With a record of 8-2 and the TCU game looming the Texas coaching staff, players and fans had to feel fairly comfortable with where the team was after 10 games. The Horns had apparently jumped the wheels back on the track after the close loss to West Virginia and the subsequent blowout loss to Oklahoma. Likewise it looked like they had turned the corner at the quarterback position with David Ash living up to expectations. A Cotton Bowl berth was likely and a trip to a BCS Bowl was well within reach – all Texas had to do was take care of business against an inferior TCU team on Thanksgiving night.
Then the wheels fell off again.
A hungry Gary Patterson brought a 6-4 Horned Frog football team into DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Thanksgiving, losers of 4 of their last six games, and with him he brought a big paddle that read FAH-Q on the flipside. In layman’s terms, he laid the wood on Mack Brown.  Mack was outcoached yet again by a conference colleague, a trend that is becoming all too familiar. Yeah the two interceptions and fumble by David Ash made things difficult but the real concern is the lack of urgency and belly fire in this team. I have always been of the opinion and I always will be that this program is a sleeping giant in terms of what it could be. While it is impossible to win national championships every year no matter what prrogram you are (although Saban is doing a pretty good job of it), it is possible to make sure you are close enough to the mix every year. Mack Brown hasn’t done that. The great streak of “at least 10 wins” was fantastic, but one national championship and two Big 12 titles in 15 years ain’t cutting the mustard. Nick Saban has won two national championships and will be playing for a third in what is his 6th season at Alabama this year. That’s called a return on your investment.
I won’t talk about how I like Mack Brown’s smile, character, demeanor, etc… because I’ve had enough of the charade. It doesn’t matter any more. What matters is winning and winning at all costs. Our facilities are better and our players posess more talent. I cannot help but assume it starts at the top. Despite Mack’s post-game comments last night about how he didn’t think the team played flat, THE TEAM PLAYED FLAT, COACH. Again, tired of the charade.
We have threee of the best running backs in the country and our entire rushing attack couldn’t muster up more than 86 yards on the ground. Problem: Offensive line played soft. Conversely the TCU rushing offense ripped our defense early and often. When the show was over the Horned Frogs had gobbled up 217 on the ground. Problem: Defense – all of it. TCU’s defense did a number on the Harsinwhite game plan, pressuring Ash, tackling well and forcing 4 turnovers. They were as advertised. Not to mention a freshman quarterback beat this team.
So under the “one step forward, two steps back” cliche, where does this team stand right now? The first question is “who is our quarterback?” The answer is David Ash. Despite the waffling by the coaches on the Texas sideline, you must let David Ash work through tough situations in order to grow. Case McCoy came in and led the team on a touchdown drive but also killed a drive after throwing a “grab bag” pass that was intercepted by TCU on the next series. I’m not even sure McCoy is the second best answer at quarterback on this team. After being reinserted Ash came in and looked even more gun-shy than he did previously in the evening, throwing passes well short and at the feet of his receivers. That “adversity” he mentioned he needed to deal with better…. he still needs to work on it.
Aside from the horrors of last night’s game it looks like the post-season future hinges on the result of the trip to Manhattan, Kansas.  A win against Kansas State might propel the Longhorns into the Cotton Bowl where they could face Texas A&M. A loss would likely send them to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl or El Paso for the Sun Bowl. An appearance in either of these bowls is not the type of success Mack or the team had in mind before the season started.
If we plan on marching into the Little Apple next week and leaving with a victory the fire and sense of urgency needs to be found quick. Mack Brown faces a better coach than him again next weekend and for this team, I hope he finds a way to reverse roles. Regardless of next week’s outcome, the entire coaching staff is on the table and the debate should take place after the season. I, for one, won’t be fooled again.
