Saturday was not a typical day in the state of Texas. In the midst of a cold spell that would make Jack Frost weary, the Texas Longhorns had a golden shot at a Big 12 title and Fiesta Bowl berth – if Oklahoma could beat Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series.
Well, Oklahoma did Texas an unusual favor and held on to a win in Stillwater to make the final Big 12 game of the 2013 season the defacto Big 12 Championship. The winner in Waco would earn a spot in the Fiesta Bowl and claim an outright Big 12 championship.
The Oklahoma win was the closest the Longhorns would get to claiming the 2013 Big 12 title. Â As as soon as kickoff approached, you knew the Longhorns didn’t have it in them to pull out the win. Well, maybe the defense for the first half, but not Case McCoy. The enigma that is Case McCoy showed it’s ugly side in Waco. Its REALLY ugly side. Case McCoy was absolutely terrible. He was even terrible at wearing a coat. He could do no right, yet Mack Brown was that stubborn 5 year old at McDonalds.
“Mack, don’t you want the Swoopes burger?”
“No, I want Case Nuggets.”
“But look how good it can be if you give it a chance?”
“No, Case Nuggets.”
“Well how about we compromise, an Overstreet dog?”
“No. CASE NUGGETS. CASE NUGGETS. CASE NUGGETS.”
“FINE Case Nuggets it is. Sheesh. (thinking in head: God what a spoiled brat)”
This game was the epitome of the Mack Brown era. No matter how obvious it is that he is in over his head and the decisions he is making are clearly the wrong ones, he will never admit he is wrong. He will always stay the course even if it means driving the car off of a cliff.
Mack Brown didn’t care about winning a Big 12 title. If he did, he would have pulled Case McCoy and started Tyrone Swoopes to start the second half when the Longhorns still had a chance. He didn’t want to be there, he just wanted to escape Waco and get back to Austin and just get it over with. He knew he didn’t stand a chance.
So now it’s time for the big meeting that will determine the direction of the Texas Longhorns football program. Will Steve Patterson have a golden parachute prepared for Mack Brown or will he just give Mack Brown the buyout check and say “See ya?” No one knows, but regardless of that decision, it’s time.
Mack Brown, please exit stage right.
Other Week 15 Thoughts:
– This weekend is always bitter sweet. Even though most teams are done playing their season, it’s the last Saturday where there is a full slate of games until next year’s labor day. I love those Saturdays where I can switch between games and look for upsets or close games to watch. Now, there might be 1 or 2 bowl games on most days so I am stuck watching a game that might become a blowout and then I get bored fast. However I love bowl season. We actually get to see really good matchups this bowl season.
– Because of the lack of games on the slate on Saturday, let’s talk about Texas’s amazing 1 point OT win over Temple in Philadelphia. Yes, the Longhorns aren’t great like they used to be and Temple is not that good but the Longhorns got a big halftime lead, lost it, fought back to get it to overtime and Javan Felix hits a clutch 3 to win the game. Talk about a heart attack. Javan Felix is going to be a 4 year player in Austin. I hope this is the moment in his career where he gets the confidence to be that leader and have ice in his veins to make that shot when Texas needs him to.
– Â Well Ohio State, it was fun. However, you just prove the doubters right by losing to Michigan State. I believe Ohio State will eventually compete for a national title but they just aren’t there yet.
– So Florida State versus Auburn for the national title. Both schools are separated by 193 miles and will travel all the way to Southern California to decide who is the best team in the final BCS national championship game. To be honest, I am not that excited about that game. Maybe it’s my disdain for Auburn who could go from 3-9 to the National championship yet Texas goes 9-4 in 2012 and returns 19 starters and goes 8-4 in 2013.
