AggieJohn
08-04-2005, 04:40 PM
Big Mack or Bevo Hamburger?
By Jim Bryant
AUSTIN-- Preseason college football guesstimates are like trying to read tea leaves while they’re still in the bag.
A hard look at the University of Texas schedule, which comes in anywhere from number 2 to 7 in the early polls, is a case in point: Coach Mack Brown has a Longhorn squad that is experienced and deep, and just might have trouble finishing above .500, including losses in three ‘must win’ games.
In the opener Sept. 3 Louisana-Lafayette comes to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium as the designated sacrificial lamb for a warm up and no one outside the State Home for the Terminally Confused expects anything other than a romp by UT.
Coach Brown’s first Moment of Truth comes the next week against Ohio State University in Columbus on national television. The preseason pundits put OSU at anywhere from number 3 to 12 and this early-season matchup is crucial to both programs.
This is a football game that Brown has looked forward to/dreaded since it was scheduled several years back and could easily be his season’s turning point in week two.
The Buckeyes, picked to finish second the Big 10, return 18 starters with nine each on offense and defense. Coach Tressel’s squad is big, fast, deep and experienced in a traditionally strong conference, and could crush the Burnt Orange.
Following that game the Owls come up Highway 290 from Houston and another Texas win is a no brainer. The last time Rice had a team in the top ten was an eighth place finish in 1957, the top 20 in 1961 when they finished at 17, and the New York Times poll put them at 25 following the 1996 season. Rice University is a fine school but only Brown’s family and staff would consider the assumed victory a quality win.
The next week UT travels to Columbia, MO to face a mediocre Tiger team that is mostly paper. Senior quarterback Brad Smith has never fulfilled his hyped promise and a Texas win over conference rival Missouri is likely.
Then comes the second weekend that causes Mack Brown nightmares, aka the Red River Shootout with Oklahoma in Dallas. Brown was hired to do two things, bring national prominence to a faded program and beat Oklahoma; the first is at hand but he has lost six straight to the Sooners. This is not considered acceptable in places that count at UT, just ask Darrell Royal.
Soph running back Adrian Peterson racked up 1,925 yards last year and threatens to wreak havoc with defenses around the Big 12 and elsewhere again this season. Throw in that his backup is senior Kejuan Jones who is also a dangerous receiver, and add three-year starter J.D. Runnels at fullback which gives Coach Bob Stoops has a solid running game.
If one of his three young quarterbacks can keep opposing defenses honest with a passing game to let his running horses out of the barn, Stoops could have a very interesting year, including another victory over the Longhorns. Preseason they are ranked at number six, but that would change with a win over Texas.
The next week is Homecoming at Texas, and it could be memorable in ways that the rabid Longhorn fans and alums aren’t expecting. Coach Gary Barnett’s Buffs will come calling with 17 returning starters, seven on offense and ten on defense.
The team is lead by seniors at quarterback, V-back, and a pair of tight ends that could be the best in the country. They match up with UT well on both sides of the football and come in with some well-deserved expectations of their own despite an early national ranking only at 37.
Big 12 watchers wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish in the top 20 if not higher. These guys are can play football with anyone and will win some football games this season and Texas might well be one of their victims.
It doesn’t get any easier the next week when the Red Raiders come to Austin with their aerial circus. Coach Mike Leach seems to tap an endless supply of strong arm quarterbacks and will bring a veteran receiving corps to the table. Preseason they are picked 21st primarily on the basis of a high-octane offense.
It’s the defense in Lubbock that is always questionable. A state-wide joke goes that Tech basketball coach (and anger management poster boy) Bobby Knight will take over D-duties, but most people understand that to be a result of the West Texas sun that was self-medicated with too much tequila. But unless they get into too deep a hole early the winner could come down to who is holding the ball last, and UT might not be the one.
The following week the Longhorns travel to Stillwater for a game with Oklahoma State. Head Coach Mike Gundy has a young football team that features the Woods brothers, soph Donovan at quarterback and his junior teammate D’Juan at wideout. Teams that don’t take the Cowboys seriously can be in for some surprises, as Bob Stoops can attest and this one is questionable for UT especially in their backyard.
The next fortnight for Texas football is a time for relaxation and preparedness. Heading up I-35 to Baylor should be a stroll for the Longhorns. There will be ice on Charon’s oarlocks (and the Brazzos in July) before the Greenies beat UT, even in Waco.
The following week in Austin the University of Kansas comes calling and it should be another walk in the park. The Jayhawks are in a rebuilding phase and might be contenders in a year or two, but not now. An easy Longhorn W.
The last game of the season is November 25 against traditional rival Texas A&M, this year at Kyle Field, and is on national tv for the very good reason that it will likely be the usual hard-nosed slugfest.
Coach Dennis Franchione is a turnaround specialist who has worked his magic at the storied program in College Station. Preseason polls have the Aggies in the 13 to 17 slots nationally, which is probably fine with Coach Fran.
The Aggies have a senior quarterback in Reggie McNeal, plus a wealth of experienced players in every key position including wideouts. Senior running back Courtney Lewis is healthy and one of the few questions on the team is who will be his backup. These guys wills put points on the board against anyone and if McNeal steps up they could be in the race in both the Big 12 and top 10.
Also you gotta love a team with a senior tight end named Boone Stutz.
It’s when the defense comes onto the field that Texas needs to begin worrying. The “Wrecking Crews” of old comes to mind with the numbers of experienced bodies A&M can put on the ground, and all of them big enough to make it tilt.
The Aggies have eight veterans alternating in the front four which means a strong run defense and pass rush for four quarters with everyone well rested. The secondary is lead by four senior linebackers and behind them are senior safety Jaxon Appel and a bunch of seasoned take-away artists.
Texas quarterback Vince Young, whose quick feet and deer-like moves saved Brown’s cajones in the Rose Bowl, has a problem this season, namely the lack of a dominant running back. Without a Cedric Benson to worry about the A&M defense could spend a lot of time in the UT backfield making life difficult for even that most agile running quarterback.
It’s entirely possible that Texas will get beaten if not tromped by A&M. Its going to be a good, old-fashioned football game for bragging rights in a state that considers football somewhat more important than about anything else.
Should that happen along with losses to Ohio State and Oklahoma, the Tea-Sippers (as Longhorns are know in Aggieland) could be scattering their leaves along the 90-odd miles home to Austin.
And, incidentally, Mack Brown’s career as head football coach at the University of Texas will probably be ended, million dollar contract notwithstanding.
By Jim Bryant
AUSTIN-- Preseason college football guesstimates are like trying to read tea leaves while they’re still in the bag.
A hard look at the University of Texas schedule, which comes in anywhere from number 2 to 7 in the early polls, is a case in point: Coach Mack Brown has a Longhorn squad that is experienced and deep, and just might have trouble finishing above .500, including losses in three ‘must win’ games.
In the opener Sept. 3 Louisana-Lafayette comes to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium as the designated sacrificial lamb for a warm up and no one outside the State Home for the Terminally Confused expects anything other than a romp by UT.
Coach Brown’s first Moment of Truth comes the next week against Ohio State University in Columbus on national television. The preseason pundits put OSU at anywhere from number 3 to 12 and this early-season matchup is crucial to both programs.
This is a football game that Brown has looked forward to/dreaded since it was scheduled several years back and could easily be his season’s turning point in week two.
The Buckeyes, picked to finish second the Big 10, return 18 starters with nine each on offense and defense. Coach Tressel’s squad is big, fast, deep and experienced in a traditionally strong conference, and could crush the Burnt Orange.
Following that game the Owls come up Highway 290 from Houston and another Texas win is a no brainer. The last time Rice had a team in the top ten was an eighth place finish in 1957, the top 20 in 1961 when they finished at 17, and the New York Times poll put them at 25 following the 1996 season. Rice University is a fine school but only Brown’s family and staff would consider the assumed victory a quality win.
The next week UT travels to Columbia, MO to face a mediocre Tiger team that is mostly paper. Senior quarterback Brad Smith has never fulfilled his hyped promise and a Texas win over conference rival Missouri is likely.
Then comes the second weekend that causes Mack Brown nightmares, aka the Red River Shootout with Oklahoma in Dallas. Brown was hired to do two things, bring national prominence to a faded program and beat Oklahoma; the first is at hand but he has lost six straight to the Sooners. This is not considered acceptable in places that count at UT, just ask Darrell Royal.
Soph running back Adrian Peterson racked up 1,925 yards last year and threatens to wreak havoc with defenses around the Big 12 and elsewhere again this season. Throw in that his backup is senior Kejuan Jones who is also a dangerous receiver, and add three-year starter J.D. Runnels at fullback which gives Coach Bob Stoops has a solid running game.
If one of his three young quarterbacks can keep opposing defenses honest with a passing game to let his running horses out of the barn, Stoops could have a very interesting year, including another victory over the Longhorns. Preseason they are ranked at number six, but that would change with a win over Texas.
The next week is Homecoming at Texas, and it could be memorable in ways that the rabid Longhorn fans and alums aren’t expecting. Coach Gary Barnett’s Buffs will come calling with 17 returning starters, seven on offense and ten on defense.
The team is lead by seniors at quarterback, V-back, and a pair of tight ends that could be the best in the country. They match up with UT well on both sides of the football and come in with some well-deserved expectations of their own despite an early national ranking only at 37.
Big 12 watchers wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish in the top 20 if not higher. These guys are can play football with anyone and will win some football games this season and Texas might well be one of their victims.
It doesn’t get any easier the next week when the Red Raiders come to Austin with their aerial circus. Coach Mike Leach seems to tap an endless supply of strong arm quarterbacks and will bring a veteran receiving corps to the table. Preseason they are picked 21st primarily on the basis of a high-octane offense.
It’s the defense in Lubbock that is always questionable. A state-wide joke goes that Tech basketball coach (and anger management poster boy) Bobby Knight will take over D-duties, but most people understand that to be a result of the West Texas sun that was self-medicated with too much tequila. But unless they get into too deep a hole early the winner could come down to who is holding the ball last, and UT might not be the one.
The following week the Longhorns travel to Stillwater for a game with Oklahoma State. Head Coach Mike Gundy has a young football team that features the Woods brothers, soph Donovan at quarterback and his junior teammate D’Juan at wideout. Teams that don’t take the Cowboys seriously can be in for some surprises, as Bob Stoops can attest and this one is questionable for UT especially in their backyard.
The next fortnight for Texas football is a time for relaxation and preparedness. Heading up I-35 to Baylor should be a stroll for the Longhorns. There will be ice on Charon’s oarlocks (and the Brazzos in July) before the Greenies beat UT, even in Waco.
The following week in Austin the University of Kansas comes calling and it should be another walk in the park. The Jayhawks are in a rebuilding phase and might be contenders in a year or two, but not now. An easy Longhorn W.
The last game of the season is November 25 against traditional rival Texas A&M, this year at Kyle Field, and is on national tv for the very good reason that it will likely be the usual hard-nosed slugfest.
Coach Dennis Franchione is a turnaround specialist who has worked his magic at the storied program in College Station. Preseason polls have the Aggies in the 13 to 17 slots nationally, which is probably fine with Coach Fran.
The Aggies have a senior quarterback in Reggie McNeal, plus a wealth of experienced players in every key position including wideouts. Senior running back Courtney Lewis is healthy and one of the few questions on the team is who will be his backup. These guys wills put points on the board against anyone and if McNeal steps up they could be in the race in both the Big 12 and top 10.
Also you gotta love a team with a senior tight end named Boone Stutz.
It’s when the defense comes onto the field that Texas needs to begin worrying. The “Wrecking Crews” of old comes to mind with the numbers of experienced bodies A&M can put on the ground, and all of them big enough to make it tilt.
The Aggies have eight veterans alternating in the front four which means a strong run defense and pass rush for four quarters with everyone well rested. The secondary is lead by four senior linebackers and behind them are senior safety Jaxon Appel and a bunch of seasoned take-away artists.
Texas quarterback Vince Young, whose quick feet and deer-like moves saved Brown’s cajones in the Rose Bowl, has a problem this season, namely the lack of a dominant running back. Without a Cedric Benson to worry about the A&M defense could spend a lot of time in the UT backfield making life difficult for even that most agile running quarterback.
It’s entirely possible that Texas will get beaten if not tromped by A&M. Its going to be a good, old-fashioned football game for bragging rights in a state that considers football somewhat more important than about anything else.
Should that happen along with losses to Ohio State and Oklahoma, the Tea-Sippers (as Longhorns are know in Aggieland) could be scattering their leaves along the 90-odd miles home to Austin.
And, incidentally, Mack Brown’s career as head football coach at the University of Texas will probably be ended, million dollar contract notwithstanding.