40 Acres Sports

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 Texas’ matchup with Texas Tech.

Pregame WTH Turkey Day?! We all know that the Thanksgiving Day game will always be a home game for the Horns. Will the fans ever be electric after stuffing their faces all day? The revolving opponents will not install much more enthusiasm or the lame senior introductions before kick-off. Get the players away from the end zone and let them stand in front of the entire crowd with their parents at the 50 yard line. Come on Mack… send them off right!

1st Quarter (9:94) WTH Erxleben?! Not only did Ryan get dissed by his Dad’s alma mater and have to go to Lubbock to kick. But this fleet footed soul decided on his own to take off after no one decided to check on him. Fifty one yards later the Red Raiders were on the scoreboard with their only TD of the half.

1st Quarter (:00) WTH Human Tricks?! The biggest ovation of the 1st quarter was when they trot someone out to kick a field goal in front of the “announced” 100,668 in attendance. They need to break out an old fashioned punt, pass, and kick competition to get this tryptophan fan base entertained.

2nd Quarter (:05) WTH Action Jackson?! The defense had an outstanding outing with 9 sacks and great coverage all game long. A huge play was turned in by Jackson Jeffcoat as Tech was 8 yards away from pay dirt. Jackson recorded one of his three sacks on Baker Mayfield which forced a TT field goal.

3rd Quarter (13:57) WTH Replay Booth?! The officials had a terrible day because they ate way too much and they were asleep at the wheel. Even the replay booth official missed on reversing a fumble call on the Horns. Marcus Johnson was stretching for extra yards when the ground caused the fumble. The booth missed another call when a Tech punt returner did not touch the ball.

3rd Quarter (10:04) WTH Royal?! The scoreboard showed another one of Darrell Royal’s favorite saying that you need to dance with the one that brought you. Coach Applewhite took that saying to heart when sticking with the run all game long and producing two 100 yard rushers of Malcolm Brown & Joe Bergeron.

4th Quarter (14:56) WTH Pretty Boy?! Looks like Coach Tom Cruise needs to instill some discipline with his team. Tech was flagged for 11 penalties for 102 yards. Will Smith (not the actor) laid out Mike Davis after he had clearly caught a touchdown pass from Case McCoy. Tech had a frustrating day with their season starting 7-0 and it ended up going 7-5.

4th Quarter (8:14) WTH Officials?! The officials blew another judgment call when they moved the sticks and gave Jalen Overstreet a first down. The replay booth wanted to take a look at it so that Fox Sports could get another commercial timeout since no was really watching by this time.

Next up for the Longhorns are the Bears in Waco to say goodbye to Floyd Casey Stadium on Dec. 7th.

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!!

In addition to the beatdown on the scoreboard, Texas left the Red River Rivalry this weekend badly battered and bruised. The official injury report is out and its not pretty:

Junior DE Jackson Jeffcoat sustained a right pectoral muscle rupture in the Oklahoma game, will undergo surgery and is out for the season, Texas’ Head Athletic Trainer for Football Kenny Boyd said on Sunday. It is not the same pectoral muscle Jeffcoat injured in 2011. He had surgery to repair his left pectoral muscle last January and has fully recovered from that injury.

Sophomore QB David Ash sustained a left wrist injury versus the Sooners. His injury occurred during a direct helmet blow to his wrist that resulted in swelling, but initial x-rays show no fracture. He will continue to be evaluated during the week but has not been ruled out for the Baylor game.

Junior DT Brandon Moore (neck sprain) and junior OT Donald Hawkins (left ankle) will be evaluated during the week to determine their availability for the Baylor game, Boyd added. Hawkins sprained his ankle in the first half of the Oklahoma game, and the medical staff did not clear him to return.

Could this weekend have gone any worse? 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 Mountaineers.

Texas and Carrington Byndom couldn't make the big 4th down or red zone plays. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Pre-Game WTH Fans?! Wow. A record crowd of 101,851 fans were amped up for this contest. Fans were comparing the electricity in the stadium to when Cougar High came to Austin in 1990. Great job by the fans!

1st Quarter (15:00) WTH JY?! Vince Young was in person and on the giant video board to let the fans know that the “Eyes of Texas are Upon You.” Even his son Jordan got in on the act by getting caught on the video board pointing at the screen saying that’s my daddy.

1st Quarter (9:09) WTH Special Teams?! The kickoff coverage team gave the UT fans heart attacks when Tavon Austin touched the ball. It’s pretty bad when the stat sheet says kickoff of 64 yards and the return is 67 yards. Squib quicks were the order of the day after this long return.

1st Quarter (2:05) WTH Akina?! WVU was setting up for a fourth down play when Coach Akina did not think his secondary was set so he called a costly timeout. Costly? Because the Horns defense stepped up and held the offense on downs. Instead the Mountaineers went on to score on the very next play and subsequently succeed on every fourth down play the rest of the night.

2nd Quarter (15:00) WTH Southwest?! We can understand the need to promote oneself by setting up a stupid human trick by making fans throw a football into an inflatable receptacle. The problem is when you have the inflatables highlighted in Mountaineer school colors which are blue and gold. Bad omen.

2nd Quarter (10:01) WTH Dallas?! The Godzillatron feels it necessary to take us behind the scenes of certain players and cheerleaders because the fans clamor so much to be interrupted with this nonsense. One such interruption was to let us know that a pom squad member felt she looked like the villain from Monsters Inc.

2nd Quarter (7:37) WTH Alex the Great?! Alex Okafor was named Big XII defensive player of the week for his game changing plays. One of those moments was when he stripped Geno Smith and Jackson Jeffcoat recovered the fumble in the end zone to tie up the game.

2nd Quarter (4:51) WTH Dana?! No one can hold a candle to WVU Coach Dana Holgorsen when he throws a fit. Geno Smith was sacked by Desmond Jackson, one of four sacks for the UT defense, which eventually led to a Mountaineers field goal. Dana was so upset that he threw his headset down numerous times to let everyone on the sidelines know his disgust.

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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.

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!!

Probably my favorite press conference every year, Texas head coach [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] is finally able to talk about the incoming recruits and sits down and goes over film of each one of them. Great to hear him talk about the entire incoming class and about the strengths of each player. Definitely worth your time to watch the entire thing:

Some great photos of the future Longhorns making their college choice official yesterday. The photos of Taylor Bible from Inside Texas are awesome. His choice of a Texas fishing/hunting choice is perfect if you heard how country he is during Under Armour game interviews. Check out a selection of the photos below:

Reggie Wilson

Darius Terrell

Jackson Jeffcoat

Tevin Jackson & Adrian Phillips

Taylor Bible

Be sure to head over to Inside Texas, Statesman.com, and DallasNews.com for more photos of these recruits and all the future Horns.

Texas head coach Mack Brown talks to ESPNU about the incredible haul of recruits he brought in today and about Garrett Gilbert replacing Colt McCoy. Watch…

The first Wednesday of every February is the big one for recruitniks. [tag]National Signing Day[/tag] is the first day high school seniors can sign their National Letter of Intent to play college football. A Letter of Intent is a binding agreement between a player and a school so more changing their mind or flip flopping after their name is on the paper.

The Texas Longhorns don’t expect any big news, they got their big fish last Friday, but this is the day when the members of the Horns’ fantastic 2010 recruiting class can make it truly official. Three players are already enrolled and on campus, so 25 22 young men will be faxing in their letters today.

We’ll have updates throughout the day as the letters come in on Twitter at @40AcresSports and here on this page. Most of the action should take place in the morning so stay tuned.

Confirmed* Letters of Intent

• [tag]Taylor Bible[/tag]
• [tag]DeAires Cotton[/tag]
• [tag]Ashton Dorsey[/tag]
• [tag]Dominic Espinosa[/tag]
• [tag]Jordan Hicks[/tag] (first one in at 6am)
• [tag]Chris Jones[/tag]
• [tag]William Russ[/tag]
• [tag]Reggie Wilson[/tag]
• [tag]Aaron Benson[/tag]
• [tag]Greg Daniels[/tag] (this one had me a little nervous after weekend rumors)
• [tag]Tevin Jackson[/tag]
• [tag]Adrian Phillips[/tag]
• [tag]Traylon Shead[/tag]
• [tag]Darius White[/tag] (after how long it took to bring him in over OU, glad he was in early)
• [tag]John Harris[/tag]
• [tag]Trey Hopkins[/tag]
• [tag]Darius Terrell[/tag]
• [tag]Bryant Jackson[/tag]
• [tag]Mike Davis[/tag]
• [tag]Carrington Byndom[/tag]
• [tag]Jackson Jeffcoat[/tag]
• [tag]Demarco Cobbs[/tag] (last one is in!)

Spring Enrollees

• [tag]Case McCoy[/tag]
• [tag]Adrian White[/tag]
• [tag]Connor Wood[/tag]

Updates…

RT @InsideTexas: Aaron Benson has signed his Letter of Intent to play for Texas. 12 to go. #ut (8:25am)

DE Greg Daniels, LB Tevin Jackson & DB Adrian Phillips are in. Daniels came up in recent decommit rumors so good to see his LOI in. #ut (8:40am)

According to @InsideTexas, record setting Cayuga RB Traylon Shead has sent in his LOI. #ut (9:10am)

RT @gkketch: Breaking news in recruiting. Multiple outlets have Dallas Skyline LB Corey Nelson signing with OU instead of Texas A&M today (9:25am)

RT @gkketch: Just spoke with Fort Worth WR Darius White and he told me that he’s signing and faxing to Texas as I type. 19 of 25 confirmed. (9:30am)

Only a few guys left to sign. A little nervous that Jackson Jeffcoat and out of state ATH Demarco Cobbs are 2 of them. #UT (9:37am)

RT @gkketch: 24 of the 25 commitments for Texas have signed and faxed in their letters. We’re only waiting on DeMarco Cobbs, who signs a … (10:44am)

RT @jeff_howe: Just talked with Demarco Cobbs. He has signed and sent his LOI to #ut. Texas has now signed all 25 verbal commitments. #ut (11:20am)

*Information on confirmed LOI from Orangebloods.com and Inside Texas.

No embed available, but the Dallas Morning News has posted the video of Plano West defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat making his commit to the Texas Longhorns. On the video Jackson makes his announcement, answers a couple of questions, and then they talk to his coach and his dad.