The Turning Point

Finally the day had arrived!  Texas vs USC – one of those infrequently rivalries yet one deeply seeded in hatred.  For Mack’s sake, we’ve even seen some suspicious verbiage in the USC press guide claiming that, because they were later found out to be cheaters, the season ending in the famed Texas/USC national championship never happened.  What asshats.  

Of course, with famous alumni like these, who needs … (what do I put here?  Enemies? Police Escorts?). 

I digress.  The Trojans can cling to whatever logic they want, but it won’t change the fact that everyone on the planet saw that game. Including Will Ferrell. 

Of course, last year’s OT thriller at the Coliseum was heartbreaking.  Ehlinger last second fumble on the goal line still haunts me, but as I’ve mentioned (twice now) I’m really working hard to let that go. 

Still, regardless of what happened in the last snap of that game, this matchup was a whole new ballgame. 

Fresh off a win (an ugly win, but a win nonetheless) against Tulsa, the drive to Austin was much easier, albeit just as rainy as the previous week.  A tiny little “we’re going to win” creeped into my brain.  On the drive down I predicted a close win. 
For Texas to salvage any of their season, this win was crucial.  Heading into Big XII play at 2-1 is not an option.  After the USC game comes TCU, K-State & OU all in a row – momentum going into this gauntlet is crucial.

Walking into the stadium just felt different.  The last few years there has been a struggle to fill the stands, most disappointingly the student section.  But it appears that Chris Del Conte has been working hard to repair the damage done by Steve Patterson.   Appeasing the students coupled with a team that is likely on the rise, the stadium had an electricity I hadn’t felt in years.  

Luckily, I’m not talking about a lightning strike to the bleachers – though heavy thunderstorms and rain were predicted for the entire game, our ponchos were once again spared.   The joke now is to just bring the poncho, otherwise surely it will rain.   It’s times like these I miss Scott Fisher.

At game time, it was just in the air.  Confidence, excitement.  I felt in my little burnt orange heart that we were going to win – though still expecting an ugly, close game. 

I am happy to report that I was wrong.   About that last part anyway.

The Longhorns were ALL OVER USC.   While we had a few hiccups (a luck out call on what should have been a safety, a touchdown-less first quarter) our defense was astounding and our offense had the best third quarter that I’ve seen them play in years.   

The Horns put up 34 unanswered points in front a record crowd.  The defense held USC to -5 rushing yards, we returned a blocked FG for a touchdown.  The only thing that could have made my heart happier was if Pete Carroll had been there to see it.

We’ve got the momentum.  Now we just need to keep playing every game like it’s the national championship.  We need to WIN EVERY DAMN GAME, DAMMIT.

(As the fates would have it, this win catapulted Texas into the 900 win club, making them one of the elite three (joining storied programs Ohio State & Michigan) to do so.)

Horns were raised, Eyes were sung.  I can’t even describe the great joy I felt in my heart.  After the game my sister and I went back to the hotel where we waited patiently for SportCenter to play the recap.  As expected, laced throughout the scant praise were the factors that caused USC to lose (ie "UT beat us tonight... but I still think we're the better team.").  In a week, I would encounter this exact phenomenon with a purple clad co-worker.

Unless USC gets popped for cheating again, I guess they’ll have to conceded that they have indeed been beaten by Texas.

Now starts Big XII play.   The future is in our hands.  Literally.