Q&A with Longhorn Bloggers - Part II
In Part II of our Q&A with Matt Berg from Bevo Sports, Peter Bean from Burnt Orange Nation and Katy Agnor from Horn Fans, we talk about UT's strengths and weaknesses, expectations for the rest of the season, and Mack Brown's icon status.
What is your reaction to the initial BCS rankings that just came out (and any sense of how the team has responded)?
Horn Fans: I don't think the team cares much at all. Coach Brown is really good at keeping the team focused on the task at hand and letting the rest take care of itself. Circumstances being what they are this year, that is actually easier than it has been in year's past. With OU behind us, major goals for this team are still within their control -- winning the Big XII Championship, which means you play in a BCS bowl. Losing to a team within your division changes that drastically, as sadly, Texas knows all too well.
My reaction? I'm a BCS geek. Let me say first, I hate it. I want a playoff. That's a whole other conversation. But given the system that we have, I pay FAR more attention to it than is healthy. Five years of watching the numbers to try to figure out if you'll get into a BCS bowl without winning your conference will do that to you. Obviously, that's generally speaking. OU helped us out that one year by losing to Okie State, and then we turned around and did you a similar favor. Anyway, the initial BCS ranking is about what I thought it would be. I think about 5 things would have to fall into place to give us a shot at being #2, which is really the only reason that the BCS rating matters to Texas at this point. I would give it about a 5% chance that all the right stuff happens. I'll be very satisfied with this season even if it doesn't, assuming Texas continues to play as well as it can.
Bevo Sports: I was actually pretty surprised with Texas coming in at the #9 spot. I knew that we were going to be hurting in the computer polls, but I did not think it was going to be that bad. Though Texas is really just getting into the meat of their schedule and their strength of schedule should get a boost playing teams like Nebraska, Texas Tech, and Texas A&M. I really expect Texas to move up in the BCS a few spots over the next few weeks (that is if they win)
Burnt Orange Nation: No comment? We're talking about it, obviously, but with trips to Lincoln and Lubbock in the next two weeks, it's moot unless we win them both. So we're focused on that first.
Do you think Texas has any shot at a national championship this season or did the home loss put it out of reach in your mind? Opportunities aside, do you see this Texas team running the table (including a BCS bowl)?
Burnt Orange Nation: It's certainly possible, but the team still needs some help to get to the title game. I want even speculate whether Texas could beat the Ohio State-Michigan winner in January, though. Ask me after the season.
Horn Fans:
Oops, I answered part of this question in my last response, but I'll expand some. Do I see Texas running the table? Yes, if they play as well as they can. Frankly, I see this weekend as the biggest test left until the bowl game -- whether it is a more difficult test than the bowl game depends on where we end up. If we end up with Boise State in the Fiesta, not so much. OSU or Michigan in the NCG, then that's different.
A lot has to happen for us to end up BCS #2 going in to bowl season, but it is possible. The winner of the WVU/Louisville game has to lose to somebody else, probably Pitt or Rutgers (Cincy just killed me this weekend, not to mention Arizona State!) Obviously, USC has to lose, which I think is likely if they continue playing like they are. The SEC has to beat each other up some more. I'm a big Arkansas fan at the moment, as much as that pains me to say. I'm not sure that I want to be in a numbers battle with Florida, Tennessee or Auburn. Notre Dame is about to hit the soft part of their schedule. The trifecta of service academies will not help their computer rating, so I see us jumping them sooner or later. I would have to see where they are come the end of the season to know whether to worry about them beating USC putting them back over us. I don't think it matters to Texas who comes out of the Big 10. Whether it is Michigan or tOSU, with that being the last game of their season, I don't see it working out for a OSU/Michigan rematch, although I think those two teams are playing the best football in the country right now.
Bevo Sports: Well, I guess Texas does theoretically have a shot at the national championship, but the likely-hood of that happening is extremely low. The combination of the loss to Ohio State and the computer polls will probably keep us out. A more realistic goal would be to play in the Fiesta Bowl if they win the Big 12, and in that scenario we don't really need to win out, just win the Big 12 Championship game.
Has Mack Brown achieved icon status such that no one questions him anymore or is he second-guessed as much as ever?
Bevo Sports: Ha. Unfortunately Mack Brown will never achieve icon status here at Texas because everyone is constantly expecting too much from him. He was always questioned about whether he could win the big game, so he went out and beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Then people said it was a fluke, so he goes out beats USC in the Rose Bowl for a National Championship. And after the loss to Ohio State this year, people again started to second guess him and question whether he could win a big game. Give me a break. Mack is doing a great job at Texas and I think football fans in Texas will probably never be satisfied.
Burnt Orange Nation: Mack's not immune from criticism, though it's a different sort than he received before. Frankly, anyone that doesn't have Mack in their Top Five Coaches list, is pretty ignorant.
With that said, fans can't just sit their happily, win or lose. The criticism has to go somewhere. In most Texas fans' case, it's directed at Greg Davis, the offensive coordinator.
Horn Fans: Neither. He isn't second guessed as much as ever, and that is a good thing. He didn't deserve the amount that he was getting when it was happening, and he has certainly earned the degree to which it has decreased. The truth is that nobody has achieved icon status in Austin such that no one questions anymore. Even DKR never reached that status after three national championships. He would be the first to tell you that part of the reason he retired was the second-guessing and griping by Texas fans. A streak of losing to OU will bring that on, not that it is fair or right.
The OU game was huge this year in regard to how much the fans trust Mack. I think it went a long way to diminish any lingering concerns that it really was all Vince and that Mack and his staff would revert to a "play not to lose, overly conservative" approach to big games. The second quarter of that game put that fear back in many people's minds, but the second half wiped it all away.
What do you consider the greatest weakness of the team this year? Greatest strength?
Horn Fans: There are a couple of areas of concern and ones that I think any smart team with the right talent should attack if they want to beat Texas. The secondary falls into that category. We're young there, especially when our normal starters are not on the field for whatever reason. I'm breathing a sigh of relief because I heard this morning that it looks like Tarrell Brown and Marcus Griffin will play. Our starters are quite good. Their backups will be good; they are just inexperienced and opponents are smart to try to exploit that. Particulary a team like Nebraska.
Greatest Strength: Our lines. Both of them, but particularly offensive line, mainly because I've seen the difference that a good O-Line can make. A great O-Line can make stars out of your offensive skill positions. It makes your running game look good; it makes your QB look good; it makes your receivers look good. It all starts in the trenches and we are very, very good there. We are also very deep on both sides of the ball and that can wear teams out.
Burnt Orange Nation:The greatest weakness of this team right now is consistency in the back seven on defense. The linebackers and secondary have had outstanding games (Oklahoma) and lousy games (Baylor). They need to be more consistent for Texas to achieve its goal of a Big 12 championship and BCS bowl berth.
Bevo Sports: To me the most glaring weakness on the team this year is the kicking game. I have absolutely no confidence in Greg Johnson being able to make a field goal with any sort of pressure on the line. It is also frustrating to not be able to kick the ball out of the endzone on a kickoff, but it looks like we may have solved that with Hunter Lawrence.
I think the strength of Texas is obviously the running game. The duo of Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles is a tough one to stop. Selvin worked hard in the off season and is in probably the best shape of his career. Then you have Jamaal Charles, who brings track speed to the field and is always a threat to break one for a touchdown. And for those short yardage situations, in comes Henry Melton, a 270lb running back who will run over just about everything. The Texas running game is just the complete package.
Which remaining game for Texas is the biggest concern: Nebraska? A&M? Missouri (if you think they'll win the Big XII North)?
Bevo Sports: Well I think the toughest game for us will be Nebraska, though the one that concerns me most is probably A&M. They are obviously a huge rival and that is a game you never want to lose. A&M isn't playing their best football this year, but when those two teams match-up truly anyone can win. Plus, I think we can lose to Nebraska and still make it easily into the Big 12 Title game, but losing to A&M would make it a little more difficult.
Horn Fans: I think Nebraska will win the Big XII north and I think you are, particularly this weekend, the biggest challenge left during the regular season. Tech just isn't playing as well as they have in years past, but it is always hard to play them in Lubbock. We get A&M at home and we've been very good at home in conference for years. I think we will be playing you guys twice. I hope to come away with 2 victories. If I have to give up one, I hope it is this weekend.
Burnt Orange Nation: Prior to the season, we decided it was Texas Tech, because it was the second of two road games, and the site of Texas' last Big 12 road loss (2002). But they aren't looking so hot, and the consensus is now that the trip to Lincoln will be Texas' stiffest test. If Missouri wins the Big 12 North, they've impressed us enough to know that it'll be a great challenge, too.
Any thoughts on the possibility of facing Nebraska twice this year? Does a win in Lincoln all but guarantee a win on a neutral site or do you think the Huskers could pull the upset even if they fail to beat Texas in Lincoln?
Burnt Orange Nation: I think it can be difficult to beat a team twice, in some cases. With that said, I don't think the first game has too much to do with the second one. These games come down to which team can be more physical, and which team executes their sets the best.
Bevo Sports: I can tell you one thing, I would not want to face Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship. Nebraska is a tough team and has some real weapons on offense to compliment their always stingy defense. I would much rather play Missouri, who is starting a rookie quarterback and let Texas A&M run all over them.
Horn Fans: I don't think this weekend kills either of our conference championship goals. No matter who wins, the loser remains in control of their conference destiny. You'll still be ahead of Missouri head-to-head if you win out. We'll be ahead of OU, Baylor, Okie State and A&M, if we win out. I hope to see you in Kansas City.
I don't think either team that wins this weekend comes close to having a guarantee in Big XII championship should that happen -- no matter what the score.
Now that the Texas program is in its best shape since the 1960's, what do you think it would take to knock Texas back to mediocrity? Probation? What if Mack Brown took a pro job (or retired)?
Horn Fans: When you are on a high like we are, its hard to even think about such questions. Experience dictates that college football is a dynamic beast and it is near impossible for a team to remain at a very high level year after year. But then, quite frankly, I think of Nebraska. And I mean that in a completely good way. You guys are incredible. 30 years of 9-win seasons? Nobody even comes close. We're all geeked up about not even a decade. I'll be in a rocking chair before we reach the level of success that Nebraska enjoyed. I know its been a tough few years, so I don't mean that to hurt anyone's feelings. Walk 35 years in the desert without a National Championship. I know the pain and frustration. But I truly think that y'all headed the right direction to regain that kind of consistent, very high level of play.
Probation could do it. And if we are guilty of cheating, it should do it, just like it should for any program that cheats.
I don't think Mack Brown has any interest in a pro job or vice versa, which is not meant as any sort of insult. He loves the college game. He loves seeing young men grow into adults and go on to the rest of their lives, whether that is by playing professionally, coaching, or any other endeavor they choose. He's a father figure and a mentor. You guys don't get to see Mack every day or have a personal experience of him the way I have. The family atmosphere that he put in place here isn't just a facade for the media or recruiting. It is really who he is and I don't think you can have that the same way at the pro level. I don't think the pros even want it. I believe that he will retire from Texas. I have no idea if that is 5, 10 or 20 years away.
Burnt Orange Nation: Don't hold your breath. The Horns have entered a point where the worst year they're going to have is 9-3 territory. Mack absolutely owns the state of Texas in recruiting, to the point where other coaches are waiting on the Texas staff to cherry pick who they want before they go after who's left. That's not to say Texas is going to win the Big 12 every season; only that "mediocre" isn't even on the horizon at this point.
Beyond just this season, which team in the Big XII do you see giving Texas the most trouble over the next five years or so? Who do you see as the league doormats?
Bevo Sports: If Texas had to play Nebraska all of the time, I would probably choose the Cornhuskers. Bill Callahan sure looks like he is getting things going in the right direction and they are getting some good talent on the field. But in the Big 12 South, I would probably say Oklahoma is still going to give Texas the most trouble over the next few years. OU always has a great recruiting class (mainly Texas players), and the rivalry has grown so much lately that their match-up usually seems to make or break the season. And I don't see much trouble coming from Texas A&M or Texas Tech, they just don't seem to get the same level of players on the field.
Surprisingly, Oklahoma State looks like they may be on their way to the bottom of the Big 12. I am not sure exactly what is going wrong in Stillwater, but it just doesn't seem like they have things going in the right direction.
Burnt Orange Nation: The Big 12 North is there for the taking, if someone can get ahold of it. Win the North and you've got a reasonable chance to win the Big 12, right? Texas is in terrific shape to win the South more often than not, though. The Huskers are certainly capable of being that team.
Horn Fans: I think Nebraska is headed the right direction. I don't think that anybody is a league doormat anymore. I think we've seen the bottom tier teams of years past improve, and I think it is fair to say that some of the originally stronger programs are facing new challenges. I like to see teams like Nebraska scheduling USC and Texas scheduling Ohio State (yeah, I know... Sam Houston State... tell me about it... at least our OOC doormat beat your OOC doormat). With such high profile matchups potentially costing a team the chance at the NCG, I'm afraid that we'll see less such games, however. I'm not thrilled that we lost that game, but I'm happy to have played it. I would hope you guys feel the same way about USC.
Thanks for giving me the chance to talk to some of you great Cornhuskers! I'm looking forward to having a better steak this weekend than I can get at home, and that doesn't happen very often. Thanks for your hospitality and we look forward to returning the favor next year.
Read Part I of this interview, Corn Nation's UT Q&A and our take on the game over at Burnt Orange Nation.
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