Message to Longhorn football fans.

As RM95 just said, Major graduated. Predictable enough for you BK?

Um, Alabama returned 17 starters from a team that finished 7-5 in the SEC. They almost beat a top 5 team on the road. But according to this thread, they suck. Riiiiiight.

Lots of teams didn't play well in their first game. Texas was sacked 8 times by North Texas. That's like more than half the sacks UNT had the previous year. Texas won that game thanks to special teams and defense. Their offense was nowhere to be found. OU had a tough first half their first week. A&M had a tough game. Nebraska. So I wouldn't be so quick to judge Alabama or anyone else based on what happened in the first week. They at least got a victory. BCS doesn't look at margin of victory anyway.

 

I agree Brian. Simms isn't nearly as bad his detractors would love to think.

 

I said especially at quarterback. I also compared their mental toughness to OU. Insinuating that Chris Simms has the mental toughness of the OU team and coaching staff would indicate "lazy analysis".

And yes, there were also 21 other guys that contributed to UT's Holiday Bowl win, and their 2nd-half comeback in the CU Big 12 Championship game. But to insinuate that one guy didn't have more of a role in those performances than the other 21 would be another indication of "lazy analysis".

 

I neither said nor insinuated it. I figured you would reply to my question about the Holiday Bowl by saying, "Yeah, but that was with Major Applewhite". I brought it up because I think the entire team, most of which returns this year, showed unbelievable mental toughness in recovering from a 36-17 deficit and in putting together that last touchdown drive.

The team had numerous instances in which it could have quit, but didn't. Even without Major Applewhite, most of that team and its entire coaching staff are back. I think that should answer any questions about its mental toughness, especially in comparison to a team that lost on its home field to a 2-8 opponent when a Big 12 South title and possible Rose Bowl berth were on the line.

 

Hey BK, I agree it was a great, gutsy win, and a team effort. I just think Major was the most important factor (especially when you consider Benson was out). I mean the defense did NOT have a good game that night. I think it's obvious they don't win that game or have a chance against CU in the 2nd half w/o Major, and that Simms' mental toughness is in question. I guess I should've just come out and said it's Simms I'm worried about. I think the KState and Nebraska games are going to be hell, not to mention OU. Should be an exciting season. I think I watched football for like 8 hours straight Saturday (unusual for me).

I also think we should charge anyone who thinks that any problems UT may have are thanks to the OC with lazy analysis as well.

 

Kagy, the O-line is not nearly as good as last year. We lost 3 starters in Antwan Kirk-Hughes, Matt Anderson, and Mike Williams. We've replaced them with Jason Glynn, Alfio Randal-Veasey, and Tillman Holloway. Of the three, only Holloway has significant game experience. Stud RS freshman Jonathan Scott is expected back soon, so he'll start at RT, Simms' blindside. Jason Glynn will lose the one on one battle to Tommie Harris every time.

Also, we have 18 freshmen on the 2-deep roster, so our depth isn't nearly as good as last year.


2-deep roster

 

I think UT's chances of beating OU have increased a little with Jason White being out for the season. Hybl did not do anything against UT last year. Jason White bailed them out in last year's game.

 

I agree. He was important. I just don't like the implication for Mack-bashers (not saying you're one of these; I'm speaking in general terms)-- that any validation of UT's mental toughness can be dismissed by saying "but now they don't have Applewhite".

Right, but this backs up my point even more. The defense got its ass kicked for 40 minutes and had enough collective guts to nut up and shut Washington down for all but one drive over the last 20 minutes.

I think that type of effort speaks volumes to our team's strength of character.

Tell me about it. I got back from mountain biking at City Park at about 4 PM, showered off the mud and blood, turned on the Miami-Florida game, and pretty much watched football through the UCLA-Colorado State game. I ordered ESPN GamePlan this year.... it's ****in' sweet.

Baqui, the offensive line looked terrible against UNT and any time you lose a guy like Mike Williams, your performance is likely to suffer. But UT's only about 45 minutes of first-string football into the season. I'm going to withhold judgment for a few more weeks.

Unless we play as poorly against UNC as we did against UNT, in which case we'll be lucky to win and my verdict will be in.

 

Yes, Freak, Alabama is not that good. Maybe the word "suck" is a harsh one, but they will be lucky to win 6 games, IMO.

Therefore, logically, that should tell you something else:

Oklahoma is not as good as their ranking. They are still a top 25 team, but until they get an offense, I don't know if they are even a top 10 team. I mean, your defense can only bail you out so many times.

 

Sorry Cat, that Syracuse team is pathetic, maybe the worst one at that school in a decade and a half. Alabama is better than Syracuse.

That OU defense will shut down Benson if we can't pass worth a crap. Simms is going to have to execute or they will key on the run. I don’t think we (or Nebraska or anyone else) can just do off tackle right all game—there DL is pretty solid.

OU was a top 10 team last year with no offense.

The last thing I want us to do is underestimate them and not come in prepared against OU again. As Baqui said, OU knows how to win and they are like a bunch 9-live cockroaches (kinda like the NY Yankees). Don’t underestimate their talent in their skill positions/special teams—we do not want this game to come down to only a couple of big plays.

 

Hmmm.... more food for thought for those of you who think OU is "unafraid" to play big-time non-conference opponents:

OU Insider
2002-09-07
By George Schroeder and John Rohde
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma's 2003 schedule is a fan's delight. In addition to annual Big 12 grudge matches, OU plays host to UCLA and travels to Alabama.

Well, probably not. Chances are slim the Sooners will play both of those games next season. OU athletic director Joe Castiglione's scheduling ideal is to have one marquee non-conference game. Because the Big 12 is annually daunting, he doesn't want to overload the schedule.

It will be an upset if both UCLA and Alabama are on the Sooners' final 2003 schedule.

 

If I'm Bama I hold OU to the contract or make them pay me $$$$. the OU AD wants to push the game back 6 years so he can add another home game.

 

Sh*t, I don't know who told you that. Come up here to OU and anyone will tell you the Griffin is, at best, the third best running back on our team. He's been stealing all of Renaldo's minutes for the past two years now. Its just ridiculous. Anyone who saw the end of the Bama game can tell you that. If Works (who I went to high school with. Go Booker T! ) and Kejuan get more minutes, the passing game truly becomes a secondary option. I think the only expanation for them not getting more minutes is we may have a "Hakeem clause" going with Griffin. You know, because he's been here a while, he has to start. Stoops has shown he's willing to make changes. I hope he does so in this situation.

 

I really hate how some people lay the OU game on Chris.

The CU game was different and I definitely understand that one.

Lets run through the OU game again. No benson, so little running game. 4 INT's. However, only 2 of those were legitimately Simms's fault. The 3rd one, our rb missed his block on Williams and Lehman caught the tip for a td. The 4th one was a hail mary desperation pass at the end of regulation. It counts but it's meaningless.

So that's only 2 INT's by Chris that mattered/were his doing.

Considering how good both defenses were in that game, it wasn't a horrible performance.

We will win this year, as we simply are the better team. Nate Hybl is a joke at qb, griffin is average and OU will miss Williams and Calmus in big games(sorry, Alabama doesn't count). Works cannot run a shovel pass every play nor will he fare well with 8 man fronts daring hybl to beat them. Our big losses were Jammer, but he wasn't as good in college as he will be a pro, Mike Williams-hopefully we will get this corrected, D.D Lewis, Everick Rawls-two solid but replaceable players, however DJ is back and ready to lead. I think I am forgetting the 3rd backer so if any Horns fans remember his name, i'd be grateful.

But bottom line, it will be close, but this is the year. 3rd time is the charm and OU is going down.