It’s that time of year again, folks.
Every year before the season starts, we are Schrödinger's
Team:
§
Both Winners and Losers.
§
Both National Champions and Last Ranked.
§
Both Exhilarating and Excruciating.
Schrödinger's Team is not to be confused with Schrödinger's
Cat, the Pet Cemetery Cat, Schrödinger's Scat (the former Texas men’s a capella
group) or the 2005 Texas National Championship winning team.
Some of my thoughts about the upcoming season include:
Loathing:
Speaking of the 2005 Texas National Championship Team. Ugh USC.
In true homage to the Schrödinger's theme, last year’s game against USC
was the saddest/happiest I’ve even been simultaneously, as well as the
proudest/most disappointed.
Offensive Curiosity:
I mean, why not.
It’s a new season. We’ve named a
starter (for the first game anyway) and for once I agree with Coach Herman that
Sam Ehlinger should take the lead.
I’m hoping that we don’t continue the pattern of the last few years of playing
not to lose (which didn’t work for Coach Strong, either) and put a little faith
in the team, especially at QB.
I’m trying in my mind to let go of a few game changing
mistakes Ehlinger made at some KEY points in some KEY games last year (USC, OU)
and remember that a win or a loss should never come down to one play or one
college kid’s mistakes. You know, trying
to be less of a horrible person…
Our O-Line has a combined 101 career starts (eeek). I don’t know what’s happening at center (or
has been for the last few years). Our
returning RB’s haven’t shown too much consistency, and we lost four of our top six
receivers from last season. Regardless,
with lots of recruits and transfers taking the field at skill positions, there’s
a lot to look forward to learning.
Defensive Stress:
I’m just going to say it plainly, we’ve lost Malik, Poona
& DeShon (who, to add injury to insult fractured his forearm this week in
the NFL pre-season after leaving us early).
These player losses stress. Me. Out.
Fear:
For some reason, Texas is ranked 23rd in the
AP & 21st in the Coaches Poll.
Maybe the coaches like that Herman “allegedly” gave it the old
college try to get Urban Meyer fired (which, by the way, I
old-school-x-files-want-to-believe he did, but don’t actually believe he did).
I think any ranking is a bit high for a team that’s barely (if even) been bowl eligible since Mack Brown “retired”. I understand it’s easier to fall out of than crawl into the rankings and I should take what I get. In my heart of hearts I’d rather crawl in this year…because you’ve gotta crawl before you strut. In the words of 54b, if you just “Win Every Damn Game, Damnit”, then you’ll get up to where you need to be. Coming in with a ranking means nothing, and I worry our players will think it means “something”.
Horror:
I think any ranking is a bit high for a team that’s barely (if even) been bowl eligible since Mack Brown “retired”. I understand it’s easier to fall out of than crawl into the rankings and I should take what I get. In my heart of hearts I’d rather crawl in this year…because you’ve gotta crawl before you strut. In the words of 54b, if you just “Win Every Damn Game, Damnit”, then you’ll get up to where you need to be. Coming in with a ranking means nothing, and I worry our players will think it means “something”.
Horror:
Texas has a frightening stretch of schedule from USC to
Oklahoma. It scares me that these games
are stacked at the beginning of the season, but maybe it’s good to just find
out what we’re made of right away. Who knows?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Date
|
Opponent
|
Win Probability
|
9/1/2018
|
at Maryland
|
74%
|
9/8/2018
|
Tulsa
|
89%
|
9/15/2018
|
USC
|
46%
|
9/22/2018
|
TCU
|
52%
|
9/29/2018
|
at Kansas State
|
62%
|
10/6/2018
|
vs. Oklahoma
|
28%
|
10/13/2018
|
Baylor
|
68%
|
10/27/2018
|
at Oklahoma State
|
39%
|
11/3/2018
|
West Virginia
|
66%
|
11/10/2018
|
at Texas Tech
|
57%
|
11/17/2018
|
Iowa State
|
67%
|
11/23/2018
|
at Kansas
|
81%
|
This probability chart came from SB Nation, so take it for what you will. The real WTF (What the Football) moment in
this chart is that Texas has only an 81% chance of beating Kansas. Sqwaaaaaak???? I don’t mean to be rude, but for Rock Chalk’s
sake, this series is a bit lopsided.
Kansas has won three games in as many years, including one winless season. It’s very sad for me to admit that one of my darkest moments in fandom was the Longhorns being one of those defeats, so I know I sound like a real jerk, but I feel like that % should be in AT LEAST the mid 90%’s. Sorry, not sorry.
Kansas has won three games in as many years, including one winless season. It’s very sad for me to admit that one of my darkest moments in fandom was the Longhorns being one of those defeats, so I know I sound like a real jerk, but I feel like that % should be in AT LEAST the mid 90%’s. Sorry, not sorry.
Reservation:
Though he became coach during the The Extreme Blogging
Hiatus: Addendum B, it’s no secret that I am having a little
trouble getting on board with Coach Herman.
I HOPE he proves me wrong, I WANT him to prove me wrong. I find him a bit snarky, and a bit arrogant without
credence. Listen, my Dad was a fighter
pilot, so I appreciate a cocky attitude as much as anyone, but Herman just hasn’t
shown me the goods yet.
Personally, and in my amateur opinion, I don’t believe he’s
mature enough to lead a team of young men at this level. In my observation, he wants the respect of
a coach, but wants to act like a peer.
I think he’s got some growing up to do, I think he needs to work on his
grudge holding & punishment doling, and I think he needs to put some
distance between himself and the players. Mostly, I hope hope hope this is the
year he makes it to the grown-ups table.
Concern:
Let’s be real. Michael Dickson is gone. Remember last year when Texas played Missouri? He punted the ball inside the Mizzou 10 four out of 11 times. Let’s recap:
Let’s be real. Michael Dickson is gone. Remember last year when Texas played Missouri? He punted the ball inside the Mizzou 10 four out of 11 times. Let’s recap:
§ 34
yards to the 4
§ 58
yards to the 10
§ 48
yards to the 2
§ 33
yards to the 3
The remaining punts were all within the 20. ZERO touchbacks. He averaged 41.1 yards per punt.
We’ve had many sad, dismal kicking seasons (I’m talking
to you Fera) since our several seasons of kicking glory (the holy trinity of Lawrence,
Mangum, Tucker). I don’t know what is going to happen now that Dickson is
gone. As of press time (haha, it’s a
blog, press time is when I "press" the publish button) we still haven’t named a
starter. And I swear on all that is
holy if we miss more than 3% of EXTRA POINTS this season I will lose my mind.
Pride:
Several Longhorns are starting out the season on award watch
lists:
Potential Award
|
Player
|
Position
|
Year
|
Rimington Trophy
|
Zach Shackelford
|
C
|
JR
|
Chuck Bednarik Award
|
Breckyn Hager
|
DE
|
SR
|
Gary Johnson
|
LB
|
SR
|
|
Fred Biletnikoff Award
|
Collin Johnson
|
WR
|
JR
|
John Mackey Award
|
Andrew Beck
|
TE
|
SR
|
Butkus Award
|
Gary Johnson
|
LB
|
SR
|
Jim Thorpe Award
|
Kris Boyd
|
DB
|
SR
|
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
|
Kris Boyd
|
DB
|
SR
|
Outland Trophy
|
Patrick Vahe
|
OL
|
SR
|
Wuerffel Trophy
|
Collin Johnson
|
WR
|
JR
|
Walter Camp Award
|
Collin Johnson
|
WR
|
JR
|
Ted Hendricks Award
|
Breckyn Hager
|
DE
|
SR
|
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
|
Collin Johnson
|
WR
|
JR
|
In Conclusion:
Here we sit for four more days until we have a few
answers. In the meantime I have a little
wish list:
§ I’d
like a win.
§ I’d
like to end the weekend still in the polls, but even an unconvincing win doesn’t
guarantee that.
§ I’d
like to see a little heart.
§ I’d
like to see a little teamwork.
§ I’d
like to see a little excitement on the field.
§ I’d
like to see the players respecting themselves and one another as they grow into
young men.
§ I’d
like a national championship….
… is all that too much to ask?
