One concern I have about a possible move to the Big Ten is recruiting.  I think if Texas goes to the Big Ten that will be considered a big enough move on the part of the SEC for them to act.  I think they would unquestionably target OU since they are a national program and while they would not bring very many big markets, they certainly have a dedicated fanbase who will tune into their games.  My concern is recruiting in this case.  One of the best develpments of the last five years is we are now DOMINATING OU in recruiting.  If we want a player and they want him too, the trend is becoming they choose us.  We even stole Demarco Cobbs last year and look poised to do it again with Josh Turner.  But under the realignment scenario of UT to the Big Ten and OU to the SEC I think we lose the edge. 

The problem would be the distance factor and the competition factor.  From a recruiting standpoint, you can get away with shoddy competition, IF you are relatively close.  And you can get away with long travel, if you are playing good competition.  If you're a 4-star, 5-star recruit from the state and you like most of your type are choosing between UT and OU, Isn't a 7:00 PM game in Baton Rouge against LSU going to sound way more compelling than an 11:00 Am game in Bloomington against Indiana University?  It would be one thing if the teams we were travelling to play were the best.  For example, crazy hpyothetical, but lets say UCLA joins the SEC. Wouldnt they use the recruiting pitch to players from California, "Hey forget about the Pac-10 it sucks, come play for us and you can compete with the best of the best, the SEC. You can play against LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Florida,etc.  Yeah its a little far, but you are playing some damn good teams."  Not every recruit would buy into that, but I think for some that would generate a certain amount of excitement because you are playing the best of the best.  If you are from California, a trip to go play LSU in Baton Rouge would be an experience.  Shifting back to Texas' situation, I'm just not sensing the excitement to go play Iowa, Northwestern, Wisconsin, etc. And God forbid Rutgers joins the Big 10, can just feel the unexcitement to fly up to Rutgers to play them.  I have heard some attempt to downplay the distance issue, but consider this, the farthest we go in the Big 12 is Iowa State. Wouldn't Iowa then become our closest conference foe in the new Big Ten(neglecting A&M)?  I these factors would shift things back towards OU some more.  We would still do well, but I think a move to the Big Ten followed by a subsequent move by OU to the SEC would shift things back towards them.  And I, for one, did not want to lose all the hard-earned work we have done to put OU in their place. 

A Texas coach visited Houston Strake Jesuit to talk to MJ Sam this week.  Sam is a 6-3, 6-4 230-250 pound defensive end.  He has committed to Rice.  The UT coach inquired if MJ would commit if UT offered.  MJ said he would not, and that his commit to Rice is solid.  Why is UT looking at him?  It would seem after the commitment of Cedric Reed that the only possible DE we would take would be Rasco.  Sam projects as a three-star recruit most likely so this puzzles me...

I have some questions about how we will use our defensive personnel in against Alabama

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As a fan, sometimes doubt creeps into your mind.  Early in the offseason, that was me.  I was concerned that overhype could kill a team that may have overachieved last year.  I am still concerned about that, but after reading the preseason magazines, and really studying our roster I have to say am excited about this season.

Obviously I am excited about the fact that we are preseason no. 2, Colt McCoy is back, 16 starters back from a 12-1 team etc. But there were a couple of things when looking at the team that the causal fan of UT or the non-UT fan may miss about this team that have me very excited. 

So here is my list of 5 things that am excited about seeing from the Longhorns in '09:

5. Garrett Gilbert-After seeing highlights and hearing reports about this summer's 7-on-7, I would love to see as much GG as we can without hurting the team.  While nothing makes madder than people who somehow argue that a great college player was not a great player in college if they struggle in the NFL (I think we all know who I am referring to) GG looks like a guy that will be a big-time NFL prospect in about 2 years.  I want to see him get a lot of PT early in the season against our not-so-brutal nonconference schedule, and as I think GoBR has said when he is with the 2nd string they need to run the real offense that GG will be running in 2010 not just hand it off to our 3rd-string RB and show-how-much-class-we-have-offense. 

4.  Possible wrinkles that Greg Davis might have added in the Offense-Personally I share everyone's rather non-confidence in GD's playcalling abilities.  But I think he is very good at adapting the team's offense to the personnel that he has.  He went from a pro-style offense in the Simms/Applewhite era to zone read option spread in the VY era to using the same formation but changing into a passing spread in the Colt era.  I and I think other Longhorn fans would like to see more of the hurry-up QB under-center offense that we see at times in the 2nd half of the Fiesta Bowl.  It's basically what OU does in their hurry-up so successfully.  Greg Davis never has been and never will be an offensive innovator, but he is good at seeing trends.  While yes ESPN the spread has become prevalent in college football it really no longer is an innovative offense since half the country runs it.  Last year's best statisical offense, OU, really did not run it (the spread) very much.  Basically they used nothing more exotic that what NFL teams use in 3rd down passing situations or what the Patriots used in '07, but what they did was keep the defense on their heels and really just ran a 'fast break' down the field often leaving slow defenders and camaramen in the dust.  It may be grasping at straws to see two succesful running plays from UT using the hurryup-OU style and see that as a partial solution to UT's running woes, but I guess that is my hope.  I believe we will see the no-huddle at times this season; I dont think we will use it as much as OU will, but it should be valuable in getting the coffin-sealing touchdown.  For instance let's say the score is 31-17 with eight minutes left in the 4th quarter.  We are ahead and have the ball.  I could see putting pressure on an already tired defense using the no-huddle and getting the back breaking and game-sealing touchdown to make it 38-17.  I dont think we will use it enough for it to be a concern, but I personally think part of the reason we beat OU is their O-linemen were just gassed from the hurry-up offense by the fourth quarter so that is something to watch out for.

3. The Defensive Ends-mainly Alex Okafor and Eddie Jones.  Eddie Jones' situation reminds so much of Sergio Kindle last year.  They play were top recruits who coming into their junior year had not really lived up to the hype b/c of injuries and not really getting enough PT to find a rhythm.  When Eddie Jones has a monster year, I told you so.  Okafor should be a beast when it comes to the pass rush; I am not sure how much he plays on running downs, but between Okafor, Jones, and Kindle our pass rush, I think, will be just as good, maybe even better than last year.  Sam Acho could even beat out Jones or Okafor which shows how much depth we have.  We also have Russell Carter who looked good in limited action last year. 

2.  The Recievers who are replacing Quan- Not just Malcolm Williams, but Brandon Collins, James Kirkendoll, and Dan Buckner.  Malcolm Williams is probably the most popular player on the UT blogosphere right now and deservedly so.  He is the best deep threat on the team by a mile, and absolutely has to be utilized early and often as such (got that Greg Davis?).  But dont sleep on Brandon Collins: he is the one who will replace Quan's spot.  Colt McCoy said Brandon Collins will be one of the best UT recievers ever when he's done at Texas.  That is high praise.  Dont so much think about Malcom WIlliams' deep threat replacing Quan, think about Brandon Collins taking Quan's role and production and then Malcolm Williams will add a new, much-needed deep threat dimension to our offense.  James Kirkendoll looks primed to step into Brandon Collins' role from last year and be a solid reciever.  Dan Buckner has the size and speed to be another deep threat.  Add this four in with Jordan Shipley (Have you heard that he is Colt McCoy's roommate and a family friend?) and our receiving core matches up with anyone in the country.  Those five dont even take into account John Chiles and Desean Hales.  Both of him may see some playing time just because of the playmaking ability.  We have 7 receivers who I think can contribute in 2009.  I saw recently a publication saying OU had better WRs/TEs than we do.  I consider that ridiculous, and I pretty confident I will be proved right once the season starts 

1. The Secondary-See I have this dream about UT defensive backs making it tough for opposing recievers to get open in space.  I think once upon a time we had a secondary like that (2005).  I am not sure its that much of a coincidence that our best secondary since 2005 should hopefully coincide with our best team since 2005.  The reports from the spring game and the 7-on-7 workouts sound simply awesome.  Earl Thomas is going to be even better than last year.  Blake Gideon was not bad last year; he will either improve or be replaced by the People's Champ Christian Scott.  But really what has me excited is the cornerbacks.  We have 4 cornerbacks who start on most NCAA teams.  Having that much depth at cornerback is SO important in a spread conference like the Big 12 where every team starts at least 3 WRs.  What I love more is 3 out of the 4 cornerbacks plus the safeties are physical enough they should be really good against spread running teams like Baylor and Oklahoma State.  That right there takes away one of the spread's biggest advantages:  with more DBs on the field to defend the multiple wideouts it is easier to run against DBs.  The one possible wrench in my dream is candicacy of Deon Beasly to win the annual Upperclassmen Who Starts Despite the Fact that THere are Underclassmen Who are Better award passed out usually by Mack Brown and Duane Akina.  The starters at CB have to be Aaron Williams and then one of the Browns (Chykie or Curtis) with Deon being the nickel or dime CB.  Looking for weaknesses, it would have to be safety depth.  It sounds like Thomas, Gideon, and Scott will play at the same time a lot in the 4-2-5.  If one of them gets injured either Nolan Brewster or Ben Wells would need to step up.  I dont know if it happens this year, but sometime soon Earl Thomas and Aaron Williams will be All-American candidates and I think at least one will win the Thorpe Award.   

Thats my list

 The lineup:http://blogs.chron.com/sportsmedia/2009/07/espn_football_pairings_changes.html

Things that could affect the Horns: instead of Nessler, Griese, and Maguire in the premier saturday afternoon spot: It appears that would now be Mike Patrick, Craig James, and Heather Cox.  Nessler is way better than Patrick, but James should be an improvement over Maguire and Griese together (I loved the old just Nessler and Griese booth before Maguire ruined everything).  I like James except when we are playing Tech and I think the no. 1 team(Musberger and Herbstreit) is locked in to do the Tech game along with the OU game, and most likely the OSU game (assuming both teams perform as expected).  Looking at the schedule, I can see the Patrick/James team possibly doing the Kansas game, Mizzou game, CU game, and maybe even the Baylor game if Baylor makes the Leap (when you have Robert Griffin you have a chance). 

For the regional afternoon games, I am guessing Franklin and Cunningham will still be doing the regional Big 12 games.  Which could be any of the abovementioned games that are bigtime enough to put the no. 1 afternoon team on.

Thoughts?

How do you like personally calling UT games?

I had this dream last night: The Horns were playing for the second straight NC.  Their lineup looked like this:  Garrett Gilbert was starting at QB.  He was considered a 1st round pick in April's draft.  Off the bench Connor Wood could come in and run the ball.  At RB we had thunder with Chris Whaley and lightning with Lache Seastrunk.  We had a solid 3rd down back in Shead.  At WR, our no. 1 was Darius White considered the top prospect in the draft.  We had a solid possession reciever in Greg Timmons, and a good third receiver in Ross Apo.  We also had a Percy Harvin-type player in Chris Jones who could play reciever or motion into the background as a RB or in our  "q" package be a spread option QB.  At TE we had a Barrett Matthews a solid versatile David Thomas-type player.  If we wanted more athleticism from the TE position we could bring in Darius Terrell a more Antonio Gates-type TE.  Our O-line featured Mason Walters, Jake Matthews, Trey Hopkins, Dominic Espinosa, and Padon Kelly.  The O-line depth was incredible with Thomas Ashcraft, and Garrett Porter being guys who would start on any other team.  Our offense was so versatile in scheme.  We could spread it out with 4 wr's and seastrunk who could motion out of the backfield or we could go 4 wr's and 1 TE or we could go empty backfield with 3 WR's and 2 TE's.  If we wanted to go power we could go 2 RB in the backfield (Shead and Whaley) and put Matthews in at FB and ram it down the throats of the other team.  Our standard package would be White and Timmons at WR, Matthews at TE, and Whaley and Seastrunk at RB.  We could motion Seastrunk or Matthews out to WR.  All around we could get beat a defense in almost any fashion we wanted to

I have heard White may be cooling on us because he feels like we are backing off of him.  I don't think we are; we better not be backing off White.  I have heard we had 4 coaches visit him last weekend which doesn't seem like backing off. but he has been looking at almost every big 12 south team of recent.  I thought we had him and still think we will get him, but the rumour is a little concerning 

Anybody else know anything?

UT already has a solid recruitng class for 2010 with one sure-fire 5-star guy (Reggie Wilson), and several guys who could become 5-star (Bible, Connor Wood, Hopkins, Espinosa, etc.) and numerous 4-star recruits, but there is a chance this could become the best class at the time of signing day (no one knows how recruitng classes will pan out) if we can at least half of the guys below:

Darius White(nation's no. 1 wideout) -I am very confident about him not because he said UT is his no. 1, but because of the quote about how his mom and he talk about how cool it would be for hin to go to Texas around the house.  Being a recruit's no. 1 can always change (see McFarland, Scot), but it seems like he really wants to go to Texas  I thought he would commit at the spring game, but he did not.  The wild card in White's recruitment is he has two teammates who have not been offered by Texas, but have offers from other schools (OU), and he is going to the OU spring game with them this weekend.  In the end, I would be shocked if White is not a Horn by the beginning of fall practice.

Lache Seastrunk (nation's no. 1 running back)-I would say 50-50 on him.  He told a sophmore at the spring game it would be either UT or LSU.  Most Horn fans are pessismistic about him because they (me too) have been burned too many times by guys like Perriloux, McFarland, Scot, any OOS state guy last year (Kirkpatrick, Kennard, etc) who decide late in the recruiting process as Seastrunk almost assuredly will.  The reason I think we have a good shot is his mom, and the state of Texas.  His mom wants him to go to Texas, and has even posted on Shaggy Bevo that she wants him to go to Texas, and is attempting to recruit him for Texas.  If anythng was learned in the McFarland saga it was dont underestimate what the family members want from him.  He is also from the state of Texas and while he has strong LSU's ties he lives within easy driving distance of UT's campus.  He also has visted our campus numerous times which I doubt hurts us.  The wildcard is Auburn.  As reported on other sites, and on this site by myself, the father of Auburn's RB coach/OC ???( I'm not sure his exact job) is the pastor of Seastrunk's church.  His facebook has been bombarded by Auburn people proclaiming AU as Running Back U (they have a good case), but in the end I its either LSU or UT. His "cousin" (are they really cousins or just pals?) is Trovon Reed from LA who is considered a strong LSU lean.  Reed and Seastrunk have said they will go to the same school, but recruits say that all the time and it rarely happens.  So I really think it is 50-50 we get him.

Jackson Jeffcoat (top defensive player in Rivals 100-DE)-The best way to describe his recruitment would be n/a. He is a good kid with a no-nonsense father (Jim Jeffcoat) and so he and his family know how ti handle the spotlight.  Ketchum has posted stuff about how things are looking good for UT, but there was nothing concrete to go on.  The AAS who has acutally done a good job predicting the commitments said White and Jeffcoat would be the next 2 commitments after Wilson.  Early on rumours had him a Sooner, but the thing about him is we basically know what Lache is thinking (see above), but with Jeffcoat there is really little info, but I would say we have a 60-40 chance of getting him (thats a total guess).  It would really be a bonus if we got him since we got Okafor last year, and Wilson this year.   I am cautionsly optimistic. 

Jake Matthews-(Rivals No.62)-Son of Bruce has narrowed it down to UT and A&M.  Rumours have Bruce favoring A&M because of Sherman's NFL background.  There was a rumour that Papa Matthews is not a big fan of UT's blocking scheme or not.  Jake's brother already goes there.  Jake would also get to play quicker at A&M.  Thats what A&M has going for it.  What we have on our side is the obvious that going to UT is more desirable than A&M.  I think we all know the reasons.  It has been speculated Bruce wants him to be an aggie while Jake favors UT.  I would say we have a 45-55 chance of getting him.

Jordan Hicks-(Rivals No.3 LB and No.16 overall)-a Longhorn fan growing up Rivals lists UT as the only school he has high interest in.  It seems less and less likely though that he will pick UT with every passing day he does not commit.  Rumours have Ohio State gaining ground on Hicks.  Hicks has been to summer camps at Austin, and hopefully will make another trip this summer.  I think if he doesnt make a trip, and then commit before this season, it will be unlikely that commits after next football season because Tressel will make a big charge along with Mack may offer his spot to Corey Nelson (will get to that in a moment) or another prospect who hasnt yet been offered.  To me, it boils down to whether or not he makes another trip to Austin. 

Corey Nelson (Rivals No.5 LB and No.26 overall)-From Dallas are, and was long considered to be an OU lock before recently it looks like OU may be backing off and there was Inside Texas story saying UT was the clear leader, but the story was retracted because Nelson's quote was misunderstood.  If Mack backs off Hicks because of the long distance between UT and Hicks, and then pursues Nelson I think we can get him especially if OU is backing off Nelson (I dont know why they would) Its an interesting conundrum Hicks is a higher-rated player, but in getting Nelson not only we would get an impact player and keep him away from OU or A&M. 

Trovon Reed (Rivals No.2 and No.14 Overall)-Very unlikely. But if by some terrible act of God Darius White did not come to UT, and we became more desperate for Seastrunk, I could see us making a big push for Reed even though he is just a rich man's Chris Jones which is why we have backed off Reed.  Highly unlikely.

I dont think we will get White and Reed or Hicks and Nelson, but other than that we have a real chance with all of those guys

So how many will we get?

I just randomly added Lache Seastrunk as a friend, never expecting he would confirm, but he did! There are multiple people who are Auburn fans who have written on his facebook extolling the virtues of Auburn.  Of the seven wallposts, I saw five were people from Auburn begging him to come to Auburn.  One was that Coach Luper guy (Auburn coach) congraluting him on his rivals ranking (#2)

Auburn appears to be making a full-court press on Lache

For most Texas fans, it has to be a shock to hear about Lache Seastrunk's affair with Auburn.  Like, why Auburn? They have a nice program, but its not Texas, USC, or LSU.  What I have heard from other sites which I haven't seen on BON is Coach Luper, the Auburn coach who Lache has been quoted raving about, is the son of the pastor of Lache's church.  So obviously this explains part of Lache's current obession with Auburn.

BTW, this is my 1st fanpost