All Things Longhorn

Longhorns improve to 8-2 with win over Okie State

2006-11-08T23:43:00.000-05:00

8-2 and on the cusp of a BCS Bowl bid.

HornsBlog has MOVED

2005-11-14T15:09:00.000-05:00

Please visit our new URL at Burnt Orange Nation.

If you run a website or blog that was linking to us previously, we would appreciate it tremendously if you'd update your link to reflect our new URL.

Thanks to everyone who has been visiting us on this site, and we'll look forward to seeing you on the new site. We think you'll like the many improvements as we get everything going on the new site.

Kansas Summary

2005-11-13T09:16:00.000-05:00

The summary for the Kansas game is up at www.burntorangenation.com. Direct link click here.

Texas 66 Kansas 14

2005-11-12T22:15:00.000-05:00

It turns out that either The Fighting Manginos of Kansas had an overrated defense or Texas has a ridiculously good offense. It was probably a mixture of both, as Texas moved the ball at will against the overmatched Jayhawks. The Horns amassed 336 yards on the ground and 289 through the air, including 4 Vince Young TD tosses. Young's Heisman rival, Reggie Bush, had only 75 yards on 16 carries. Much, much more on the huge Texas victory, the Heisman trophy race, and the rest of the college football world to come this week on All Things Longhorn.

But the biggest news of all for us on this blog is that we're finally beginning our migration over to the Sports Blog Nation. In fact, the brand new site is UP AND RUNNING now over at www.burntorangenation.com. We're still developing a few different things for the new site, but go ahead and take a look and bookmark the new site now. And offer us your feedback on the new look.
--PB--

Hook 'Em Early

2005-11-11T14:42:00.000-05:00

Now you can start raising your baby Longhorn the right way, as spelled out in the Baby Longhorn DVD! Because it's never too early to start brainwashing them....

Oh man. I got this in my email inbox and didn't know what to do. This is the price we pay for free markets, I suppose.

I'm not sure which is worse--the video itself, or the 10,000 parents that will buy it.
--PB--

Special Senior

2005-11-11T14:28:00.000-05:00

One of the players making his final appearance at DKR on Saturday is fullback Ahmard Hall. For those unfamiliar with Hall's story, here's a great read about him courtesy of Bill Little at MackBrown-TexasFootball.com.

Hall, a third-year walk-on, was the 2004-05 Big 12 Sportsman of the Year. He is best known for being a former Marine and carrying the American flag out onto the field as the team leaves the tunnel. Last season he carried one time for a 1-yard touchdown, and in 2005 he's got one carry for 10 yards (against Colorado). Here's hoping Mack can get Ahmard into the end zone on Saturday to cap his home career.

--TR--

Lovin' Lovell

2005-11-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

Lovell Pinkney, the talented but troubled wide receiver at Texas in the early 1990s, is repaying the University for all that it gave him. Reports say that Pinkney is a close friend of star recruit Kevin Durant and urged him to choose Texas, citing how much fun Pinkney had back in the day.

This is undoubtedly true. My father had Pinkney in one of his sociology classes back then and said the guy was all party, no school. Hey—live and let live. Fine by us. Though he did squander his chances at a pro career with his lack of seriousness. Still, we’re especially pleased that he had a good time now that it’s helping Rick Barnes land stud recruits.

Let’s just hope the next star recruit isn’t a friend of Chris Simms. The reviews may not be as favorable.
--PB--

For the fans

2005-11-10T16:10:00.000-05:00

Not an official ATL rooting guide, but the TR rooting guide.

While enjoying Texas' romp over Kansas this weekend, be sure to cheer for the following outcomes:

Cal over USC: The sooner we're officially No.1 the better, as far as I am concerned. Then we can be even more arrogant and start talking all kinds of smack. I know this differs from the other members of the blog, but this is the TR rooting guide. As the Snickers commercial says: Hungry? Why wait? Plus, tickets to the Rose Bowl will be easier to come by if USC isn't playing.

LSU over Bama: The 'Tide sucks (or at least their offense does). They discredit the word undefeated. Plus, if both USC and Alabama lose, we might get to play LSU in the Rose Bowl. Then we can spot Les Miles a couple of touchdowns for old time's sake before roaring back in the second half.

Ohio State over Northwestern: I'm tired of people not acknowledging Texas' win over Ohio State as the biggest win of the year. Spare me the USC/ND talk. ND had already lost. I'm convinced that had Ohio State beaten us they would be undefeated and ranked #2.

South Carolina over Florida: I love Steve Spurrier and if he beats Tennessee and Florida in his first year at South Carolina, he'll further prove his awesomeness (at least in college football).

Colorado over Iowa State: So the Big 12 title game can have a better matchup. I don't want the Buffs falling out of the rankings until the Horns beat them for a second time.

Texas A&M over OU: Because I hate OU even worse than the Aggies, who have been downgraded from our little brother to our little sister. Still, at least they're family. OU is and will always be the loser who lives down the street that no one likes.

--TR--

Big 12 news and notes

2005-11-10T15:15:00.000-05:00

Some news and notes from around the Big 12:

• Following Texas A&M’s 52-17 blowout loss to Texas Tech last Saturday, the Aggies experienced a whole new level of humiliation, as raucous Raider fans chanted “Worse than Bay-lor!” at the Aggies as they departed the field.

• Speaking of the unglued Aggies, head coach Dennis Francione has decided his time is better spent complaining about his team’s schedule than doing something, like, improving his team. Franchione recently had a discussion with Big 12 officials in which he complained that the Aggies closing schedule was too tough. The Aggies last three games this year are at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma, and versus Texas. Someone might want to tell Coach Fran that when you lose 42-14 at home against Iowa State, it doesn’t matter who you play, or when.

• Don’t look now, but Texas Tech may be BCS bound. Okay, it’s a long shot, but that it’s a possibility is credit to Mike Leach and the Red Raiders this year. Tech gets hammered with the “overrated” stamp perhaps more than any other team in the country, but close Big 12 watchers know this team is no pushover. Don’t believe me? Ask California how they enjoyed playing Tech in a bowl last year.

• Texas’ 16 game winning streak is the longest since they won 30 in a row during 1968-1970, winning two national titles along the way

• Oklahoma is finally getting healthy, and experienced. Sooner players have combined to miss 31 games because of injuries this season. In the Sooners’ national championship season in 2000, no starter missed a game because of an injury. The Sooners have also played 12 freshmen this season, including five who have started at least one game. They’re re-loading, Horns fans.

• Coach Fran isn’t the only coach saying “I don’t know” when asked what’s wrong with his team. Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel, dangerously similar in his ineptitude to his hoops counterpart Quinn Snyder, had no answers for his team’s recent struggles either. Even when Texas plays exceptionally well, I can tell you what we’re doing wrong. Those words should never come out of a coaches mouth.
--PB--

Week 11 Picks: SEC Showdown Edition

2005-11-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

Another week, another crack at the picks. ATL did reasonably well last week, going 4-3 with our group picks. This week’s guest pickers are loyal readers Adam Sahyouni and Jason Mayer, both University of Texas alums and college football junkies.

Top Too Much Maroon Game

Name	Texas A&M +13 @ Oklahoma	Pick
PB	The Aggies are sad. OU’s offense improving.	OU
AW	Another A&M loss towards a losing season. Take the points though.	Texas A&M
TR	This much sucking indicates a category 6 hurricane will hit Norman this weekend. As bad as A&M is, OU isn’t blowing anyone out with that offense. Give me the points.	Texas A&M
AS	I will quote a comment made by Link on the Blog this week “I want the stadium to implode”	OU
JM	Remember when teams tore down goalposts for beating A&M?	OU
Consensus	3 votes to 2	OU

**Top Define Yourself Game**
Name	Auburn +3 @ Georgia	Pick
PB	I like the improving Tigers, but Georgia is subtly dominating. They’ll win this game by a TD or more.	Georgia
AW	With Shockley back, I have to go with the Dawgs.	Georgia
TR	Seems like the spread would be bigger. Since it’s not, I think something’s brewing here.	Auburn
AS	Shockley is back	Georgia
JM	Shockley is back; Bulldogs would be undefeated if he’d been healthy.	Georgia
Consensus	4 votes to 1	Georgia

**Top Big 11 Game**
Name	Northwestern +18 @ Ohio State	Pick
PB	Troy Smith is #4 in the country in passing efficiency. Whoa.	Ohio State
AW	Tressel has started to teach offense in Columbus and Troy Smith is improving. OSU wins.	Northwestern
TR	Northwestern offense is good. It’s season-low in points came at Michigan (17), so I think they can match that here. Add in the 18-point spread, and I see them covering.	Northwestern
AS	Brett has a very long day against the OSU defense	Ohio State
JM	The NU offense has shown weakness the last two weeks and the Buckeye defense is better than Michigan & Iowa	Ohio State
Consensus	3 votes to 2	Ohio State

**Top Huge Line Game**
Name	Kansas +34 @ Texas	Pick
PB	Senioritis keeps the score under the spread.	Kansas
AW	Senior Day. The Horns are 8-1 against the spread. VY keeps rollng.	Texas
TR	Senior day = UT big, 52-13.	Horns House
AS	I honestly have no idea here. Will we beat them? Of course. The Question is how bad did the fat man piss the Horns off.	Kansas
JM	It might be hard to cover the spread when all your sixth string senior walk-ons are playing.	Kansas
Consensus	3 votes to 2	Kansas

**Top SEC Game**
Name	LSU -3 @ Alabama	Pick
PB	Bama defense will suffocate Les Miles. Bama offense gets on the board to win a squeaker, 17-13.	Bama
AW	This line looks wrong. Bama is undefeated and at home. Vegas has it right.	LSU
TR	LSU rolls the tide by 14+.	Geaux Tigers
AS	Not being able to score TD’s catches up this week	LSU
JM	Alabama is finally exposed. As long as LSU can score 10 points.	LSU
Consensus	4 votes to 1	LSU

**Top Potential Rose Bowl Wrecking Game**
Name	USC -19 @ California	Pick
PB	Cal is no match for the Trojans. This line should be higher. Farm bet of the week.	USC
AW	Last loss was at Cal two years ago. Won’t happen again but Cal hangs tough.	Cal
TR	I’m through rooting for USC to meet us in the Rose Bowl. Their D is a joke. Plus, I’d sure like to avenge the 1991 Cotton Bowl.	Cal
AS	As much as I would like to go the other way, USC puts on a clinic. Bet the HOUSE.	USC
JM	USC is good. Cal is not. This year won’t be close.	USC
Consensus	3 votes to 2	USC

Departing Longhorns

2005-11-10T12:58:00.000-05:00

As we approach Senior Day in Austin this Saturday, it’s time to take a look at the seniors that will depart the team after this season:

Will Allen (OL)
Steven Andrade* (DE)
Brian Carter (WR)
Xang Chareunsab* (WR)
Mike Garcia (OL)
Cedric Griffin (CB)
Ahmard Hall (FB)
Eric Hall (DE)
Michael Huff (S)
Kalen Jakes (DE)Braden Johnson (LB)
Matt Logan* (WR)
Richmond McGee (P/PK)
Karim Meijer (DB)
Matt Nordgren (QB)
Jason Perez* (LB)
Kyle Phillips* (PK)
David Pino (PK)
Brad Poronsky* (OL)
Kirby Portley* (TE)
James Ray* (DB)
Nick Schroeder (Deep Snapper)
Jonathan Scott (OL)
Cody Stavig* (DB)
Anthony Strong* (WR)
David Thomas (TE)
William Winston (OL)
Rodrique Wright (DT)
Jerren Wight* (DB)

*Denotes non-scholarship player
-Starters in bold

Texas will sorely miss the departing offensive linemen, Michael Huff, Ced Griffin, Rodrique Wright, and David Thomas. Obviously, the Horns will be featuring some new kickers next year as well, as both David Pino and Richmond McGee are departing.
--PB--

Why Vince Returns

2005-11-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

Vince Young has declared his intentions to return to Texas next year for his senior season. If he wins the Heisman and Texas claims the national title, some will say he's foolish not to leave since he will have accomplished everything he can in college.

Here are the top five reasons I think he's coming back.

1. Mack never loses underclassmen (unless they allegedly smoke pot before the Cotton Bowl), and Vince isn't going to buck that trend. Mack has done a lot for Vince in giving him the reins of a top-five program and letting him do his thing. Those of us who have followed Mack his entire time in Austin can see the difference in the way he's handling the team. Of course it's worked out well, but Mack couldn't have known that for sure. It's human nature do things your way so at least if you fail, you failed your way. I imagine Vince feels a lot of loyalty to Mack, and Mack needs Vince next year so whatever high school quarterback phenom they sign this year can have a year to develop. No offense to Colt McCoy, who I am sure is a good player, but I'd feel better if he wasn't the only option to follow in Vince's footsteps. Next year, it's him and whoever comes in as true freshman. In 2007, the options will be far greater.

2. Vince isn't getting drafted ahead of either member of the USC duo in 2006. He can improve his draft status (and bonus money) in the 2007 draft. Plus, he'll have a monster insurance policy if he does come back, just like Leinart has this year at USC.

3. Everyone knows his delivery needs work. Consider the career of Steve McNair. He was the third pick of the 1995 draft despite playing at Division I-AA. He obviously wasn't ready for the NFL, and he didn't become a full-time starter until his third year. If Vince needs two years of practice to develop an NFL-quality throwing motion before he can be a starting QB in the NFL, why not spend one of them at UT and one on the bench in the NFL instead of two on an NFL bench?

4. He will be a GOD in Austin. You think Ricky Williams was popular? People will throw rose petals (or underwear) at Vince's feet everywhere he goes. He'll be on the cover of every preview magazine next year, too, and his hype will be Leinart-esque. Maybe Vince will even sign up for ballroom dance. (Hell, I took it my senior year at UT. It's pretty fun.)

5. And here's a scary thought: Texas should be even better next year. If the Horns win it all this season, they will enter 2006 with a 20-game winning streak. USC's streak will be at 34 if the Trojans reach the Rose Bowl this season, and everyone talks about them as if they are in the NFL. People in Austin have long considered the Horns their NFL team, but next year with Vince back the hype will finally be appropriate.
--TR--

Getting To Know You: Jayhawk Edition

2005-11-10T11:28:00.000-05:00

Media guides are fun… For this edition, we’ll pull a few factoids from the KU media guide and offer comments.

Rush defense: The Kansas rush defense ranks first in the nation, allowing just 64 yards per game on the year. Seven times this season the KU defense has surrendered less than 100 rushing yards to an opponent (70 vs Florida Atlantic, 38 vs Louisian Tech, 47 at Texas Tech, 35 at Kansas State, 96 vs Oklahoma, 33 vs Missouri, 21 vs Nebraska.

Hmmm… That makes me wonder if those teams are any good at running the ball. Let’s check their national ranks in rushing offense.

Louisiana Tech is ranked 58th in rushing offense, Oklahoma 47th, Texas Tech 98th, Nebraska 110th, Missouri 23rd, Kansas State 94th, and Florida Atlantic 105th. And the Jayhawks played Oklahoma when Peterson was injured—he only had 5 rushes in the game.

I’m certain the Kansas defense is solid, but before we coronate them as rushing defenders of the year, let’s bear in mind that they’ve been facing some pretty miserable rushing teams. The only impressive game is the domination of Missouri and Brad Smith.

First and Ten: Last Saturday the Jayhawks held Nebraska to seven first downs.

This says more about how far Nebraska has fallen than how good the Jayhawks have been. The Cornhuskers now rank 108th in the nation in total offense. Folks, it’s tough to be that inept.

Inside the numbers: In its two consecutive wins, KU averaged 363 total yards while holding opponents to an average of 159 yards per game.

KU’s last two opponents? The aforementioned Division II Cornhuskers and inconsistent Missouri Tigers. Again, while this Jayhawk defensive unit deserves praise, I’m not ready to believe that they have a chance at shutting down Texas.

All five of Kansas’ victories have come in Lawrence this year.

Someone forgot to tell Mark Mangino that this one’s being played in Austin this year.

A Kansas WIN would…
Be the team’s first victory against Texas since the 1938 season, and snap a string of five straight wins by the Longhorns… Be KU’s first-ever win in Texas-Memorial Stadium… Give Mark Mangino his 18th career win as head coach, making his overall record 18-28.

I know I’m pounding on a dead horse here, but whatever. Mangino picked this fight. I can’t believe I’m fired up to beat the crap out of Kansas. You’d think this were a basketball game. Just goes to show what a dumb thing it is for Mangino to be giving the Horns bulletin board material.

Anyway, the whole KU media guide is pretty depressing. It’s mostly filled with neat factoids about the defense and how much better they are than in any previous year, which of course just belies the fact of how miserable they’ve always been. Not that I blame them—that’s what media guides are supposed to do. The Texas media guide reads like a cheerleaders guide to 100+ years of beating the hell out of Rice and Baylor.

I’m on record predicting a 41-10 Horns victory, with Kansas getting some late garbage score while our fourth string seniors get some fourth quarter action in their last game. Time for the readers to weigh in on game predictions. What will be the final score of the game? And how many rushing yards will Texas gain against the “vaunted” Kansas rushing defense? If you predict Texas’ exact rushing yards total, we’ll give you a free t-shirt of your choice from the Co-Op. To be eligible, you must include your full name and email in the comment section when you post your prediction.
--PB--

Remarkable Vince Young Stat of the Day

2005-11-10T10:33:00.000-05:00

Vince Young needs just 145 yards rushing to become only the fifth player in NCAA history to rush for 3,000 yards and pass for 5,000 yards.
--PB--

Triple Threat

2005-11-10T10:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Michael Holt for first calling our attention to this: Sportsbook.com has posted a unique bet on Texas winning both the football and basketball national championships. The Horns, #2 in the BCS football standings and #2 in the preseason AP basketball poll, are at 35-1 to hold win both titles. (See the press release about the bet here.) No school has ever won the football and basketball championships in the same year.

And let's not forget that the Horns already won this year's baseball championship.
--PB--

Texas completes second pre-season rout

2005-11-10T00:45:00.000-05:00

Texas routed Lenoir-Rhyne 97-36 to complete their pre-season schedule. The Division II school is the alma mater of Rick Barnes. The Horns looked sloppy early in the first half before rolling, especially in the second half. The defense was very impressive holding the Bears to just 30% shooting and forcing 29 turnovers. Buckman and Aldridge each had double-doubles. Both were able to consistently establish low post position deep in the paint and just wait for the feeds from Texas guards. The Horns dominated all the statistical categories against the slower and shorter competition. Rebounds 41-30, assists 17-7, points in the paint 44-16, and points off turnovers 39-4.

This was a total mismatch from the opening tip. Give credit to Barnes and his staff for keeping the players motivated throughout. Lenoir-Rhyne coach John Lentz said after the game, “They are much better than they were last year.” I think so too, but we will find out for sure when Texas opens the regular season on Tuesday in the first round of the Guardians Classic against Southern.
--AW--

Barnes Inks Top Class

2005-11-10T00:28:00.000-05:00

Rick Barnes signed one of the nation’s top classes on Wednesday. Five players signed to play with the Horns next season. A sixth player, DJ Augustin, will sign on Thursday. He waited one day to sign on his birthday. Texas’ class is rated as the nation’s fifth best by Rivals.com and seventh best by Scout.com.

The class is led by Kevin Durant (6’9,200) a perimeter forward with NBA skills from Maryland. Durant is the rated as the second best high school prospect in the country. Before this year, Durant would have likely left for the NBA. Durant picked Texas over Connecticut and North Carolina. Barnes will land DJ Augustin tomorrow. Augustin (6’1”,170) follows in the footsteps of TJ Ford and Daniel Gibson as top point guards to sign for Barnes. Augustin is currently playing in the Houston area after evacuating Louisiana because of Hurricane Katrina. Augustin could be asked to contribute quickly if Gibson bolts to the pros. Also signing on Wednesday were Dexter Pittman (6’10”,320), Matt Hill (6’10”,220), Harrison Smith (6’3”,185), and Justin Mason (6’3”,175). Pittman and Hill will be bangers on the low blocks. Like Augustin, both will grab minutes next season with Buckman and likely Aldridge departing. Smith is a former high school teammate of Daniel Gibson and backcourt starter on their state championship team who uses his strength and athleticism to get to the rim. Mason is known as a gym rat who can play both guard positions.

This is an extremely impressive class. Before Rick Barnes, Texas did not steal recruits from North Carolina and Connecticut. Now, we regularly land McDonald’s All Americans and compete for the best players in the country. High school players watched TJ Ford lead Texas to the Final Four. They watched Gibson and Aldridge star last year as freshman and they see our top 2 pre season rankings. Great things are happening at DKR and our road to the Rose Bowl, but let’s not forget the great things that Rick Barnes and the men’s basketball team are accomplishing. Great coaches can make good teams champions, but the talent has to be there too. Texas is now landing top talent every year. And Barnes has the skills to make us great. Can cutting down the nets be that far away?
--AW--

Point, Counterpoint: Saturday's Psychological Edge

2005-11-09T13:56:00.000-05:00

We've argued that Mark Mangino's BCS conspiracy rantings, coupled with his comments that KU outplayed and outcoached the Horns, gave Texas a psychological edge. Our reasoning is that Kansas' best hope for beating Texas this year, given the ridiculous talent gap, is catching Texas flat. Such "bulletin board material" merely angers Goliath; not a good idea.

Our friendly rivals at the Kansas Phog Blog, not surprisingly, offer a different take on the psychological battle:

The first time in history in which the previous year’s winner is seeking revenge. Vince Young says Mangino disrespected him and his coaches by pointing out that UT was outplayed and out-coached last year. (News flash: the next time Mack Brown out-coaches anyone will be the first time. And a 20+ point favorite having to rely on a dishonest call to defeat a 4-7 team? If that’s not being outplayed, what is?) Young says the Longhorns intend to dominate the game to teach Mangino a lesson.

The good news is that Young’s whining means either that UT (a) is not taking KU seriously and grasping at straws for artificial motivation that will disappear after the first few plays; or (b) is seriously focused on Mangino—which is a distraction—rather than focusing on playing football.

Either way, KU has the psychological advantage.

Okay readers, it's on you now. Offer your own analysis on this topic of debate. Is the Mark Mangino blathering a distraction, or positive motivation, for Texas this Saturday?
--PB--

From the Mail Bag

2005-11-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

A dive in to the mail bag provides us with this question from loyal reader (and Iowa State blogger) Alex Ernst:

I was wondering your thoughts on this, but you guys tend to think Vince is unstoppable. Are there any defenses out there that you could see giving him trouble? I mean, just slowing down his running game. I was wondering after Iowa State completely shut down Smith and McNeal on the ground, if you thought they could hold Young somewhat in check and make him throw the ball more.

Hey Alex – thanks for the question. If you’re wondering whether a team can hold Young’s running in check and force him to throw, the answer is yes. After the first quarter, Ohio State did an excellent job of keying in on Vince Young and making him throw. But that’s the trouble Texas opponents’ have been facing this year. The guy can throw. Young is ranked third in the nation in passing efficiency and has become such a good passer that you really can’t afford to solely key in on stopping his runs. It’s a no-win situation.

Vince Young’s improvements in the passing game are the single biggest reason why Texas is a legitimate national title contender. The offense can beat you so many ways this year.

Got a question for the ATL authors? Send them an email.
--PB--

How TV ads get made

2005-11-09T11:07:00.000-05:00

I haven’t the foggiest idea what teams are in this highlight, or how it in any way relates to the University of Texas, but it’s blog-worthy, that’s for sure. Loyal reader Christian Loew sent in this video clip to us last night, and we can’t pass up sharing it with all of you.

Watch the clip and then let me know if you’re thinking what I’m thinking… Yeah, thought so. This has Wheaties ad written all over it. “Better eat your Wheaties!”
--PB--

Kansas @ Texas Preview

2005-11-09T10:54:00.000-05:00

Kansas is in a much better spot than Baylor was last week, when Texas was knee deep in an increasingly close battle among Rose Bowl suitors. Now that Virginia Tech has been defeated, Texas sits in a far more comfortable position, needing only to win out for a Rose Bowl berth.

So, while Texas was playing for style points last week, focused intently on completely demolishing the Bears, one could argue that Texas is in perfect position for a letdown game. If Texas were playing the improved Jayhawks on the road, I might buy in to that a bit. The reality is, though, that this game is a home game and, more importantly, it’s senior day. Saturday’s game will be the last game in Austin for some thirty Longhorns, and I don’t see Texas being flat for this one at all.

Add in the fact that Kansas gave Texas a serious scare last year, and the likelihood of a letdown decreases further. If we can eliminate the potential letdown factor from the equation, how does this game break down?

It’s a pretty simple one, actually. All Texas has to do is have a solid offensive day and they’ll win. They don’t need to perfect, or even great—just good. Kansas’ biggest problem in this game is that their offense is pretty challenged. They rank 8th in the conference in rushing, 10th in passing, and 11th in total offense. That’s not a recipe for success against Texas. To beat the Longhorns, you’ve got to be able to score a lot. You aren’t going to beat Texas 10-7 any more than anyone’s going to beat USC by that score. The team that hands Texas or USC its first loss is going to do so with a big offensive game. Kansas can’t do that.

With that said, the Jayhawks defense does deserve some praise here. They rank first in the nation in rushing defense, 37th in passing defense, and 5th in total defense. They only allow 18 points per game. Their coach, big Mark Mangino, is an above average defensive coach. Much like Baylor, it’s hard to take Kansas football seriously, but their defense is to be respected. They play hard, they tackle well, they're well coached, and they execute what they’re asked to do. Snicker all you want; it’s not a bad unit.

Still, even with an above average defense, Kansas is totally outmatched here. They haven’t played an offense as diversely dangerous as Texas’s at all. The best offense they’ve faced—that of Texas Tech—put up 30 points on them. Texas may not beat up on the Kansas defense the way they have against some of their opponents this year, but they’re not going to be stopped, either. Kansas needs to win the battle of turnovers by at least two, needs to dominate the field position game, and hope for a defensive or special teams score. Barring that perfect storm, this one won’t be close. I think Texas will keep its focus, build a 20-3 halftime lead, and win by a final margin of 41-10, with most of its starters on the bench in the fourth quarter.
--PB--

Random News & Notes

2005-11-08T15:50:00.000-05:00

A quick bullet point rundown before tomorrow’s forray into the Kansas game and our weekly national picks:

• Nine teams in the Big 12 rank in the top 50 in rushing defense nationally, including three in the top 10 and five in the top 20. Kansas (1), Oklahoma (2), Colorado (5), Iowa State (12), Texas (20), Nebraska (26), Texas A&M (37), Kansas State (39), and Texas Tech (47) have all been successful in keeping opponents’ running games in check. That’s partly a product of the lack of potent rushing attacks in the Big 12, but also indicative of the strong rush defense the conference always plays.

• Remember all the preseason hype about Reggie McNeal? Some even suggested that a McNeal for Vince Young swap might be in Texas’ best interest. Turns out that wouldn’t have been such a hot idea. McNeal is completing a mediocre 54.5% of his passes, with 14 TDs against 8 INTs. It’s been the Aggies rushing game, ranked 11th nationally with 224 yards per game, that’s saved the offense from complete destruction. That pass defense, too, needs a little work.

• Before the Pac 10 bandwagoneers come stampeding through here, we offer you this nugget: this year’s top 14 teams in total defense (in order of 1 to 14)—Miami, Virginia Tech, Alabama, West Virginia, Kansas, Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Connecticut, and Penn State. Recognize any of those teams in the top half of the rankings these days? Before the Trojan flaming begins, let us offer this peace offering: This criticism doesn’t apply to you. Pete Carroll knows how to coach defense. We know that. Relax. Breathe.

• Ohio State has only forced 10 turnovers this year, good for 110th in the nation. Two of those, you may remember, came against the Horns. Bizarre. That stat just surprised me. I really think the Big 10 is this year’s SEC—head and shoulders above the rest. Poor Michigan has faced seven top thirty teams already. It makes me wonder if Penn State, and not Virginia Tech, might have been the best bet to unseat Texas’ Rose Bowl berth had they remained unbeaten.

• Matt Leinart (#1) and Vince Young (#3) are at the top of the passing efficiency leaders for the year. Leinart’s spot at the top surprises none, while Vince Young’s passing critics really are firing blanks. Cocky Trojan fans may not want to admit how good Young and Texas have been this year, but smart college football fans want this matchup. It’s not just narrative: these are your two best teams this year. Sometimes, when we’re lucky, narrative and the truth collide. I think this is one of those “good years” for the BCS. (Hehe—watch us lose to Kansas)

• While that previous bit of information may not have surprised you, I bet this will. Guess who checks in at #4 in the nation in passing efficiency? Troy Smith of Ohio State. The Buckeye-Wolverine game could shape up to be a dandy. (Paging Chad Henne!)

• Other stats USC and Texas excel in: 3rd down conversion percentage (USC 2nd nationally, Texas 5th), rushing defense (USC #19, Texas #20), and total offense (USC #1, Texas #4).
--PB--

Reluctant Bone Toss To Dogs of the Day

2005-11-08T14:55:00.000-05:00

I was torn on whether or not to give these jokers the time of day, but hey, this is a blog, and it’s our job to get you to, like, emote. So, we limply present to you the bozos of…

This site.

Start your flaming, Horns fans.
--PB--

Dumb Things Fat People Say

2005-11-08T13:26:00.000-05:00

Remember last year, when Texas scored two late touchdowns to beat Kansas, 27-23? It was a pretty crappy performance from Texas, save the final two drives, but the worst of it didn’t come from the Longhorns. No, Mark Mangino won that honor with his post-game comments. In case you forgot:

“You know what this is all about, don't you? BCS. That's what made a difference today in the game,” Mangino said. “That's what made the difference in a call in front of their bench. Dollar signs.”

Gotcha, Mark. There’s nothing quite like a grand conspiracy theory to bail your team out for a disappointing loss. Hey, that’s why we got another Yankees-Red Sox ALCS this year. Because that’s what the big dollars wanted, goddamnit!

Big Gut Maggoo, err… Mark Mangino, an offspring of the Bob Stoops program at OU, should be above that. But, rather than pass judgment on Mangino for remarks he made in the heat of the moment, let me just remind our readers that such things are not forgotten.

On Monday Texas coaches passed around newspaper clippings of those quotes to their players to remind them of last year’s game and fire them up. Another week, another outmatched Texas opponent making sure they catch an angry, rather than sleeping, giant.

Hey, who am I to complain?
--PB--

Barnes Lands Another

2005-11-08T11:25:00.000-05:00

Rick Barnes has received another verbal commitment for next year's squad. DJ Augustin, a 6' 1" point guard from Sugar Land (via Louisiana after Katrina), is a 4 star recruit according to Scout.com and is rated the seventh best point guard in the country. Rick Barnes is securing a future after the inevitable departure of Daniel Gibson. Augustin is the sixth prospect to make a verbal commitment to the Horns. Again, verbal commitments are not binding, but if everyone signs this will be a definitely be a top 10 class. The early signing period starts tomorrow and continues through November 16th.
--AW--

ATL Interview: Everyone Should Be This Funny

2005-11-08T10:09:00.000-05:00

ATL had the unique opportunity to pose some questions to two of the funniest college football writers you’ll find, Orson Swindle and Stranko Montana, co-authors of Every Day Should Be Saturday. Along with having the coolest named blog around, they’re laugh-out-loud funny, and poignant, to boot. Graduates of the University of Florida, the two authors of EDSBS answered a few questions for ATL. We couldn’t have enjoyed their answers more. We’re sure you will, too.

ATL: Describe Florida's season in one sentence for us.

EDSBS: Florida's season has been a treat for the whole family, a story both adults and children can love featuring the unique vocal talents of Aaron Carter, Tom Waits, and Stephen Hawking.

Seriously? Shit, that's not easy. Try this on: one long scrimmage with mixed results.

ATL: What's up with Chris Leak? He looks like such an impressive quarterback to us, but he doesn't seem to be taking to Urban Meyer's system that well? Help us out: what's up?

EDSBS: Leak's being asked to do two things he's never done prior to this year. First, he's supposed to run an option, which a great number of high school quarterbacks get at least some experience doing along the way. Not so for Leak, who essentially ran the same static spread offense all the way from high school through his first two years of college. It hasn't been pretty, but with the recent tweaks in the run game it's been a little less horrific the past two games.

Second, he's being asked to make calls at the line for the first time in both the run and pass game. Believe it or not, film monster and workaholic Leak--who youthink would have been given a certain amount of trust before--was never given the option to audible at the line.

Finally, remember this: Leak's only a junior. It feels like he's been around forever, but he's only had one season prior to this one as the full-time starter in an entirely different offense. He just had his best game of the season, and Meyer seems to know what to do with him now. He'll probably leave Florida as a disappointment in some people's eyes, but given the banana republic drama of the Zook years, that's a cheap shot, we think.

ATL: How does the next year or two look for Florida? Are you optimistic?

EDSBS: We are. The talent pipeline is wide open and Meyer is texting recruits in their sleep, so recruiting won't be an issue. The mystique-building that took a hitunder Zook (we just kicked our dog again--look what you made us do!!!) is recovering somewhat.

And for most of the year, people can still walk around Gainesville half-naked, which goes a long way when you're dealing with oversexed and indulged 18-year old athletes. Why can't Notre Dame recruit with USC and Miami? Ever tried walking around South Bend in hot pants and a bandana top? We have, and let me tell you, chapped penis does not spell fun in anyone's dictionary.

More important than that is Urban Meyer's ability to win games despite a sputtering offense and first-year kinks in the system. He's won low-scoring grappling matches like the Tennessee and Georgia games. He's won a shootout in the Vandy game. He almost won at LSU. Really, there's only been one game where we had our asses handed to us, and that was against the only undefeated team in the conference.

And he adjusted when he had to, giving Leak a wider comfort zone for the Georgia and Vandy games. If we split the last two games, Florida goes 8-3 per our prediction and lives up to first-year billing. Not bad for someone's first year in a big boy conference.

The only real concern is the weakness of the conference in the bottom five teams and how that will reflect on our strength of schedule. Everyone needs to just hold on to their coaches for a while and let them do some real work, especially over in the West, where for some reason the trigger's a little quicker. Look at Bobby Johnson at Vandy, who's worked miracles with his team given a fair amount of time. Take a deep breath. Have a Fresca, in the words of Judge Smails from Caddyshack.

ATL: Vince Young, Reggie Bush, or Matt Leinart for Heisman?

EDSBS: Vince Young. Even Bevo-haters begin their arguments with "Well, without Young you'd be 3-7, in the C-USA, totally gay and loving it, blah blah blah... " That'sa great testament to how important he really is. The agony for us is imagining the holy terror he'd be in the Florida offense. He embarrasses people in the Mack-attack, but he'd straight burn stadiums to the ground in the spread option and sow salt on the ground when he left. A Halley's comet talent who still doesn't get the pub he deserves because he's closer to Texarkana than New York or Los Angeles. Enjoy him.

ATL: Assume a Texas-USC Rose Bowl. Who wins it?

EDSBS: Hate me now: USC. That's money talking, though--we'd love to see what Gene Chizik would cook up for that game. We have a feeling it would involve chickenblood, the hair of a dead man, six hours of dancing around a bonfire and one picture of Matt Leinart. Texas provides the toughest matchup, we think, but theUSC offense is epochal. They're going a long way down from it next year.

ATL: You hear a lot of SEC-bashing these days. Do you think it's overblown?

EDSBS: Not really, but there's a fair amount of Gomer-pointing involved in it too. We cheat. We lie. We schedule cupcakes. All true, too, but when someone can give a critique without invoking the hayseed angle--as John Walters did in CNNSI--we listen. You don't hear that as often as you hear the evil redneck angle.

It goes to a larger pattern in college football coverage that anything not aligned with the media poles of LA and New York is considered strange or otherwise lesser. Regionality is hard to market, so it's pushed to the side in favor of easy branding. USC and Notre Dame coming back to national prominence means something easy for the big networks to latch on to--historical brands with big name recognition. Texas or Florida's a little harder for them to pitch to thecoasts.

This all explains why living in Atlanta is so, so good for a college football fan: the college game is THE game here, and everything else scrambles for second. Note the huge contingent of bloggers in the Atlanta area--Georgia Sports, Sexy Results, ATL Eagle, The Drizzle, Braves and Birds...there's reasons to be here, and they mostly happen in the fall.

ATL: Do you have a gripe with the BCS system or are you relatively satisfied with the status quo?

EDSBS: Yes. It's fraud and a beauty pageant. But not a Miss America-style pageant; no, it's more like a bad state fair pageant, where two or three qualified contestants keep straight faces while Miss Bucksnort county clogs for the judges with five pounds of makeup on her pockmarked skin before launching into her screeching,country-rap-rock version of "Hollaback Girl." And Miss Bucksnort county's daddy is on the judges' panel, too, so you know she's at least getting into the final round.

Miss Bucksnort couldn't actually compete her way to the crown, though--which is why we need a playoff like we need a drink just thinking about the shambolic BCS scenarios that could still play out this year.

--PB--

In praise of skycam

2005-11-07T16:34:00.000-05:00

As if watching Virginia Tech get exposed on Saturday wasn't fun enough, college football fans with ESPNU had the pleasure of watching the entire game from the perspective of skycam.

Skycam has been used before for some replays and on Monday Night Football (Donovan McNabb had a memorable scramble and throw last year against Dallas captured by skycam), but the Miami-VT game was the first to be shown in its entirety this way.

How was it? In a word: fantastic.

Since my living room has three TVs side-by-side, I was able to watch the game simultaneously on ESPN (traditional view) and ESPNU (skycam) to compare the two, and everyone at my house agreed the skycam view was better.

It's like watching a game of Madden on XBOX, as you see what the QB sees. I found myself yelling at the screen telling Marcus Vick to throw deep to the tight end streaking down the middle when I saw the safety creeping up (he didn't listen), while also seeing the holes open for the running backs.

The only downside to skycam is you can't see the outside receivers and the camera doesn't rotate 180 degrees after the punt returner catches the punt, like the camera does in Madden. Still, the view was great and something that should be offered for every big-time telecast.

I also have the NFL Sunday Ticket, and if the NFL is smart (it is), it should start offering two feeds for every game, one with traditional camera views and another shown exclusively from the skycam perspective. Think of it like an alternate commentary on a DVD.

Side note: watching commercials on ESPN and ESPNU at the same time is hilarious, because they obviously target different audiences.

For example, at the same time ESPN's ads were for:

Nissan
Niva for men
Allstate
Under Armour
Taco Bueno

Meanwhile, ESPNU's ads were for:

Bryan Adams Greatest Hits CD (seriously)
Folicare ("Hair loss treatment without the sexual side effects")
RV Trainer (A Joe Montana-endorsed football with a string around it so it comes back to you when you throw it)
Bowflex (Guy in ad tells how he stays in shape at age 41)
Magicfundamentals.com (Learn basketball from Magic Johnson)

In summary:
If you watch ESPNU, you're a 40-something, balding Bryan Adams lover hoping to teach your kid how to play sports, with the help of your heroes. If you watch ESPN, you're younger and cooler, becuase you work out, dress up for the ladies, drive a new car (with insurance) and eat fast food.

--TR--

Street named AL ROY

2005-11-07T15:09:00.000-05:00

The voters got it right, if you ask us. Former Texas star and current Oakland A's closer Huston Street won the 2005 AL Rookie of the Year today. We've blogged several times about Street's amazing rookie campaign. He was Mariano Rivera in green.

Congratulations to Huston Street.
--PB--

USC fans really are dumb

2005-11-07T14:23:00.000-05:00

Hey, a theme for the day is emerging! USC fans are really dumb. We’ve already exposed BFT for what he is (a BFJ), but I stumbled into more dumb USC writing and, well, I’m feeling rather snarky today.

Our latest example of Trojan stupidity comes from Crazy Trojan Musings. It’s just another USC homer site, which we don’t have any problem with, but he picked a fight with us in this post about our Longhorn Fan Rooting Guide.

Writes Crazy Trojan:

Is this serious? Do Longhorns fans really need to be told which teams to root for? They even advocate rooting for the Sooners and the Aggies because it will improve Texas' schedule strength. That's just sad.

As long as polls play a role in determining the national champion of Div. 1 college football, no team is in complete control of its destiny. What's the use in getting worked up over the results of games across the country over which your team has absolutely no influence. It's simple for USC fans; we root for the Trojans . . . and whoever is playing UCLA.

Okay, where to start? What is the goal of the USC football team every year? I would suggest that it is to win a national championship. Certainly, that’s the goal we have here in Texas.

And, as you point out, there are polls involved in determining which teams get to actually play for said national championship. More to the point, there are lots of factors that go into the equation of who gets to play. And a notable chunk of it has to do with how your opponents fare in their other games.

Now, we could take your advice and simply root against Oklahoma and Texas A&M, even if it’s in direct conflict with our stated goal of, you know, playing for the national champsionship. Maybe Auburn fans were delighted last year when their rivals, Alabama, struggled much of the year. More likely, though, they were pissed as hell that their football team was on the outside of the title game looking in.

We’re not brain dead here in Texas (though you appear to be dangerously close). We’ll root for whatever helps Texas get to the title game. You just keep rooting against the Bruins and hope that UCLA doesn't keep USC out of the title game one year.
--PB--

Horns #2 in latest BCS standings

2005-11-07T14:03:00.000-05:00

Texas has held its spot at #2 in the BCS rankings again this week, as USC remains the top team due its lead in both the human polls. Alabama checks in at #3, but is too far behind to catch the Trojans or Longhorns if they both win out.

For those interested, Michigan State, better known as the Notre Dame slayers, did not appear in the Top 25. Weird. I wonder if BFJ took notice... Doubtful.
--PB--

BFT plagued with penis envy

2005-11-07T13:27:00.000-05:00

Perhaps it's penis envy, or maybe it's just plain old fashioned Texas hating, but Boi From Troy has listed the Longhorns at #6 on his Blog Poll ballot. Aside from vastly underrating the Horns, he has a two-loss Notre Dame team ahead of Texas. Yes, the same Notre Dame team that lost at home to Michigan State. The Spartans, meanwhile, are a team that lost, at home, to Northwestern, 49-14. And again, this week, to Purdue. What the f*ck?

BFT does a great job of blogging about gay politics. But I won't bother checking his blog for anything related to sports. He's either dumb, misinformed, or excessively biased. Either way, it's beyond justifiable.

Bear in mind that BFT had UCLA at #2 last week. Last week's ballot also had this gem: next to Alabama, who he ranked at #3, he says, "Defense wins championships." Of course, he then puts Texas, with a top 10 defense, at #5 and, this week, behind Notre Dame.

Some of us take our Blog Poll ballots seriously. Others, it turns out, do not.

Barring a turnaround in my sexual preference, I have absolutely no reason to visit that blog anymore. R.I.P.
--PB--

Under Review: The Colley Matrix

2005-11-07T12:25:00.000-05:00

More computer weirdness for you. Last week I detailed some of the bizarre rankings found in Jeff Sagarin’s computer rankings. This week, I’ll take a quick and dirty look at the Colley Matrix, another computer ranking system used by the BCS.

Unlike Sagarin, Colley doesn’t offer two sets of rankings, one with MOV and one without. He only offers one formula, and it does not include margin of victory as a ranking factor.

Colley’s rankings for this week were just released, and the top 10 might surprise you a little bit.

**Colley Rankings**
Rank	Team
1	Texas
2	Penn State
3	USC
4	Va Tech
5	Bama
6	Oregon
7	Miami
8	Ohio St
9	Wisconsin
10	Texas Tech

I find it rather bizarre that a computer system in which only winning and losing matters can have a one-loss Penn State team ahead of both Alabama and USC. It’s simply confusing. The Big 10 is clearly ranked as the big time heavyweight conference, which would also explain the bizarre showing of Wisconsin in the top 10. But then again, Oregon at #6 surely means the Pac 10 is ranked pretty decently, too. If so, why is USC not ahead of Penn State? And hey, isn’t the Big 10 0-2 against the Big 12?

I don’t have any profound conclusions to offer here. I’ll just say that it’s a rather wacky top 10. Wisconsin has no business in there, and USC should be no worse than #2. I’m all for objective measurements of teams, but it sure looks like these formulas are producing some wacky results. The human voters, I’m beginning to think, may be the more fair and reliable source for ranking teams.

I don’t want to dismiss computer formulas and conclude they're worthless. But my early, rudimentary examinations of them have left me scratching my head.

Back to Hornsblog Home Page.
--PB--

100 Percent Dominant

2005-11-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

The Texas Longhorns 2005 season is brought to you by the number 100.

*This year’s Red River Rivalry was the 100th meeting between Texas and Oklahoma, and another stop on the Texas Pasadena-bound train. The victory snapped a five year dry spell for the Horns.

*Since D’Juan Woods deflected TD catch that put Oklahoma State up 28-9, Texas has gone absolutely berserk, outscoring the Cowboys and Bears 100-0. Wow.

*Texas has had six 100+ yard rushing days. Jamaal Charles (3 times), Vince Young (2), and Ramonce Taylor have all broken the century mark in rushing this season.

*Texas has allowed only one opponent to have a 100 yard rushing day—Mike Hamilton of OSU.

*Texas is the only team to score half of a hundred points or more in five games this season.

*The most important 100 of all, of course, is the percent chance that Texas will make the Rose Bowl if they win out.
--PB--

Texas 62 Cubs 0

2005-11-07T11:40:00.000-05:00

Baylor was in a pretty unfortunate spot this week. Besides being completely outmatched on both sides of the football, they caught Texas at a time when they were playing for style points. Prior to Miami’s humbling of Virginia Tech, the Longhorns were on a mission to send a clear message to BCS voters that they, and not the Hokies, were the better team. After last week’s first half stumble, Texas and Mack Brown (not one to normally run up the score) wanted to beat Baylor by as many points as possible.

62 points and a shutout sends a pretty strong message. Of course, Virginia Tech got demolished by Miami’s defense later that night, making it a moot point, but the message was clear: Texas is one of the two best teams in the country.

There is simply little to criticize about the performance. Combing the game's box score is like reviewing your victory totals in a PlayStation college football game on Rookie level of difficulty. 54 rushes for 347 yards. 298 yards passing. No turnovers. Two interceptions. 201 yards total offense allowed. 645 yards total offense gained. The only mistake was a botched extra point attempt early in the game.

Ramonce Taylor and Jamaal Charles took on the rushing duties in the first half ably. Charles looked about 85 percent of his old form, which was still impressive. Taylor accumulated over 100 yards rushing, and is a nice compliment to Charles, but the difference in the two is noticeable. Taylor, a great athlete and competent rusher, doesn’t quite have the instincts that Charles does. It’s nice that Texas has Taylor as Charles gets healthy, but come the big games, it’s Charles that the offense needs.

Limas Sweed was his usual self, managing to look great and lousy in the same game. He made two spectacular catches, including a one handed grab of a Vince Young bomb that was Sports Center’s play of the day. Billy Pittman continues to impress, and Quan Cosby has started to make himself useful. All in all, Texas didn’t really need to throw much, but they were successful when they did.

Gene Chizik had to be pleased with his defense. After the lackluster performance against OSU in the first half, he had high expectations for the defensive unit this week, and they dismantled the feeble Baylor attack, while forcing two turnovers (both interceptions).

The play of the day belonged to backup quarterback Matt Nordren when he galloped 15 yards on a misdirection quarterback keeper. With a clear path to the end zone, Nordgren’s eyes got wide and he dropped the football on the five yard line. Matt must have been going to church lately—the ball bounced straight off the ground into his arms and he rumbled into the end zone for the final score of the day.

Next up for Texas is an improving Kansas team, which throttled Nebraska 40-15 last week. I’m certain Mack Brown will remind his players of last year’s game in Lawrence, where Texas needed two touchdowns in the final five minutes to pull out the win. Texas is no longer playing for style points, so they needn’t be perfect, but they’ll need to be sharp and take Kansas seriously to avoid any stumbles. We’ll have a full preview of the game later in the week.
--PB--

VinceYoung.com

2005-11-07T11:03:00.000-05:00

The folks at MackBrown-TexasFootball.com have officially kicked the Vince for Heisman campaign into high gear, as there's now The Vince Young Page.

There you can learn "Vince Vitals," check the "Vince Wire," and read "Vince Features."

It's on now.

--TR--

Weekend Picks Review

2005-11-07T10:25:00.000-05:00

Joining ATL for last week’s picks were the authors from Heisman Pundit (HP), Boi From Troy (BFT), MGoBlog (MGB), and Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer (RJYH). The experts consensus picks fared reasonably well, going 4-3 against the spread. The individual records of the picks were:

Under Review: “Experts’ Picks”
Blog	Record
ATL	4-3
HP	2-5
BFT	4-3
MGB	2-5
RJYH	3-4
Consensus	4-3

The consensus pick of Wisconsin was notably awful. Penn State absolutely stifled Wisconsin’s rushing attack; the game was no contest. At ATL, we correctly picked an Arizona win, Texas and Texas Tech blowout wins, and Notre Dame to handle Tennessee comfortably. We were wrong about Wisconsin, we thought USC would cover, and we picked Virgina Tech to win at home. We were especially pleased to be wrong on that last one.

Hornsblog History

2005-11-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

Back on September 25th, the Virginia Tech hype started to boil. In my notes from around the country, I offered my own take on the Hokies:

Sunday, September 25

Around the Nation
*I refuse to drink the Virginia Tech Kool-Aid. Yes, they have a good defense and an exciting young quarterback. But let’s tone down the praise, folks. Their only good win is at home versus Georgia Tech. Beat Miami and Florida State and we’ll talk. Marcus Vick will lose them a game before the year is over. Count on it.

Call this a shameless patting myself on the back if you like. I could care less. I'll be that guy: I told ya so...
--PB--

ATL Top 25

2005-11-07T09:39:00.000-05:00

1. Texas (Horns had something to prove on Saturday. Poor Bears should have ducked.)
2. Southern Cal (Another 30 point win for Trojans. Fresno State won’t roll over, though)
3. Alabama (Tide keep winning with suffocating defense.)
4. Miami (How about an Alabama-Miami BCS game? Would anyone score?)
5. Penn State (More stifling defense. The top 10 is loaded with great defense.)
6. Georgia (Shockley injury is disappointing. This team is excellent.)
7. Ohio State (Ginn, Jr. is finally playing well, which is a huge boost to offense)
8. Notre Dame (Smardzjidzjzdijaza is a beast.)
9. LSU (Still coached by Les Miles, or would be ranked higher.)
10. Virginia Tech (Still a very strong team, but weaknesses exposed.)
11. Oregon (They just keep getting better.)
12. TCU (Did they have to lose to SMU?)
13. Florida (Fortunate to beat an improved Vandy team.)
14. West Virginia (The Big East shouldn’t get an automatic BCS bid.)
15. Texas Tech (It’s time they get some respect. Rolling all non-Longhorn Big 12 opponents.)
16. UCLA (Oops.)
17. Fresno State (They won’t be a cupcake for Trojans.)
18. Auburn (Another team on the rise.)
19. Colorado (Better than most realize.)
20. Florida State (This team has serious weaknesses.)
21. Michigan (Looking like Ohio State last year; coming on strong—too late)
22. Louisville (See: West Virginia)
23. Wisconsin (Hey, Brooks Bollinger had a decent weekend.
24. South Carolina (Welcome back, Ball Coach)
25. Oklahoma (DNP; Young team showing signs of improvement.)

Just missed:
Georgia Tech
Boise State
Northwestern
UTEP
California

BCS Prediction

2005-11-07T00:41:00.000-05:00

Both the Harris and Coaches Polls are already out as is one of the six computer rankings. Given this data and a few educated computer guesses, here is my prediction for what the BCS rankings will look like on Monday afternoon.

1. USC 0.9835
2. Texas 0.9765
3. Alabama 0.8948
4. Miami 0.8639
5. Penn St. 0.8036
6. LSU 0.7587

Beyond that my crystal ball goes a little cloudy. My confidence in these are not high but I thought I would take a shot. Feel free to laugh hysterically later today if these are way off.

--AW--

BCS Bound?

2005-11-07T00:35:00.000-05:00

And then there were three. USC, Texas, and Alabama are the only unbeaten teams remaining. Thanks to Miami and Arizona, we don’t have to talk about Virginia Tech and UCLA any longer. The road to Pasadena is now crystal clear. If USC and Texas win out, they will meet for the national championship in the Rose Bowl on January 4th. What about Alabama? The Crimson Tide are good but not even in the same category as USC and Texas. Bama couldn’t even score an offensive touchdown on Mississippi State. Their next three games are LSU, Auburn, and Georgia. Very small chance to win out.

So, instead of looking at the Rose Bowl favorites, let’s take a look at likely BCS bowl teams by conference.

Big 10
Penn State (9-1, 6-1)—The Nittany Lions are a victory over Michigan State away from a BCS bowl. The game is in East Lansing in two weeks. The Spartans have lost four of their last five. Penn State is one second away from a perfect season. Alternative: Ohio State would need victories over Northwestern and Michigan and a Penn State loss.

ACC
Miami (7-1, 4-1)—The Canes looked like Miami of old on Saturday night, but there is still work to be done. Miami must run the table against Wake Forest, Virginia, and Georgia Tech without star tailback Tyrone Moss to win the Coastal Division. Miami is a botched field goal attempt from an undefeated season. If the defensive dominance continues, a 12-1 season is not out of the question. Alternative: Virginia Tech should beat Virginia and North Carolina to finish 10-1.

Florida State (7-2, 5-2)—FSU has already clinched the Atlantic Division and will play in the inaugural ACC Championship game in Jacksonville. The Seminoles have no offense and probably won’t beat either Miami or Virginia Tech.

SEC
Georgia (7-1, 5-1)—The Dawgs have Auburn and Kentucky at home to finish their SEC season. With Shockley back, Georgia should take care of business and head to the Georgia Dome on December 3rd. Alternative: Florida could win the East with a road victory over Steve Spurrier and a Georgia loss.

LSU (7-1, 4-1)—Yeah, I know Alabama is undefeated but the Tigers are the better team. LSU finishes with Bama, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The Bayou Bengals are a 4th quarter away from being undefeated. Alternative: Alabama has two tough games left but do control their own destiny. If they can find an offense, they could finish undefeated. Otherwise 9-2 is likely.

Big East
West Virginia (7-1, 4-1)—Another Big East representative that no BCS bowl will want. The Mountaineers have Cincinnati, Pitt, and South Florida to end the year. Alternative: South Florida, one of the only teams with four regular season games left.

Big 12
Texas (9-0, 6-0)—The Horns should wrap up the South with a home victory over Kansas this weekend. Obviously, our last game is with the Aggies in College Station the day after Thanksgiving.

Colorado (7-2, 5-1)—Buffs have two games left and need just a single win. This week they play an improving Iowa State team and then get Nebraska at home. Alternative: Iowa State would need to win out and have Nebraska beat CU in Boulder.

Pac 10
USC (9-0, 6-0)—Trojans have some tough games to end the year: California, Fresno State, and UCLA. ATL expects them to win out and be waiting for us in Pasadena. Alternative: UCLA still has a shot even after getting embarrassed in the desert. The Bruins need to beat Arizona State and then USC.

ATL’s Automatics Berths
Penn State, Miami, Georgia, West Virginia, Texas and USC.

At Large Potential
Notre Dame (6-2)—Irish need only to win out against Navy, Syracuse, and Stanford for an “automatic” berth.

Virginia Tech (8-1), Alabama (9-0), Ohio State (7-2), LSU (7-1), Texas Tech (8-1).

Predictions
Rose: USC vs. Texas
Fiesta: Penn State vs. Notre Dame
Sugar: Virginia Tech vs. Georgia
Orange: Miami vs. West Virginia
--AW--

Closure.... finally

2005-11-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

I live in ACC country, so I've had to hear the crowing all year long. Now, Virgina Tech is a very strong football team, but the've had nothing on us. They faced their first test--at home, no less--and lost. The Horns have everything in their hands now. Win and they go to the ROSE BOWL. Lose and we can debate the magnitude of the choke.

Tonight is a great, great, night. I can't tell you how annoying it is to live in ACC country and hear all the homers suggest that Virginia Tech is as good as Texas. Should Texas win out, we'll find out whether or not we're USC's equal, but at least we can finally say, once and for all, that the Virgina Tech BS Bandwogan is wrecked.

Good guys: 62

Bad guys: 0

Whether or not we beat USC, should we get there, this is a magical team.

Hook 'Em Horns
--PB--

Longhorn Fan Rooting Guide

2005-11-04T12:13:00.000-05:00

It’s time for this week’s Longhorn Fan Rooting Guide. As we try to stay in the Rose Bowl slot for the BCS, Longhorn fans need to be rooting for favorable outcomes. Here’s this week’s breakdown:

Group One: Remaining Unbeatens
Root for MIAMI over VIRGINA TECH
Root for ARIZONA over UCLA
Root for MISSISSIPPI STATE over ALABAMA
Root for USC over STANFORD

Again, we’re on record saying we want a piece of USC, so we’ll continue to hope for a Rose Bowl showdown with the Trojans. The big one this week, of course, is the Miami-Virgina Tech game. The Hokies have the only realistic chance of overtaking the Horns, and if they win convincingly over Miami on Saturday night, they could erode the sizable lead the Horns currently hold in the human polls. The UCLA game is largely irrelevant. USC and UCLA will play at the end of the year, and barring some crazy Twilight Zone irregularity in the universe, they can’t both end the season undefeated.

Group Two: The Big 12
Root for COLORADO over MISSOURI
Root for NEBRASKA over KANSAS
Root for TEXAS TECH over TEXAS A&M
Root for KANSAS STATE over IOWA STATE

This gets a little bit complicated, but let’s go over how this works. We want Colorado and Texas Tech to keep on winning. With victories over both those teams, we need them to be ranked as high as possibly at the end of the year. We’ll also (assuming we win out) have victories over Missouri and Texas A&M, but two victories over highly ranked teams add more to us than four wins over medium-ranked teams. We’re going to get dinged by playing A&M no matter what. At this point, we just want Colorado and Tech to keep winning to offset that loss by the increase we’ll add from their continued success.

The same concept applies in a slightly different way in the Nebraska-Kansas and Kansas State-Iowa State games. We want Nebraska to rack up as many victories as possible (except against Colorado at the end of the year) so that Tech, Oklahoma, and Colorado all get boosts from their victories over the Huskers. Likewise, we want Kansas State to win to add punch to Tech, OU, and CU’s victories over the Wildcats.

Group Three: The Rest
Root for OHIO STATE over ILLINOIS
Root for LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE over NORTH TEXAS
Root for RICE over SMU

These are all easy. Keep rooting like crazy for Ohio State. The Rose Bowl race is going to get tighter and tighter if everyone stays unbeaten. Texas’ chances of playing in the title very well may rest on how the Buckeyes finish out. Along with Texas, spend as much of your rooting capital as you can on Ohio State. Sorry, Brian.
--PB--

Under Review: Margin of Victory

2005-11-04T11:12:00.000-05:00

How does margin of victory (MOV) affect computer rankings? The BCS did away with MOV as a factor in computer rankings two years ago after USC was left out of the BCS title game in favor of Oklahoma and LSU. The perception was that MOV was skewing the computer rankings to undesirable results. Hence, MOV as a ranking factor was abolished. Many of the people running computer rankings that were participating in the BCS formula withdrew after that change.

Today we’ll take a look to see the effect MOV has on one particular set of rankings—Jeff Sagarin’s. Sagarin offers his rankings in two data sets; the first does not take into account MOV and the second does. There are many other factors that contribute equally to both sets of rankings, but the difference between the two we’re looking at is MOV. Ideal, for this rudimentary study.

The first data set, which he calls ELO-CHESS, is the one the BCS uses, sans-MOV as a factor. The second, which he calls PURE POINTS, or PREDICTOR, does factor in MOV. Sagarin notes the difference on his website:

“In ELO-CHESS, only winning and losing matters; the score margin is of no consequence, which makes it very ‘politically correct.’ However, it is less accurate in its predictions for upcoming games than is the PURE POINTS, in which the score margin is the only thing that matters. PURE POINTS is also known as PREDICTOR, BALLANTINE, RHEINGOLD, WHITE OWL and is the best single PREDICTOR of future games.”

Now that we’re introduced to the two sets of data, let’s see how they affect the rankings:

Sagarin Computer Rankings
Team	ELO CHESS	PREDICTOR
Texas	1	2
USC	2	1
VA Tech	3	4
Alabama	4	28
PA State	5	6
UCLA	6	18
OH State	7	5
Wisconsin	8	16
Oregon	9	9
Tx Tech	10	8
Miami	11	12
W Virgina	12	30
FL State	13	20
Michigan	14	7
Colorado	15	21
Florida	16	19
LSU	17	13
GA	18	26
Notre Dame	19	3
Bos College	20	22

What lessons can we draw? (Yes, sample size caveats apply. This is one set of data. It’s not the bible of college football rankings. We know, we know. Shut up.)

*Biggest benefactors of the no margin of victory factor: UCLA, Alabama, Wisconsin, West Virginia

*Most penalized by no margin of victory factor: Notre Dame, Michigan

*A few other teams not in the chart above had huge discrepancies their ELO-CHESS vs PREDICTOR scores: Michigan State (#10 predictor vs #26 ELO), Louisville (#11 predictor vs #28), Iowa (#17 predictor vs #36 ELO).

Okay, now things are starting to shape up a bit. What trends are you noticing? I’ll tell you what jumps out at me. I’m not entirely comfortable with the PREDICTOR rankings. Notre Dame at #3? They’re a very good football team—definitely, in my mind, a Top 10 team. But a home loss to Michigan State? That’s troubling. And Louisville at #11? I’m sorry, but that’s not okay either. And speaking of Michigan State, a system that puts them at #10 makes me uncomfortable. You simply cannot lose 49-14, at home, to Northwestern, and be #10.

My theory? Mr. Sagarin’s PREDICTOR rankings skew too heavily toward teams that can put up a lot of points. Notre Dame, Louisville, and Michigan State, each teams loaded with offense but shaky defense, are rewarded heavily. When your offense is good, if the other team struggles, you’re going to blow a lot of people out. Texas Tech fits this mold, too, and—not surprisingly—checks in at #8 in the PREDICTOR rankings. I actually think Texas Tech gets the “overrated” card too often and that they’re a strong, top 15 team. But #8? I don’t think so.

*On the other hand, the ELO-CHESS rankings look a lot better. Alabama at #4 seems a lot better to me than Alabama at #28. Can you imagine the outrage directed at the BCS if the Tide were actually ranked #28 in a computer that the BCS was using? I’m fairly certain Warren St. John would personally strangle Jeff Sagarin, and then whoever is acting BCS commissioner these days.

I haven’t studied enough data, from enough ranking systems, to make any firm conclusions about margin of victory and its place in these systems. But a quick and dirty look at Sagarin’s rankings certainly makes me very hesitant to endorse any such system. Simply put, they just don’t seem fair. Even if, over the long run and huge sets of data, the margin of victory system comes out with a slightly better average prediction, it’s not fair. It’s simply not fair to penalize Alabama that way. Or to reward Notre Dame that way.

This requires much, much more time and thought than I have right now. But it’s a start.
--PB--

Remarkable Vince Young Stat of the Day

2005-11-03T14:18:00.000-05:00

36: the number of strides taken from the time he crossed the line of scrimmage to the time he crossed the end zone for Saturday night's 80 yard touchdown run.

Gazelle, indeed.
--PB--

Vocabulary 101

2005-11-03T11:41:00.000-05:00

Main Entry: ga·zelle
Pronunciation: guh-'zel
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): gazelled /guh-'zeld/; also chiefly dialect gazelle; ga·zelled; ga·zell·ing
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from Arabic ghazAl
: to play masterful and graceful football on one's feet; to daunt and vault over an opposing defense with non-chalant nimbleness.
"Vince Young can gazelle his way to scores on his own."

Courtesy of the Broccoli Landers American Heritage Dictionary
--PB--

Texas "at" Baylor Game Preview

2005-11-03T11:01:00.000-05:00

Last week we sort of blew off Oklahoma State and it cost us. No, we’re not talking about the football team. We’re talking about us, here at All Things Longhorn. Well, the Cowboys got our attention very early, and we’re not making that same mistake twice. It’s hard not to say Baylor without snickering, but we’re going to do the full preview and (try to) take this team seriously.

First, a few fun numbers for you:

1995—the last time the Bears won two conference games in a season (they have one this year, at Iowa State)

300—points scored by Texas in its last six games versus Baylor

28—points scored by Baylor in its last six games versus Texas (C.J. Wilson should take note)

2—overtime losses by Baylor this year (Texas A&M and Oklahoma)

22—average points per game for Baylor this year

47—average points per game for Texas this year

2—Baylor conference rank in pass efficiency defense

1—Texas conference rank in pass efficiency defense

Even in Baylor’s best statistical category, pass efficiency defense, they’re bettered by the Horns. There’s simply no way to sugar coat this—Baylor is completely outmatched here. It’s a nice story that they’ve been competitive this year, but it’s a relative storyline. “Hey, Baylor doesn’t completely suck this year!”

Their defense is certainly improved, but their offense got shutout by a pedestrian Texas Tech defense and managed only 13 points against the woeful Aggies. Their best conference game was a fluky, double overtime game against Oklahoma that they wound up losing, 37-30.

The worst news of all for the Bears is that Texas stumbled a bit last week and has motivation coming out its ears to blow out Baylor. We do plenty of BCS breakdowns here at ATL, and we’re all well aware that these style points are becoming increasingly important. As Texas jostles with Virginia Tech for the #2 BCS spot, they must continue to impress human voters as their strength of schedule dips with their remaining schedule. After losing ground last week due to the bad first half versus OSU, you can bet Mack Brown will be interested in ringing up a big blowout versus Baylor this week. Add in the fact that Virginia Tech is playing a marquee game versus a Top 10 team this week, while all will be watching, and Texas finds itself in a must-blowout game. That’s a weird concept, but hey, the BCS is a weird concept.

The most interesting storyline for Texas will be watching who gets the bulk of the carries in the backfield this week. Mack Brown has expressed frustration with Jamaal Charles inability to stay on the field (he left last week’s game with cramps), Selvin Young is still banged up, and Ramonce Taylor is creeping into the mix. We’ll be watching closely to see if Charles can regain his early season form and to see if Taylor gets additional carries this week.

The other challenge for Baylor is the diversity of the Horns offensive attack this year. If the running backs are faltering, or the pass game isn’t clicking, Vince can gazelle his way to scores on his own. Young’s become such a multi-dimensional threat that it’s virtually impossible to shut him down. Simply put, he can beat you too many ways. Against Colorado, he was passing like John Elway. Against Oklahoma State, he was running like Michael Vick. Against Oklahoma, he did it both ways. The guy has just gotten too good.

Meanwhile, the defense has a lot to prove after the first half stumble last week. Gene Chizik and the defense pride themselves on their dominance, and while they shut OSU down in the second half, they’ll be out to dominate for four quarters this week.

As always, Baylor’s best chance to make a game of this will be to win the battle of turnovers and field position by a wide, wide margin. Field position has actually been one of Baylor’s strengths this year—in seven of eight games, they’ve averaged starting field position at the 30 yard line or beyond—but it would take a Villanova-esque perfect game for the Bears to win this one.

And don’t forget, this is only a half-home game for Baylor. Every year, without fail, the number of Burnt Orange faithful matches or outnumbers the Bear fans in attendance at Floyd Casey Stadium. Texas has a lot to prove this week, and I’m confident they will. Horns rout the Bears early and win convincingly, 51-10.
--PB--

Baylor Bears: Smack Talkers?

2005-11-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

The doormats of the Big 12, inspired by the confidence of a bunch of almost-wins, have pulled themselves up off the floor and are... talking shit? Indeed, Baylor cornerback C.J. Wilson has gone all Rasheed on us before this Saturday's matchup with Texas. Says Wilson (via SBR):

"I'll make this prediction: If our offense gives us between 28 and 35 points, we'll win. We're going to accept this challenge head-on. We're not concerned with the BCS talk or the Heisman talk."

Seriously, this is akin to the Arizona Cardinals talking smack to the Patriots. And seriously, when you're the David of the matchup, do you really want to piss off Goliath? The idea is to catch a sleeping giant. Not an angry, storming giant.

Good luck, Baylor.
--PB--

Horns Pound St. Mary's

2005-11-03T01:10:00.000-05:00

Basketball is back, and I couldn’t be more excited. March Madness is months away and the actual season will not start for two weeks, but there is an air of excitement in Austin. I have already stated this year’s football team is the best I have ever seen. The club Rick Barnes has assembled for this year may also be the best UT basketball team I have ever seen.

The Horns tipped off the season with a 113-49 pre-season victory over the St. Mary’s Rattlers of San Antonio. The game wasn’t that close. Texas started the game on about a 25-0 run and held the Rattlers scoreless for the first seven plus minutes. While the game was never in doubt, Barnes and the Horns played hard for forty minutes. The stats are telling of how well the Horns played. 57% from the floor. A 44-23 rebounding edge. 25 steals. 22 assists. 26 fast break points. And 54 bench points. Yeah, the Rattlers are a Division II team but the Horns looked good.

Gibson looked NBA quick. Tucker looked like the PJ of old scoring from odd angles and rebounding from all over the court. Aldridge looked like the big time player he was becoming last season and is destined to become this one. LaMarcus has beefed up slightly, but it is tough to notice on such a long frame. He scored with ease in the low post and ran the floor, Scooby Doo style, for easy fast break points. Buckman started solidly as well hitting two threes and pounding the glass. Those are the ones we all know about. I walked away dreaming of the Final Four because of what I saw out of some of the others. Mike Williams has softened his hands. I know that is not saying much but he looks able to contribute valuable frontcourt minutes. Freshman AJ Abrams looked like lightning in a bottle leading the team with five steals and six assists. AJ is small (5’10” 160 lbs) but will be able to spell Gibson at the point. Transfer guards JD Lewis and Craig Winder also looked comfortable. Winder was particularly impressive. He defended on and off the ball well and did all the things that make coaches happy and earn more playing time. Don’t be surprised to see Abrams and Winder earn significant time this season.

Last, the defense was fantastic in both the half court and the full court. 25 steals. That is ridiculous. Texas pressured St. Mary’s constantly in the half court and forced bad shots and turnovers all night long. Texas also experimented in the second half with a full court trap. Barnes had Aldridge at the top of the defense guarding the in-bounds pass and then trapping the first player with the ball in either corner. Aldridge doesn’t have the speed to stay with any guards off the dribble but his length was a huge problem for St. Mary’s. It will be interesting to see how much full court press we see this season.

Barnes is my favorite UT coach by far. He recruits well, develops talent consistently, and excels at the defensive end. If there is a knock on Rick, it has been is development of the offense in the half court. Because this team is so talented and so deep, Barnes may be able to rely more on the fast break than in year’s past and use his defensive prowess to create easy transition buckets. This team is good. Real good. I can’t wait to see Barnes mold them all season long. Hopefully, we can avoid injuries and academic issues and peak in March. This team has a legitimate shot at the national title. Things haven’t looked this promising for the basketball team in a long, long time.
--AW--

Dafoe sparks Lady Ags to Soccer Title

2005-11-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

A&M goalie or Willem Dafoe? You decide.

Week 10 Picks: Experts Edition

2005-11-02T12:58:00.000-05:00

This week, we’ve hired some help to set the table for this weekend’s games. Specifically, we’ve brought in some of the sharpest minds from the college football blogosphere to weigh in on the week’s toughest games. Joining ATL for the week’s picks are the authors from Heisman Pundit (HP), Boi From Troy (BFT), MGoBlog (MGB), and Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer (RJYH). Some of the comments are thoughtful, some humorous. Enjoy and happy betting this weekend.

**Top BCS Threat Game**
Blog	Miami +6 @ Virginia Tech	Pick
ATL	One step closer to chaos. Texas fans start to sweat	Va Tech
HP	Game should be close for a couple quarters, but then the crowd noise and the pressure of the situation will cause the ‘Canes to collapse under the accumulated weight of it all. The Hokies, my #2 team in the country, will win going away and cover easily.	Va Tech
BFT	Vick is too slick for ‘Canes defense.	Va Tech
MGB	Virginia Tech is the Wayne Brady of college football. Does Virginia Tech have to choke a ‘Cane? Yessir.	Va Tech
RJYH	VT wins but doesn't beat the spread.	Miami
Consensus	4 votes to 1	Va Tech

**Top Laugh At Your Rivals’ Struggles Game**
Blog	Texas A&M +16.5 @ Texas Tech	Pick
ATL	See Nebraska’s visit to Lubbock last season. This one gets ugly.	TX Tech
HP	For some reason, Texas A&M seems to have the athletes to play with Tech’s scheme. Last year, the Aggies beat the Red Raiders and, while I don’t think they’ll win this time, I do think that A&M will cover the 16.5 point spread as Franchione is in a survival game.	A&M
BFT	The only ATM game I watched was against Baylor, so I’ll go for the Red Raiders here.	TX Tech
MGB	6-0 in the fourth quarter against Baylor or 49 points to ISU? Dunno. This spread is too big, though.	A&M
RJYH	Wow. What has happened to Fran? Wasn't he supposed to be genius? Take Tech and give the points, with 14 to spare.	TX Tech
Consensus	3 votes to 2	TX Tech

**Top Coaches Going in Opposite Directions Game**
Blog	Tennessee +8 @ Notre Dame	Pick
ATL	Coaching 101: Do not rotate QBs.	ND
HP	Once again, we’ll see how a talented defense that is unfamiliar with sophisticated offensive schemes can be made to look really silly. Notre Dame should cover this spread with ease. Tennessee is the Michigan of the SEC—great talent, lousy coaching, ignorant fans. All three will be on display in South Bend.	ND
BFT	OMG Brady Quinn is so hot.	ND
MGB	Alert local chili cheese fries! They are in grave danger! So is Brady Quinn. That Mahelona guy is worth at least a cover.	TN
RJYH	I think this will be a close one, then ND will win it. Maybe the Vols will even fumble on the goal line at the end; they're good at that.	TN
Consensus	3 votes to 2	ND

**Top How Seriously Do You Take Baylor Game**
Blog	Texas -28 @ Baylor	Pick
ATL	Horns look at VT in rear view mirror and go full throttle. Look out, Baylor.	Texas
HP	Baylor is one of the most improved teams in the country. They could have beaten Oklahoma and Texas A&M. They are especially stout on defense and I think that the Longhorns will fail to cover for the second week in a row.	Baylor
BFT	We’ll see if Baylor has gotten better or if the Big XII has gotten worse. Y’all tell me it’s the former so I am going with the Bears to cover.	Baylor
MGB	Not very.	Texas
RJYH	I think Baylor leads at the end of one, then the Horns go on to win by at least 4000 points. Vince Young is that good.	Texas
Consensus	3 votes to 2	Texas

**Top Mismatch Game**
Blog	Stanford +33.5 @ USC	Pick
ATL	Blowing a 21 point lead with 8 minutes left is grounds for firing. Stanford is a disgrace.	USC
HP	I believe this is less of a mismatch than the Texas-Baylor game, but the spread doesn’t bear it out. Stanford has a very sound scheme and will be able to move the ball some. USC is averaging over 700 yards of offense per game at home this year and should approach that level again, but won’t cover the spread.	Stanford
BFT	Stanford is better than most of you think—and it’s hard for the Trojans to win by 5 TDs every week like Vegas is asking. Bet the Farm.	Stanford
MGB	I have no idea. When in doubt, do not pick teams that lost to UC-Davis.	USC
RJYH	I won't be able to watch this game because the V-chip in my TV blocks out extreme violence. Someone let me know if there are any survivors on the Cardinal side. I'll be praying for them.	USC
Consensus	3 votes to 2	USC

**Top Try To Figure Out The Pac 10 Game**
Blog	UCLA -9.5 @ Arizona	Pick
ATL	Arizona in a stunner. Sorry BFT, your Bruins are a BFJ.	Arizona
HP	What usually happens after a new quarterback’s stellar debut is that the wheels come off shortly after. This should happen to Tuitama of Arizona against UCLA, leading to a rare breather of a week for the Bruins. UCLA covers solidly.	UCLA
BFT	Not hard to figure. UCLA spots opponents 28 points in fourth quarter this week, but eeks out a win.	Arizona
MGB	Since UCLA will be behind by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and still win a cover seems unlikely.	Arizona
RJYH	UCLA is on a roll. And they will keep rolling, by more than 2 TDs.	UCLA
Consensus	3 votes to 2	Arizona

**Top Who Wants the Big 10 Game**
Blog	Wisconsin +10.5 @ Penn State	Pick
ATL	Badgers score enough to keep it close.	Wisconsin
HP	Happy Valley is too tough of a place for Wisconsin to win. The Badgers are fairly one-dimensional, which plays into Penn State’s hands. Badgers cover, but lose.	Wisconsin
BFT	Wisconsin running game badgers Lions. On Wisconsin!	Wisconsin
MGB	Isn't this a ginormous line for this game? Is Penn State really more than a touchdown and a field goal better than a UW team that has freakin' Calhoun?	Wisconsin (to win!)
RJYH	Man this is tough. Wisconsin may win but not by 10 points. Maybe not even at all. Badgers in a squeaker.	Wisconsin
Consensus	Experts’ Lock Of The Week! 5 votes to 0	Wisconsin

Bad Joke of the Day

2005-11-02T12:06:00.000-05:00

Q: How do you say Mackovic in Italian?

A: Franchione.
--AW--

Writing 101

2005-11-02T10:52:00.000-05:00

We don’t do this very often at ATL, but this article is just so irritating that we can’t resist. There are plenty of blogs out there that terrorize journalists’ every word and sentence, and while we don’t jump in that fray too often, this time it’s warranted. Yesterday I came across this article by Michael Corcoran of the Austin-American Statesman. And it’s absolutely brutal. Perhaps the worst column I’ve ever read, in fact.

The worst part of it is the literally countless analogies and similes the guy tosses out there, most of them truly miserable. A few examples:

“Huddled around a second-floor TV like seals around the bucket at feeding time.” (You're trying too hard!)

“A holding penalty turned a Billy Pittman score into a David Pino field goal faster than Divine Brown lowered Hugh Grant’s stud status.” (Are you serious?!?)

“Being down 28-12 against OSU is like being up two touchdowns against another rteam. They give up bigger leads than Tom Cruise passing on Titanic.” (No. You. Didn't. Wow.)

“Going for a VY pump fake when he’s rolling out is like buying Love You Long Time” (Stop, Michael, stop!)

“Nice-guy Brown and the cocky flashpot Young go together like Mack and cheese.” (Ew...)

Bear in mind that he gets all these in to an 800 word column. By the end of it, you’re pretty sure you just read Dennis Miller’s 9th grade sports journalism assignment. There is a time and a place for dropping in clever little similes and analogies, but that’s what Corcoran doesn’t get—that there needs to be timing. He just tries to think of as many as he can. It’s hard enough to pull off a Dennis Miller style piece in the first place, and even Miller falls flat on his face from time to time. The lesson: pick your spots.

It’s not just the brutal analogies, either. Corcoran further hacks the column up by changing everybody’s name a hundred times, into whatever stupid pun he can think of.

Donovan Woods of Oklahoma State, who caught the deflected TD pass, is changed to “DeFlecto Woods”

He refers to Oklahoma State as “Choke State” and “The Stillwaterboys”

Vince Young is referred to as, gulp, “SecretariYoung” and “El VinYo” (He should be fired for both of those.)

Seriously, if you’re reading this and have any occasion to write—especially if you’re a blogger—please take a moment and read this guy’s column. It’s full of horrific clichés and is painfully over-written, and it provides a great lesson in the dangers of trying to be too clever.

Let me conclude by noting that there are plenty of truly wonderful writers out there that know how to do this stuff. Looking for some humorous witticisms and off-beat references? Check out EDSBS—they do it right. Want to learn how to appropriately time your clever references? Check out the MGoBlog—Brian knows when to be funny and when to just give information. Trying to learn how to be both funny and concise? Nobody does it better than Warren at RJYH.

We don’t profess to be the best writers on the face of the earth here at ATL, but please, please, please: if you ever catch us writing something this painful to read, tell us. And maul it. Viciously. Thanks.
--PB--

TJ's Back

2005-11-02T00:02:00.000-05:00

He’s back. TJ Ford. Our favorite UT athlete of all time torched the 76ers in his first game back from spine surgery. TJ’s Bucks opened the season with a 117-108 overtime win in Philadelphia. Check out his numbers: 16 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds. TJ is back and healthy and could turn the Bucks back into a playoff team. First year coach Terry Stotts had this to say about Ford, “There's no limitations at all. I know there's a lot of concern and interest, but from our perspective, he's 100 percent been cleared. He's ready to go and he's quick as ever." If he’s right, this could be another great year for this great athlete. ATL couldn’t be happier to see TJ back on the hardwood.
--AW--

ATL Interview Session: Probing the Michigan Mind

2005-11-01T13:28:00.000-05:00

Last week we interviewed Warren St. John of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer. This week’s interviewee is Brian Cook, author of the MGoBlog. Besides being the creator of the brilliantly conceived Blog Poll, Brian’s writing and commentary are second to none. For those of you who don’t read it regularly, start now. Even if you could care less about Michigan sports, it’s essential reading—if for no other reason than you’ll just be plain smarter for doing so.

ATL: Brian, what's been your overall impression of the Big 10 this year? Do you agree that it's the best top-to-bottom conference in the country?

BC: The Big Ten has been whack-a-mole this year. Whoever pops their head up as the dominant team gets smacked down immediately.

I try not to get into the Conference X is vastly superior to Conference Y arguments because they usually degenerate into really, really dumb arguments, but er... I do think the Big Ten is the best conference in the country in this particular year. It doesn't have a juggernaut like VT, UT, or USC, but there are about eight teams that would be the second or third best team in just about every conference in the country. The only teams that seem totally hopeless are Indiana, Illinois, and Purdue. I'm probably even more biased in favor of the Big Ten this year because Michigan misses two chumps (Illinois and Purdue) and each week I look at the schedule and go "could we please get a breather?" We've had six straight weeks of "oh God, there is a reasonable to extreme possibility of a loss." Can any other conference claim that?

ATL: Can you summarize Michigan's season in one sentence for us?
BC: Too close for comfort.

ATL: What's your opinion of Lloyd Carr? Are you ready to abandon ship?
BC: 'm in the reasonable middle on Carr. I think he's exactly the kind of person I'd like to see run Michigan's program and the idea of firing him is completely out of the question but he has certain flaws that prevent him from being a truly great coach. He gets a bad rap around the country because he treats the media like they're Nazis, but the team has a deep affection for him. He recruits very well year-in and year-out and has never had a truly bad year, but he's only had two great ones--the '97 championship and the Tom Brady Orange Bowl year.

When he retires--which will be within the next few years--I'll be both nervous and excited, because whoever comes next could drive the program into the ground or the stratosphere. The Carr question is not an easy one to answer.

ATL: I assume you watched last year's Rose Bowl. What do you think about Vince Young?
BC: Actually, my therapist has advised me not to. At all. I posted something that summed up my general impressions in May.

The thing that shocked me in the Rose Bowl was Young's passing. That's the real reason we lost the game, despite the flashy billion yard touchdown runs. VY came into that game as an erratic, unreliable passer and left it as something I don't look at directly in case my retinas burn. He threw a couple of dumb picks against Ohio State but went 18 for 27 and won the game. He still has moments where he looks like a guy the NFL will definitely want... for wide receiver, but hell, now he's the closest thing to Michael Vick since Michael Vick. And you get him back next year! That's some Leinart-level crap right there. That's like Woodson returning for his senior year. It's not fair. (Cue snide Notre Dame fans.)

ATL: Have you had a chance to watch Texas any this year? What are your impressions of the Horns?
BC: I haven't had much of an opportunity since I live in Big Ten country and Texas is always on regional ABC opposite our games, but I did see the Ohio State game, and I was impressed with Texas' ability to play what seemed like a flukishly subpar game (unless Young always tosses interceptions directly to linebackers) and still win in that snakepit. That defense you opposed is one hell of a unit despite the Gopher weirdness and coming out of that game unscratched was an accomplishment.

ATL: Michigan gets Ohio State at home on the 19th of November. Can the Wolverines win that game?
BC: They certainly can. "Will" is another matter entirely.

Michigan seems to have a much better handle on mobile quarterbacks this year and is developing an intimidating defensive line. I'd be shocked to see Troy Smith repeat his performance from last year. Offensively, though, we have issues. Mike Hart was shut down by the Buckeyes last year and probably won't have much room to run. Ohio State can be had in the air but Henne has been very inconsistent.

It'll be close. One thing to watch for is Michigan's secret anti-Ginn weapon in punter/KO guy Ross Ryan. He's booming his kickoffs well into the endzone and only 25% of his punts have been returned last year. Ginns punt return touchdown in last year's game was the beginning of the end--he won't get many opportunities to repeat that.

ATL: Lastly, project the following for us: Big 10 BCS representative, BCS #1 and #2, Heisman Trophy winner, and National Champion.
BC: Oy. I think the team out of the Big Ten will be Wisconsin since Penn State doesn't really have the consistent passing game to exploit the Badgers' weakness in the secondary. The title game will be Texas versus Virginia Tech after USC loses to Fresno State (BOLD!). Young wins the Heisman after the USC loss, but Va Tech wins the battle of mirror images in the Rose Bowl.

Can't have everything, guys. Good to see you holding up your end of the Rose Bowl rematch bargain.

ATL: Thanks for chatting with us, Brian.
--PB--

Hornsblog History

2005-11-01T13:18:00.000-05:00

As we approach the one-year anniversary of All Things Longhorn, we're periodically revisiting some of the topics of interest that have been discussed here over the last twelve months. Today we revisit Friday, March 18, a dark day for the Texas basketball team:

NEVADA 61 TEXAS 57
What a frustrating, miserable loss to put an end to what has been a largely frustrating and miserable season. Texas lost to Nevada last night, 61-57, exiting in the first round for the first time in four years. The worst part is, Nevada sucked. They looked awful. They couldn’t shoot, they didn’t handle the ball well, they weren't great passers—that we didn’t beat them by at least 10 points is testament to just how flawed of a team we were this year.

I don’t know, but after Illinois struggled a bit to get rolling, the line on the Nevada game is probably going to be less than it should. I may just bet the farm on the Illini. If they play well at all, they’ll run Nevada right out of the building. That Texas couldn’t is testament to just how offensively challenged we are without P.J. Tucker.

I don’t have too much more to say right now. That’s a lie. I’ve got plenty of negative things I’d like to say about last night’s game, but I’m spent…
--PB--

It was a truly disappointing tournament loss for Texas, and ended what was in many was a sour season on a sour note. Hope springs eternal, though, and Texas returns all their key players this year. Texas is a consensus Top 10 team, and has the talent and experience to make a deep tourney run if the team jells as we think they can. This football madness has been exciting, but the hoops team is going to be every bit as good as their pigskin counterparts.
--PB--

College Real Estate

2005-11-01T12:22:00.000-05:00

John Walters of SI.com offers this fun little article about the most and least affordable college football towns to buy a home. The most affordable, as you might guess, is Texas Tech. If you’ve ever been to Lubbock, it’s easy to understand why. The most expensive is Stanford, in Palo Alto.

It’s a fun little article, but it made us wonder: how is Tulane not atop that first list? We hear the market in New Orleans isn’t so hot right now.
--PB--

Gameday Breakdown: Jekyll and Hyde Edition

2005-11-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Lost in all the discussion about the Rose Bowl and Heisman trophy is the marginally important little fact that Texas is still playing games. Or, in last Saturday’s case, half-games. Last week’s game deserves lots of discussion—starting now. We’ll break it down, numbers style, with help from Mack’s Monday press conference.

0—Texas’ turnover margin this year. As good as this defense has been overall this year, the turnover margin is even? The offense isn’t giving the ball away at an alarming clip; we’re just not getting as many takeaways as you’d expect from an undefeated team. Mack said, “It’s a real concern for us. We had our hands on four interceptions and we dropped them. It’s amazing this time of the year that only five teams are still undefeated, and for us to be one of them, and even in the turnover margin, is nearly unheard of.” Very true. Texas needs more takeaways.

250—Oklahoma state rushing yards. Are you freakin’ serious? This was clearly the most troubling aspect of Saturday’s game, as the Pokes rushed at will in the first half. Granted, Chizik made the requisite adjustments, but there’s simply no way that Texas can even sniff a national championship allowing that kind of rushing to occur. I don’t even want to think about what Reggie Bush would do if we tackled as poorly as we did on Saturday. Think 200 yards and four scores and you’d be in the right ball park.

79-26—Oklahoma State first half points versus Texas points in the first half over the past three years. This is pretty inexplicable, considering the next stat:

118-0—Texas second half points versus Oklahoma State second half points over the past three years. I just don’t get it. The key for Texas is to not have that happen again for the remainder of the season, as they did last year once more against Kansas.

25-2—Vince Young’s record as a starter. If he’s not the Heisman winner, he’s definitely the MVP. The guy is just unbelievable, and his leadership abilities have developed as much as all the other aspects of his game. A great stat for Travis’s argument is:

506—Vince Young’s total yards on Saturday. That’s just off the charts. 267 rushing? From your quarterback? It’s pretty hard to argue against those numbers. The problem, though, is that Vince contributed to the team’s first half struggles. The interception and fumble were instrumental in helping the Cowboys build the early lead. Still, when the situation got dire, Vince turned everything around and was other-worldly. He’s very, very Heisman worthy, whether or not he wins it.

3-for-15—Oklahoma State on third down. The defense deserves some criticism for the weak rushing defense in the first half, but overall, the numbers are a little deceiving. The defense was pretty stout on Saturday. The Cowboys put a lot of nice plays together in the first half that culminated in that big lead, but take away some of their field position and that lucky deflected touchdown catch, and Texas could have easily won the game 47-14. It’s a moot point, but the defense wasn’t quite as bad as we initially thought. It’s still one of the nation’s best units.

5, 71—Ramonce Taylor carries and yards rushing on Saturday. Here’s where the Texas’ depth comes in to play. With Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles ailing, Taylor filled in ably, and will probably do so more over the rest of the season. Fine by us. He’s lightning quick, has a good nose for the holes, and breakaway speed. In fact, if Charles can get healthy, a Charles-Taylor duel threat is flat out scary. Second to none… well, that White-Bush combo ain’t too bad, either. God I hope we play them. Forget the fact that I’m totally partisan—a USC versus Virginia Tech game just sounds boring.
--PB--

RT at RB

2005-11-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

From Kirk Bohls today:

With all the injuries, Brown almost has the help-wanted sign out.

Whether it's his ankle or cramps, Jamaal Charles hasn't been healthy in about a month.

Selvin Young, a PPO's worst nightmare, is back in the medical ward with ankle issues.

Chris Ogbonnaya had his turn Saturday, and so did Henry Melton, who after a solid start is looking more and more like a great defensive end all the time.

That leaves Ramonce Taylor, who has finally begun to tear the lid off his potential and looks like the best bet to inherit the bulk of the carries out of Texas' offense. Brown said Taylor will get more practice time and could see more playing time at running back than at receiver.

"I guess we'll have to do that," Brown said. "We can't plan on Jamaal making it through a game because he hasn't been able to do it. Selvin's banged up. Chris gets banged up. That's something we'll have to consider."

--TR--

Thank you, readers

2005-11-01T10:46:00.000-05:00

Fanblogs.com just thanked their readers for visiting the site in droves—over 300,000 visitors in October, and 1,000,000 page views. That’s a lot of traffic, and it’s not surprising; they do a great job over at Fanblogs. Well, we hit a milestone of our own here at All Things Longhorn. Today we crept over 50,000 visitors to this site, a number we’re proud to have reached. Especially pleasing is the rapid growth, as over 30,000 of those visits came in October alone. Thanks to everyone who’s coming by the site, and especially to those who are joining in the discussions by leaving comments. As we prepare to migrate to our new site, we’re excited to be bringing so many of you along with us. A heartfelt thanks to all of you.
--ATL--

Dream Games

2005-11-01T00:07:00.000-05:00

Most teams have just three or four games left. But what if we could change boring matchups to more exciting ones? Here are the Top 10 Games We'd Like to See.

Texas Tech vs. UCLA: Offense only. First team to score eighty wins.

Florida St vs. Penn St: Two storied programs led by senile old giants.

Air Force vs. Miami: Coach DeBerry thought TCU was fast. Wait until he sees the ‘Canes.

Stanford vs. Alabama: losing team must change its mascot from a shade of red to a shade of pink.

Hawaii vs. Maine: because Asia and Europe are closer than these two.

Florida vs. Georgia Part II: this time with Shockley. Anyone think the Gators win again? Didn’t think so.

Rice vs. Temple: one team actually gets enjoy a game.

Texas A&M vs. UTEP: winner is arguably the fourth best team in Texas.

Tennessee vs. Purdue: just to see who is still overrated.

USC vs. Virginia Tech: once and for all we settle who is the second best team in the country.

Comments? Other suggestions?

--AW--

Back To HornsBlog Home Page

Young or Bush?

2005-10-31T18:21:00.000-05:00

Travis has started a little controversy here. He says the Heisman is Vince’s to lose. The Heisman Pundit, who spends a great deal of time studying the science of Heisman voting, says Bush is the man to beat right now. Much of the disagreement comes over whether or not Vince Young had a “Heisman Moment” on Saturday, with his game-changing 80 yard touchdown run. Student Body Right is arguing that Travis is over-stating the importance of such moments.

We can run in circles debating this, and to be fair, I think all three pundits are making some legitimate arguments. While a “Heisman moment” may not be a prerequisite for winning the award, Vince Young certainly turned some positive attention his way with his sick run (and even sicker total game stats.)

With all that said, this may just be a lesson in Flavor-Of-The-Day-ism. It’s the cousin of What-Have-You-Done-For-Me-Lately-isms, and when the voters send in their ballots, their votes will likely be cast by what these outstanding players do last. If Young has an abysmal game against Texas A&M, or chunks the Big 12 championship game, he can kiss the trophy good-bye. If Bush fumbles away a USC perfect season against UCLA, he’ll be similarly dinged.

So while all the informal polls will show Young and Bush slightly ahead of one another from week to week, in the end it will come down to how these two studs perform at the end, when all are watching. On Friday of Thanksgiving week, Texas gets the spotlight against A&M in the one of the only games available for viewing. Similarly, when USC and UCLA square off at the end of the year, the eyes of the nation will tune in to see these two Pac 10 leaders collide. If Bush dominates the Bruins like he did the Irish, he can win it right then.

The wild card in this race is Matt Leinart, who, should he blow up with amazing stats down the stretch, could steal some of Bush’s thunder and split USC votes. In that case, Young could finish the winner, even, perhaps, without having the most first place votes.

I think Mike Holt said it best, though. At least for Texas, the Heisman Trophy is an afterthought—fuel for debate on blogs like this one. USC’s had their national title. We have not. That’s the real prize and the only one that counts.
--PB--

ATL Top 25

2005-10-31T15:28:00.000-05:00

1. Texas (Barely. Another slip and we’re bumping USC back up)
2. Southern Cal (If defensive improvement sticks, look out)
3. Virginia Tech (Will get their chance to make a case this Saturday vs Miami)
4. Alabama (Utah. State. Shrug.)
5. Miami (The running game is there. The passing is not.)
6. LSU (This team mystifies us)
7. UCLA (Yikes. They keep playing with fire. USC won’t be so kind)
8. Ohio State (Starting to really roll. The offense is clicking)
9. Florida State (Still looking for consistency)
10. Georgia (Shockley loss is so unfortunate; tough, tough break)
11. Notre Dame (Creeping closer to a BCS bowl)
12. Penn State (What a turnaround for Joe Pa)
13. Wisconsin (Calhoun just another great Badger runner)
14. Oregon (Steadily improving)
15. TCU (Our token mid-major vote)
16. Florida (Would not have beaten UGA with Shockley)
17. West Virginia (I guess)
18. Boston College (Not up for VT’s defense)
19. Texas Tech (Decent win against Baylor)
20. California (They don’t look like they can beat USC)
21. Fresno State (Could they challenge USC? No)
22. Auburn (They're going to be good next year)
23. Michigan (Wolverine fans must be frustrated with this team)
24. Colorado (They’re not bad. They’re not good.)
25. Georgia Tech (See: Colorado)

News and Notes from the Weekend

2005-10-31T15:24:00.000-05:00

After a wild weekend of traveling, which included missed flights by me and canceled flights by the airlines, I’m back. For those that are interested, the wedding was perhaps the best I’ve ever been to.

On to the notes:

*Heismanpundit takes issue with Travis’s “Heisman Moment” post. As much as I’d like to agree with Travis, I think HP makes a good point. I’m not sure enough people saw the game, and I’m not sure that the first half struggles won’t be weighed in against VY.

Not to pile on my good friend Travis, whose contributions to this blog are invaluable, but Student Body Right makes an excellent counterargument as well. I think a lot of us have some vivid memories of Mr. Bush's runs against Notre Dame. I'm not sure I've EVER seen runs like some of those. Hey, we will pat ourselves on the back when we say something people like (or blast others when we think they're wrong), but we also try to point you the readers to other viewpoints, even when they contrast with our own.

*The consensus picks failed to get over .500 again, going 2-2-1. Thanks again to Andrew and Joe for making guest picks.

*USC’s defense is coming around—scary news for Trojan opponents. It’s not terribly surprising, as Pete Carroll has always been a good defensive coach. If their defense is making plays at the end of the year, it’s going to be awfully tough for anybody—Texas included—to beat them.

*Speaking of which, there cannot be any more lapses like the one that occurred in the first half versus Oklahoma State. The Texas roaring comeback was impressive, but it’s one thing to pound OSU after being down, and quite another to do so against a team like USC, or Virginia Tech.

*The first half slip against Oklahoma State also highlighted the other problem such games create for Texas: the potential erosion of human votes to USC and/or Virginia Tech. If Texas loses ground in the computers, they won’t be able to afford to lose ground in the human polls, too. Texas must impress in their remaining games to keep their place in the BCS title game.

*Teams that impressed me this week: USC, Virginia Tech, Ohio State.

*Teams that made me wonder: Texas, UCLA, Florida State, Miami.

*Speaking of Virginia Tech and Miami, there’s a pretty big game in Blacksburg this weekend. Based on what I’ve seen, Virginia Tech should be the favorite. Miami’s lack of a passing game may hurt them. Still, I expect the Canes to give the Hokies their stiffest test yet. Shit, their only test yet. Virginia Tech still hasn’t beaten an elite team. Here’s their chance.
--PB--

BCS Rankings Halloween

2005-10-31T14:56:00.000-05:00

Texas dropped to number 2 in this week's BCS rankings but is still solidly in front of Virginia Tech. As we all know, if the season were to end today, Texas would be in the Rose Bowl. As long as Texas keeps winning it will be very difficult for Virginia Tech to leapfrog the Horns.

Highlights:
--The computers still love the Horns. Texas is ranked first in all six computers.
--USC and Virginia Tech have the same computer strength.
--Penn State is ranked fifth by the computers but tenth and eleventh in the polls.
--Notre Dame is moving closer to a BCS berth as the 14th ranked team this week, up another place from last week.
--Four Big 12 teams are now ranked in the BCS with Colorado at 22 and Oklahoma at 25.

--AW--

Heisman Moment

2005-10-31T11:49:00.000-05:00

Although not always the case, in many years the Heisman winner has what I call a "Heisman Moment," a signature play that is so great you cannot help but admit that player is the best in all the land.

Vince Young's 80-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma State qualifies as a "Heisman Moment."

The pump fake. The speed. The game-changing momentum created. The proof that he was by far the best player on the field at that moment.

I can't recall a moment like this for Matt Leinart last year, or Jason White the year before. But Eric Crouch's touchdown catch on the reverse pass against OU in 2001 qualifies. Charles Woodson's punt return. Desmond Howard's TD catch. The list goes on and on.

Had Vince struck the pose after reaching the end zone, it would not have been that inappropriate.

USC fans, please help me out here. Admittedly, I have not seen every second of every USC game, since I live in the Dallas market and I don't have ESPN Gameplan.

Does Reggie Bush have a moment like this? I've seen his awesome punt return, but did that change the game and alter USC's season? I know Bush dominated the USC-Notre Dame game, but Leinart stole some of his thunder at the end. Leinart's 4th-down pass was a "Heisman Moment," but everyone seems to have conceded the Trojans' #1 candidate is Bush, not Leinart.

In these eyes, and in many other across the nation, the Heisman is now Vince's to lose.

--TR--

Road to Pasadena Halloween

2005-10-31T10:46:00.000-05:00

We are down to just five unbeatens. And I think only three are for real. Another Saturday with limited upsets. Maybe we shouldn’t rank teams until October. Then we wouldn’t have so many surprises in August and September when teams are still trying to find their true identities. Anyway, USC, Texas and Virginia Tech all win and give us more to talk about for another week.

Tier 1—The Favorites
1. USC—cruised past Washington State at home. Leinart had an excellent game. Could he siphon enough votes from Bush for a Vince Young Heisman victory? Next up those pesky Stanford Cardinal before a tough stretch to finish the season with Cal, Fresno State, and UCLA.

2. Texas—it was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Texas played like two different teams on Saturday night. The Horns suffer slightly in both polls, but will still be in the top 2 in the BCS. Is anyone extremely uncomfortable with Lou Holtz’s pro-Texas babbling on ESPN? Next up a “road” game in Waco vs. Baylor.

3. Va Tech—got a half-statement win on national tv on Thursday night. The Hokies have another huge chance to impress voters and the computers when Miami visits this Saturday. Even if they get past the Hurricanes a perfect season is long from assured. Games with Virginia, North Carolina, and probably Florida State remain before bowl season.

Tier 2—The Contenders
1. Alabama—cruised past Utah State at home, 35-3. Another weak opponent in Mississippi State this week before the Tide face their true tests in LSU and Auburn. Still betting heavily against an undefeated season.

2. UCLA—won again in the fourth quarter at Stanford. Can someone please tell the Bruins when the game actually starts? Late game comebacks are fun to watch but too tough on the stomach. Bruins are correctly ranked below some one loss teams.

Tier 3—Need Help
1. 1 Loss Teams—Best one loss teams in order: Miami, LSU, Florida State, Georgia Penn State, Wisconsin, and Oregon.

2. 2 Loss Teams—Notre Dame: the computers still hate them. A BCS berth may rest in the land of computer code. The Irish should easily win out though. Anyone else shocked by a Charlie Weis’ ten year deal? Ohio State: gets Illinois this weekend after outscoring Minnesota on Saturday. Three more wins and the Buckeyes most likely grab a BCS berth.

--AW--

The Perfect Storm

2005-10-30T14:29:00.000-05:00

It was another scary first half for the Horns against Oklahoma State, as the stars aligned perfectly for the Cowboys and allowed them to open up another big first half lead. But like last year, the large deficit didn't hold, as Texas finished the game with a 38-0 run to win once more.

Still, it was a concerning game. The defense couldn't stop the run in the first half, and the offense was flat. It was partly Texas being bad, and partly Oklahoma State putting everything together for a half. From the great runs, to the Texas mistakes, to the crazy deflected touchdown catch, everything went the Cowboys way for a half. It looked like the perfect storm was gathering that could wipe out Texas' dream season.

And yet, by the end, it was a 19 point victory for the Horns. Had they played with the same focus and intensity at the beginning of the game that they had at the end of the game, they would have won by 50. Why Texas was so flat is a mystery, and Mack Brown and Gene Chizik need to figure out why Texas stumbled out of the gate. There won't be any coming back from down three scores to a team like USC.

We'll discuss this game much, much more on Monday. For now, it's another win, an impressive comeback, and another memorable night for Vince Young. Let's throw this out for discussion in the meantime: does last night's game help, or hurt, Vince Young's Heisman resume?
--PB--

No worries

2005-10-29T23:31:00.000-04:00

In Vince We Trust.

Texas BBall Preseason # 3

2005-10-28T11:23:00.000-04:00

The 2005-2006 Texas Longhorns men's basketball team opened as the third ranked team in the first ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Duke sits atop the poll followed by UConn. The Blue Devils received 28 of 31 first place votes. Texas picked up two first place votes with Villanova snagging the other. The Horns play Duke on December 10th in New Jersey and Villanova on January 14th in Austin.

Texas opens the season with an exhibition game against St. Mary's on November 2nd at 7 PM. First regular season game is November 15th against Southern in the Guardians Classic in Austin.

My season tickets just arrived!!

--AW--

Dropping the ball

2005-10-28T11:07:00.000-04:00

I suck. I really, really suck. I pulled a Selvin Young, misread my airline ticket, and thought I was leaving this evening. It was this morning. Ran straight into the pile and fumbled. My suit for Joe's wedding won't be ready until this afternoon, and now I'll be forced to try to Stand By my way to Austin this evening. Cross your fingers...

Oh, also: I suck.

Shit.
--PB--

Do your part

2005-10-27T17:21:00.000-04:00

I didn't think this was real, but it is. The website www.voteforheisman.com is holding a public vote for the 2005 Heisman Trophy, and the top three players get actual legit votes in the real Heisman balloting. First place gets a first-place vote, second place a second, and third place a third.

At the time of this post, Vince Young is second behind Maurice Drew. You can click here for the current leaderboard.

Please do your part by going to this site and voting for the player you think is deserving. I think it's obvious who we support.

You have to enter a valid email address for your vote to be counted, and you can vote once a week. It's worth it, because this can actually make a difference in the final tally.

--TR--

Skip Bayless Is (Still) An Idiot

2005-10-27T15:25:00.000-04:00

Skip Bayless is an idiot. Go ahead and Google it. You’ll quickly see this is not an original thought of mine. Bayless has made a career out of saying all the wrong things—the things that get under people’s skin. Whatever his motivations, the words “Skip Bayless is an idiot” have their own place in the dictionary. The guy has managed to be called an idiot more times than Jessica Simpson.

I think Football Outsiders said it best: “Skip Bayless columns are like fish in a barrel.”

Some of Skip's lowlights, just from the last year:

*The Eagles only choice is to get rid of T.O. (Riiiiight.)
*Deion Sanders is more deserving of the best athlete ever than Lance Armstrong (Seriously, he said that.)
*Kevin Garnett is not a man because he didn’t slug Anthony Peeler after Peeler swung at him. (Level-headedness, apparently, is not a quality real men possess. Ron Artest, we can safely conclude, is a REAL man.)
*Lebron James faked the flu to avoid the dunk contest (Bayless offers no real evidence; just wild conjecture—his specialty)

We could go on and on and on. I actually had fun with my little Google search. It’s pleasing to see how many sentences contain “Skip Bayless” and “idiot.”

Today, Skip Bayless is at it again, dismissing the Longhorns and—this is where it gets retarded—saying that Ohio State could give USC a better game than Texas could. I can’t fathom any justification for that statement, and Bayless doesn’t offer any. It’s just yet another idiotic thing he says that we’ve all come to expect. Personally, I think he should be quite a bit higher on this list.
--PB--

Texas vs Oklahoma State Preview

2005-10-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

Oklahoma State 15 Montana State 10
Oklahoma State 23 Florida Atlantic 3
Oklahoma State 20 Arkansas State 10
Oklahoma State 0 Colorado 34
Oklahoma State 31 Missouri 38
Oklahoma State 23 Texas A&M 62
Oklahoma State 10 Iowa State 37

Average score: Oklahoma State 17 Opponent 28

Wow. That's including the three puff cakes they played at the beginning of the year. Folks, this is a bad football team. I'm not sure how you lose to Iowa State by 27 points. I'm not sure how you only beat Montana State by 5 points.

Is there anything to preview here? Not really. A loss here would be the biggest upset in the last ten years, easily. So, rather than breakdown how much better we are than them, here are a few questions in my mind this week:

*Will Quan Cosby assume the punt returning duties permanently? (He looked great against Tech)

*How healthy is Jamaal Charles?

*How far back has Selvin Young really come?

*Will Texas cover the 37 point spread and move to 8-0 ATS for the year?

*Does Bevo ever get full?

*How nervous will Joe be at his wedding? How drunk will I be?

As you can see, my attention span for this game is limited. I expect nothing short of a total blowout. Anything under a 30 point shellacking will be a disappointment. Joe picked a good weekend to get married, after all.
--PB--

Horns Increase Lead in Master Coaches Survey

2005-10-27T11:05:00.000-04:00

The sixteen former college coaches voted again this week, and once again put Texas in the top spot. This week the Horns received 13 of 16 first place votes to increase their lead over USC marginally.

It's a meaningless poll, but still nice to see Texas getting some love from these former college coaches. The #1 rankings are piling up, and it brings up an interesting question. I was having dinner with my Dad last night and he suggested to me that the Horns should hope to be #2 going into the Rose Bowl (should they get there). My initial reaction was to agree, though I'm not sure it makes much difference. He insisted that the pressure of being #1 is a real factor and that Texas really would be better served coming in at #2, as the challenger to the reigning champion.

It's interesting food for thought, and a potential legitimate justification for why USC should be ranked #1. He agreed with most of my arguments about why many of the justifications you hear for USC being #1 are bogus, but suggested that the pressure of being #1 is a legitimate factor and one that should be considered when ranking teams.

Readers, please chime in with your thoughts on both subjects:

(1) Is Texas better off entering a potential Rose Bowl showdown with USC ranked #2?
(2) Is there a real pressure of being #1 that should be taken into account when evaluating USC?
--PB--

College Hoops Preseason BlogPoll Released

2005-10-26T15:26:00.000-04:00

The Worst Yet

2005-10-26T12:41:00.000-04:00

Ugh, another bad argument. No sooner had I posted my Bad USC Arguments post than I stumble across the worst I’ve seen yet. Boi From Troy and The Wizard of Odds are now boasting about USC being a 6 point favorite. Okay, fine, boast. The problem quickly arises when the two of them take it a step further. First, Boi From Troy:

Personally, I’d go with the oddsmakers at this point in the season, as their livelihoods are on the line when picking teams and the message from Vegas is clear: USC is already a 6 point favorite to beat the Longhorns in Pasadena on Janaury 4.

Next, The Wizard of Odds:

Well, the gambling gods have spoken. Pinnacle Sports has released a line for the Rose Bowl and USC, winner of 29 in a row, currently is a six-point favorite (and rising) over Texas. The choice as to which side to be on is clear as picking a winner from the above fray. How do you plead, Texas? We will now submit Exhibit No. 1, aka the release announcing the Pinnacle lines, as evidence.

The fallacy is especially ironic in the latter case, considering his self-proclaimed title as “The Wizard of Odds.” You’d think someone of that title might understand a little bit about how lines are set and why they move.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have exactly one job: create as much action as possible. Their job is not—in any way, shape, or form—to try to predict the outcome of the game. Their job is to get as many bets in on the game as possible. To that end, they set the line. The guy who set the line might think Texas is going to win by 10. He might think USC is going to win by 21. You certainly don’t know what he thinks by how he sets the line.

That line is set based on public perception and what he thinks will generate the most betting action. When a line moves, it does not move because supposed guru is now feeling like USC is going to win by more, or less. It moves because too many people are betting on one side. The line is adjusted to try to create action on the other side.

Lines tell us nothing about what experts think the outcome of the game will be. They tell us what gamblers think the outcome of the game will be. Understand the difference, gentelemen. Especially if you want to proclaim yourself the Wizard of Odds. I suggest the dunce cap might be more appropriate.
--PB--

Success Defined

2005-10-26T11:47:00.000-04:00

What is a successful season? For the past five years, Texas has won nine, nine, eleven, ten, and eleven games. But all five of those seasons were tainted by losses to OU. We have cleared that hurdle this season. We are 7-0 with two victories over top 10 teams and the presumptive favorites for the Big 12 title and a berth in the national championship game. So far we have had nothing but success. Given the scenarios below would the season be successful?

A) Loss at Texas A&M followed by victories in Big 12 Championship Game and in the Fiesta Bowl over Notre Dame.

B) Beat Texas A&M but lose in the Big 12 Championship Game. Receive an at-large BCS berth and beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

C) Beat A&M. Win the Big 12 Championship but are left out of the Rose Bowl by the computers. Win the Fiesta Bowl over Penn State.

D) Beat A&M. Win the Big 12 Championship. A berth but a loss in the Rose Bowl to USC.

E) Win out for a 13 – 0 season and a national championship Rose Bowl victory.

I would say A & B are unacceptable at this point in the season. C would be a successful season. D would be successful but difficult to stomach. And obviously E is the goal.

What do you think?

--AW--

Deconstructing the USC cheerleaders

2005-10-26T11:35:00.000-04:00

We’re all well aware that October BCS rankings are about as meaningful as Major League Soccer. Nonetheless, I’m just astounded by all the carping I’m hearing around the country. Most of it is from dinosaur journalists like Tony Kornheiser (who unbelievably manages to be wrong no matter what issue he’s blathering about) and petulant USC fans.

For the record, I have absolutely no problem if you think USC should be ranked #1. They’re a great, great football team, and if you think they’re better than Texas, by all means, you can rank them #1 and be justified. But with that said, I’ve had it with some of the asinine arguments people are pothering. Let’s put some of those to rest.

USC should be #1 because every team brings their A-game trying to gun them down.

This is a partial truth. I have absolutely no doubt that every single team that faces USC has that game circled on their calendar. But for the argument to hold water, it would have to be true that teams get less jacked up to play Texas. How is Texas not the biggest game on every single team’s schedule this year, too? Do you think Missouri, Baylor, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M will be any less motivated to knock off a giant than the USC gunners are? And what about Ohio State? They spent their entire offseason preparing for the Week 2 showdown with the Horns. It’s a silly argument. Texas is the biggest game on all their opponent’s schedule this year, too. That somehow teams get extra psyched up for USC, as opposed to Texas, is just wrong.

USC should be #1 because they haven’t lost in 29 games.

Huh? Following that logic, Oklahoma should still be in the Top 25, as we’d need to take into account what they’d done the past two years. This is the worst of the USC #1 arguments. What happened last year is irrelevant.

The computers are stupid—they can’t see what I see with my own eyes on the field

No, they can’t see what you see—four, maybe five, games a week. They see them all. Computers are not perfect, but the criticisms I hear of them are American anti-intellectualism at its finest. Or worst.

Texas has a patsy schedule and hasn’t beaten anyone good

I’ve seen two of the highest-caliber college football games I’ve seen in quite some time this year. The first was USC-Notre Dame, and the second was Texas-Ohio State. The latter was a match up of two of the nastiest defenses in the country, playing at a level USC and Notre Dame haven’t even sniffed this year. The former was a match up of two of the most prolific offenses I’ve seen in the college game in a long time (which Ohio State certainly hasn’t sniffed this year). The Big 12 may be down, but Texas is pounding their inferior competition like no other. USC stumbled through Oregon and Arizona State, let Arizona hang in the game, and managed to allow 24 points to… Washington? You can’t punish Texas for their schedule if you aren’t also going to acknowledge that USC isn’t pounding their lesser opponents the way a #1 team should. It’s a draw, at worst.

I could probably go on for a while on this topic, but I’ll let it go for now. There is a justified case for voting USC #1 in the country. Too often, though, you just don’t hear it. What you hear is a bunch of garbage, and today, I’m taking out the trash.

--PB--

Week 9 Picks: Lack of Consensus Edition

2005-10-26T11:10:00.000-04:00

We bring back the weekly picks with two new guest handicappers. Thanks again to Alex and Michael for their picks last week. This week we bring in Andrew Windler, better known on this blog as “The Other Andrew,” and lovingly referred to today as Funniest Commenter Awardee. Also joining in on the picks this week will be Joe Newberry. Why? Because he’s getting married on Saturday, and for Christ’s sake, the man needs a distraction or two.

On to the games. (AW=Andrew Wiggins; TOA=The Other Andrew)

Top BCS Threat Game of the Week
Boston College +13.5 @ Virginia Tech
PB—VT won ugly vs MD last week; BC won ugly vs Wake last week. Hokies should rebound this week. Pick: Virginia Tech
TR— Remember the first rule of college football: All unbeatens eventually lose unless they are really, really good. FSU wasn’t, and they lost. VaTech isn’t, either. Is this their week to lose? Taking the points here is easy. Look into the money line, too. Pick: BC
AW—The Hokies won’t play bad at home. They hold on this week to set up a scary one next weekend. Pick: Virginia Tech
JN—I hate VT. Beamer ball is one of the most hyped clichés in college football. Did you know that Texas has more blocked kicks that VT since 2000? UT (35) VA Tech (32). Pick: B.C.
TOA— I heard Michael Vick has a brother that plays for Va Tech. If that’s true, and I’m not saying it is, my pick is Va Tech

Consensus: Virginia Tech (3 votes to 2)

Top These Used To Be Good Programs Game of the Week
Oklahoma +1.5 @ Nebraska
PB—Lines like this one hammer home the depth of the Big 12 plunge. I don’t see much offense here. Pick: Nebraska
TR— While staying home sick from work on Monday I accidentally stumbled upon the Bob Stoops coach’s show, where they went over the highlights of OU’s 2OT win over Baylor. This was classic TV, showing just how far OU has fallen. Pick: Nebraska
AW—Peterson will play and play well. Pick: Oklahoma
JN—Bomar gained some awesome experience playing against a great Baylor team… Both teams suck here. Pick: Oklahoma
TOA—If Eric Crouch plays well in this game, he’s a lock for the Heisman. I don’t see how anyone in the Big 12 North can unseat Nebraska (ever!). Pick: Oklahoma

Consensus: Oklahoma (3 votes to 2)

Top Big 10 Game of the Week
Ohio State -4 @ Minnesota
PB—The Buckeye offense is starting to come around. They’ll finish this year like they did last year. Pick: Ohio State
TR— Home dog in the unpredictable Big 10 is too tempting to pass up. Pick: Minnesota
AW—I still think the Buckeyes are the best team in the Big 10. They survive a close one. Pick: Ohio State
JN—I like the home Big Ten getting the points. Pick: Minnesota
TOA—Maroney will be handling both the deep snapping and the punting duties after last week’s debacle. Pick: Ohio State

Consensus: Ohio State (3 votes to 2)

Top Best Named Game Of The Week
Georgia +4 vs Florida
PB—Shockless dogs face biteless Gators. What gives? Leak looks lost. Pick: Georgia
TR— No Shockley, no chance for Georgia. Gators big. Pick: Florida
AW—This line should raise some eyebrows. Yeah, Florida seems to own the Dawgs. Yeah, Shockley is out. Georgia’s defense keeps them close. Pick: Georgia
JN—Biggest Cocktail Party EVER!!!! My initial reaction was to go with Florida, which of course means I should pick GA. Pick: Georgia
TOA—They need to rename this The World’s Largest Keg Party. Honestly, how many Cosmos and Mojitos do you think they have at Billy Joe Gator’s tailgate? Pick: Florida

Consensus: Georgia (3 votes to 2)

Top Mismatch Game of the Week
Texas -36.5 @ Oklahoma State
PB—We beat Tech by 35. Les Miles still sucks, even if he’s gone. Pick: Texas
TR— Spread is too high. Mack doesn’t run up the score, and playing on the road, he’ll shut things down once the Horns get comfortably ahead. Pick: OSU (Texas by 28)
AW—I can’t see OSU scoring more than 10. Horns roll, again. Pick: Texas
JN—Ok. State is horrible this year, but why is the line only 36.5? I think this is a trap. If Vegas thought this was going to be a blowout, the line would be –60. Horns win by 35. Pick: Ok. St.
TOA—Lost in all the gambling madness is the fact that Joe is getting married on a game day. I hope you’re going to put a big plasma screen on the crucifix so it looks like Jesus is watching the game. The Virgin Mary weeps for OSU’s defense. Pick: Texas

A True Longhorn Fan Wedding

Consensus: Texas (3 votes to 2)

Top Try to Figure Out the Pac 10 Game of the Week
UCLA -7.5 @ Stanford
PB—UCLA refuses to blow anyone out. That said, they’re just getting better. Pick: UCLA
TR— UCLA can see its perfect matchup with USC from here. Pick: UCLA
AW—Does Stanford have enough offense? No. Do they have any offense? No. Pick: UCLA
JN—Stanford coming off a big win v. Az. St., but UCLA is FO REAL. Pick: UCLA
TOA— Any D-1A team (Stanford) that loses to a D-1AA team (UC-Davis) doesn’t really deserve to be talked about. Pick: UCLA

Consensus: Mortal Lock of the Week—UCLA (5 votes to 0)

Barnes adds to recruiting class

2005-10-26T10:07:00.000-04:00

Rick Barnes’ recruiting class just keeps getting better. Having already landed the #2 prospect in the country in Rockville, MD star Kevin Durant, among others, Barnes yesterday secured a commitment from 6’10” center Matt Hill, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Hill also had scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, UCLA, Gonzaga, Purdue, and Utah, but chose Texas. “I’ve picked a proven program,” Hill said.

Scout.com ranked Hill the #74 prospect in the country.
--PB--

Another #1 ranking

2005-10-25T15:52:00.000-04:00

Texas is gaining ground in just about every poll. They picked up votes in the AP, Coaches, and Harris Polls. They moved up a spot (for now) in the BCS. And now, in the granddaddy of them all, they’ve pushed ahead of USC into the #1 slot in the FanBlogs.com poll.

Next up? The BlogPoll, which will be released tomorrow. We’ll check in on that one tomorrow.
--PB--

Texas Quarterback Name Game

2005-10-25T15:44:00.000-04:00

In honor of incoming quarterback Colt McCoy, as well as former quarterback legend Major Applewhite, it’s time to have a Texas quarterback naming contest. It’s pretty tough to beat Colt McCoy, but we’ll throw out a few nominations of our own and invite you to offer your own.

Texas quarterbacks we’d like to see:

Whip McGee
Clayton Bronco
Buddy Winchester
Hoot McCormick
~~Chris Simms~~
Davey Sergeant
Bucky Cartwright
Irwin M. Fletcher (we wish)
--PB--

UT Gameday

2005-10-25T11:51:00.000-04:00

Buried somewhere on MackBrown.com is this video, where David Thomas and Michael Huff "kick it" with Chris Fowler for about 20 minutes last Friday on the Gameday set.

Click here to watch the video.

Fowler talks at great length about how Gameday has become what it is now, how much Corso goes through to set up his headgear pick, and why Fowler loves Austin so much.

He also tips ESPN/ABC's hand as to how they're going to promote USC/Texas.

This is a great watch.

--TR--

Vince: I'm staying

2005-10-25T11:13:00.000-04:00

From the Dallas Morning News:

"I just stay humble and tell people I signed to play here, and I'm playing here," Young said. "I'm coming back [next year]. That decision, I'm not thinking about it right now. I'm worrying about Oklahoma State and sending our seniors out with a bang. You've got to leave that decision open. But right now I plan on coming back."

Also from the link:

Of his Heisman pose on the sideline with teammates after a third-quarter, 75-yard touchdown pass to Billy Pittman on Saturday, Young said, "I kind of regret it."

"I don't want people thinking I've got an ego. I was just playing with some of my teammates, who were like, 'Let me see it.' I just gave them a little taste, not the whole thing."

Young said he won't strike the Heisman pose again -- unless he wins the trophy.

"If I won it, I'll strike it all the time," he said, laughing.

Dropping the Hammer: The Interview

2005-10-25T10:56:00.000-04:00

No, we’re not talking about Tom Delay, folks. All Things Longhorn is pleased to bring you a brief interview with Warren St. John, author of the best-selling book, Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer: A Road Trip into the Heart of Fan Mania.

St. John is a reporter for The New York Times, author of Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, and a blogger about Alabama football and college football in general. Besides being an outstanding writer, Warren is an astute observer and a rabid college football fan, dating back to his childhood watching Bear Bryant football teams.

To give him his full due, consider the following: Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, a book that chronicles the depth of college football fandom, is ranked the #1 book on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s list of “Best College Sports Books Ever.” For those that have read A Season on the Brink, you know that’s a high honor. You can read more about the book or purchase a copy here.

Icing on the cake for us Horns fans: our beloved Major Applewhite is a huge fan of the book, and even provided an advance comment for the title. Applewhite said, “Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer is a deeply intriguing and wildly entertaining observation of big time college football fans. It uncovers the often strange measures we true Orangebloods go to in supporting our 'Horns, and explains the bond we have with one another by simply flashing the hook'em.”

Warren St. John sat down with All Things Longhorn to answer a few questions.

ATL: Alabama is off to the first 7-0 start in some time. What's different about this year's team?

Warren St. John: Well from a fan's perspective, the most obvious difference is they're winning. Bama's been playing with a half a deck for a while, which hasn't helped. But I think the main reason they're winning is defense. It's not often that Bama holds Florida and Tennessee each to 3 points.

ATL: How much has the Prothro injury hurt the offense? Correspondingly, can they remain unbeaten without him?

WSJ: We're beginning to find out and it doesn't look good. The offense misses his sure hands badly. Unless some of Alabama's younger receivers step up, it's going to be hard to beat LSU and Auburn.

ATL: Have you had a chance to see Texas play this year? What is your opinion of the Horns?

WSJ: I have; watched the OU game in full, and have seen lots of highlights. I think Young is looking unstoppable right now. And the defense is playing big too. I'm a big fan of Mack Brown's.

ATL: The Downtown Athletic Club has invited you to vote in this year's Heisman trophy race? Who do you vote for, and why?

WSJ: It's unoriginal but I have to say Reggie Bush. He's one of the most phenomenal players I've ever seen.

ATL: The SEC's BCS representative will be?

WSJ: I think Bama is going to do it. They're playing in that weird zone where things just happen for them. And they're incredibly confident, but not cocky. If they drop one, it will still be cool to see the possibility of a Bama/ND or Bama/Penn State bowl game.

ATL: The national champion will be?

WSJ: This will sound like pandering, but I think it's the 'Horns year.
--PB--

Top of the world

2005-10-25T10:33:00.000-04:00

I know that things may change sooner or later (probably sooner), and the computers may drop us a bit after we take out the trash over the next few weeks, but as of today, I cannot tell you how great it feels to be able to say this:

We're #1!

From the fine folks at MackBrown-TexasFootball.com: The last time the Longhorns were ranked No. 1 in either The Associated Press or Coaches Poll was Oct. 8, 1984. That week, Texas was No. 1 in both major polls.

It's been over 21 years. Everything has changed so much since then, and for a while I have to admit I was skeptical if the Longhorns would ever return to the top of the college football world.

Now they have.

Yes, the national championship game looms large down the road, as does the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 3, which should bring home Mack Brown's first conference championship. But this week should be a celebration of the Texas Longhorns and their return to glory.

Remember, 4-7 was not that long ago. Rout 66 still burns. I think Quentin Griffin just scored again. But those demons now are long gone.

USC can talk 29 consecutive wins and all that jazz, but for the 2005 season alone, the Texas Longhorns have been the best team in all the land, as the current BCS ranking reflects.

Even if the unthinkable happens and the Horns stumble before the Rose Bowl, I am so proud of the team and the program to have achieved this milestone. The 2005 season has already been a success, as evident by the checklist at the bottom of this blog. Reaching #1 in the rankings is just another accolade earned along the way.

And now, the journey to the national championship continues ...

--TR--

Looming Computer Problems?

2005-10-25T01:08:00.000-04:00

The national pundits are starting to come around. Texas picked up first place votes in both polls that go into the BCS on Sunday. We even picked up two first place votes in the AP poll, not that it matters. We are even number one in the latest BCS rankings. Dennis Dodd of CBS Sportsline, Pat Forde of ESPN, and Lee Corso of ESPN College Gameday already have the Horns in the Rose Bowl. The computers love us. The pollsters love us. The Rose Bowl officials want us. This is the best Texas team most of us have seen in our lifetime. Is there any reason to worry? Bear with me. There is a small one. Consider this the ATL Devil’s Advocate.

The BCS computers really love us. Right now our six computer rankings are first, first, first, first, first, and second. And at least for a week, Texas is the number one overall team in the BCS. If we keep winning and winning handily, it is extremely doubtful that pollsters would drop us to number 3 behind Virginia Tech. Lucky for us, the polls account for 2/3 of the BCS number. So, we should have a mathematical advantage over Virginia Tech in at least two of the three BCS components for the rest of the season. We could however suffer from this point forward in the computers.

Our next three opponents are bad. Actually, they are horrible. We will likely be favored by more than 35 points in each of our next three games. Oklahoma State, Baylor, and Kansas have a combined 1-11 record in the Big 12. According to the latest Sagarin Elo-Chess rankings (the ones used for the BCS), our next three opponents are the 12th, 9th, and 11th best teams in the Big 12. Also, according to Sagarin, our strength of schedule is currently 30th. USC’s is 24th and Virginia Tech’s is 55th. All six BCS computers value who you play and who you beat. Some use the date and location of the game as well. Some don’t. Our computer strength and lead over Virginia Tech is likely to slip. It won’t matter if we win our next three games 150-10. The computers will be judging our whole season that will now include very bad teams. As we slip, Va Tech is likely to rise, if they keep winning. The Hokies play Boston College, Miami, Virginia, and North Carolina to close the season. Current Sagarin Rankings of those opponents 17, 12, 43, and 40 respectively. Our last four are ranked 81, 53, 64, and 29. And don’t expect A&M to stay that high. They should beat Iowa State at home to go 6-2. But then the Aggies travel to Lubbock and Norman before we visit to end the season. A&M will most likely be 6-4 with one win coming over Texas State. Virginia Tech could also be helped by an ACC championship victory over Florida State more than Texas would be with another victory over Colorado or Missouri.

So what does this all mean? Likely, nothing. Texas should win out, including the Big 12 championship game and remain a solid number two in the polls. Given that it would be very difficult for Virginia Tech to jump us in the BCS. BCS expert Jerry Palm said the other day that Va Tech would have to average two spots ahead of Texas in the computers for it to be close. Currently, Va Tech is about two spots behind us in most computer rankings. And if USC and/or Va Tech drop a game, which is not that unlikely, then Texas can book nonrefundable tickets for Pasadena. But if all three win out, there is a small chance Texas would be headed to the Fiesta Bowl. More likely, Virginia Tech would be this year’s Auburn only adding kindling to the playoff fire. Georgia and Alabama have outside shots of winning out. But without Shockley, I don’t see Georgia doing it. And I still think LSU is better than Alabama and will represent the SEC West.

--AW--

BREAKING NEWS: TEXAS #1 IN BCS

2005-10-24T17:54:00.000-04:00

Texas is your new #1 team in the BCS, folks. The week two rankings, released moments ago, have Texas ahead of USC by the slimmest of margins, thanks to a #1 ranking by every computer ranking system used in the formula. Texas’ computer rankings will dip as they play out the remainder of their schedule against weak competition, but for one week at least, the Horns are #1. Virginia Tech, Georgia, Alabama, and UCLA all sit a good distance behind front-runners USC and Texas.
--PB--

USC-Texas watch

2005-10-24T16:19:00.000-04:00

A nifty little USC-Texas tracker box on Turkey Talk, a Virginia Tech sports blog.
--PB--

Longhorn Fan Rooting Guide, Week 9

2005-10-24T14:37:00.000-04:00

Horns fans, it’s time to start our selective cheering, as the quest for a Rose Bowl berth gains focus. Up this week, a slew of games to take an active interest in:

Group One: Remaining Unbeatens
Root for FLORIDA over GEORGIA
Root for BOSTON COLLEGE over VIRGINIA TECH
Root for UTAH STATE over ALABAMA
Root for STANFORD over UCLA
Root for USC over WASHINGTON STATE

That last one may have you scratching your heads, but we’re on record saying we want a piece of USC. We’re not changing our tune now. Virginia Tech has an outside chance of passing Texas, so a loss from them against BC this week or Miami next week would be nice. The SEC teams have a tough hill to climb, as they aren’t likely to close the human voter gap enough to give Texas a scare. UCLA and USC cannot both remain undefeated, so we’re not too concerned there, either.

Group Two: Big 12 Madness
Root for TEXAS TECH over BAYLOR
Root for MISSOURI over KANSAS
Root for COLORADO over KANSAS STATE
Root for TEXAS A&M over IOWA STATE
Root for OKLAHOMA over NEBRASKA

From here on out, we’ll basically be rooting for all the teams that Texas has beaten, or will play in the remaining games. Of particular interest to Horns fans should be Colorado and Texas Tech. If those two can finish strong, the Texas victories over those two teams will be worth more.

As painful as it is to root for the Aggies and Sooners, we've got bigger fish to fry this year, Horns fans. So sack up, swallow your pride, and do it. Then take a long, hot bath and scrub yourself clean of the filthiness you're feeling.

Group Three: Others
Root for RICE over UTEP
Root for OHIO STATE over MINNESOTA
Root for LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE over TROY

Horns fans need to pull hard for Ohio State to win out, as the higher they climb in the polls and BCS standings, the more the Texas victory bolsters the Horns resume. Next time you see a Buckeye fan, raise your Horns in the air, laugh uncontrollably, and then quietly say, "Hey, I hope you beat Minnesota this week."
--PB--

Back to Hornsblog Home Page

Even computers bullish on Horns

2005-10-24T14:25:00.000-04:00

The Longhorns were ranked #1 by five of the six computer rankings used in the BCS formula, allowing them to leapfrog USC to the top spot in the BCS by the slimmest of margins. Texas remained ranked #2 by Jeff Sagarin’s computer ranking in the formula used by the BCS, but in his rankings that take margin of victory into account, the Horns are ranked #1.

A stellar week for Texas and further momentum for their push to the Rose Bowl. If Texas continues to blow out their competition, they're headed to Pasadena. The chances of Texas being this year’s Auburn are growing slimmer by the week.
--PB--

Weekend Picks Recap

2005-10-24T13:29:00.000-04:00

It wasn’t a bad week of picks for ATL. Travis Richmond broke the bookies, going 5-1 against the spread. Andrew Wiggins struggled again, going 1-5 against the spread. Drew's poor record was surprising, however, as he went a perfect 9-for-9 in the ESPN College Pick ‘Em league. Guest contributor Michael Holt went 3-3 against the spread, while guest contributr Alex Ernst (1st place in the Pick ‘Em league) went 4-2. Peter Bean went 3-3, and the consensus picks broke even as well, also at 3-3. The ATL Mortal Lock of the Week, Texas -16.5 over Tech, was an easy win. Texas is now 7-0 against the spread on the year.
--PB--

Vince Young's Pro Future

2005-10-24T13:06:00.000-04:00

This guest article is contributed by the authors of TripleOT, an all-sports blog that you can read here.

General pro scout consensus has our pride and joy, Vince Young, converting to a wide receiver when he enters the 2006 or 2007 pro draft (hopefully the latter, for Colt McCoy's sake). While this isn't something new (think Antwaan Randle-El, Matt Jones, or Hines Ward), it may come as a surprise to the Longhorn faithful.

As pro scouts look at Vince Young's performance through last year's Oklahoma State game, we can't really blame them for wanting to convert Young. Can any reader really remember a phenomenal pass or passing performance before the Oklahoma State comeback last year? Since then, however, Vince has been proving that he can do it through the air just as easily as he does it on the ground. Sure we know of Vince's great runs since then, especially the Kansas run and those ridiculous Michigan runs, but we now have some memories of Vince going through the air, such as his pass to Limas Sweed to win the Ohio State game. More importantly, the pro scouts now have memories of Young winning it with his arm, and that's going to help him immensely come draft day.

The way Vince is playing of late, NFL teams would be foolish not to breed him into a pro QB. Not to only compare black QBs with black QBs, but this was really the best comparison I could come with: Vince is showing the obvious physical gifts of Mike Vick, but the absolute grit and determination of Donovan McNabb. Is there any doubt that Vince Young could succeed in Atlanta's run-first offensive set right now? Heck, with the right talent around him, Vince Young could easily run a West Coast offense as successful as Steve Young – dropping back for a short pass but always threatening to take off towards the endzone. Regardless of what position Young is drafted, he has the critical factors that will lead him to success on Sundays – immeasurable physical talent and that drive that you can see in his eyes that leave other coaches awake at night. So enjoy it while you can Longhorn faithful, we're being graced here by rare talent.
--CH--

Mandel Praises Entire Texas Team

2005-10-24T12:46:00.000-04:00

SI.com's Stewart Mandel introduces America to Vince Young's supporting cast in this excellent article. Mandel gives an excellent overview of all the contributors to Texas' remarkable run this year, concluding with a prescient thought:

Mack Brown says, "The team is enjoying the ride. I told them, 'You don't get in this position many times in your life."

And you certainly don't get in this position by being a one-man team.

Oh so true. Even when Vince Young isn't his best, this Texas team is playing excellent football. Next up: Oklahoma State.
--PB--

Road to Pasadena Oct. 24th

2005-10-24T11:36:00.000-04:00

Six unbeaten teams now remain. This Saturday felt tame compared to the last one with nearly all the top teams marching on. Only Michigan State and Virginia were toppled. Texas dominated a “top 10” Tech team while Virginia Tech struggled in the first half against an unranked Maryland squad on national tv. The computers and polls will love the Horns this week. More BCS stuff to come.

Tier 1—The Favorites
1. USC—won handily out west against the terrible Washington Huskies. If you didn’t see it, you are not alone. This one was on opposite our game as part of ABC’s regional telecast. Only Pac 10 land got this feed. Four of their last five are at home, including Washington State this weekend.

2. Texas—still hasn’t played in a close game in the second half since Ohio State. Just as we all thought, Texas gave up yards but not points and easily avoided the Gameday curse. No real challenges until January for the Horns. However, we must continue crushing opponents and impressing voters. Next up: at Oklahoma State.

3. Va Tech—allowed Maryland to stay close for awhile before turning it on in the second half. Marcus Vick made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the first half. Disaster looms if the Hokies’ turnover woes continue in the upcoming weeks vs. Boston College and Miami.

4. Georgia—survived in Athens against the bad Arkansas Razorbacks. The health of QB DJ Shockley will determine the rest of the season. I don’t see Georgia beating Florida, Auburn, and Georgia Tech without him.

Tier 2—The Contenders
1. Alabama—proves that kickers matter. For the second straight week, the Crimson Tide win with a field goal. The road gets easier for Bama with Utah State and Mississippi State upcoming. The season ends with LSU and Auburn though. 9-2??

2. UCLA—won again at home. Am I the only one who isn’t taking this team seriously? Their rise in the polls will continue with games against Stanford and Arizona the next two weeks. Holiday Bowl anyone?

Tier 3—Need Help
1. 1 Loss Teams—Best one loss teams in order: Miami, LSU, Florida State, Boston College, Penn State, Oregon, and Wisconsin.

2. 2 Loss Teams—Notre Dame will likely grab an at-large BCS berth if they win out, and the computers don’t hold them back. Only one tough game remains against Tennessee in two weeks. Ohio State ran away from Indiana Saturday morning. The Big 10 is nuts but the Buckeyes should win the league if they win out.

--AW--

Texas 52 Texas Tech 17

2005-10-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

Texas Tech outgained the Longhorns in total yards, had 29 first downs to Texas’ 21, owned the time of possession 36:01 to 23:59 and passed for 369 yards. They also lost, 52-17.

Texas did what great teams do, smothering inferior competition in every way that mattered, dominating with big plays and an overall deflating defense. It was just another sign that this year’s Texas team is special and a notch above previous years’ Longhorn teams.

You can read a recap of the game here or check out the box score here, so we’ll just touch on some of the important notes from the game:

*Vice Young threw two interceptions early in the game, but this year’s maturation showed itself once again as he rebounded to perform solidly after the two mistakes. Young finished 12-22 for 239 yards and two touchdown passes.

*Billy Pittman has emerged as a legitimate stud. Pittman turned his three catches into 138 yards, including two touchdowns, one for 75 yards. With Aaron Ross ailing, Pittman also handled the punt return duties, and while Ross has been solid this year, Pittman easily outperformed him. The switch should be permanent.

*ATL whipping boy Selvin Young was quietly effective, gaining 77 yards on 16 carries. He wasn’t Jamaal Charles, but he did what was needed of him and found the end zone twice.

*All Points Bulletin: Any university seeking a head coach should put Gene Chizik at the top of their list. Horns fans are just hoping we get a national title out of him before he takes over somewhere. The man is really, really good at what he does. In fact, all our offensive weapons aside, he’s the number one reason why I think we’re the favorites to win it all.

*Texas Tech coach Mike Leach pulled a Mack. Looking like the old Mack Brown against a top five team, Leach got conservative in the first half, electing to try to draw Texas offsides when his team was driving in Texas territory, instead of going for it on 4th down. Playing not to lose against a team that’s better than you is a bad idea. Trust us, we did it for years.

*Texas crushing win, coupled with Virginia Tech’s lackluster win over Maryland should move the Horns even more comfortably into the #2 spot in the polls and BCS standings. Only a Texas stumble can derail the Horns train to Pasadena at this point.
--PB--

Wiggins' Gameday Notes

2005-10-24T10:11:00.000-04:00

Texas exposed the previously undefeated Texas Tech Red Raiders 52-17 on Saturday afternoon. There's really no other way to put it. One one side of the field was the best team in the country and there was a top 20 team on the other. This was another no-contest. Don’t let the arrival of Gameday and their top 10 ranking fool you. This was the neighborhood pickup game between big brother and his friends vs. little brother and his friends. You can play all afternoon and the youngsters are never going to win.

That said, give Mike Leach credit. The Red Raiders compete with Texas, OU, and A&M every year and occasionally spring a huge upset. They simply don’t have the talent to win, though. Coaching can only get you so far. You have to have the pl,ayers, too. Tech lands west Texas and Dallas high school products who are of no interest to Texas or OU. So, when you don’t have the talent, you have to come up with another way to win. Mike Leach has done so: a gimmick offense.

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: Tech had eight more first down, gained 468 yards (24 more than Texas), and dominated the time of possession 36 minutes to 24. Hodges was 42/64 for 369 yards and two touchdowns. Looking at only those stats, some would have thought Tech won, and no one would have predicted a 35 point blowout loss. But that is exactly what happened.

Last week, Texas played the best team from the Big 12 North, Colorado, and the game was over after the first quarter. This week, we played the next best team in the Big 12 South, and the game was over after the second quarter. Tech will continue to beat non conference pansies by 50+ points to start the year. They will continue to beat teams without solid defenses in the Big 12. They will continue to put up mind boggling statistics as long as Mike Leach is the head coach. And they should easily finish 10-1 with a long shot at a BCS berth. But until you focus on all three aspects of football--offense, defense, and special teams--there is no way Texas Tech can compete on a national level. Tech didn’t lose by 35 points because of their offense. They lost because they couldn’t stop Texas’ offense and they couldn’t execute in special teams. Their first punt went 19 yards. Their second was returned inside the 15 yard line. And their last before halftime was blocked leading to another UT touchdown and realistically ending the game.

Texas is the best team in the country, and made Tech look silly for much of the afternoon. The Horns are the only team in the top 10 nationally in offense and defense. I don’t care how many games USC has won in past seasons: this season Texas is the best team. We have the best offensive line in the country, the best quarterback, and the best freshman running back. We have a smothering defense with stars like Wright, Harris, and Huff who are all up for national awards. And our special teams are improving. Greg Johnson’s kickoffs are deeper and higher, and, consequently, our kick coverage has improved. Pino has been solid with field goals and extra points and McGee is solid enough punting when our offense happens to get stopped. USC may have a slightly more explosive offense, but overall the Horns are better. Let the debates rage.
--AW--

ATL Top 25

2005-10-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

1. Texas (Won by 35 despite subpar game)
2. Southern Cal (Offense still nation’s best)
3. Virginia Tech (A notch below TX, USC)
4. Georgia (Shockley injury could be fatal)
5. Alabama (Defense keeping Tide alive)
6. Miami (Game vs GA Tech postponed)
7. UCLA (Another great Pac 10 offense)
8. LSU (Les Miles STILL sucks)
9. Ohio State (Offense coming around; look out)
10. Florida State (Beat Duke; hooray)
11. Boston College (Big game vs Va Tech this Thurs)
12. Notre Dame (Rolled over BYU)
13. Penn State (Ron Zook sucks)
14. Wisconsin (The Big 10 is weird)
15. Oregon (Got by Arizona)
16. TCU (Only one loss for Horned Frogs)
17. Florida (Big game vs GA this week)
18. West Virginia (The Big East is baaad)
19. Texas Tech (Exposed by Texas defense)
20. Fresno State (Can they challenge USC?)
21. Northwestern (Nice to see them playing well)
22. Tennessee (Squeaked by Auburn)
23. Auburn (Heartbreaker)
24. California (Don’t look like they can beat USC)
25. Minnesota (See: Wisconsin)

Parting Shot

2005-10-21T16:12:00.000-04:00

Checking out for the weekend boys and girls.

Enjoy this video. Stupid Techies.

Hook 'em Horns!
--PB--

Inside the Numbers: Texas Defense Edition

2005-10-21T15:51:00.000-04:00

*43.6—percent of Texas’ opponents drives that are three plays and out

*16—number of sacks recorded by Texas’ defense this year

*11—number of games it took the UT defense to record 16 sacks last year

*147.7—yards per game passing allowed by the Texas defense

*8—number of opponent drives starting inside the Texas 40 yard line

*2—number of touchdowns scored by opponents on those drives

*240—total yards allowed per game by Texas defense (#3 nationally)

*11—turnovers forced by Texas’ defense this year

*3—number of those turnovers returned for scores

*63—points scored off those 11 turnovers

*19—points allowed by Texas’ defense on Texas’ 10 offensive turnovers

*14—points per game allowed by Texas defense

*46.3—percent of opponents’ pass attempts completed

*67.4—percent of Vince Young pass attempts completed

*0—losses by Gene Chizik defense-coached teams in last two season

*0—percent chance of Texas Tech winning

Hook ‘Em Horns! Beat Texas Tech!!
--PB--