I'm not going to act like I know what is going on in 2010 with our Texas Longhorns football team.  Honestly, I really am stunned by our season and it's hard to add anything that hasn't already been said but I have two thoughts and am curious as to what everyone thinks in how it relates to the 2010 disappoint of a season.

2008 - We thought we were "one year away" due to Colt McCoy's mediocre 2007 season, a very young secondary and a new coordinator.  McCoy plays like a Heisman candidate, we beat OU 45-35, lose to Tech on a last second play and end up being placed out of the Big 12 Championship game due to the Big 12 tiebreaker rules.  This was hard to swallow for all of us because we beat OU but I guess rules are rules despite some of the media's effort to put us where we deserved to be.  We beat a good tOSU team in the BCS Fiesta Bowl and OU loses to Florida in the MNC and we are left thinking what if we had played Florida instead?   

In between:  Will Muschamp declared headcoach in-waiting for Texas.  Will Muschamp named headcoach in waiting when Mack Brown is at the top of his game.  It was a bit of an odd mood but it locked in a defense coordinator who could bring Mack Brown his 2nd title.   Jordan Shipley granted another year (just think about how huge this way for the 2009 team's success on offense)  

2009 -  Before 2008, THIS is the year we all knew would be our best shot at the MNC with McCoy.  We struggle mightily offensively in many games but still manage to go through the regular season undefeated largely thanks to our defense (except A&M) and our special teams play.  We play Alabama in the MNC and we lose McCoy on the fifth play of the game.  We have to put a freshmen QB that got very little playing time in the game and, well, we almost came back but ultimately fell short.

With what is said above, I really think Mack Brown just isn't the same after these two years.  I think he was desperate for the second national title (he still is) and those two years had this big emotional negative effect on him and he hasn't been able to recover as seen by the team just not looking like a very good team this year.

Think back to 2008.  We tried really hard to get into the game we deserved to play in.  Mack tried hard.  And then in 2009, when Colt McCoy went down, I just think Mack lost it.  He lost it during the offseason and just hasn't recovered.  Psychologically, I just don't think he cares.   This is all just random guesses.   I can see how these two seasons can have an effect on one person.   Two legitimate shots at the national title and neither worked out fairly.  Yes, you play the game but I just don't think Mack Brown is the same headcoach he once was.  You can debate if he was ever good and blah blah but I think these two seaons changed Mack Brown...maybe forever.

I'm so ready for this game.

This is the game Mack Brown wants more than anything right now.  He will join the elite of the elite with this win.  This game is the game Will Muschamp was hired for and kept for.  2008 was an awesome season and we should've been playing for the title, but before that season, Mack Brown would've told you we were one year away from playing in the title game. (Likewise, Saban thinks his team is one year away).  Here we are playing for the 2010 BCS National Championship.  This is the game that Colt McCoy came back for.  We were hosed out of the game last year so winning the game this year will only prove everything right.  This game can launch the claims that Texas is the program of the decade.

It's Alabama vs. Texas.  Two traditional powerhouses of college football.  It's mentor vs. student.  It's Brown vs. Saban.  It's McCoy vs. McElroy...Kindle vs. McClain...Arenas vs. Thomas..Cody vs. Houston...Shipley vs. Jones...Royal vs. Bryant.

Passing Offense: Advantage Texas
Rushing Offense: Advantage Bama
Rushing Defense: Even
Passing Defense: Even
Special Teams: Texas
Coaching: Even

It's going to come down to special teams and how effective each defense can stop the other team's advantage on offense.  But you already knew that.

It's time to throw out the statistics, and just settle it on the field.

Anyways, it's score prediction time:  Texas 27 Alabama 21.

Mine are: Section 25H Row 46  These are endzone seats upper level.

I was able to purchase the tickets after my option was exercised through FirstDibz.

For those traveling to the mBCS national championship game in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010. 

How did most of you obtain tickets?  I assume there are plenty that did my route and there are plenty of others with connections, Texas ticket lottery, just got them off of Ticketmaster (lucky!) and so forth.

I can't wait to see you there.  We might do the ESPN tailgate ($25) instead of the Texas Exes tailgate to save some $$$.   I don't mind being drunk but I'd rather not be completely wasted for the game.

I'll see y'all in Pasadena!

I believe the coaches have given him an offer after his awesome showing at our camps.  He's been under the radar because of an injury.   And I guess the news is also that he will likely commit VERY soon?  If he does commit, I guess he's committing as a safety?  His size definitely points to this or I guess a linebacker that can play against the spread due to his quickness.  What does this do for the rest of our offers?  If he is coming in as a safety, he's obviously replacing Dixon.  But if he comes in at LB, we probably won't go after both Hicks and Nelson.  And Hicks IS visiting Texas (crossing my fingers for it to actually happen), so I guess we'll take whomever commits first out of both Hicks and Nelson and perhaps take the both if room allows? 

Who do you think is better?  Who do you think we have a better shot at?

I bring this up as we all wait for Seastrunk to make his decision.  Yes, his decision won't be made until the very late in the process but a lot of us are desperate for a 5-star STUD RB like Cedric Benson was coming out of school.  Some of us have given up on Seastrunk which is fine, but I personally still have hope (though it gets less and less each day).  Whaley could be THAT guy, but we all know that he's more of a big bruiser type of back with impressive speed.

Anyways, it's never too late to look to 2011 as most of our 2010 class is locked in (hopefully no more de-commits!). These two RBs are studs (ranked #1 and #3 in the state of Texas on the lists right now) and after watching their Youtube clips, they both look quite impressive. 

Aaron Green looks to be a step faster than Brown but Malcolm Brown runs with more power and is very similar to Adrian Peterson in high school.  Brown is making a trip to camp this weekend...so is it almost a lock that we get one of these two studs?  Any chance we get both?

I'm still unsure of who I would want if I had to pick between the two.  Right now, after the clips, I'd take Malcolm Brown but that could easily change.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/longhorns/entries/2008/12/08/mccoy_to_stay_f.html

I love this kid.  He's such a competitor.  This puts us in good shape for 2009 and Garrett Gilbert will have such a great person and leader to learn from.  I know we all have a bad taste in our mouths from the BCS and Big 12 tiebreaker rules, but at least we have something to build on and look forward to in 2009!  Hook 'em Horns!

We're all throwing out scenarios here and there but I think I have the best remaining realistic scenario.  And it's the only one I am throwing out:

Right now, I can only think that a Big 12 team will face a SEC team in the MNC.

So with that said, here's Texas' best shot:

Texas wins out and looks great doing it.

Texas Tech wins out but loses to Missouri in the Big 12 championship.

A one-loss Florida will likely play an undefeated Alabama in the SEC championship and so the winner of that game will likely be in. I think Florida will win this game.

So Florida vs. Texas!

So there you have it?  Is this not our best remaining scenario assuming Tech will not lose to Baylor?

In a 3-way tie, I'd be worried that OU (if they were to win out) would surpass us in the computers and maybe even the polls.   Would I want to gamble on that?   Sure if that's the only option, but it's not the only option.

We'd be #2 in my scenario.  OU would have two losses.  Tech will have one loss but their late loss would drop them below us right?  Or will we see 2003 all over again with them still playing for the national championship?

USC isn't even in position to win the PAC 10 so I dont think I'd be worried much about them (maybe a little).

Penn State is hurt by the fact that only two teams are playing football in the Big Ten this year (PSU & OSU).

Thoughts?  Will Tech not drop below us?  Certainly our SOS will favor us right despite the fact that we lost to them (similar to what could happen with OU).

but it's not the end of our season!  This team didn't give up during the game despite being down 22-3 at one point.  We lost senior leaders Cosby, Orakpo, and Miller (he eventually came back) and we still fought our way back.   I really hope Cosby and Orakpo are okay.  We now have a true deep threat in Malcom Williams (please throw him the ball more down field)....who, let me tell ya, is fast as hell.  Just check out that replay of the 90+ yd TD and you'll see he turned up his speed and burned the defender behind him.   

Heck, if there is a way to lose a game, it's this way.  Sure, it hurts the most when we lose like this, but if we are to lose, I'd rather lose at the last second than getting blown out (which we were well on our way to doing until late in the 3rd).

The dream season isn't over, in fact, it's just started.  I'd love to go undefeated, but the Big 12 south is just that good and I'm happy to have beaten 3 out of these 4.  We should beat the rest of our teams on the schedule and we'll hopefully be in position to go to the Big 12 championship game and then who knows what will be at stake!

Tech has to face OSU & OU still.  I don't see them beating both.  Heck, I have a hard time seeing them beat either of them.  OSU can run the ball and use time of possession in their favor and the Sooners can score with the best of them. 

Let's win the rest of our games and see where things end up.  I still believe in this team and you should too.  

Hook 'em Horns!

It looks like another solid commitment for the 2009 class!  Does anyone think this could affect Jamarkus' decision?  I know we're pretty thin at DT so it might not but please let me know if you have any information. 

Also, are we completely out of the running for Russell Shepard?  It seems as though we are...and if so, who, besides Jarmarkus, are our main remaining targets?  I'm not even sure what we need because we are cleaning up shop in a lot of areas with this class!  I think we definitely need another DT.