Longhorn Fans

[headsplint]

Here is the schedule for the 2008 season:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i88/headsplint/hornsched.jpg

How do you guys think the Horns will fair this season?

Looking at the schedule it's actually pretty easy. With the exceptions of the obvious like OSU, Mizzou and A&M we could easily tack up 9 wins. I don't think Kansas, Arkansas, and Tech will return to form as they lost some of their key players to the NFL.

I actually have no idea how we're gonna do. Colt Mccoy is a serviceable QB who plays with alot of emotion, but I haven't really thought to myself oh yeah that guy is gonna be in the NFL. Also losing Charles hurts our offense, and Ogbonnaya was a senior, so who will step up and get the starting RB position? I say move Chiles from the QB spot and let him play RB, besides every snap he took last season he either ran with it or handed it off. I actually don't recall him passing once. I'm sure Mack Brown has it under control though. Everything I read said we did a mediocre job recruiting so we'll have to see how it pans out.

[TexansCOM]

Don't count Florida Atlantic Out just yet.... they are not who you think they are :)

[3rd and Inches]

Here is the schedule for the 2008 season:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i88/headsplint/hornsched.jpg

How do you guys think the Horns will fair this season?

Looking at the schedule it's actually pretty easy. With the exceptions of the obvious like OSU, Mizzou and A&M we could easily tack up 9 wins. I don't think Kansas, Arkansas, and Tech will return to form as they lost some of their key players to the NFL.

I actually have no idea how we're gonna do. Colt Mccoy is a serviceable QB who plays with alot of emotion, but I haven't really thought to myself oh yeah that guy is gonna be in the NFL. Also losing Charles hurts our offense, and Ogbonnaya was a senior, so who will step up and get the starting RB position? I say move Chiles from the QB spot and let him play RB, besides every snap he took last season he either ran with it or handed it off. I actually don't recall him passing once. I'm sure Mack Brown has it under control though. Everything I read said we did a mediocre job recruiting so we'll have to see how it pans out.

I'm usually a season ticket holder to Horns games. It should be an interesting season to say the least (God I hope we beat the hell outta OSU & TAMU). As for McCoy, I'm really not that impressed. I agree he does play with alot of heart, but that's about it. Heart can only get you so far, eventually you gotta throw some brains and cajones in there as well.

My guess is, the Horns will prolly have a par season. Hopefully they prove me wrong.

[3rd and Inches]

This is kinda off topic but funny nonetheless, so I figured I'd share it with you guys.

I had a friend that worked at a dry cleaning business in Austin and Mack Brown would take his clothes there to get dry cleaned. Well, apparently ol' Mack crapped his pants a few times during games.. cuz he said that Brown's undies were Brown.. and all skidded up. LMAO

[TEXANottoMAN]

This is kinda off topic but funny nonetheless, so I figured I'd share it with you guys.

I had a friend that worked at a dry cleaning business in Austin and Mack Brown would take his clothes there to get dry cleaned. Well, apparently ol' Mack crapped his pants a few times during games.. cuz he said that Brown's undies were Brown.. and all skidded up. LMAO

One game was the TEXAS A&M game. lol

GIG 'EM:D

[TransplantTexan1]

9-3 or 10-2, most likely. I think they split Kansas and Missouri (one way or the other), lose to Oklahoma and it's a pick 'em against Tech.

[3rd and Inches]

One game was the TEXAS A&M game. lol

GIG 'EM:D

LOL You've got to be kiddin' me.. it was the year the Horns decimated TAMU lol

[blactexan]

Here is the schedule for the 2008 season:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i88/headsplint/hornsched.jpg

How do you guys think the Horns will fair this season?

Looking at the schedule it's actually pretty easy. With the exceptions of the obvious like OSU, Mizzou and A&M we could easily tack up 9 wins. I don't think Kansas, Arkansas, and Tech will return to form as they lost some of their key players to the NFL.

I actually have no idea how we're gonna do. Colt Mccoy is a serviceable QB who plays with alot of emotion, but I haven't really thought to myself oh yeah that guy is gonna be in the NFL. Also losing Charles hurts our offense, and Ogbonnaya was a senior, so who will step up and get the starting RB position? I say move Chiles from the QB spot and let him play RB, besides every snap he took last season he either ran with it or handed it off. I actually don't recall him passing once. I'm sure Mack Brown has it under control though. Everything I read said we did a mediocre job recruiting so we'll have to see how it pans out.

another 10 win season for the horns!!!

[TAMC2011]

Even though I go to A&M I do root for Texas alot. I like to see Texas schools do well because I hate hearing people from states like Ohio, Florida and Cal say how much better they are than us in football. I really hope Texas wins every game (I hope they beat tech like none other) except for us of course. Football season can't come soon enough and here's to both A&M and Texas doing really well this year.

[3rd and Inches]

Even though I go to A&M I do root for Texas alot. I like to see Texas schools do well because I hate hearing people from states like Ohio, Florida and Cal say how much better they are than us in football. I really hope Texas wins every game (I hope they beat tech like none other) except for us of course. Football season can't come soon enough and here's to both A&M and Texas doing really well this year.

I agree I'll always back a TX college over another state.. I hope TAMU does well this season.. EXCEPT on 11/27 :D

[TAMC2011]

I agree I'll always back a TX college over another state.. I hope TAMU does well this season.. EXCEPT on 11/27 :D

That will be a heck of a game. I was a freshman this past year so I was there last year and the year before I went to the one at texas (my sister goes there so I sat in the student section). They both were alot of fun. At texas though I had a kid in a sweater vest and penny loafers cussing me out the entire game for having maroon on and i couldnt help but laugh at him. the guys and girls i went with laughed pretty hard too. good times...

[Sportswriter79]

I guess that Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Rice and Baylor are obvious victims. Horns have a decent chance to win most of their games, although Tech is going to challenge this year.

[TEXANottoMAN]

I agree I'll always back a TX college over another state.. I hope TAMU does well this season.. EXCEPT on 11/27 :D

I went to TAMU in the 80's when it was the SWC. I'll root for all former SWC teams (except Arkansas).

[TexanAtTech]

Here is the schedule for the 2008 season:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i88/headsplint/hornsched.jpg

How do you guys think the Horns will fair this season?

Looking at the schedule it's actually pretty easy. With the exceptions of the obvious like OSU, Mizzou and A&M we could easily tack up 9 wins. I don't think Kansas, Arkansas, and Tech will return to form as they lost some of their key players to the NFL.

I actually have no idea how we're gonna do. Colt Mccoy is a serviceable QB who plays with alot of emotion, but I haven't really thought to myself oh yeah that guy is gonna be in the NFL. Also losing Charles hurts our offense, and Ogbonnaya was a senior, so who will step up and get the starting RB position? I say move Chiles from the QB spot and let him play RB, besides every snap he took last season he either ran with it or handed it off. I actually don't recall him passing once. I'm sure Mack Brown has it under control though. Everything I read said we did a mediocre job recruiting so we'll have to see how it pans out.

Tech is returning 10 starters on offense and the D will turn some heads. It'll be a good game

[headsplint]

Tech is returning 10 starters on offense and the D will turn some heads. It'll be a good game

ok.

[Sportswriter79]

Tech is returning 10 starters on offense and the D will turn some heads. It'll be a good game

Actually Tech is loaded this year. I'm not so sure that it will be a good game. Harrell, Crabtree & Co. may be the team to beat in 2008.

[headsplint]

Actually Tech is loaded this year. I'm not so sure that it will be a good game. Harrell, Crabtree & Co. may be the team to beat in 2008.

Texas will have a tough time against them but I still think Oklahoma is the team to beat.

[Caesar]

Texas will go 9-3 or 10-2 if things go as expected. A disastrous rash of injuries could drop them to 8-4, and I also see 11-1 as possible if they are lucky enough to keep everyone healthy and catch a few breaks.

I would say that Tech and ou will be the toughest challenges with Missouri and road games against Kansas and Colorado being potential losses as well. Texas won't fall asleep against Oklahoma St again and A&M won't win in Austin barring another injury to Colt McCoy. With a new coach and no McFadden and Jones, Arkansas will be lucky to go 6-6. All the other opponents will be lambs to the slaughter.

I don't see any way UT goes undefeated and competes for the national title against that schedule, but they should manage 10 wins again. However, with the players they will have in '09 and '10, they might make it back to the BCS title game in the near future.

[BIG ERN]

A&M will beat Texas Tech this year.

[Sportswriter79]

A&M will beat Texas Tech this year.

That's a bold prediction. How late in the season is that game?

[headsplint]

That's a bold prediction. How late in the season is that game?

I think it's in November.

[Sportswriter79]

I think it's in November.

Tech will humming by then while the Aggies will be going into their late season slide.

[TAMC2011]

That's a bold prediction. How late in the season is that game?

Its alot earlier in the season, October 18th. It's usually one of the last games of the season but not this year.

[headsplint]

That's a bold prediction. How late in the season is that game?

LOL I just remembered I posted the schedule in my first post, and it's been quoted several times since. Shows how much I pay attention. The game is November 1st.



headsplint
^^^^^^^
dumb&%$

[Sportswriter79]

LOL I just remembered I posted the schedule in my first post, and it's been quoted several times since. Shows how much I pay attention. The game is November 1st.



headsplint
^^^^^^^
dumb&%$

Sorry. Should have read whole thread. :eek:

[headsplint]

Sorry. Should have read whole thread. :eek:

You're not as bad off as me, I'm the one who posted it in the first place. :o

[NBT]

Ah yes, Mack Brown and his merry band of underachievers. They just set you up so they can let you down against OU.

[headsplint]

Ah yes, Mack Brown and his merry band of underachievers. They just set you up so they can let you down against OU.

That's just silly. Seriously.

[ThaShark316]

Our defense is gonna be ALOT better....with Will Muschamp (auburn's DC last year) as D Coordinator this year, we should be alot more aggressive. Our Pass D was a big problem last year, so our secondary has to improve....and i think it will...offensively, we kind of lack playmakers. But thats why they play the games, to build playmakers.

I'll say 11-1 or 10-2, depending on what happens with the Pass D and O-Line.

To whoever said split vs. KU and Mizzou....Kansas is returning little to nothing from last year...Mizzou could beat UT...but KU's gonna be hammered.

[Whiskeyrbl]

I say 8-4 overall, and 5-3 in the Big12.

[abcten]

I used to root for the Longhorns. But I was so turned off by Longhorn fans regarding the Texans not drafting Vince Young that I will root against the Longhorns now no matter who they play in any sport. Here's hoping they go winless in 2008.

[geofb]

I used to root for the Longhorns. But I was so turned off by Longhorn fans regarding the Texans not drafting Vince Young that I will root against the Longhorns now no matter who they play in any sport. Here's hoping they go winless in 2008.

LOL! That is kind of peeing on the Longhorns parade here in this thread but I have to agree with you there. Since the VY craziness and childish longhorn fans, just the mention of the word "Longhorns" kind of causes a gag reflex for me.

[TEXANottoMAN]

ok:confused:

... Hook 'em!!

Don't you mean "Gig 'em"????

OOPS - wrong section - :D

[headsplint]

Don't you mean "Gig 'em"????

OOPS - wrong section - :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/uberhorn/aggots/aggies_are_ghey.jpg

[zanth91]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v319/uberhorn/aggots/aggies_are_ghey.jpg

Nice

[Caesar]

I say 8-4 overall, and 5-3 in the Big12.
You must be counting on a bunch of injuries.

There is no chance that a Mack Brown Texas team will finish that low if they stay remotely healthy.

[Sportswriter79]

You must be counting on a bunch of injuries.

There is no chance that a Mack Brown Texas team will finish that low if they stay remotely healthy.

8-4 sounds about right to me too.

[Caesar]

8-4 sounds about right to me too.

With all due respect, you obviously haven't done much research on the topic. Texas has 5 loseable games in 2008 (CU, OU, Missouri, Tech, and KU), and they aren't going to lose four of those five. They'll lose three, at the absolute most.

Again, Mack Brown has had better records with less talent, and barring catastrophic injuries there is zero chance of Texas finishing worse than 9-3. That's just a fact. All one has to do is look at history and UT's talent to prove this.

Anyone who predicts 8-4 or worse is either very uninformed or a delusional aggie (redundant).

[TAMC2011]

With all due respect, you obviously haven't done much research on the topic. Texas has 5 loseable games in 2008 (CU, OU, Missouri, Tech, and KU), and they aren't going to lose four of those five. They'll lose three, at the absolute most.

Again, Mack Brown has had better records with less talent, and barring catastrophic injuries there is zero chance of Texas finishing worse than 9-3. That's just a fact. All one has to do is look at history and UT's talent to prove this.

Anyone who predicts 8-4 or worse is either very uninformed or a delusional aggie (redundant).

Why is A&M not a loseable game? I know we are rebuilding and are going to have a tough year but there is no way we are worse this year than we were under Fran and look what he did. I'm not saying we'll for sure win but it's not like we dont have a chance. I have a friend that is the most die hard Texas fan I know (My older sister goes to Texas so I know alot of people that go there) and he even says he doesn't know what to expect. I got to go to the last two games, last year was my freshman year at A&M and the year before my sister took me to the Texas game, and they are a blast.

[Sportswriter79]

With all due respect, you obviously haven't done much research on the topic. Texas has 5 loseable games in 2008 (CU, OU, Missouri, Tech, and KU), and they aren't going to lose four of those five. They'll lose three, at the absolute most.

Again, Mack Brown has had better records with less talent, and barring catastrophic injuries there is zero chance of Texas finishing worse than 9-3. That's just a fact. All one has to do is look at history and UT's talent to prove this.

Anyone who predicts 8-4 or worse is either very uninformed or a delusional aggie (redundant).

Here is how I got to 8-4:

There are four games on our schedule that fall into the category of highly probable wins - Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Rice, and Baylor. I see 4 wins.

On the opposite end, there are four games on the schedule that are going to be exceptionally difficult, in which we are likely to be outmatched - OU, Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas; and only the Missouri game is going to be played in Austin. Of these I see the potential for 2 or 3 losses.

The remaining four games are in the middle - Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma State, and A&M. Of there I see the potential for 1 or 2 losses, especially to Colorado and A&M.

Therefore I think that we will end up 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5.

[Caesar]

Here is how I got to 8-4:

There are four games on our schedule that fall into the category of highly probable wins - Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Rice, and Baylor. I see 4 wins.

On the opposite end, there are four games on the schedule that are going to be exceptionally difficult, in which we are likely to be outmatched - OU, Missouri, Texas Tech and Kansas; and only the Missouri game is going to be played in Austin. Of these I see the potential for 2 or 3 losses.

The remaining four games are in the middle - Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma State, and A&M. Of there I see the potential for 1 or 2 losses, especially to Colorado and A&M.

Therefore I think that we will end up 9-3, 8-4, or 7-5.

-The only game in which Texas is outmatched is oklahoma. I see that as the only probable loss, although Texas will probably have a couple of upsets or toss up losses.

-Tech is a toss up, even in Lubbock. Texas owns Tech the way Tech owns a&m. UT has only lost to Tech in Lubbock twice in the last decade.

-Texas will have a difficult time with Missouri, but Austin makes that a toss up at worst. Let's not forget that Pinkel is still their coach, and he was close to being fired before last year's Cinderella season.

-Kansas loses a bunch and will come back down to earth in '08, so Texas will be expected to win this one even on the road.

- Colorado in Boulder is worrisome, but Mack owns them too. This is not a very good team yet, as anyone who saw the Independence Bowl could see. Still, the week before OU, Texas better be ready for this game.

- Arkansas is breaking in a new offense and lost their only offensive weapons in McFadden and Jones, so Texas will win that one easily in Austin if they show up remotely motivated. Arkansas will be doing good to win 6 games in '08.

-Oklahoma State isn't that good, they have to come to Austin, and they have no clue how to beat Texas. The Longhorns are in their heads bigtime.

-The aggies don't have much talent on defense and must come to Austin. They haven't won in Austin (aside from the ref-aided '06 fluke when McCoy was injured) since '94, and this is the biggest talent gap between the two teams since '05. Again, Texas wins by double digits assuming the show up motivated for the first time in 3 years.

The simple fact of the matter is that Mack Brown does not go 8-4. Period, end of story. If he slips up against someone like Colorado, he'll find a way to beat someone like Tech or Missouri. It happens every year. The mistake that people make when they only casually follow UT is that they forget that Texas has superior talent (vastly in most cases) to everyone they play with the exception of OU. Some people seem to think that they are trotting a bunch of walk-ons out onto the field this year. This team is young, but has as much talent as any UT team in the last decade aside from the '05 team. People assume that just because Texas has some tough games that they are automatically going to lose all of them. Texas is just as likely to win a toss up games as they are to lose it, and they are more likely to upset ou than they are to get upset by Colorado.

Almost the entire starting lineup of young offensive talent from the Tech and Arizona State butt kickings return, and will do nothing but get better as they mature. On defense, the LB's and DB's will be more talented, and the entire defense will be far better coached. There is no possible way to argue that this team won't be better than last year's.

Again, this team won't lose more than three games if it stays healthy. It just ain't gonna happen, and that's a guarantee.

[Sportswriter79]

-The only game in which Texas is outmatched is oklahoma. I see that as the only probable loss, although Texas will probably have a couple of upsets or toss up losses.

-Tech is a toss up, even in Lubbock. Texas owns Tech the way Tech owns a&m. UT has only lost to Tech in Lubbock twice in the last decade.

-Texas will have a difficult time with Missouri, but Austin makes that a toss up at worst. Let's not forget that Pinkel is still their coach, and he was close to being fired before last year's Cinderella season.

-Kansas loses a bunch and will come back down to earth in '08, so Texas will be expected to win this one even on the road.

- Colorado in Boulder is worrisome, but Mack owns them too. This is not a very good team yet, as anyone who saw the Independence Bowl could see. Still, the week before OU, Texas better be ready for this game.

- Arkansas is breaking in a new offense and lost their only offensive weapons in McFadden and Jones, so Texas will win that one easily in Austin if they show up remotely motivated. Arkansas will be doing good to win 6 games in '08.

-Oklahoma State isn't that good, they have to come to Austin, and they have no clue how to beat Texas. The Longhorns are in their heads bigtime.

-The aggies don't have much talent on defense and must come to Austin. They haven't won in Austin (aside from the ref-aided '06 fluke when McCoy was injured) since '94, and this is the biggest talent gap between the two teams since '05. Again, Texas wins by double digits assuming the show up motivated for the first time in 3 years.

The simple fact of the matter is that Mack Brown does not go 8-4. Period, end of story. If he slips up against someone like Colorado, he'll find a way to beat someone like Tech or Missouri. It happens every year. The mistake that people make when they only casually follow UT is that they forget that Texas has superior talent (vastly in most cases) to everyone they play with the exception of OU. Some people seem to think that they are trotting a bunch of walk-ons out onto the field this year. This team is young, but has as much talent as any UT team in the last decade aside from the '05 team. People assume that just because Texas has some tough games that they are automatically going to lose all of them. Texas is just as likely to win a toss up games as they are to lose it, and they are more likely to upset ou than they are to get upset by Colorado.

Almost the entire starting lineup of young offensive talent from the Tech and Arizona State butt kickings return, and will do nothing but get better as they mature. On defense, the LB's and DB's will be more talented, and the entire defense will be far better coached. There is no possible way to argue that this team won't be better than last year's.

Again, this team won't lose more than three games if it stays healthy. It just ain't gonna happen, and that's a guarantee.

Why, in your analysis does the glass appear to always be half-full with Texas and half-empty with the opposition? You cite all the player losses of the other teams, but did we lose anyone notable from last year's team? (Does first round pick Limas Sweed ring a bell?) In your analysis OU is the only probable loss, any other losses are "upsets or flukes"? OK, so you bleed burnt orange.

I hope we do well, but I'm pretty concerned about 2008. We have not really maintained the strongest team since Vince left and teams like OU, Tech, Missouri, Kansas and A&M are on the upswing. Mack has won one title for us and that was on the back of Vince Young. So to say that "Mack doesn't go 8-4" is a pretty tall hurdle. That implies a 9-3 season at worst, and I don't think that will happen.

[TAMC2011]

-The only game in which Texas is outmatched is oklahoma. I see that as the only probable loss, although Texas will probably have a couple of upsets or toss up losses.

-Tech is a toss up, even in Lubbock. Texas owns Tech the way Tech owns a&m. UT has only lost to Tech in Lubbock twice in the last decade.

-Texas will have a difficult time with Missouri, but Austin makes that a toss up at worst. Let's not forget that Pinkel is still their coach, and he was close to being fired before last year's Cinderella season.

-Kansas loses a bunch and will come back down to earth in '08, so Texas will be expected to win this one even on the road.

- Colorado in Boulder is worrisome, but Mack owns them too. This is not a very good team yet, as anyone who saw the Independence Bowl could see. Still, the week before OU, Texas better be ready for this game.

- Arkansas is breaking in a new offense and lost their only offensive weapons in McFadden and Jones, so Texas will win that one easily in Austin if they show up remotely motivated. Arkansas will be doing good to win 6 games in '08.

-Oklahoma State isn't that good, they have to come to Austin, and they have no clue how to beat Texas. The Longhorns are in their heads bigtime.

-The aggies don't have much talent on defense and must come to Austin. They haven't won in Austin (aside from the ref-aided '06 fluke when McCoy was injured) since '94, and this is the biggest talent gap between the two teams since '05. Again, Texas wins by double digits assuming the show up motivated for the first time in 3 years.

The simple fact of the matter is that Mack Brown does not go 8-4. Period, end of story. If he slips up against someone like Colorado, he'll find a way to beat someone like Tech or Missouri. It happens every year. The mistake that people make when they only casually follow UT is that they forget that Texas has superior talent (vastly in most cases) to everyone they play with the exception of OU. Some people seem to think that they are trotting a bunch of walk-ons out onto the field this year. This team is young, but has as much talent as any UT team in the last decade aside from the '05 team. People assume that just because Texas has some tough games that they are automatically going to lose all of them. Texas is just as likely to win a toss up games as they are to lose it, and they are more likely to upset ou than they are to get upset by Colorado.

Almost the entire starting lineup of young offensive talent from the Tech and Arizona State butt kickings return, and will do nothing but get better as they mature. On defense, the LB's and DB's will be more talented, and the entire defense will be far better coached. There is no possible way to argue that this team won't be better than last year's.

Again, this team won't lose more than three games if it stays healthy. It just ain't gonna happen, and that's a guarantee.

A couple of things in here I wanted to say/ask about.
Now, OK State isn't that great of a team, but in recent years they have put up quite a fight against y'all. I think it's like three of the last four years Texas had to come back from big down. A tremendous effort on y'alls part but they don't just lay down because "you’re in their heads". I don't see Texas losing this one but, did you see App. State beating Michigan in the Big House? Great thing about football, you never know who will win so assuming a win its the road to go down. As a coach, you go into each game thinking you’re the underdog that fighting to stay alive, not just be in their heads so your good to go.

Mizzou is still a pretty strong team. They have probably the best QB in the nation, not to mention the country leading them. That's an extremely tough game. They have enough talent to take the conference this year.

Now, I do agree that A&M is low on talent this year. Honestly, outside of our running backs and QBs Fran didn't leave Sherman with much to work with at all. But the difference this year from last, the coaching. No more run the ball till it works (worked good enough in 06 though), no more bend don't break defense, no more they were just better than us and there was nothing we could do attitude from the coaches. That way of thinking was thrown out of the window when Fran left town. I'm going to be honest and I thought at first Sherman wasn't the hire we should have made. I thought that Tommy Tuberville should have been our man from the git go but after hearing, watching and listening the MS, I'm behind him 100%. He is big into talk is cheap, that only the number of W's matter in the game and I love that attitude. The BIGGEST difference this year and the following are going to be Joe Kines. Kines came over from Bama (not this past year, was there with D. Ryans) and brings a great attitude. No more play back and just try to hold them out of the end zone, but a blitzing aggressive D like it should be. You said that this is the biggest gap between the teams since 05. Now I of course know that Texas won the national championship that year. But if memory serves me correctly that game was very close till the end, I'm pretty sure A&M held a lead till a fumble on a punt return like five yards from the end zone. If I were you, I would have chosen a different year to cite, probably 2003. I don't expect A&M to march into Austin this year and win the game in any way possible. But this is a game you'll never know what happens. I'm sure you didn't expect A&M in march into Austin in 06 and put up 244 yards on the ground vs. the number 1 rushing defense in the entire nation. The game was ref aided and a fluke? Come on now, really? Dude they lost, that's all there is to it. Now I'm pretty sure your referring to the touchdown that Sweed caught that was called back for interference for the "ref's aide". You can YouTube the clip of it, your just not allowed to push off the corner's facemask to catch the ball. It was a good call. Yea, McCoy was injured but the dude got carted off the field on a stretcher for a shoulder stinger. The hit Kellen Heard put on McCoy was wrong and uncalled for and was an embarrassment to A&M and I hate seeing anything of the sort. But that game was lost off of turn overs. Texas threw four picks, we didn't throw any. The game this year will be a lot like the game from that year. A&M is low on talent (I remind you the 06 team fielded 0 players drafted while only one ended up making a team) but they come in with a fire in their belly to win this game. I sure as hell hope A&M comes in thinking that this game is a toss up at best because maybe then they'll play with the same tenacity they have showed to a Texas team with superior talent the past two years. Like I said, I don't expect them to win, but I'd NEVER count a team out just because I think they are inferior to my own.

[Caesar]

Why, in your analysis does the glass appear to always be half-full with Texas and half-empty with the opposition? You cite all the player losses of the other teams, but did we lose anyone notable from last year's team? (Does first round pick Limas Sweed ring a bell?) In your analysis OU is the only probable loss, any other losses are "upsets or flukes"? OK, so you bleed burnt orange.

I hope we do well, but I'm pretty concerned about 2008. We have not really maintained the strongest team since Vince left and teams like OU, Tech, Missouri, Kansas and A&M are on the upswing. Mack has won one title for us and that was on the back of Vince Young. So to say that "Mack doesn't go 8-4" is a pretty tall hurdle. That implies a 9-3 season at worst, and I don't think that will happen.

I'm not sure it will even take a "glass half full" to go 9-3. Mack has done that wity less talent than this team has. If I were coming at it with a glass half full mentality, I'd be predicting a 11-1 record, given the fact that ou is the only team that is actually better than Texas on paper. On the flip side, you seem to be looking at it from a "glass half empty" perspective by assuming that there's no way we can beat tough teams like ou or Missouri, but yet we can lose to inferior teams like Colorado or A&M. You seem to assume that there's no way that Texas can achieve an upset win or a win in a toss up game or two, but lesser teams are perfectly capable of upsetting Texas. Go back and re-watch the Holiday Bowl. Most of the key young talent from that lineup, which dismantled a top 10 team, returns and will continue to get better with experience. Texas will not be fielding a team made up of a bunch of walk ons this year.

You are right when you say that Texas has not been as strong as they were with VY, but they have still managed to win 9-10 games, and this year will be no different. I'm not sure what Mack winning titles has to do with avoiding an 8-4 season, because you're right that Mack rarely wins championships, but he wins more than 8 games every year. Again, 9-3 is a worst case scenario, as it is every year, including seasons when UT has had less talent than they do this year.

[Caesar]

A couple of things in here I wanted to say/ask about.
Now, OK State isn't that great of a team, but in recent years they have put up quite a fight against y'all. I think it's like three of the last four years Texas had to come back from big down. A tremendous effort on y'alls part but they don't just lay down because "you’re in their heads". I don't see Texas losing this one but, did you see App. State beating Michigan in the Big House? Great thing about football, you never know who will win so assuming a win its the road to go down. As a coach, you go into each game thinking you’re the underdog that fighting to stay alive, not just be in their heads so your good to go.

Mizzou is still a pretty strong team. They have probably the best QB in the nation, not to mention the country leading them. That's an extremely tough game. They have enough talent to take the conference this year.

Now, I do agree that A&M is low on talent this year. Honestly, outside of our running backs and QBs Fran didn't leave Sherman with much to work with at all. But the difference this year from last, the coaching. No more run the ball till it works (worked good enough in 06 though), no more bend don't break defense, no more they were just better than us and there was nothing we could do attitude from the coaches. That way of thinking was thrown out of the window when Fran left town. I'm going to be honest and I thought at first Sherman wasn't the hire we should have made. I thought that Tommy Tuberville should have been our man from the git go but after hearing, watching and listening the MS, I'm behind him 100%. He is big into talk is cheap, that only the number of W's matter in the game and I love that attitude. The BIGGEST difference this year and the following are going to be Joe Kines. Kines came over from Bama (not this past year, was there with D. Ryans) and brings a great attitude. No more play back and just try to hold them out of the end zone, but a blitzing aggressive D like it should be. You said that this is the biggest gap between the teams since 05. Now I of course know that Texas won the national championship that year. But if memory serves me correctly that game was very close till the end, I'm pretty sure A&M held a lead till a fumble on a punt return like five yards from the end zone. If I were you, I would have chosen a different year to cite, probably 2003. I don't expect A&M to march into Austin this year and win the game in any way possible. But this is a game you'll never know what happens. I'm sure you didn't expect A&M in march into Austin in 06 and put up 244 yards on the ground vs. the number 1 rushing defense in the entire nation. The game was ref aided and a fluke? Come on now, really? Dude they lost, that's all there is to it. Now I'm pretty sure your referring to the touchdown that Sweed caught that was called back for interference for the "ref's aide". You can YouTube the clip of it, your just not allowed to push off the corner's facemask to catch the ball. It was a good call. Yea, McCoy was injured but the dude got carted off the field on a stretcher for a shoulder stinger. The hit Kellen Heard put on McCoy was wrong and uncalled for and was an embarrassment to A&M and I hate seeing anything of the sort. But that game was lost off of turn overs. Texas threw four picks, we didn't throw any. The game this year will be a lot like the game from that year. A&M is low on talent (I remind you the 06 team fielded 0 players drafted while only one ended up making a team) but they come in with a fire in their belly to win this game. I sure as hell hope A&M comes in thinking that this game is a toss up at best because maybe then they'll play with the same tenacity they have showed to a Texas team with superior talent the past two years. Like I said, I don't expect them to win, but I'd NEVER count a team out just because I think they are inferior to my own.

Ofcourse you're right that OK State could pull off a huge upset, but it is in Austin this year. Texas has won the last two meetings in Austin by an average of 23.5 points. Anybody can beat anybody, but to think that it's more likely for Texas to lose to OK State than it is to beat OU or Missouri is silly.

I agree with you about Missouri. They are very strong, but Texas is capable of beating strong teams. They could easily lose to Missouri, just as they could easily beat them.... or OU, or Tech, or KU, etc. Texas is just as good as any of those teams, with the exception of oklahoma, and I think people are making a mistake by assuming that just because Texas is playing a good team that they will automotically lose. They'll win a few and lose a few.

Again, my opinion on the A&M game is basically the same as it is for OK State. Sure, anything can happen, but I'd say that Texas is more likely to beat OU and Missouri than they are to lose to the Aggies and Cowboys. As far as the offensive P.I. call in the '06 game, it was a bad call. If the A&M defender (Gorrer?) hadn't made contact with Sweed prior to the "hand to the facemask", then it would have been a good call. However, a WR has the right to hand fight and get free from a defender that is inteferring with him. Neither player should have been flagged. As far as the McCoy injury, he was hurt the week BEFORE the A&M game. He was playing hurt during that game, hence the 4 INT's. The Heard cheap shot merely compounded the injury. And I have to say that it is nice to meet a classy Aggie who is actually willing to condemn what Heard did rather than celebrate it and call him Cart McCoy.

[RunningTheSouth]

Don't count Florida Atlantic Out just yet.... they are not who you think they are :)

Who are they?

[headsplint]

Who are they?

Yeah who are they then?

[TransplantTexan1]

Oklahoma State's problem, especially against Texas, is that they don't have depth, especially on defense, which is a big reason why they've blown some spectacular leads to Texas. To wit:

2003, up 16-14 at halftime in Stillwater, they LOSE 55-16.

2004, up 35-7 late in the first half in Austin, they LOSE 56-35.

2005, up 28-9 versus the eventual national championship team late in the first half (and at home), they LOSE 47-28

2007, up 35-14 going into the 4th quarter at home and they LOSE 38-35.

In these four games, the total point swing was a whopping Texas 152, oSu 0.

The Pokes actually have good to very good first string talent, especially on offense. But you need quality depth to fare well against the deeper, more talent teams in the conference. It also doesn't help that oSu hasn't been able to sustain drives or finish drives thanks to turnovers and missed FGs in the second half of games.

[Sportswriter79]

I'm not sure it will even take a "glass half full" to go 9-3. Mack has done that wity less talent than this team has. If I were coming at it with a glass half full mentality, I'd be predicting a 11-1 record, given the fact that ou is the only team that is actually better than Texas on paper. On the flip side, you seem to be looking at it from a "glass half empty" perspective by assuming that there's no way we can beat tough teams like ou or Missouri, but yet we can lose to inferior teams like Colorado or A&M. You seem to assume that there's no way that Texas can achieve an upset win or a win in a toss up game or two, but lesser teams are perfectly capable of upsetting Texas. Go back and re-watch the Holiday Bowl. Most of the key young talent from that lineup, which dismantled a top 10 team, returns and will continue to get better with experience. Texas will not be fielding a team made up of a bunch of walk ons this year.

You are right when you say that Texas has not been as strong as they were with VY, but they have still managed to win 9-10 games, and this year will be no different. I'm not sure what Mack winning titles has to do with avoiding an 8-4 season, because you're right that Mack rarely wins championships, but he wins more than 8 games every year. Again, 9-3 is a worst case scenario, as it is every year, including seasons when UT has had less talent than they do this year.

"9-3 is a worst case scenario"? My prediction is that it is not. Most people don't realize it yet, but we don't have a QB that can get us there yet. He peaked as a freshman. Among other things, he has a poor TD/Int ratio. Bad decisions at critical times.

[headsplint]

"9-3 is a worst case scenario"? My prediction is that it is not. Most people don't realize it yet, but we don't have a QB that can get us there yet. He peaked as a freshman. Among other things, he has a poor TD/Int ratio. Bad decisions at critical times.

Well I don't necessarily think he peaked as a freshman, he had a good season, but also had a decent season last year in other regards, like learning how to become a leader. No, from his past play I don't think he can lead this team to a title yet, but who knows maybe something will change this season. He has matured and has the best college coach on the planet behind him, so I have to have a bit of homer faith he may do some good things.

[Sportswriter79]

Well I don't necessarily think he peaked as a freshman, he had a good season, but also had a decent season last year in other regards, like learning how to become a leader. No, from his past play I don't think he can lead this team to a title yet, but who knows maybe something will change this season. He has matured and has the best college coach on the planet behind him, so I have to have a bit of homer faith he may do some good things.

Best college coach on the planet? You are a definitely a homer!

[headsplint]

Best college coach on the planet? You are a definitely a homer!

You bet your ***!

Hook Em!

[BIG ERN]

Hook 'em baby

[Huge]

From a glass half-full perspective:

1. Sweed was gone by the 6th game last year. The Horns went 6-1 after his season was over with the wrist injury. That allowed the other WRs to get a lot of experience.

2. Jermichael Finley took his 45 catches, 545 yards and 2 TDs and went to Green Bay. His role in the offense was a lot more limited than what many had projected it to be. So will it be really difficult to replace that role? I don't think it will be.

3. The OL suffered a ton of injuries last year. That allowed the back-ups to get a lot of experience. You would normally like to redshirt most, if not all, of your freshman OL. Texas wasn't afforded that opportunity last year. Bittersweet I guess. There's a lot of talent on the OL but it's young talent. Fortunately for those guys they were able to log some playing time last year.

4. The defense will be better. Not just because they couldn't get much worse than last year but Will Muschamp has put his stamp on this defense and it will show. They'll be a top 25 defense this year.

From a glass half-empty perspective:

1. If Colt McCoy gets hurt, this team is done. I don't care how good of a runner Chiles is, his passing is nowhere near what it needs to be to make a difference in the offense. Right now he's best served coming in from time to time to put a different wrinkle in but that's it.

2. Jamaal Charles will not be replaced. Vondrell McGee, Foswhitt Whittaker and Chris Ogbonnaya will be above serviceable but there will be a big drop-off at the RB position.

The wins:

FAU
UTEP
Arkansas
Rice
Colorado
Oklahoma State
Baylor
Texas A&M

The toss-ups:
Texas Tech
Missouri
Kansas

The loss:
Oklahoma

I say 10-3 (including the bowl game).

[Sportswriter79]

From a glass half-full perspective:

1. Sweed was gone by the 6th game last year. The Horns went 6-1 after his season was over with the wrist injury. That allowed the other WRs to get a lot of experience.

2. Jermichael Finley took his 45 catches, 545 yards and 2 TDs and went to Green Bay. His role in the offense was a lot more limited than what many had projected it to be. So will it be really difficult to replace that role? I don't think it will be.

3. The OL suffered a ton of injuries last year. That allowed the back-ups to get a lot of experience. You would normally like to redshirt most, if not all, of your freshman OL. Texas wasn't afforded that opportunity last year. Bittersweet I guess. There's a lot of talent on the OL but it's young talent. Fortunately for those guys they were able to log some playing time last year.

4. The defense will be better. Not just because they couldn't get much worse than last year but Will Muschamp has put his stamp on this defense and it will show. They'll be a top 25 defense this year.

From a glass half-empty perspective:

1. If Colt McCoy gets hurt, this team is done. I don't care how good of a runner Chiles is, his passing is nowhere near what it needs to be to make a difference in the offense. Right now he's best served coming in from time to time to put a different wrinkle in but that's it.

2. Jamaal Charles will not be replaced. Vondrell McGee, Foswhitt Whittaker and Chris Ogbonnaya will be above serviceable but there will be a big drop-off at the RB position.

The wins:

FAU
UTEP
Arkansas
Rice
Colorado
Oklahoma State
Baylor
Texas A&M

The toss-ups:
Texas Tech
Missouri
Kansas

The loss:
Oklahoma

I say 10-3 (including the bowl game).

Nice to have FAU, UTEP, Rice and Baylor on the schedule.

I think that we will lose one or two of your "wins" and at least one of the "tossups". So I think 8-5 is more likely.

[Huge]

Even if they lose one of the "wins", 2 of the "toss-ups" and Oklahoma that's still just 4 losses.

4 losses might put them in the Alamo Bowl against a very average Big10 team. You think they lose that game as well? Let's just say we agree to disagree. Texas hasn't lost 5 games in a season since '99. I won't hold my breath waiting for that to happen this year.

And since they've got two top 10 teams (Oklahoma, Missouri) and two more top 15 teams (Tech and Kansas), I don't think they need to apologize for having FAU, UTEP and Rice on the schedule.

[headsplint]

The Horns move up to #10 in the AP poll!

Yep I saw that. One write up said he played he the best game he has ever played. I'm getting excited man!!!