Colt McCoy – Quarterback for the Texas Longhorns

A couple of good photos of Colt McCoy in this week's Sports Illustrated.

They accompany a story about which quarterback is going to win the Heisman.

Sounds like the SI'ers have already counted our man out of the race, however, and are leaning toward Tim Tebow.

Even though, as they pointed out, Colt is the only QB in major college football this season with 500 yards rushing and 3,000 yards passing. Also, I don't think they buy into my whole theory of other options for the Longhorns making it to the title game (see previous entry).

The voters didn't give the Heisman to Vince Young a few years ago when he deserved it over the other candidates - including Reggie Bush.

I still can't figure that out.

The Heisman is handed out a month before the National Championship game is played, and I guess those voters back in 2005 didn't think Texas was really that good ... and USC was better. Oops.

Colt is also up for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, as well as the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell awards. There is no greater validation of a season played than being mentioned for those four awards.

Colt is a team guy, of course, and I imagine the only reason those individual awards would be important to him at all is because they would make his mother proud. And we ALL want to make our mothers proud.

But even if he won all four, I'm sure he'd trade them all in for a crystal football just like the one Mack Brown and others held aloft after that Rose Bowl game.

P.S. - My wife, who is a huge Longhorn fan and NFL expert, reminded me that most Heisman winners - especially recently - are busts in the pros, and the award is almost like a kiss of death. But she can see my point about making your mother proud. ;-)

Posted by at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just put the slideshow up from the Kansas game. Some nice photos.

OK, now that we have some time before the Aggie game, let's review one more time how Colt McCoy and the Longhorns can make the National Championship game.

1. As No. 1 BCS seed - Tech loses to OU but beats Baylor. UT takes out two years of frustration on the Aggies and murderlizes them. OU then loses to OSU, so Tech still goes to the Big 12 game where they are upset by Missouri.

In the meantime, "back East," Florida is upset by Florida State but then barely beats Alabama. That gives the 'Horns the No. 1 spot, probably followed by USC or Alabama.

2. As No. 2 BCS seed - Tech wins out and becomes No. 1 in the BCS. UT beats the Aggies, Florida beats Alabama but loses to Florida State. Alabama also loses to long-time rival Auburn. Even if USC wins out, Texas gets No. 2 because of strength of schedule.

That means an all-Big 12 South championship game.

3. As No. 2 BCS seed (and Big 12 champion) - OU beats Tech, but not by much, and everything works out for a three-way tie. Texas edges out the other two in the BCS rankings and advances to the Big 12 championship game where they beat Missouri again.

They'd be up against Alabama or Florida for the championship.

It's all going to become a little clearer after Saturday night. If Tech wins, the Longhorns need to hope for Option No. 2 above. If OU wins, then UT's chances are a little better for either No. 1 or No. 3.

The way he's played this season, Colt definitely deserves a shot at the title.

Posted by at 12:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you weren't convinced the success of the University of Texas this season is due to our man wearing No. 12, then the 35-7 victory on the frigid road over Kansas should make you a believer.

He was 24-of-34 for 255 yards and 2 TDs, while rushing for another 80 or so and another touchdown.

Not that the offensive and defensive lines didn't have something to do with the "W" as well. But leadership is what won that game.

The four-touchdown margin of victory should be good enough for the 'Horns to keep their No. 3 BCS ranking, and that nice 11-day rest before hosting the Turkeys for their final regular season game should be just what the doctor ordered.

SECOND HALF (First Drive)

That's more like it for our man Colt! Take the ball on your own 39, go 10 plays, throwing for three completions and running it yourself three times.

A Superman impression by Jordan Shipley on a fake field goal didn't hurt either.

21-0, Burnt Orange!

FIRST HALF

Man, talk about book-end drives for the first half against Kansas.

Colt McCoy looked unstoppable on the opening drive against the Jayhawks, leading the Longhorns to paydirt on 10 plays.

Then a fumble, a sack, an incompletion and turnover-on-downs ended the next four drives for UT.

But ... the last drive of the half (not counting the final 14 seconds), Colt took it in himself on a 4-yard run to cap an 8-play drive. He finished the first half 14-of-19 for 122 yards, and rushed for about 20 yards.

The game should be more than 14-0, but Colt appears to be adapting to the cold, and he gets the ball back first after intermission, so everything should return to normal.

I enjoyed seeing Colt and buddy Jordan Shipley discussing strategy right before half. Expect those two to connect a bunch more in the second half, hopefully for a TD or two.

Posted by at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bevo, I don't think we're in Texas anymore.

This Saturday morning at 11:30 is when the Longhorns will show the world (or at least the part of it that receives Fox Sports Southwest) what they're made of.

By his own admission Colt McCoy took some time in the first half of the Baylor game to get the taste of defeat out of his mouth and start playing like the Heisman contender he is.

But still, that was Baylor, and this is Kansas - on the road - with flying footballs and houses and a quarterback named Todd Reesing from Lake Travis in Austin who has gotten the short end of the stick when pundits talk about all the great signal callers in the Big 12.

Reesing isn't as big and strong as Colt, but he has impressive numbers so far with 240-of-359 completions for 2,942 yards and 23 TDs. You don't think he's jazzed to show what he can do against a team that "ignored" him?

The Jayhawks will play a very good, inspired game, and UT's impressive victory in such a spirited contest will go a long way in proving that they still are worthy of National Championship consideration.

I see Colt and company taking the starch out of the Jayhawks like flying monkeys taking the stuffing out of a scarecrow.

Sorry 'bout that visual. Here's the game capsule:

Line: Texas by 14.

Series Record: Texas leads 6-2.

Last meeting: 2004, Texas 27-23.

What's at Stake

Texas must avoid an upset to stay in contention for the Big 12 South title and the national championship hunt. Kansas, which finishes the regular season next week against No. 12 Missouri, needs to win at least one of these last two to secure a decent bowl bid and avoid falling too much further from last year's 12-1 campaign.

Key Matchup

Texas DE Brian Orakpo and Kansas' freshmen tackles Jeremiah Hatch and Jeff Spikes. Hatch and Spikes have switched sides since conference play began but both have had their troubles. Orakpo did not play last week after hurting his knee against Texas Tech. But he was expected to return.

Players to Watch

Texas: QB Colt McCoy and WR/KR Jordan Shipley. McCoy bounced right back from the Texas Tech loss by throwing five touchdown passes in the victory over Baylor. Shipley has two returns for touchdowns and Kansas has been hurting in kick coverage.

Kansas: QB Todd Reesing. A native of Austin who was ignored by the Longhorns, Reesing will be as motivated as he's been in any game of his career. But the undersized junior also had the worst game of his life last week in Kansas' loss at Nebraska.

Facts & Figures

Kansas has started the same 22 players on both offense and defense the past two games. ... The game is a sellout and the Jayhawks are on pace to set a stadium attendance record for the fourth consecutive year. ... The last time Texas visited Kansas, in 2004, the Longhorns rallied for a 27-23 win, and Kansas coach Mark Mangino had to apologize for remarks he made about officiating in a heated postgame news conference.

Posted by at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"I feel like every week we have something to prove."

Guess who said that? No, not Colt McCoy ... although since the Tech loss, I have a feeling that's what he's thinking.

Everyone's made a big deal out of the "gauntlet" of four tough games that Texas came within one second of navigating sucessfully.

But upcoming is a two-game gauntlet that takes on even more importance than that previous stretch.

Kansas is not going to go quietly into that good night. At home, pride wounded, the Jayhawks could salvage a bit of their season by beating UT.

And the Aggies, of course, would gladly lose every other game if they could just beat the Longhorns. Injuries and bad luck have prevented Colt from experiencing the sweet smell of success over those malodorous farmers, but third time is the charm.

And just in case the stars align so that Texas is in the Big 12 Championship game, guess who's going to be there waiting for them? An improved Missouri team that is now much better than the 56-31 whipping they got from Colt and company. And no surprise that the Tigers would have revenge on their minds if that meeting takes place.

So the gauntlet is not over, and judging by what Colt said earlier in the week, he knows that and he's ready:

"We have to put the whole game together. I feel like we were up and down in the first half (against Baylor). We had some things go wrong. We didn't execute like we should have. I felt like we played really well the second half, across the board, offensively and defensively. We are going to come out strong and play both halves like we did the second half last Saturday."

Oh ... and who said the quote at the top of this entry? That was Michael Crabtree, probably one of the most despised players by Burnt Orange Nation right now. He continued that train of thought with, "Week after week, they seem to come up with something about us not having a this or a that."

Sounds like what Texas has been through most of the season - they don't have a running back, secondary is too young, etc., etc.

The best news for Texas fans this week is that Colt will indeed play like he has something to prove even though by this point he really doesn't.

Posted by at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bear with me on this one.

My wife, who is still seriously smarting over the Tech win over Texas, wants another crack at the Red Raiders.

She thinks Tech and Texas can finish as the top two teams in the BCS standings after the regular season finishes on Dec. 6.

I say no way, but here's her scenario (in order of team's current BCS ranking), and it doesn't include Tech losing anymore games until the national championship:

1. Alabama loses to either Mississippi State or Auburn and then to Florida on Dec. 6. Two losses.

2. Tech wins out, including the Big 12 championship game. No losses.

3. Texas beats Kansas and A&M convincingly. One loss.

4. Florida loses to Florida State the week before beating Alabama. Two losses.

5. Oklahoma loses to Tech. Two losses.

6. USC - make that whiny USC - loses to Stanford, Notre Dame or UCLA. Two losses.

7. Utah loses to San Diego State or BYU. One loss.

8. Penn State loses to Michigan State. Two losses.

9. Boise State loses to Idaho, Nevada or Fresno State. One loss.

10. Georgia already has two losses.

See her thinking? Texas with one loss trumps everyone else with two losses, plus no way will the BCS dare rank Utah or Boise State ahead of the Longhorns.

There you have it on January 8, 2009, in Miami, Florida - No. 1-ranked Texas Tech against No. 2-ranked Texas for all the marbles.

Technically, I guess it could happen, but the odds have to be astronomical.

Conventional wisdom has Texas and Oklahoma winning out, meaning Tech falls to OU. There's that horrible three-way tie in the Big 12 South, and who knows what the BCS would do with the rankings. Texas beat OU by 10 points when it was ranked No. 1, and Tech beat Texas by six points when it was No. 1. But if OU beats Tech, they will probably still be ranked No. 2.

I don't know, but I will just puke if somehow Oklahoma and USC are in the title game.

BTW: Great game against Baylor, Colt!

Posted by at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you can see by the resolute expression on Colt McCoy's face from the player's press conference earlier in the week, he may be battered (notice the lip), but he's not broken.

These comments from the press conference tell it all. Time to saddle up again.

On how hard it is to move on and shake it off: You have to shake it off, because all of the coaches and teammates are looking to you and the way you handle and carry yourself. You just have to walk in with a smile, be happy, encourage everybody and not hang your head. We fought until the end. We didn't play well at all, we didn't play our best game, or even near our best game, and we were able to still give ourselves a chance at the end. You just have to be happy, move on and prepare the best we can for Baylor.

On if their goals have changed at all after the loss: No, our goals are still there. Like I said, the only thing we can control now are ourselves and winning out. That starts this week. We definitely feel like we can and we are going to rally around our coaches and ourselves. We're not going to do anything different. We are going to prepare like we have and come out strong on Saturday.

On what the key is on turning bad execution back into good execution: We had poor execution in the first half, for sure. But I think the mark of a good team is how you respond to that. I kept coming off the sideline saying that it's going to happen. They're doing everything right and matching up against us well, but we just have to keep fighting and eventually something will spark and we will be able to get some things going. We did, and that's a positive for us. We definitely have to be able to start faster. I felt like they played with a ton of energy in the first half. They played so hard. We have to be able to match that every week, because we're going to get that from everybody. We didn't do a good job of handling that, but I was proud of the way we came back in the second half. In the end, ultimately, we gave ourselves a chance to win.

And speaking of the next game (11 a.m. Saturday, FSN), here's the Baylor game capsule:

Line: Texas by 27½.

Series Record: Texas leads 71-22-4.

Last meeting: 2007, Texas 31-10.

What's at Stake

Texas no longer controls its destiny in the Big 12 South and needs style points with a big win to keep up in the BCS standings. Colt McCoy's Heisman Trophy bid also took a hit with last week's loss at Texas Tech and a big game should bring back some of the shine.

Key Matchup

Texas RB Chris Ogbonnaya vs. Baylor LB Joe Pawelek. The Longhorns' running game was nonexistent in last week's loss and Pawelek is the Big 12's leading tackler.

Players to Watch

Texas: WR receiver Jordan Shipley. If receiver Quan Cosby can't return from a back injury this week, Shipley must take even more of the load of Texas' passing game while also returning punts and kickoffs. Shipley has two returns for touchdowns this season.

Baylor: Freshman QB Robert Griffin. A dazzling player who can run or throw, Griffin's ability to make big plays has made Baylor a dangerous opponent. And he's taking care of the ball, with 11 touchdown passes and only one interception.

Facts & Figures

It's the first game in a month for Texas against an unranked opponent. The Longhorns were just the ninth team in the history of the AP poll to play four consecutive teams ranked No. 11 or higher. ... One more loss ensures Baylor's 13th consecutive losing season. ... Griffin set a major college record for consecutive passes without an interception to start a career (209).

Posted by at 12:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OK, let's take a look at the next 4 weeks and some BCS teams.

Two of the top 9 teams in the standings (but not USC or Utah) will be playing in the National Championship game, so let's see what the rest of their schedules are (in order of what I think is the hardest remaining schedule):

• Oklahoma (6th in BCS): The Sooners have the toughest schedule left, with three road games against A&M, Baylor and Oklahoma State, plus a home date with the Red Raiders. And even if they win out they might not make it to the Big 12 Championship game and then on to the "Big 'Un."
• Texas Tech (2nd in BCS): Double-T has Oklahoma State and then OU on the road before finishing with Baylor. I've seen both OU and the Cowboys play many times and they're the main reason Texas is ranked so high. They are tough as anyone, and the Red Raiders will have trouble beating both. But if they do and win out, they can't drop in the standings.
• Oklahoma State (9th in BCS): Cowpokes are at Tech and Colorado before finishing up at home against the Sooners. That last game is going to be a classic. I see them losing to OU, but I could be wrong.
• Alabama (1st in BCS): The Tide has LSU on the road this week, then Mississippi State on the road before finishing up at home against Auburn. They could lose to one of those teams.



• Florida (5th in BCS): The Gators have 4 games left as well, but three are "laughers" against Vanderbilt, S. Carolina and The Citadel. They finish on the road against Florida State, and that could be their only other loss.
• Penn State (3rd in BCS): At Iowa and then hosting Indiana and Michigan State, I really don't see them losing, except maybe the one to the Spartans.
• Texas (4th in BCS): Hosting Baylor, then to Kansas and finishing up the turkey with A&M, the Horns shouldn't lose another one.

Well, for Longhorn fans it means (on paper, at least) there's still a chance for a Texas national championship game against probably Penn State, but maybe Alabama or even Florida.

But taking the remaining schedules in mind, who knows.

One thing I do know is that if there is not a Big 12 team in the national championship game, then that will be a travesty of such magnitude that it might mean the death of the BCS as we know it today.

Texas, Tech, Oklahoma and OSU will have all played each other, and no other team in the nation has had such a tough schedule to overcome as they have.

Posted by at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While I was down in San Antonio yesterday, in the chatroom Kris from Austin graciously expounded upon the Big 12 tie-breaker situation.

Since I'm way behind on stats and slideshows, I'll just use his post word-for-word. Thanks, Kris.

You need math... you have a geek right here... OK, Danny is right, you do not need for Tech to lose twice for Texas to go to the Conference Title. The tie breaker rules are as follows: 1) Number of conference wins 2) if tied for # 1 then head to head wins 3) if tied for #2 as well then BCS ranking.......

OK, so based on this, if OSU defeats Tech next week at Lubbock, this will most likely mean that we go to the Conference Title. Why? Because, then Tech plays Oklahoma at Norman, and they have to beat Oklahoma, and if OSU defeats Oklahoma in Stillwater, we should hold on to our highest BCS rank and go to play for Conference Title.

The path of least resistance is that OSU defeats Tech, and Oklahoma Defeats Tech, and we have head-to-head since all teams are one loss and Texas still goes to the Conference Title.

Here are the circumstances where Texas does not go to the Conference Title: 1) If Tech Wins out; 2) If Tech loses to OSU, But somehow beats OU and then OSU loses to OU. Here we get head-to-head with Tech ... Tech since both OSU and OU are now two losses and are out of Conference Title Contention. Tech goes to the conference title.

Suffice it to say that Tech holds its destiny in its own hands and how they play Oklahoma and OSU will determine if they have a chance to go to the conference title.

Posted by at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Burnt Orange Nation can take a bit of comfort tonight in the fact that Colt McCoy didn't really hurt his Heisman chances all that much.

Mind you, that's no solace at all for Colt, because he couldn't care less about that cool-looking trophy. It's all about leading his team to victory ... which he almost did.

In the fourth quarter Colt showed remarkable leadership as he overcame adversity and brought his team back to within one second of a win.

With Heisman voters, it's not all about numbers.

It's also about character and heart.

Posted by at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Was in the stands last night to see a quarterback named McCoy play - Colt's little brother Case.

Unfortunately, Case was only 15-of-30 with two picks as the Graham Steers lost to district 2-3A foe Abilene Wylie, 34-7.

I was going to ask Case's coach/father Brad about his other son's temperature the night before another Big Game, but he never would stop talking to his troops after the game, and I had to get back to my "real" job - GoFridayNight.com.

Earlier in the week when I talked to Brad he asked me how I was handling this week knowing I was a Tech alumni and a big fan of Colt's before that was cool.

"No matter who loses, I guess I won't be too disappointed," I told him.

Unlike Texas Fred (see prior comments), Brad seemed to understand.

Good, because I'm not sure I do.

Only seven hours to go!

Posted by at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are a couple of good stories on ReporterNews.com this morning.

The first is titled "Colt Crazy," a great little feature by sports writer Evan Ren about how the tiny town of Tuscola is watching their favorite son's every move.

And speaking of favorites, the second story is about one of the most popular Longhorns - Henry Melton and how he is thriving at DE.

Posted by at 8:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

OK, here's the Associated Press preview capsule of the game as promised:

No. 1 Texas (8-0) at No. 6 Texas Tech (8-0), 7 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Texas by 4.

Series Record: Texas leads 43-14.

Last Meeting: 2007, Texas 59-43.

What's at Stake

The biggest game in program history for Tech. After years of playing Big 12 spoiler, a victory shows that the Red Raiders and coach Mike Leach can win the league and be a national title contender. And don't forget the weekly Big 12 battle of Heisman-hopeful quarterbacks, this time between Texas' Colt McCoy and Tech's Graham Harrell.

Key Matchup

Texas' defensive line vs. Harrell. The Tech quarterback has hardly been scratched this season behind a huge offensive line that has allowed only three sacks. Brian Orakpo, Lamarr Houston and Henry Melton have been tormenting QBs and could be the first group to pressure Harrell into making bad throws.

Players to watch

Texas: Linebackers Sergio Kindle, Rashad Bobino, Jared Norton and Roddrick Muckelroy can't miss tackles this week when Tech receivers catch those short passes and try to shake them for big gains.

Texas Tech: Kicker Matt Williams. In September, he was just another student who came out of the stands for one of those wacky kicking contests between quarters. He nailed a 30-yarder, Leach was impressed and gave him a tryout. Williams kicked nine extra points in his first game last week, but hasn't faced pressure like this.<

Facts & figures

Texas has won five in a row over Tech and is 16-2 in the last 18 games against ranked opponents ... the Red Raiders are 8-0 for the first time since 1976 ... In Leach's nine seasons in Lubbock, Tech quarterbacks average 4,745 yards passing ... The Longhorns and Red Raiders almost never fail to put up points. The winning team in six of the last seven meetings has scored at least 42.

Posted by at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

While waiting for the AP game capsule to move, here are a few random thoughts:

HUH? I'd like to know what question was asked of Colt McCoy so that he would take off his cap in the players' press conference earlier this week (accompanying photo).

DEE! After all the talk about how great the offenses are and will Colt McCoy or Graham Harrell have the better peformance, the old adage will probably win out Saturday night for the 'Horns and Red Raiders.

"Defenses win championships." Yeah, and that's true for "pre-championships" as well. Sure, there will still be a bunch of Big 12 footballs to "add up" after Saturday's game, but this one is the "two-thirds of the way through the season" championship, and the winner gets to beat up on an inferior Northern foe on Dec. 6 in Kansas City.

TRICK-OR-TREAT: Even though this game will be played the day after Halloween, it will look like a function from 24 hours prior. Every Longhorn fan in attendance will be wearning burnt orange, of course, and word has gone out for a "black out" for the Tech fans. Nothing but black and orange in the stands Saturday night.

GAME CAPSULE: Coming soon, I swear. Well, maybe tomorrow.

Posted by at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just thought I'd show you what all the Tech fans are forwarding each other today on email.

Outside of the Tech community, however, there are few who think the Red Raiders have a chance against Colt McCoy and the Longhorns.

At this moment, UT is a 5.5-point favorite. That's because some people don't think Tech has been tested yet. Certainly not as much as the 'Horns, that's for sure. Also, because the Red Raiders have tended to "not show up" for spotlight games.

Since 1992, Tech is 4-4 against the spread in games played at Lubbock, but Texas is 11-5 straight up against the Red Raiders during that same time.

Well, I never put my money in the present based on something that happened in the past.

But if I had to bet anything on Saturday's game, it would be that one of the teams is going to have to go for two in overtime to end the thing.

Posted by at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I never played college football, but trust me ... I've been to a lot of games.

And I always enjoyed early afternoon games more. Don't know how the athletes felt about it. I always assumed they liked evening games better because they didn't get so hot.

But I think an evening game gives the athletes too much time to think about it. That's why I liked the OU game starting at 11 a.m. Wake up and get it over with. On the flip side of that coin, though, the teams just might be better rested and alert for the night games.

Saturday will be the fifth game this season the Longhorns have played that started after 6 p.m. I can tell that is OK with the Horns' offense because they've averaged 50.5 points in those four games. And the defense is only giving up about two TDs a game.

Texas Tech has also played four games at 6 p.m. or later - averaging 45 points a game and giving up a little over two TDs.

So, I don't think the time is going to be a factor ... on the field.

HOWEVER, speaking with a limited amount of experience in such matters from my college days up there on the caprock, a 7 p.m. start also gives a certain segment of the crowd more time to get loaded up with analgesic libations, so to speak. In other words, they'll be feeling no pain, and could add - albeit negatively - to the home-field advantage.

On the field, the adrenaline will be pumping heavily by the prime time kickoff, and off the field I just hope I don't overdose on it before the final gun.

Seriously, it's going to be a very hard-hitting game, and I just hope no one is injured. Tech still has OSU, Oklahoma and Baylor to beat, while UT has those same Bears, Kansas and the Aggies to dispatch. No matter what the outcome I predict Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell will both have outstanding days ... just like last year's game.

I hope your favorite team wins, and although I have to be true to my school, sometimes I feel like the parent in the stands who is wearing one of those "Wreck 'Em / Hook 'Em" half-and-half jerseys because he has a son on each squad.

"Go .... Team!"

Posted by at 3:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Guess you saw to no one's surprise that Colt McCoy officially became a Davey O'Brien semi-finalist yesterday.

Of the 13 named, six are from the Big 12, of course.

Just now got my flu shot from Colt's pharmacist relative James McCoy, and he doesn't have a ticket to Saturday's game, either.

"I bet we'll be able to hear it from here," James said right before he jabbed the needle in me. He could be right. Lubbock is only 158 miles from Abilene.

Colt did a bunch of the talking in yesterday's player's press conference. Here are some of his quotes, and as you can see, some of the questions could easily have made him "eat the poisoned cheese" (believe his own pub), but he wasn't having any of it:

On how they have been able to handle all the media and hype the past few weeks: It goes back to staying focused. This team is really focused on what we need to do to get better. We were out there doing up-downs for NOS's that we committed during the game. There are a lot of things that we can do better. I think on offense, for sure, we need to finish. When we get in the red zone, we've got to be able to get at least a field goal to make it a seven-point game. We also needed to punch it in when we had the ball on the 1-yard line. Those things are frustrating, but they are things we can learn from and hopefully fix if we are in that situation again.

On if his rise in popularity has altered his everyday life: I think that comes along with being a quarterback and being a part of a number one team. It's fun and it's exciting, and you just have to go out and put a smile on your face and enjoy it. You like that better than the fans not noticing you or wanting to say hi and things like that. It's a fun time right now and the Austin fans are great. I think across the board, everyone in the locker room is enjoying it.

On the his mentality with the Heisman Trophy: For us, my focus is on this team and the most important thing is winning. I think if you look at our team and everybody in the locker room, it's their focus as well. If we're going to win games, it's going to be because we're all pitching in and doing what we need to do in order to be successful. That's our focus, and especially for me, that is my focus. I'll do what the coaches ask me to do and lead my team to hopefully putting a 'W' up every week.

On the difference in his mental state after a turnover this year than in the past: It was hard last week because I haven't turned the ball over much. It's little things. The (intercepted) pass to Quan [Cosby] was where the ball needed to go, and the guy made a great play with his outside technique. He made a good play and we have to fix that. I think the most important thing is to keep your head up and just to put it behind you. Those things can get in your head. It's so easy for a quarterback to turn the ball over and to let it continue to bother and nag you. The next time you get out on the field, you're still thinking about that, and you end up doing it again. To be able to put it behind you is definitely something that you can learn, and I've definitely learned that in the last two years.

On the atmosphere of playing in Lubbock: Lubbock is a tough place to play. They are really loud and it seems like their whole stadium is filled with students. It's going to be a night game, so that's going to make it even tougher. But, we're looking forward to it, and it's going to be fun.

On his friends out in Lubbock: Basically, my whole high school goes to Texas Tech. Everybody I know back home goes to Tech, so there are a lot of friends and family out there.

On the improvement in Texas Tech's defense: I think the biggest thing this year is that they understand that their offense does not stay on the field that long and that they score a lot of points. So, their job is to go out there to make some key stops and to get their offense good field position. They've been able to do that so far. They are undefeated and they are playing really well on both sides of the ball. We've got our hands full this week.

On Mike Leach: I like Coach Leach. I know him, and he's a great guy and great coach. He does a good job of getting his team ready to play every week. Coach Leach is Coach Leach, and there is nobody else like him. He's a great football coach.

Posted by at 8:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Been waiting all season for this one, and the Longhorns and Red Raiders have cooperated nicely with undefeated records, thank you very much.

I'm going to play TV game analyst and talk about keys to the game Saturday (7 p.m., ABC). There are four to this one. The team that takes 3 out of 4 "keys" wins the game - simple as that. If the teams split 2 and 2, then it's anyone's game and probably will be decided on the final play.

Here they are:

Most Rushing Yards - At first glance, you'd have to give this one to Tech, but they haven't faced a defense like Texas yet. Nonetheless, Tech gets the nod.

Least Turnovers - This one is always a key for any game. Give Texas the edge on this. I think Colt got those "gifts" out of his system in the OSU game. Plus, the Longhorns are generally more careful with the ball.

Most QB Sacks - The Red Raiders could win this one. Colt McCoy has been sacked a lot more times that Graham Harrell. Again, on paper ... Tech.

Special Teams - Sure, there won't be a lot of punting going on Saturday night, but I expect there to be a lot of kickoffs after TDs. Judging by success so far, Texas definitely has the edge here.

So, that's pretty close.

And don't forget about:

Motivation: Texas is the "season-game" for Texas Tech, just like it is for Oklahoma and A&M - and others. Tech is always highly motivated to prove something against the Longhorns. This is a big game for Texas, of course, but so is every other one lately. I believe there is such a thing as too much motivation. So, more pressure could be on Tech. Texas gets the edge because of Colt's cool head in a crisis ... just slightly.

Home-field Advantage: Don't underplay this. The OSU Cowboys played inspired football in front of almost a 100,000 people - most of whom were hostile to them. Just think if this game had been played at Stillwater. That might have been just the edge OSU needed for the upset. Jones Stadium can be just as intimidating (ask OU about last year). So, Tech gets the edge.

No clear-cut advantage ... on paper.

But, of course, the game isn't played on paper; it's played on fake grass and little black pellets simulating dirt. That means anything can happen.

Thanks in advance to both teams for delivering the mother of all games!

Posted by at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The dream stays alive.

Texas (8-0) at Texas Tech (8-0) next Saturday is going to be one of the all-time great games in college football.

P.S. I knew the Cowboys would be the toughest game of the year. Whew!

P.P.S. The QB who wins that game will probably win the Heisman.

Posted by at 5:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

That's the mantra this season for Colt McCoy and the Longhorns.

But it's also relevant to me for the matchup of undefeated Texas and Texas Tech on Nov. 1. Can't wait for that one!

But first things first. Here's the lastest UT/OSU game capsule from the Associated Press:

Line: Texas by 12 1/2.

Series Record: Texas leads 20-2.

Last meeting: 2007, Texas won 38-35.

What's at Stake

Texas' No. 1 ranking, first place in the Big 12 South and whether the Cowboys are ready to be national title contenders. An Oklahoma State win makes the Cowboys big players in the Big 12 and national title chase and would take some of the air out of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy's Heisman hopes.

Key Matchup

Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Tim Beckman vs. McCoy. Nobody has figured out a way to slow down McCoy. If Beckman can devise a scheme to confuse or disrupt the QB who is completing 81 percent of his passes, it could be the Cowboys' day. McCoy's numbers are even better at home, where's he completing 86 percent with 12 touchdowns against just 14 incompletions.

Players to Watch

Texas: Defensive tackle Roy Miller, a run stuffer and pocket pusher on the line. If Texas can disrupt the running game of the country's most balanced offense, pass rushers Brian Orakpo and Sergio Kindle can go after OSU QB Zac Robinson.

Oklahoma State: Wide receiver Dez Bryant, another big, fast pass catcher who could have a career day against a defense that ranks No. 111 against the pass.

Facts & Figures

Oklahoma State has had some historic collapses against Texas, including blowing a 35-7 second quarter lead in Austin in a 56-35 Longhorns win in 2004. Texas trailed by 21 in the fourth quarter last season before rallying to win again 38-35 ... Texas QB Colt McCoy gets all the attention, but OSU's Zac Robinson is the No. 3 passer in the country with a 191.93 efficiency rating ... Oklahoma State is 7-0 for the first time since 1945.

Posted by at 9:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Colt McCoy and the Longhorns have plenty of motivation for this game. You all know what it includes - continuing the undefeated season, protecting the ranking, defending DKR Memorial Stadium, etc.

The next two opponents for Texas have almost as much motivation. Last season, Colt led a thrilling rally against Oklahoma State, and the Horns came away with a improbable 38-35 victory.

It reminded me of the 2006 season when, as a freshman, Colt did the same thing against Texas Tech, with an equally astounding 35-31 come-from-behind victory.

This is Mack Brown's 11th season at Texas, and the OSU Cowboys have yet to beat one of his teams.

That's dominance, and dominance is always call for motivation. That means this could be the closest game so far this season. Except for Oklahoma (10 points), the Horns have been beating opponents by an average of 34 points a game, so what is close, really?

I predict another thrilling game, but I give UT the edge in talent on both sides of the ball (especially at QB), home-field advantage and, yes ... even motivation.

Posted by at 1:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you thought Colt McCoy was close to Sam Bradford and then Chase Daniel in stats that count, Zac Robinson from Oklahoma State is even closer.

Here are the current rankings from ESPN: 1. David Johnson (Tulsa) 212.82; 2. Bradford (OU) 192.22; 3. Robinson (OSU) 191.93; 4. Colt 190.76; and 5. Daniel (Mo.) 175.80.

As anyone who has ever clicked on the "Stats" link above knows, Colt is completing 81.2% of his passes this season (160-of-197) for 1,894 yards, 19 TDs and only 3 picks. Robinson, the 6-3, 210-pound junior (who is NOT from Texas) is completing 70.1% of his passes (94-of-134) for 1,488, 14 TDs and 4 INTs.

Wait, you say ... that's close? Wait, you say again ... he's above Colt in the national QB power ratings? How can that be?

That's a lot of questions for a Wednesday morning, but let me just remind you that Colt thrives on competition, especially if that competition is thought by some people to be better than he is.

One more thing ... ESPN has a poll that asks who should be considered for the Heisman (sorry, I mentioned the H-word) if Colt and Texas falter. Why don't you go on there and vote for Graham Harrell of Texas Tech, thank you very much.

Posted by at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You gotta love Mack Brown's coaching this season ... especially of the press corps.

He buried the Oklahoma game ball, not only to get his players' minds off the recent past to focus on the immediate future, but to deflect some of the attention away from his players.

Now he has distracted the media again with his "we're not great" comment. I love it. If the Longhorns run the table this year, it'll be because of Colt McCoy on the field, and Mack Brown off the field.

Speaking of Colt, here are some of his quotes from yesterday's press conference:

On offensive coordinator Greg Davis: We spend so much together, he's like my dad. My dad was my high school coach and now he's my coach, so we spend so much time together. He coaches me the same way my dad did. He's not going to let me take a lazy step. He's going to make sure I'm doing the right thing all the time, which I like. That's important, I think, to have in a coach. I think the biggest thing for Coach Davis is he's putting our offense in the right situations. He knows what we do best and I think there is a trust factor there. He trusts us and trusts me in doing what he asks us to do as an offense. We're definitely on the same page.

On the offense playing at a high level right now: We are. We're doing a lot of really good things, especially this last week. We came out and tried to get on the board as early as we could and stay after it, and we did, which is important against a high-powered offense like Missouri. (That will be important) this week too with Oklahoma State. They can score pretty much every time they have the ball, so we're going to have to keep playing to that standard and keep getting better. There are a lot of things we can improve on. We just have to stay focused.

On comparing last season's game against Oklahoma State to this year's matchup: Oklahoma State always plays us tough every year. We definitely don't want to put ourselves in the situation we were in last year. That's something that is really hard to overcome and we were fortunate. We know they're a great football team, I've watched a lot. They're really aggressive. They come after you. It seems like a lot of defenses have been doing that. We've been able to see that and get those looks. We're going to have to handle it just like we have every week.

On whether he knew at the start of the season how good the team would be at this point: I knew the chemistry that we had on this team. I knew how focused we were and how we wanted to win so badly. We wanted to be better than 10-3. I knew that if we took one game at a time, we practiced hard, if we prepared each week, I knew that we had the greatest coaches around that we know of. We have a tough schedule but if we could just say, "Hey, it doesn't matter. Put it all on the line every week. Practice like you want to win and see where we can go," and we've done that. The most important thing is that we continue to do that and not worry about number one. It means nothing right now us. That's how we played last Saturday, and we're going to do the same thing this Saturday.

On dealing with the hype: It's just like I tell my coaches and my teammates - I just want to win. That's the most important thing. If we win all our games, then maybe some awards will come. But it's a reflection of the team. It feels good that I'm playing well. I'm playing well because of my teammates. They're doing the little things right, we're working hard, we're practicing hard, we want to win and we're focused. We're focused on being the best that we can be and that makes you feel good.

On the Oklahoma State defense: They're really aggressive. They're not scared to come after you, they're not scared to blitz people and play one-on-one on the edges. They trust their corner(backs). Their (defensive backs) have been there for a long time. They were all there last year. I think they have a lot of confidence coming into the game. They know they were up 35-14 in the fourth quarter last year. It's important for us to practice hard, to study these guys, get in the film room, because we know they're aggressive, we know they're going to come after us. We've got to have our eyes in the right spot and convert.

Posted by at 9:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I put the accompanying Associated Press photo by Harry Cabluck into the UT/Missouri slideshow this morning, but I wanted to make sure you saw it.

Look at the game faces that Colt McCoy, Mack Brown and Major Applewhite have on - especially Colt ... that look in his eyes.

This was sometime during the second quarter when the rest of the country was being introduced to him. Not just another pretty face on the cover of Sports Illustrated, huh?

But if I were Mack Brown, I'd bury that Missouri game ball right next to the OU one. I wouldn't be surprised if the OSU Cowboys have done something with the Baylor ball. OSU didn't blow out Baylor as much as some might have thought, but you have to remember that some of them were looking ahead to the Texas game. Considering that, they did awfully good.

The Longhorns have proven they're good at not looking back or looking ahead, but this is going to be their toughest game of the year so far (even counting OU). The Cowboys won't be in semi-shock like the Tigers were after suffering their first defeat. They have a chip on their shoulders, wanting to show the nation they shouldn't be overlooked. They're mad.

The good news for Burnt Orange Nation is that their quarterback thrives on and lives for these kinds of games.

You notice, I didn't mention the "H-word" once.

Colt is way too busy keeping his game face on to worry about posing.

Posted by at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you still think the Oklahoma game is the best Colt McCoy and the Longhorns have played this season, you weren't watching the same game I was last night.

Colt did his part, of course, with a 90.6% completion rate (29-of-32) and a highlight play that will follow him through this Heisman hype (I'm talking about dribbling the fumble and then throwing a completion for 23 yards).

But the defense, all the running backs and the O-line just played lights out.

My dream of an undefeated Tech hosting an undefeated Texas in Lubbock is almost a reality.

Now if I can only find a ticket.

Posted by at 12:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm still going with my months-old prediction that Texas will only lose one game this year (to Texas Tech), so that means a "W" against Missouri Saturday night.

If the Tigers can forget all that pressure that's on them (one wide receiver said "We can't lose another game!"), then the game will be another barn-burner to the tune of 6 to 8 TD passes and total points in the 80s. I have a feeling the pressure on Chase Daniel will be evened out by his motivation caused by Mack Brown initially passing him over for Ryan Perrilloux.

If, however, the Tigers lose focus it will actually be the Longhorns who will be ready to pounce, and the fourth quarter could be lop-sided.

Colt McCoy may be level-headed and a nice guy, but I think when he smells blood in the water he ramps his game up a couple of notches. And if the Tigers' defensive secondary "leak oils," it is definitely turn out the lights the party's over even though the fat lady is singing.

There, I'm all out of metaphors.

Here's the game capsule from the Associated Press:

Line: Texas by 5½.

Series Record: Texas leads 15-5.

Last meeting: 2005, Texas 51-20.

What's at Stake

In what could be a preview of the Big 12 title game, Texas is trying to hold on to its first regular-season No. 1 ranking since 1984. The Tigers are trying to stay in the national title hunt and get quarterbd ,sdsack Chase Daniel back in the running for the Heisman Trophy after he threw three interceptions in a loss to Oklahoma State.

Key Matchup

Texas LB Roddrick Muckelroy vs. Missouri RB Derrick Washington. Muckelroy leads the Longhorns with 56 tackles and will need to have a big game tracking down Washington, who leads the nation with 13 touchdowns. Washington had just eight carries last week but Missouri but will likely want to control the clock on Texas' home field.

Players to Watch

Texas: Safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon. The freshmen face another huge test in trying to keep up with Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin and the rest of the Tigers' passing attack. Texas gave up five passing TDs against Oklahoma.

Missouri: Tight end Chase Coffman. Texas struggled to cover Oklahoma tight ends last week and Coffman is the kind of big, fast athlete who can wreck a defense with short and medium routes in the middle of the field.

Facts & Figures

Missouri's only two wins in Austin came in 1894 and 1896. Missouri's only win against Texas in the Big 12 came in 1997 ... Even if Missouri scores early, no lead is safe against Texas. The Longhorns have nine second-half comeback wins since 2006 ... Tigers have 28 players from the state of Texas ... Missouri is 0-10 against No. 1 teams.

Posted by at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)