Ick's Corner

So while I was enjoying a cup of coffee this morning  I got a phone call from my good friend *The Bean*   The big college brain wanted to talk college football. More importantly, The Red River Shootout. For those of you who don’t know The Bean is a HUGE Sooners fan, while I bleed burnt orange.

While talking he brought up the idea that  each of us should write a post about why we thought our beloved teams would win this weekend.  Now this sounds like a really good idea right? Give the readers some insight into two teams they might not follow closely. While it is a wonderful idea in theory, I can’t do it.  Not because I’m not a highly opinionated fan because I am. It’s because I am a realistic fan, and sports writer.  I look at the Longhorns season as a whole, and this game scares the hell out of me as it does every season.

While trying to come up with good solid points why the Longhorns will win, I could only come up with one.  Jordan Shipley. Pretty sad huh?  Truth be told the Longhorns have started each and every game this season slow, and stagnate. They turn the ball over, and look really lost in the first half.  Against lesser teams that is ok, they have been able to make halftime adjustments and dominate in the second half.  If they start out slow against Oklahoma this weekend, this game could be over at the half.  Mack Brown struggles coaching against Bob Stoops  each year anyway, add in the extra pressure of coaching from behind against Stoops, it could make for a long day for the Longhorn faithful.  Here are some major questions I have for both teams this weekend.

Questions for the Longhorns

-How does Colt McCoy manage the game, its going to be feast or famine.  McCoy will either protect the football like he is supposed to, or he will turn it over multiple times.

- Will Stoops kick to or away from Jordan Shipley?

-Will Texas actually have a run game?

-Will Sergio Kendell actually show up and be a dominate force for Texas on defense?

-Can Mack Brown figure out a way to sneak Brian Orakpo on the field?

-Can Will Muschamp figure out he needs to blitz Sam Bradford more? Will he figure out to take the middle of the field away for the Oklahoma offense?

Question for the Sooners

-Are you coming in with a chip on your shoulder after loosing two games to lesser teams this season?

-Is Sam Bradford healthy enough to start this game?

-Which Bob Stoops is going to coach on Saturday?

-How will Bradford react with less offensive weapons then he’s had in the past?

– Does this still bother you guys? (sorry that was a very non objective jab, won’t happen again!)

Question For The Broadcast Team

-How many times do you plan on mention the childhood connection between McCoy and Shipley?

-How many times do you plan on mentioning what Bevo thinks about the game?

-How many times will Brent Musburger reference the *Texas Soil* that McCoy’s dad placed under his crib as a child?

-How many times will Brent Musburger work *Big Tex* into the conversation?

-How many times will Brent Musburger refer to Bob Stoops as Ol Stoopsie?

The way 90% of my fellow Longhorns view this season really bugs the hell out of me. Anything short of a spot in the National Championship will be viewed as a failed season. That is a completely unrealistic way to view any season, including this one.  Yes a trip back the National Championship game would be nice, but that should not be your measuring stick on whether this season is a bust. You as a fan should strive for a solid winning season.  Key wins on the schedule including Oklahoma, and Texas A&M and an appearance in a good bowl game are realistic goals for the Longhorns.

With Oklahoma loosing to BYU and Miami and now finding themselves ranked #20 in the country, this game has lost some of its preseason glitter. With Oklahoma sliding so far in the ranking this game is also not helping the Longhorns strength of schedule. Lets be honest no one in the Big 12 is really helping Texas in that area either. Strength of schedule is another point completely lost on a majority of Longhorn fans as well, but lets not get into that discussion again.

Having said all that!!