The Day After: Longhorn Seniors Went Out Winners

Sometimes in life, things don’t go the way you planned. For the 2013 Texas Football senior class, the plan took a wrong-turn somewhere along the way.

When these players signed in the 2009 and 2010 recruiting classes, they had rightful dreams of winning multiple Big 12 titles and holding a crystal ball somewhere along the way. Unfortunately, these seniors will be remembered for what the Longhorns weren’t able to accomplish on the field. History has shown that this senior class will be a forgotten class in Texas Longhorns football history. It’s not fair by any means, but it’s the reality of college football. You are only remembered for being champions and whatever the circumstances were, the book has been written on the 2013 senior class. Mediocre.

What these Seniors were able to do was make a final statement in resounding fashion at DKR on Thanksgiving night against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Prior to the win over the Red Raiders, this senior class had lost to every team in the current Big 12 except Kansas. For comparison, the senior class of 2009 beat every opponent in the Big 12 at that time. With Thursday night’s victory, they can add Texas Tech to that list of Big 12 teams they didn’t lose to.

It was a tumultuous experience in their time here at the University of Texas. From the highs of beating Texas A&M on the final play of the final game in a rivalry series, to lows including several large blowouts to Oklahoma in Dallas, things didn’t come easy. The world has been turned upside down on them and this program in 4 short years. Teams that Texas was expected to blow-out are now beating Texas handily on the field.  Our Seniors originally signed with one of the elite programs in college football and ended with playing on a team that’s 9-2, getting little respect in any Top 25 poll.

But for 4 hours on Thursday night, those seniors took out the frustration of unrealized expectations out on the Red Raiders. They were determined to not leave DKR as losers any more. They could have packed it up, finished out the season and moved on from Austin with a sour taste in their mouth – but instead decided to take control of their own destiny. They still have a chance at winning a share of the Big 12 title and with some help, can make it to the Fiesta Bowl.

To the seniors, for most of them, Thursday night was the last time they would play meaningful snaps in a big game. No matter where the road of life will take them and what people may write about their careers at Texas, they can always say they went out winners at DKR.

Other Turkey Day notes:

– Like most families, I decided to start a Thanksgiving tradition. I don’t come from a large family and getting the family together to do something other than watch TV is a pain in the (you know what). However I was determined to start a tradition so my 5 year old son who I get alternating years with would remember and look forward to every Thanksgiving.  I started a football game. We played 7 frames (or innings) of football where everyone would get 7 drives. 3 plays to get to the end zone. We made sidelines out of the leaves lying around and had a blast. My wife threw a football toward me, my brother tipped the ball and I caught it for the touchdown. It was our own “Prayer at Jordan-Hare” in the backyard. When a 5 year old cries when the game is over, you know he had an amazing time. I won’t forget that moment. So let’s try to remember folks that Thanskgiving isn’t supposed to be about the start of holiday shopping. It’s about getting together with your family, and instead of thinking about what you don’t have, be thankful for what you do have. A new TV is nice but those traditions will stay with you longer .

– LSU winning late was a dagger in the side of Razorback fans. Now the former rival from the SWC will have a very LONG offseason to hope that they can get back to .500 next season.

– Fresno State? Thanks for stopping by. I know I recommended Tim DeRutyer to be a “Plan B” option at head coach and I still believe he should be on the initial list. However, there needs to be some tough questions asked about his defensive philosophy.

– I have been pretty adamant about Bo Pelini needing to stay on at Nebraska. Not because he acts like a jerk, but because Nebraska fans have unrealistic expectations about what their program can accomplish after Tom Osborne. It’s has to be tough to be a Nebraska fan lately. They haven’t won a conference championship since 1999. They haven’t finished in the top 10 since 2001. This from a program that was consistently ranked in the top 10 every year for decades. If Nebraska wants to be great again, they have to understand their flaws and find something that can work with their disadvantages to win championships.