quarter (3:24) WTH Pelini?! I have been critical of Coach Bo on previous articles. I want to give kudos for putting Eric Hagg at the goal line in anticipation of the pooch punt by Justin Tucker when the Horns lined up for an apparent field goal. The Huskers have a got a good thing going with Coach Bo.

Next up for the Longhorns is Iowa State in Austin at 11:00 am on October 23rd.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at 40AcresSports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!

Ugh.

WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas’ game against the Sooners.

WTH?! articles are supposed to be funny or poignant moments in the game. These days almost every mention is for the lack of focus this Longhorn team has shown. The Horns are out of the Top 25 for the first time in over 10 years. As the season progresses please refer back to my “prediction article” to feel a little bit better.

Start of Game (15:00) WTH Sooner Nation?! While signing the national anthem, before the stirring last stanza of this patriotic song, you replace it with “Home of the Sooners.” Isn’t Sooner a description of a cheater than crosses ahead of everyone else to squat on some land? Hey OU fans, I do not think our national anthem needs to be changed.

1st Quarter (14:24) WTH Keenan?! I know that you need to come jacked up to play this game but come on Keenan Robinson you do not need to hit an OU lineman in the back. Stupid is as Stupid does.

1st Quarter (12:23) WTH Oucho?! Sam Acho ridiculous hold/tackle of Demarco Murray was a brain dead move that helped OU continue their drive for an opening touchdown. Stupid is as Stupid does.

1st Quarter (3:46) WTH Monroe?! What an electrifying play by DJ Monroe who covered 60 yards for the first touchdown for the Horns. That run was probably faster than anyone since Doak Walker. Sad part was that DJ had only 3 more touches to finish with 68 yards (UT’s leading rusher?!).

2nd Quarter (7:19) WTH Coaches?! The coaching staff gets into the mental midget category with a substitution penalty on an OU extra point. It did not hurt the Horns, but it just shows how little discipline this team has.

3rd Quarter (8:10) WTH Jones 1?! The first real momentum turner was when Eddie Jones recovers a Landry Jones fumble only to have it called back because Eddie lined up offside. Stupid is as Stupid does.

4th Quarter (13:45) WTH Jeffcoat?! Another great defensive stand is wasted when Jackson Jeffcoat decides to retaliate with a cheap shot on an OU player to extend a drive that is capped by a brilliant tight rope walk down the sidelines by Demarco Murray. Stupid is as….you get the idea.

v4th Quarter (1:35) WTH Jones 2?! Landry Jones almost gives the Longhorns the game with his butter finger routine with a fumble that lands out of bounds on the 6 yard line. Unfortunately, the final blow was Aaron Williams dropping the OU punt that sealed the game for the Sooners.

Next up for the Longhorn’s are the Huskers in Lincoln at 2:30 pm on October 16th.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at 40AcresSports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!

WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas’ game against the Wyoming Cowboys.

Texas QB Garrett Gilbert passed for 222 yards and found a new favorite target vs Wyoming.

1st Quarter (3:12) WTH Replay Booth?! I have officially seen the worst booth review in the history of officiating. After Wyoming punts the ball, a Cowboy defender rolls into the end zone with the football for a clear touchback. I believe even in the officials on the field were asking themselves are you kidding me. The play stood and the Horns took over on their 20.

2nd Quarter (3:24) WTH Fozzy Bear?! We have a new starting running back at Texas. Fozzy Whittaker rumbled through four tacklers on his way for a 39 yard touchdown that even Earl Campbell would be proud. He finished as the leading rusher for the game… with 62 yards?

2nd Quarter (1:48) WTH Davis?! Be ready for this tandem to strike for many more touchdowns, when Garret Gilbert hit Mike Davis on a quick pass that Davis took it the distance for a 45 yard touchdown to seal the game. The freshman wide receiver lead all pass catchers with 104 yards for the evening.

3rd Quarter (6:00) WTH Late Flag?! Blake Gideon lit up a Wyoming receiver which resulted in an incomplete pass. The hit brought back memories of a Longhorn great John Hagy. The ref decided to throw a flag because he thought it was a flag football game. I loved Coach Blood’s assessment of the bad call as “it is better to say Whoa than Giddy up” to his fired up defense.

3rd Quarter (1:38) WTH Cowboys?! Not only was that fake field goal poorly executed to try and gain some momentum. The camera shot of your oldest fan wearing nothing but a yellow Wyoming barrel was another empty and disturbing moment.

4th Quarter (12:01) WTH UT Fans?! Seriously. Did you not know that the “Wave” is old and out dated? Glad to see that a 29 yard pass completion by the Cowboys put an end to that effort. The Hellraisers with Fox Sports Jim Knox was another fan forgettable moment.

End of Game WTH UT Tower?! I enjoy seeing the tower lit orange on the Godzillatron minus the kids trying to get in the camera shot. But as much as we want to show our spirit and tradition after winning a game, it would have been nice not to see the Tower clock at 6:30 when the game was over at 9:30pm.

Next up for the Longhorn’s are the Red Raiders in Lubbock at 7pm on Sept. 18th.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at 40AcresSports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!

WTH?! (What the Heck?) moments are attempts to find the memorable and the off-beat perspective on Longhorns sports. Here are some interesting moments from the Texas’ game against the Rice Owls.

Sam Acho sacks the Rice QB causing a fumble.

Pregame (15:00) WTH Sherman Williams?! Did your paint truck have an accident on ESPN sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards shirt? Wow…I have no fashion sense but that outfit was almost as loud as the announced attendance of 70,445 at Reliant Stadium.

1st Quarter (6:56) WTH Jones?! I can understand avoiding the dangerous kick returners that we have on the team. But watch out for our secret weapon DE returner Eddie Jones who led all Texas kickoff returners with 41 total yards.

2nd Quarter (14:48) WTH Duran RD 1?! Looks like the Hands of Stone hit the UT secondary. Cornerback Chykie Brown dropped a sure interception for a touchdown when the ball was thrown right at him. Can we say that the SI Jinx has now been applied?

2nd Quarter (7:56) WTH Cowboy?! Kenny Vaccaro was furious on consecutive plays when he lit up Rice running back Tyler Smith. How many star tattoos do you have on your arms? Special shout out to Keenan Robinson who with the help of defensive end Sam Acho turned the tables on Rice with a sack and return for a touchdown.

2nd Quarter (:04) WTH Replay Booth?! What is up with that extraordinary blooper pass completion to Rice WR Randy Kitchens that resulted in one of the two touchdowns that Rice would score? Come on CUSA officials, you could not tell me that his legs were touching before he even tried to extend the ball. Did the ball even cross the goal line? Even the television shot of Rice Coach David Bailiff showed he was surprised by the outcome.

Halftime WTH MOB?! Lost another halftime show. Prediction sure to come true that we will lose the last game of the year too! It was great to see the “oldies” volunteering to march with the band to fill out the roster.

3rd Quarter (8:55) WTH Duran RD 2?! UT cornerback Aaron Williams dropped a sure touchdown as the secondary brought their stone hands to the game. Thank goodness he did not muff a punt return…oh wait.

3rd Quarter (3:42) WTH Newton?! It is amazing how a shifty running back who finds creases makes the offensive line blocking look so much better. RB Tre Newton clearly has established himself as the lead back with his third touchdown. With Newton, Fozzy Whittaker and Cody Johnson the team ran for just under 200 yards. It was good to be stubborn against the Feisty Night Birds but when the real season starts lets mix up the play calling to help open up the run.

4th Quarter (3:40) WTH Duran RD 3?! Aaron Williams will be an all conference player at the end of the season for his defense, but he will not win many special team awards if his decision making ability does not improve. His muff punt return allowed the Owls to tack on another touchdown to make the score look better.

Next up for the Longhorn’s are the Cowboys from Wyoming at 6pm on Sept. 11th.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at 40 Acres Sports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!

Mack was on the Dan Patrick show Monday and said that he feels that since Vince came in second after the 2005 Heisman Trophy vote, he should get it now.  Quoth Mack:  “I think you have to go back and really give that choice to the Heisman Trust. If they take it away, I think Vince should be awarded the trophy.  Vince was second in the voting, so even if they re-voted I would like to see Vince get it.”

The Heisman Trust would have to re-vote then.  They haven’t even taken it away from Reggie Bush yet – SC’s new AD just shipped the school’s statue back to New York.  So of course all of this is hypothetical.  It’s also really unnecessary.  If you think about it, they vote and award the trophy before the BCS bowls in the first place.  The Trust has never wavered from doing that, so awarding a trophy on a re-vote after the player’s greatest moment came in a bowl game – even five years later – is opening them up for some criticism down the road.

I guess that having another Heisman on display could help with recruiting and adds to Vince’s list of accolades collected as a player, but to me, I want the program to be concentrating on what’s in front of them.  This to me sounds like something a school stuck in the past would do.  Vince already got the most important trophy available – after beating Reggie and ESPN’s “greatest team of all time” in their backyard.  Besides, Vince is not a college kid anymore.  He needs to concentrate on leading his NFL team and not another trip back to Austin to get honored.  His legacy is putting an entire program back on top of the world five years ago.

I also don’t want any asterisks associated with the greatness that was the Longhorn’s 2005 BCS Championship run.  That lame 2008 Big 12 title asterisk on the wall at Moncrief-Neuhaus was embarrassing.  If Mack wants a Heisman to show off, let’s see if one of our current guys can pick one up after an awesome season.

We’ve had a rocky relationship over the years in a weird masochistic sort of way.  When we first all got together, back in 1996, you were an evil, determined mistress, a vision of perfection with no vulnerable, tender side.  You dismissed all who came before you – sometimes even violently and machinelike, with no real pleasure to speak of.  Color was irrelevant and so was location -your place or theirs, you had your way with everyone and they were forced to do your bidding.

Then when we really did hook up for the first time, on a cold December night in St. Louis, you weren’t exactly at the height of your power.  Arizona State came out and coldcocked you three months before.  In true Nebraska spirit, you took out your pain and agony on the rest of your schedule.  Some of our old friends were soundly thrashed by the Lady in Red, and when it came down to the end, you prevailed over mighty Colorado and were waiting to beat that little upstart Texas for your largely ceremonial dance ticket.

Well it didn’t happen.  I overcame everything that you had and everything that you stood for, and emerged from that dome with a smile and a trophy.  I rolled and left you a second embarrassment in a single season, something unthinkable to you and everyone you knew.  Of course, you chose 1997 to wreck havoc and take revenge upon all that had wronged you, in a year I’d like to forget.  You emerged unscathed, walking into Seattle and taking U-Dub’s lunch money early on.  You even brushed off Kansas State right after that, whom at the time you didn’t know was to question your power in upcoming years.  You were back where you felt like you belonged.

Then 1998 happened.  Solich happened.  Ricky and Major happened.  Something unthinkable happened.  I went to your house on Halloween, decided I’d had enough of you and your bullying, and hit you as hard as I could.  And you went down, and I left with all of your Halloween candy.  Nobody had invaded your crib and came out victorious in seven years.  I think that was the day our relationship changed.

1999 saw us both sleek and watchful, confident in our abilities but wary of our foes.  You didn’t survive a return visit to my place, but you did get the last laugh in San Antonio.  I was the only blemish on your dance card back then, but you could safely say this was not the one-sided relationship it used to be.   You could even make the case that maybe we were growing a little fond of each other, but we each had our own stuff going on after that.  We were both trying to get from good to great and besides, we both had K-State and Oklahoma to deal with.

By the next time we finally saw each other again in 2002, you were a mess.  You’d even let Iowa State and Oklahoma State push you around.  I left Lincoln for the second consecutive time victorious, an unprecedented feat.    Colorado even wiped their muddy boots on your once-hallowed carpet and strolled away whistling.  I wondered what was wrong with you but after kicking the crap out of you in Austin in 2003, I realized I had better things to do.  Nebraska could take care of herself.

I was a little busy in 2004 and 2005.  I’m not going to apologize.  You’d been where I was ten years before, so you understand.

2006 showed me in the position that you had in 1996, albeit a little weaker.  But that didn’t stop me from taking a third straight win in your house.  I was beginning to think about leaving a note on the fridge so you knew what I liked to eat when I came into town.  We were both trying to find ourselves again, being good but nothing special.  I’m not going to talk much about about 2007 besides you finally realizing a change was due and I beat you again.  I was proud of you for reinventing yourself but kept a healthy dose of skepticism.

2008 was crummy for both of us in different ways.  You had to deal with Missouri and Texas Tech’s best punches and you’re still feeling out this whole cougar thing.  Traveling to Oklahoma doesn’t sound like much fun – I mean, I always say I’ll meet halfway – and getting beat down there has to be worse.  That was the year I learned I don’t like pirates.

I can’t explain last year.  I was at the top of my game, feeling all of the rushes and pressure of 2005 again.  You rolled the clock back despite shocking losses to Iowa State and Texas Tech at home in back to back weeks.  You partied like it was 1995, your salad days.  I won’t get into how and why I get second chances and you don’t.  It just happened that way.  All of the hatred and the fear I had of you in the nineties, though?  It’s a complete role reversal.  I’m at the top of the hill and you’re trying to knock me off one last time before you go run off with your new friends.

I’m not going to wish you luck, as that would be completely asinine.  I do want to thank you for some great memories that have come at your expense over the years.  Sure, you’ll always have San Antonio…but I’ll always have Lincoln.

Love,

Texas

I hope that we are all happy as we start heading into the new season with a brand new quarterback and new expectations. The past five years have been an incredible run for the Longhorn football team with more wins in the programs history than at any other time in our 127 year history.

Let’s all take a moment to reflect back when this run all started in the mountains of California. (love the personal videos!)

“The Kick” coupled with the maturation of one of the greatest Longhorn players, Vince Young, brought us the momentum we needed to achieve greatness. This greatness was realized the very next year with a 13-0 record and a BCS National Championship when the Horns beat the glitzy boys from Southern Cal 41-38. The ultimate responsibility of following up such a legend was laid upon the shoulders of a young face quarterback from Tuscola Texas. That young player named Colt McCoy had the support of an energized and confident coach in Mack Brown to continue that success for the next four years. Those four years culminated in three bowl wins including a Big XII championship.

This historic kick put the Longhorns once again on the brink of success in the BCS National Championship game until the story book run came to an end. Colt McCoy none the less provided more wins than any Longhorn or college quarterback has ever delivered with 45 wins.

Why do I recap these moments that everyone clearly has experienced themselves? The reason is the fear that we will forget the past and not appreciate the run as we start the 2010 season. This year’s team is loaded with standout defensive players all led by Coach Blood. Our offense has a few question marks, but blue chips can be found including the quarterback who grew up quickly before our eyes against Alabama. I know that we have questions at running back and we are changing our offense scheme to be a more running team, but we should win every game, right?!

I feel good about going into this year but not with the type of success that we have seen around here over the past five years. Garrett Gilbert is the real deal, but I see growing pains along with our offensive line struggling with him. I still see us reaching 10 wins, but I see that 10th win coming at Jerry World (aka the Cotton Bowl) after we finish the regular season 9-3. Who will we lose to… be sure to check out all of our predictions at 40 Acres Sports throughout the season before every game. I hope that I am wrong, but I do not see Dusty Mangum or Hunter Lawrence on our team so I will just appreciate the season before us.

Thanks for following my WTH articles throughout the season. I appreciate the opportunity to rant about the greatest University sports program in the country. You can continue to follow comments on all of UT sports on twitter at 40AcresSports or follow me at Horns1991. HOOK EM!!