The Maestro
10/2/2006, 03:34 PM
...isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. Look at the highlighted points he makes...what a writer!
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, October 02, 2006
It began with a few faint chants in the upper reaches of Royal-Memorial Stadium at the end of Saturday's win over Sam Houston.
Then it gathered momentum as the final seconds ticked down.
By the time the scoreboard clock registered 0:00, the chant was as loud as an elementary school cafeteria. As clear as Evian water.
"Beat OU! Beat OU!"
Saturday's Red River renewal will be the first since 1999 in which both teams will pull into the Cotton Bowl driveway with a loss. The group that stumbles out with loss No. 2 will likely see its bowl choices go the way of VHS tapes — they still work but there are better options.
"This is a huge game,'' said UT defensive end Tim Crowder. "If it's not the Granddaddy of Them All, it's the Grandcousin of Them All."
Texas will win, but it won't be easy. (Well, hey...as long as you say so...I guess we shouldn't even show up! Has this guy SEEN any OU-texas games this century?!?!) Not during the game and definitely not in the following weeks.
The terrain in October will be rough. Yes, the Horns spanked Sam Houston 56-3, but even a veteran trusty at the local facility in Huntsville can recognize a Green Mile schedule when he sees one.
First there's the Sooners. Then a very winnable home game against Baylor on Oct. 14. What follows are heavy road tests against Nebraska (Oct. 21) and Texas Tech (Oct. 28).
"We probably have as tough a month as anybody in the country,'' said coach Mack Brown.
Here's the good news: Texas is 21-5 in October games this decade. And the bad? Those five losses have all come against the Sooners. (Okay, I did like this line...but hardly see how that is good news since this week's opponent is...um...OU!)
Texas (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) remained seventh in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches Top 25 polls since none of the top 10 teams lost over the weekend.
No. 14 Oklahoma (3-1) has yet to play a conference game but is still smarting from its controversial loss at Oregon. The Sooners are well rested after the bye week and so is Texas, which did not use running backs Selvin Young, Jamaal Charles and defensive end Brian Robison in what was pretty much a bye-week win over the outgunned Bearkats.
We didn't learn much Saturday, but you can be sure that co-defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was pleased about Texas forcing four turnovers and holding the Bearkats to 192 yards.
Chizik noticed Sunday morning in film study that Texas allowed six plays of 10 yards or more, but the number he will take most to heart is the three points allowed.
"There are some positives you can take out of the game," he said. "We talked about getting turnovers during the week, and we got a couple of interceptions that got us going early."
On the other side of the ball, Colt McCoy will trade places with Rhett Bomar on Saturday. No, he's not moving to Huntsville, but he will become the latest redshirt freshman quarterback to start in the Texas-Oklahoma game. Last season, Bomar completed 12 of 33 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted once, sacked three times and blasted on many other occasions by Texas blitzes.
McCoy enters the game with 10 touchdowns, two interceptions and a passing efficiency rating of 174.3, which ranks eighth nationally. One of his bodyguards hopes to give him a better fate than that suffered by Bomar last season.
"It's one of the most special games you get to play in this place,'' said senior tackle Justin Blalock. "It's a special environment for the fans and the players. We're elated for it to start."
Who isn't?
[email protected]
Three questions for the Longhorns
1. What's at stake Saturday besides bragging rights?
Plenty. The winner will seize control of the Big 12 South division and set up a showdown with Texas Tech later in the season. History tells us the Big 12 winner will get to play in a BCS bowl game for big bucks. (No, moron...rules tell us that. EVERY Big 12 winner is automatically in the BCS...how does a sports columnist in Texas not know this?) So this is a big game.
2. What is Texas top priority against Oklahoma?
Stopping Adrian Peterson. The next goal is to stop Adrian Peterson. And let's not forget that running back from Palestine. The name's Peterson. He's a Heisman Trophy candidate who ran for 249 yards against Texas two seasons ago. He had a gimpy ankle in last season's game and was limited to 10 yards on three carries.
3. Should Texas fans be concerned about the status of RBs Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young?
No. Mack Brown said Charles could have played against Sam Houston State. School officials said Charles sat out because of general soreness. Young's ribs are a more touchy subject, but expect to see him in action this weekend.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Monday, October 02, 2006
It began with a few faint chants in the upper reaches of Royal-Memorial Stadium at the end of Saturday's win over Sam Houston.
Then it gathered momentum as the final seconds ticked down.
By the time the scoreboard clock registered 0:00, the chant was as loud as an elementary school cafeteria. As clear as Evian water.
"Beat OU! Beat OU!"
Saturday's Red River renewal will be the first since 1999 in which both teams will pull into the Cotton Bowl driveway with a loss. The group that stumbles out with loss No. 2 will likely see its bowl choices go the way of VHS tapes — they still work but there are better options.
"This is a huge game,'' said UT defensive end Tim Crowder. "If it's not the Granddaddy of Them All, it's the Grandcousin of Them All."
Texas will win, but it won't be easy. (Well, hey...as long as you say so...I guess we shouldn't even show up! Has this guy SEEN any OU-texas games this century?!?!) Not during the game and definitely not in the following weeks.
The terrain in October will be rough. Yes, the Horns spanked Sam Houston 56-3, but even a veteran trusty at the local facility in Huntsville can recognize a Green Mile schedule when he sees one.
First there's the Sooners. Then a very winnable home game against Baylor on Oct. 14. What follows are heavy road tests against Nebraska (Oct. 21) and Texas Tech (Oct. 28).
"We probably have as tough a month as anybody in the country,'' said coach Mack Brown.
Here's the good news: Texas is 21-5 in October games this decade. And the bad? Those five losses have all come against the Sooners. (Okay, I did like this line...but hardly see how that is good news since this week's opponent is...um...OU!)
Texas (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) remained seventh in both the Associated Press and USA Today coaches Top 25 polls since none of the top 10 teams lost over the weekend.
No. 14 Oklahoma (3-1) has yet to play a conference game but is still smarting from its controversial loss at Oregon. The Sooners are well rested after the bye week and so is Texas, which did not use running backs Selvin Young, Jamaal Charles and defensive end Brian Robison in what was pretty much a bye-week win over the outgunned Bearkats.
We didn't learn much Saturday, but you can be sure that co-defensive coordinator Gene Chizik was pleased about Texas forcing four turnovers and holding the Bearkats to 192 yards.
Chizik noticed Sunday morning in film study that Texas allowed six plays of 10 yards or more, but the number he will take most to heart is the three points allowed.
"There are some positives you can take out of the game," he said. "We talked about getting turnovers during the week, and we got a couple of interceptions that got us going early."
On the other side of the ball, Colt McCoy will trade places with Rhett Bomar on Saturday. No, he's not moving to Huntsville, but he will become the latest redshirt freshman quarterback to start in the Texas-Oklahoma game. Last season, Bomar completed 12 of 33 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted once, sacked three times and blasted on many other occasions by Texas blitzes.
McCoy enters the game with 10 touchdowns, two interceptions and a passing efficiency rating of 174.3, which ranks eighth nationally. One of his bodyguards hopes to give him a better fate than that suffered by Bomar last season.
"It's one of the most special games you get to play in this place,'' said senior tackle Justin Blalock. "It's a special environment for the fans and the players. We're elated for it to start."
Who isn't?
[email protected]
Three questions for the Longhorns
1. What's at stake Saturday besides bragging rights?
Plenty. The winner will seize control of the Big 12 South division and set up a showdown with Texas Tech later in the season. History tells us the Big 12 winner will get to play in a BCS bowl game for big bucks. (No, moron...rules tell us that. EVERY Big 12 winner is automatically in the BCS...how does a sports columnist in Texas not know this?) So this is a big game.
2. What is Texas top priority against Oklahoma?
Stopping Adrian Peterson. The next goal is to stop Adrian Peterson. And let's not forget that running back from Palestine. The name's Peterson. He's a Heisman Trophy candidate who ran for 249 yards against Texas two seasons ago. He had a gimpy ankle in last season's game and was limited to 10 yards on three carries.
3. Should Texas fans be concerned about the status of RBs Jamaal Charles and Selvin Young?
No. Mack Brown said Charles could have played against Sam Houston State. School officials said Charles sat out because of general soreness. Young's ribs are a more touchy subject, but expect to see him in action this weekend.