Texas / UCLA – "The Payback"

James Brown, no not the Beaumont Westbrook/ former UT quarterback, but rather the legendary “Godfather of Soul,” “the Hardest Working Man in Show Business” said it best in his 1973 hit.:

Hey! Gotta gotta pay back!! (The big payback)

Revenge!! I’m mad (the big payback)

Got to get back! Need some get back!! Pay Back! (the big payback)

That’s it!! Payback!!! Revenge!!!

I’m mad!!

When the University of Texas players take the field at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California tomorrow, they will be thinking PAYBACK.  UCLA has embarrased the Longhorns the last three times the two schools have met, including the infamous 66-3 beating Texas took in 1997, which turned out to be John Mackovic’s last year as head coach in Austin.  The following year, under first year head coack Mack Brown (1998) UCLA quarterback Cade McNown again had his way with the Texas defense, throwing for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 49-31 Bruins victory.  Fast forward to the 2010 season (which all Longhorn fans unfortunately remember as a huge disappointment) and add a 34-12 loss to Rick Neuheisel’s mediocre UCLA team and you have 3 straight losses to UCLA.  The loss in 2010 was the catalyst for a wicked downward spiral that saw the Longhorns lose 7 of their last 9 games.

This is a new year, a new season, with a few of the wrinkles already ironed out.  Garrett Gilbert was demoted to third string quarterback while Sophmore Case McCoy and True Freshman David Ash were named first and seond stringers, respectively.

What will we see in tomorrow’s game?

A heavy dose of Malcolm Brown and unconventional schemes. Both quarterbacks to play, with David Ash playing a lot (not necessarily in the qb position).  The most important thing I think we will see is HEART.  Like last weekend against BYU, Texas will reach DEEP to produce a win that will ultimately resonate throughout the entire season.  Last year’s loss to UCLA sunk the Longhorns to a unprecedented low and Texas has not forgotten this.  You can bet dollars to donuts that the Texas defense and the new cadre of offensive players and formations will prove problematic to UCLA.

Kickoff Time: 2:30 pm Central Standard Time

TV: ABC

Our Prediction: Texas: 34, UCLA– 24