Scoop27
09-20-2013, 11:35 PM
By Randy Riggs - American-Statesman Staff
For a Texas program frantically trying to right a listing ship, Kansas State is akin to an iceberg off the bow.
The Wildcats have made it a routine practice to sink the Battleship Bevo. And that was the case even in earlier eras when Mack Brown and the Longhorns weren’t sailing the choppy seas in which they now find themselves.
Current Longhorns players were in elementary school the last time Texas beat Kansas State. That was in 2003, when the 13th-ranked Longhorns prevailed 24-20 over 16th-ranked Kansas State in Austin.
Since then, it’s been all Wildcats, all the time. They bring a five-game series winning streak into Saturday night’s Big 12 opener against a Texas team on a disastrous two-game losing streak that perhaps has cemented the future and fate of Brown’s 16-year tenure.
It’s been a tenure usually typified by good starts to seasons. Texas (1-2) hasn’t opened with a 1-3 record since 1956, when coach Ed Price’s team went on to finish 1-9. The next year, Texas had a new head coach named Darrell Royal.
In 2012, coach Bill Snyder’s Wildcats clinched their second Big 12 championship with a 42-24 rout of the Longhorns. Their domination in the second half was so thorough — they outscored Texas, 35-14 — that linebacker Tre Walker had a few thoughts on the Longhorns at this summer’s Big 12 media days.
“They kind of laid down a little bit,” Walker said. “That’s nothing to say about their character. That’s just what they do.”
Walker later called Brown and apologized, and recently even proclaimed his respect for Texas. But don’t think his comment from July wasn’t resurrected this week.
Defensive end Cedric Reed let out a long sigh and paused a moment when he was asked about it. “It stings, man,” he said softly. “It’s a hard thing to hear.”
Added safety Adrian Phillips: “You don’t want to hear that. When you have a player talking like that, it’s a slap in the face. Our team took it personally.”
But the obvious question is, are the Longhorns prepared, or equipped, to do anything about it?
After all, there was a reason why celebrating K-State fans were chanting “We own Texas, we own Texas” at last year’s game in Manhattan, Kan.
They certainly have since 2006. That’s when the current streak began when then-No. 4 Texas fell 45-42 to a Wildcats team that finished the year 7-6.
In the four matchups that have followed, Kansas State has won by an average of 16.8 points. Consequently, the Wildcats own an 8-5 advantage in the series that began in 1913.
Longhorns players have no explanation for K-State’s dominance in recent years. Neither does their coach.
Brown said he has no more of an answer for why he’s lost five straight times to the Wildcats than he does for why his Longhorns defeated Nebraska eight of nine times, including the final six games of their series.
“It’s one of those things that’s unanswerable in sports,” Brown said. “Some teams seem to match up better than others. They get the confidence that whatever happens, we’re going to win the game. We got to flip that switch this weekend.”
Added offensive coordinator Major Applewhite: “All those games carry their own identity. What we’ve got to get down to the bottom line is watching the tape of the three games (KSU has) played. They’re doing the same thing up there. Coach Snyder isn’t telling them the 1999 game matters. He’s talking about 2013.”
Applewhite, an in-the-moment guy with little patience for historical references, did acknowledge, however, that K-State’s winning streak “does matter, in terms of the psyche.”
If the Longhorns are going to “flip the switch,” as Brown said, they must:
Not get conservative on offense. The Longhorns mixed things up nicely in the second quarter against Mississippi, rallying from 14-0 down to go 23-14 up with a nice run/pass blend. In the second half, though, Texas went vanilla. Downfield throws were rare. Johnathan Gray, who rushed for 82 yards on 14 carries in the first half, got only five carries for 9 yards in the second. Texas managed just 100 total yards and four first downs after intermission.
Defend the option. The bad news for the Longhorns is they’ve let three foes rush for career highs against them in the last two games, primarily on option plays or sweeps. The worse news is K-State has two quarterbacks who are rushing threats. Starter Jake Waters has run for 88 yards. His backup, Daniel Sams, has gained 157 yards (5.7 per carry) and scored three touchdowns. Tailback John Hubert (197 yards) is dangerous.
Corral all returners. The Wildcats have dangerous returners in speedy receivers Tramaine Thompson, who already has a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown and a 79-yard punt return, and Tyler Lockett. That’s ominous for Texas, since it allowed a 73-yard punt return for a score to Ole Miss’ Jeff Scott.
If the Longhorns manage those aspects of the game, they’ve got a shot to finally feel what it’s like to beat Kansas State.
If they don’t? Well, history would indicate they’re sunk.
For a Texas program frantically trying to right a listing ship, Kansas State is akin to an iceberg off the bow.
The Wildcats have made it a routine practice to sink the Battleship Bevo. And that was the case even in earlier eras when Mack Brown and the Longhorns weren’t sailing the choppy seas in which they now find themselves.
Current Longhorns players were in elementary school the last time Texas beat Kansas State. That was in 2003, when the 13th-ranked Longhorns prevailed 24-20 over 16th-ranked Kansas State in Austin.
Since then, it’s been all Wildcats, all the time. They bring a five-game series winning streak into Saturday night’s Big 12 opener against a Texas team on a disastrous two-game losing streak that perhaps has cemented the future and fate of Brown’s 16-year tenure.
It’s been a tenure usually typified by good starts to seasons. Texas (1-2) hasn’t opened with a 1-3 record since 1956, when coach Ed Price’s team went on to finish 1-9. The next year, Texas had a new head coach named Darrell Royal.
In 2012, coach Bill Snyder’s Wildcats clinched their second Big 12 championship with a 42-24 rout of the Longhorns. Their domination in the second half was so thorough — they outscored Texas, 35-14 — that linebacker Tre Walker had a few thoughts on the Longhorns at this summer’s Big 12 media days.
“They kind of laid down a little bit,” Walker said. “That’s nothing to say about their character. That’s just what they do.”
Walker later called Brown and apologized, and recently even proclaimed his respect for Texas. But don’t think his comment from July wasn’t resurrected this week.
Defensive end Cedric Reed let out a long sigh and paused a moment when he was asked about it. “It stings, man,” he said softly. “It’s a hard thing to hear.”
Added safety Adrian Phillips: “You don’t want to hear that. When you have a player talking like that, it’s a slap in the face. Our team took it personally.”
But the obvious question is, are the Longhorns prepared, or equipped, to do anything about it?
After all, there was a reason why celebrating K-State fans were chanting “We own Texas, we own Texas” at last year’s game in Manhattan, Kan.
They certainly have since 2006. That’s when the current streak began when then-No. 4 Texas fell 45-42 to a Wildcats team that finished the year 7-6.
In the four matchups that have followed, Kansas State has won by an average of 16.8 points. Consequently, the Wildcats own an 8-5 advantage in the series that began in 1913.
Longhorns players have no explanation for K-State’s dominance in recent years. Neither does their coach.
Brown said he has no more of an answer for why he’s lost five straight times to the Wildcats than he does for why his Longhorns defeated Nebraska eight of nine times, including the final six games of their series.
“It’s one of those things that’s unanswerable in sports,” Brown said. “Some teams seem to match up better than others. They get the confidence that whatever happens, we’re going to win the game. We got to flip that switch this weekend.”
Added offensive coordinator Major Applewhite: “All those games carry their own identity. What we’ve got to get down to the bottom line is watching the tape of the three games (KSU has) played. They’re doing the same thing up there. Coach Snyder isn’t telling them the 1999 game matters. He’s talking about 2013.”
Applewhite, an in-the-moment guy with little patience for historical references, did acknowledge, however, that K-State’s winning streak “does matter, in terms of the psyche.”
If the Longhorns are going to “flip the switch,” as Brown said, they must:
Not get conservative on offense. The Longhorns mixed things up nicely in the second quarter against Mississippi, rallying from 14-0 down to go 23-14 up with a nice run/pass blend. In the second half, though, Texas went vanilla. Downfield throws were rare. Johnathan Gray, who rushed for 82 yards on 14 carries in the first half, got only five carries for 9 yards in the second. Texas managed just 100 total yards and four first downs after intermission.
Defend the option. The bad news for the Longhorns is they’ve let three foes rush for career highs against them in the last two games, primarily on option plays or sweeps. The worse news is K-State has two quarterbacks who are rushing threats. Starter Jake Waters has run for 88 yards. His backup, Daniel Sams, has gained 157 yards (5.7 per carry) and scored three touchdowns. Tailback John Hubert (197 yards) is dangerous.
Corral all returners. The Wildcats have dangerous returners in speedy receivers Tramaine Thompson, who already has a 94-yard kick return for a touchdown and a 79-yard punt return, and Tyler Lockett. That’s ominous for Texas, since it allowed a 73-yard punt return for a score to Ole Miss’ Jeff Scott.
If the Longhorns manage those aspects of the game, they’ve got a shot to finally feel what it’s like to beat Kansas State.
If they don’t? Well, history would indicate they’re sunk.