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Horns outlook...

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by haven, Oct 18, 2002.

  1. haven

    haven Member

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    So, how are the rest of the UT fans here feeling about tomorrows game? I figure the team reacts in one of two ways:

    1. They mail it in

    or

    2. Orange with a vengeance.

    Before OU, the team had been extremely professional all year. But that was part of the problem. They had a job to do - and they knew they could do it better than their overmatched opposition.

    This approach isn't going to work. True, they can "out talent" anybody left on their schedule, but if they approach everyone like they did OSU, they lose at least 1 more, maybe 2. Tech, tamu, Iowa St., and Kstate are all capable of beating a UT team that plays without passion. I'd favor a complacent UT team in any ONE of those games... but not to win out.

    Traditionally, Mack Brown teams have responded well to adversity. They play much better when they "have nothing to lose." IMO, it's because Mack and Greg Davis are way, way too conservative. They're afraid of leaving it up to the kids to make plays. IMO, UT is best when it resorts to something like "street ball." Let Roy out-jump the corners. Let our o-line pummel the other team off the line. Let BJ use his speed on the reverse to outrun plodding linebackers. Let DJ use his eerie speed/explosiveness to blitz and annihlate opposing QBs. Stop trying to fool the other team. Stop trying to "out guess" the other guys - Davis isn't good at it. UT's advantage obviously isn't play calling - it's sheer athleticism. Obviously, it's best when you can combine both. But when you can't... play to your strength.

    I hope all the talk of "simplifying" the offense means just that. I hope Mack's skill as a motivator brings a team unconcerned with rankings but with wounded pride.

    But, anyway, their national title hopes aren't done yet. If they win out, there's a very good chance they'll go to the National title. Personally, I think Vtech's going to beat Miami. Miami had trouble with FSU's rushing game. Vtech is going to maul them on the ground. And Vtech, unlike FSU, has good corners to prevent Dorsey from saving them at the last.

    But first, UT needs to play to its strength... and do so with intensity. I had a very bad feeling before the OU game. I didn't think that a tentative offense would be saved by an excellent defense.

    Now, I think that talent and emotion take over. Hook 'em.

    Incidentally, someone forwarded me a funny site: www.gregdavissucks.com . Not sure if that had been mentioned here... :).
     
  2. gr8-1

    gr8-1 Member

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    Couldn't have said it any better myself.
     
  3. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    Anyone notice how people seem to refer to college players with their first name? It's always "Roy this" or "BJ that"....in the pros it's not like that. Is this just a UT thing?
     
  4. gr8-1

    gr8-1 Member

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    No, I think all college fans do it.
     
  5. haven

    haven Member

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    I think it's a player-by-player thing. At BC, everyone called William Green "Willy," because that's just so much cooler than "Green." But we called Doug Flutie "Flutie," because his last name was more catchy.

    Just think about what sounds better in a chant, and you're usually right, as far as college ball goes :).
     
  6. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    haven,

    Still see that last season's loss at BC is eating at you...;) :p

    I agree that Miami's run defense looked really bad against FSU and that VA Tech's duo of Lee Suggs and Kevin Jones are better than Greg Jones and Nick Maddox of FSU. However, it is extremely naive to take one game like the FSU game and apply it to a game that will not occur for over a month and a half.

    If Miami had played against Nebraska like they did against Boston College, they probably would have lost the Rose Bowl, but they didn't.

    Don't worry...Larry Coker will make sure that things are fixed in time for Virginia Tech.

    Also, I doubt that Miami will be as concerned with the passing game of VA Tech like they were with Rix and FSU. They very well could play 8 men in the box.

    However, it should be a great game and yes, I am concerned that Miami could lose this one.

    However, no one is going to "maul" Miami, especially in the Orange Bowl. It seems like there is a lot of wishful thinking for that and that makes me laugh.
     
  7. haven

    haven Member

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    Dude, this isn't a Miami thread. I was just indicating as to why I think that Texas has hope even if OU doesn't lose.

    And, generally, I chear on Big East teams, even Miami, since my alma mater is from the conference and I think it gets a bad rap. It's smaller, not worse, than the other conferences.

    So take your Miami stuff to another thread :p.
     
  8. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Mail it in.

    7-5.

    :(
     
  9. Manny Ramirez

    Manny Ramirez The Music Man

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    Dude, get over your pompous self.

    YOU brought up Miami and said you think they were going to get mauled by Va Tech. That is your opinion. My opinion is that won't happen (Miami getting mauled).

    However, I appreciate your concern about me voicing my opinion here.:rolleyes:
     
  10. Major

    Major Member

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    I'm not convinced the coaches are ready to unleash the offense. I think we lose tomorrow and then win out. I would predict a loss to ISU too, but I don't see us losing 3 in a row.
     
  11. haven

    haven Member

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    Didn't say Miami would get mauled. I said they would get mauled on the ground. Big difference. I anticipate a close final score, but think Miami will get destroyed on the ground. If that immobile lump was still Vtech's QB, I'd probably favor them. But their new guy is a decent enough passer, doesn't make mistakes, and has phenomenal vision for scrambling. Miami has had problems with even decent power running games. Vtech has two superstar RBs, AND a great running QB. I don't think they can stop it, and still cover the downfield threat (the new Vtech QB is fantastic on the deep ball, but only decent on the short routes).

    Damn you, you've sucked me in :p
     
  12. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking

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    The oddsmakers are favoring K-State in tomorrow's game. I think the mental edge has to go to K-State in this one. Texas is coming off a huge let-down and really has no emotional ties to K-State. K-State is out to prove they belong, and they have a number of players from Texas (25-ish). You can bet that they view this more as a "rivalry game" than do the Horns. I look for a lot of energy on the part of K-State and another lethargic performance out of Greg Davis & Co.
     
  13. haven

    haven Member

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    Bah, you're too pessimistic.

    The Horns have sucked against top teams in recent years. That's motivation in itself. K-State, on the other hand, are playing a team that they trashed the last two times they played. K-state has beaten top teams in recent memory. K-state is playing in a wide-open Big 12 North. They can afford a loss.

    The emotional factors can work either way. Big let-downs have a way of producing great performanes in the next game just as often as bad ones.
     
  14. Major

    Major Member

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    Well, we're officially screwed. Weather forecast for tomorrow:

    <I>Tomorrow: Partly cloudy skies. High 59F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.</I>

    5mph winds ... Davis won't throw the ball in that maelstrom! :(
     
  15. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking

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    No, not really -- it hasn't seemed to have motivated them to perform well in the past.
    The last time these two teams played was in 1999. K-State won 35-17 (at UT), and they won before that in 1998 48-7 (at home). Considering that the last game was 3 years ago, I doubt that many players were even on that team that trashed UT. This will not affect their motivation in the slightest.

    There was a very good article in the Houston Chronicle that talked about how many K-State players were from Texas and how they had been anticipating this game all season. Going back home to Texas after the season and seeing all their friends again, these players want to have bragging rights.
    Uh, no they can't. They've already lost to one of their chief rivals, Colorado, and they still have Iowa State and Nebraska left on their schedule. Losing to Texas would cripple any chance they have of winning the Big 12 North.
     
  16. drapg

    drapg Member

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    Texas wins big, 42-21.

    I lose my voice watching on TV again, but this time for a good reason.

    Hook 'em.
     
  17. haven

    haven Member

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    Then you can't really bring in your previous argument. College turnover is enormous. A minimum of 20% of your players leave every year, and different guys assume leadership roles. If the above is true, then the Horns coudl react differently to losing a big game.

    Sorry, your arguments contradict each other. And, incidentally, I would certainly say in 98 and 99 that they rebounded well off of losses.

    Bleh bleh bleh... UT didn't want them. Wah wah wah. The same works against Florida and CA teams... and those teams usually still win. I'm sure they want bragging rights. But the game is in Kansas... maybe it's different in Texas. But this is a two ways street. Playing against the team that didn't want you could motivate you... it could also intimidate you.

    These things can all be interpreted two ways. I acknowledge this. Why do are you so set in interpreting everything in the light most harmful to Texas?
     
  18. gr8-1

    gr8-1 Member

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    Alot of KSU's players are jucos. I think UT's juco transfer policy may be different. Allegedly, KSU takes any classes for transfer.

    FWIW, Bishop wanted to play for either atm or UT.
     
  19. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking

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    I'm just presenting a different viewpoint than you, and I'm not being unfair in my assessment. Look, I disagree with your points, and we'll leave it at that -- but the fact of the matter is that the Horns MUST show up this weekend or else their season is really on the ropes. That would be quite a turn of events from 7 days ago, when the talk was of national championships.
     
  20. haven

    haven Member

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    Hmmm... yeah, you were disagreeing. But you were saying my points were incorrect. To be honest, nobody can know exactly how a bunch of college football players are going to react to a big loss. I think your certainty just irked me a little...

    I think you're wrong, but there's no way in hell I can be certain about that, and I won't pretend that I can.
     

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