By
Chuck Flournoy
In the Big XII, and more specifically, the South division no-one is talking about Texas competing for the championship. The conference talk is about Missouri and Kansas with some smatterings of Oklahoma for tradition’s sake and a few not-so-dark horse Texas Techs thrown in for good measure.
This is the year that Tech is finally supposed to have a defense to go along with their offense. Stoops and the boys just seem to get it done every year, one way or the other and they’ll be right in it this year too. Missouri and Kansas basically came out of nowhere and had their coming out parties and there is every reason to think they aren’t going backwards this year. Oh and there is that one NFL writer in Houston that thinks that Mike Sherman will have the Aggies at the top of the Big XII at the end of the season. Anyone else? Anybody? No?
OK, then. Does Texas still play football? Are they in the Big XII ? Did all of those guys from the top 10 recruiting classes withdraw, transfer or just start mailing it in? Did Mack Brown make the biggest(if not most predictable) coordinator coups of the year in stealing Auburn’s defensive coordinator? (again!?!) And we won’t even mention a certain former Texas quarterback, who by all accounts, is a coaching star on the rise, taking what would appear to be a demotion from Offensive Coordinator at Alabama to be a lowly position coach at Texas(running backs).
To be sure, there are questions. Which is the real McCoy? The record setting freshman sensation? Or the sophomore slumper who saw his interceptions draw nearly even with his touchdowns? Who will run the ball? Do they have any playmakers on offense? Didn’t they lose both starting defensive tackles to the NFL? Wasn’t that secondary terrible last year? Yup. All valid questions.
So why say that this leaves Texas perfectly poised to make their run? Because for the first time in over a decade, nobody thinks they can. The Texas Longhorns are flying under the radar with a chip on their shoulder. While there aren’t any superstars on the team, there is plenty of talent and depth to go around. There are no unwinnable games on their schedule, even though it likely will end up being one of the tougher strength of schedules in the BCS.
Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, OU, Texas Tech, Texas A&M- Can’t be done. Not by this Texas team.
Sometimes the best way to motivate somebody to do something is to tell them they can’t.
There is no crystal ball that’s telling me they’re going to win all those games, it’s just been a long time since the media consensus had them with no shot to win the division or conference in their preseason prognostications. If there are some coaches and players in that locker room that find motivation in disrespect, this team will surprise some people.
Mack can coach. Like him or not, he’s got incredible numbers over the last 10-12 years. If he goes another 10 years like he has been, he’ll have some numbers that will put him on some hallowed ground. VY might’ve won the championship, but Mack recruited him in.
The team’s not all bad. The entire O line is returning and by all accounts, they’re pretty good. There aren’t any superstars on the offense but there are proven players at all positions and some youngsters in the wings that have the potential to be that next star. The defense will be better under Muschamp, in no small part due to Duane Akina being re-focused on the secondary. He wasn’t much to write home about as a DC but he’s a lights out DB coach who has a whole slew of DB’s playing on Sunday. (Jammer, Huff, Griffin, Griffin, Griffin, Ross, Vashar to name a few)
They have their work cut out for them, but one shouldn’t go around saying they can’t win their division, unless, of course, one wants them to.
Questions or comments? E-mail
me Chuck Flournoy
Longhorns Perfectly Positioned, July 10
|
Add Topics to My HotList
