What really messed it up for UT was getting the first 1st down after the Zwick fumble. If Charles had stopped after 9 yards, then run a 2nd and 3rd down (if IIRC) then get the first down near the 23 with the ability to get another 1st down that's not 1st and goal, GAME OVER. I do this all the time in NCAA 2006, why couldn't Mack tell Charles to do it The idea of letting them score reminds me of the Holiday Bowl where UT let Oregon (I think) score with ~2 mins left and then UT drove down the field and scored. Of course UT ended up losing to Oregon, but not because of letting them score at the goal line with little time remaining. My memory is kinda fuzzy, so it may have been against another Holiday Bowl opponent. Honestly, barring the scenario outlined in my first paragraph, UT ended up with, IMO, the best outcome since they didn't have to kickoff to OSU. If UT scores and goes up 8, Holmes/Ginn probably return it AT LEAST 40 yards and they are set-up to score. Although I have faith in Chizik's D I have absolutely NO faith in UT's kickoff and punt coverage. UT's special teams will cost them a close game this year if it does not improve. Hopefully, UT can either put games out of reach with there superior offense and defense OR improve significantly on special teams.
My friend wrote a poem on the victory: Never as good, as the first time. The lights were glaring, the mood was right. There was quite a bit of scarlet in the Horseshoe that night. AJ Hawk, Schlegel and Carpenter played, and it was Vince and the Longhorns that they tried to slay. Early on the visitors in burnt orange and white, Scampered to an early lead with all of their mite. But eventually, the hometeam rose like cream, And it became the kind of game that one only could dream. Tied at ten, and then the Bucks went up by six, AJ and the boys soon slowed down Vince and dispensed vicious licks. But the Horns were astute, and saved their time outs, And when they cut the defecit to three, Their faithful began to shout... "Texas, Our Texas All Hail the Mighty State" This was one helluva game being played in the Buckeye state. And as Vince came out for the second half, There were new plans coming from OSU's defensive staff. Turnovers accounted for Ohio State's lead, And before you knew it, Texas had given it away, and from their mouths, started to bleed. But OSU couldn't get more than 3 at a time, And the Texas D was catching them left and right on a dime. The Buckeye linebackers were brilliant and fast, And very reminiscent of Buckeyes from the past. On the same day when Michigan and Iowa fell, OSU couldn't fully draw Texas under its spell. And the Horns hung on, While Vince kept trying, And before you knew it, the Horns were close to tying. But in the same time it took to scan and read, Vince lofted a pass so fast That no one could see. Just like that, the Horns were up again. Under review, the officials agreed, And the Vince, Mack and the Horns scored 23. Ahead by one, they nervously kicked off. A fumble on the return, but that was called off. Then Zwick rolled left, and fumbled the ball, #39 from Texas picked it up and ran tall. As Texas rejoiced and the game looked in hand, Several delicious seconds ticked away, As a quiet took over the stands. Texas failed to score, on a showboating play. But quickly made up for it, the 2-point way. And with the safety moving the Horns lead firmly to three, It was obvious to a nation, to believe in V. Carpenter said before the game, That Vince wouldn't leave with the same fame. And he was right, for his fame changed, From a candidate, to a frontrunner in the Heisman game. And Texas is #2, and OSU will fall, But we will always remember this game in early fall. As one of the greatest ever. Oh Mack Brown was clever, The day he started Vince over Mock, And he had to be thinking about that as the time slipped from the clock. It's never as good as the first time, And the Horns will savor the win, And live in the lime Light for the week ahead. But the thoughts of a national championship are rightly in their heads. So for this Texas fan, Pure bliss is my feeling... For we walked into to Columbus, owned the place, and left the Buckeyes reeling. - Joseph S. Carlos 9-11-2005
