Mack Brown is a guy that is typically cordial unless he has to face reporters after a loss. Much to our chagrin he’s had to do a lot of that over the last handful of years. Today in Dallas Coach Brown had a bit of what I like to call a “negative edge” to him as he answered questions from media members. He was not enthusiastic, he was not chipper… Mack Brown was relatively crusty today. And you know what? I liked it. I’m tired of “sideline clapping” Mack that tells us at Monday pressers that things are good when they really aren’t. I like crusty Mack. I like his “dark passenger.”
https://www.hornsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dash_alamobowl_solo.jpg Photo: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
The Texas 20 minutes at Big 12 Media Days started with Mack telling us what we wanted to hear – that this Longhorn football team has grown up. Nineteen of twenty-two starters are back, there is more depth on both sides of the ball, and the leadership is much better this year. In my best Vince Vaughan impersonation: “Our team’s all grown up tonight! You know what, big boys? You’re grown up! You’re grown up! Yeahhhhhh! Dig that! Is this enough of a (%&^%@*) production for you? ‘Cause you’re growns up and you’re growns up and you’re growns up!” Yep. Such is the case with people. They age each year. Minus the Swingers quote, Mack qualified all of this by stating that 9 wins are not enough. I vehemently agree.
Our Orange Report friend and sometimes guest, Dan Harralson (@DanHarralson) from football.com, asked the first question of Brown. Dan made the point that Texas seems to have a great team every 4 years or so (2005 – Vince Young, 2009 – Colt McCoy) and he asked Mack if he thought David Ash could replicate the success of two of the great quarterbacks in Texas football history. Brown acknowledged the accomplishments Young and McCoy experienced at Texas but reiterated again that THIS David Ash is a grown up David Ash that more talent around him than he did last season. Mack predicts a big year for Ash. Why? It’s easy. Because he’s all growns up.
We also learned the Texas triple-headed backfield of Bergeron, Brown and Gray could be really punishing – if only they can stay healthy. The largest discussion from Mack revolved around the up-tempo offense the Longhorns are predicted to run. Clearly Mack thinks David Ash is ready to command a Texas up-tempo offense because he is older, faster and ready to lead. In essence, David’s all grown up.
The biggest asset in running a faster offense will belong to the defense. Okay I will say it again: running a faster offense will benefit the defense most of all. Or so Mack says. That is, unless you go three and out more so than not and use less clock than it takes for vampire Bill to drain a human corpse of blood. Expect Texas to release the ball every 8 seconds under center and snap the ball around 80 times per game. Offensive balance between the run and pass will be key to the Longhorn’s success on offense with or without the speed change in offensive snaps.
From why Texas hired Bob Shipley to Texas being ranked 4th in both national and conference preseason polls – answers were given to non-significant questions. The most relevant question asked of Brown in my opinion was related to Duke Thomas. A real football question. What is his status? Where will he play?  Texas fans should expect Duke Thomas to play both sides of the ball but primarily on defense.
Condolences to the reporter that Brown barked at - the one that asked the question about the up-tempo offense ultimately benefiting the defense. Never mind that he prefaced his comments by saying he was “paraphrasing.” Poor dude. Mack still scolded him. Blame it on crusty Mack.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a2/Swingers_OST.jpg/220px-Swingers_OST.jpgMedia Days 2013 are finished, Jackson Jeffcoat’s pectorals are good-to-go and this team is all grown up. The only thing left in the continuum that IS college football is the actual season. The onus will be on David Ash as Texas looks to win its first Big 12 Championship since 2009. Texas looks to ride the win against Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl into the 2013 season which kicks off against New Mexico State on August 31st in Austin.
Feel free to read the transcript of Mack’s statements at Big 12 Media Days here.
