So for the last few months rumors have been flying about some major moves in various conferences around college football.  There has been talk about the Big 10 (which is actually the big 11) adding 4 more schools.  There was talk about the SEC inviting schools in to make a super conference.  Now the PAC 10 is jumping on board with talks of adding schools to make a mega conference. At the center of all these rumors, Texas and Oklahoma. Lets be perfectly clear about one thing. In all these rumor scenarios, Texas is in the drivers seat. Forget Notre Dame and their *independent* status,  to these other conferences its all about the Texas Longhorns.

The Big 12 is a skeleton of itself these days,  and gets very little national media love.  Texas and Oklahoma are the exception to that statement.  The Big 12  (as a conference) has not seen much love since it was a dominate force to be reckoned with.  College football fans remember when going to Lincoln Nebraska was a terrifying experience.  When you saw R.C. Slocum and his Texas A & M Aggies on your schedule, you better pack a lunch cause it was going to be a long day.  Now a days  teams and fans mark both dates down as a win on the pre season schedule.  There has been one season in the last 10 years where multiple teams in the Big 12 were getting national love, and the BCS had ranked in the top ten.  For one glorious season  Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State found themselves ranked in the top ten for multiple weeks during the season.  The next year, Texas and Oklahoma were the only teams to consistently remain ranked in the top ten.  Oklahoma State would sniff the top ten, but only for a short time.  Let us not forget Mike Van Gundy is a man, he is forty!

The discussion of Texas and Oklahoma moving to another conference is an interesting one, and I really hope both schools make their *pros and cons* list prior to making any decisions.  If one school moves to another conference, the other will follow.  So here are a few things to think about.  Since Texas and Oklahoma have been brought up in the rumors surrounding the Big 10, PAC 10 and SEC  let me address a few of my concerns for each conference.

SEC

- It is easy for Mack Brown and Big game Bob Stoops to look really good when they are big fish in a little pond.  I don’t think either team would be as dominate in the SEC.  Game planning for an SEC team in a BCS bowl game is one thing, but on a week in week out scenario the 9-3 or better season both teams have become accustom to will no longer be an almost guaranteed thing.  Having to deal with the likes of Alabama and Florida year in and year out prove to much for both coaches to handle.  Though Texas to the SEC would bring back some of the old rivalries between Texas, Alabama, and Arkansas.  Old school fans of the Southwest Conference would salivate at seeing those teams on Texas schedule.

Big 10

- Geographic nightmare for both schools. And lets face it the Big 10 is one step up from the Big 12.  Thought I would like to see Texas and Oklahoma play Wisconsin and Penn State at least every other year.  Yes the Big 10 has its own cable channel, but lets face it there are only a handful of teams that get national love.  So in my opinion this would be a lateral move for both schools.

PAC-10

- After further review this one actually has me interested. Especially if the reports of the 6 teams the PAC-10 is trying to cherry pick from the Big 12 is correct.  Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Colorado. Once again Texas is in the drivers seat and the fate of the Big 12 rests squarely on Texas shoulders.  Oklahoma goes where Texas goes, and meanwhile Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are sitting in the back row begging the big boys to take them with them.  I will not go as far as to say if this expansion happens the PAC 10 will be more dominate then the SEC.  Financially speaking though this potential mega conference would make more money then any other conference in college football.  7 of the 10 major markets are all about Pac 10 football.  The Pac 10 has already made an offer to each of the 6 schools, $20 million a year to each school for making the conference switch.  Now add in the TV contract, this could very well turn into a billion dollar conference.  I must say some of the potential season team schedules could be very interesting.

The Big 10 and the PAC -10 need Texas and Oklahoma more then Texas and Oklahoma need the PAC 10.  I guess we will just have to wait and see.  While talking to Liverdamage last night he made the comment, *man I really miss the Southwest Conference*. Your not the only one buddy..

I want you guys to pay close attention to the words on this Heisman Ballot.  “As my first choice to receive the Heisman Memorial Trophy, awarded to the MOST OUTSTANDING COLLEGE PLAYER” Boy the voters really got it right this year.. *shakes head*  Mark Ingram, really? You mean to tell me the voters feel he is the MOST OUTSTANDING college player this year?  He isn’t even the best player on his own team.  This proves to me that several voters based their decision on one game (SEC Championship Game) and that t0 many people who don’t want enough college football have a vote.  Alabama fans look in the mirror and ask yourself an honest question. *If we took Mark Ingram off the Tide, would we still be undefeated*?  The answer would most likely be yes.  Don’t get me wrong Mark Ingram is a great player, and will be playing for someone on Sundays, but he was not the MOST OUTSTANDING player in college football this year.

Colt McCoy had a solid season this year, but his numbers were down from last year. He didn’t win the Heisman last year with better numbers, so I didn’t expect him to win this year. Nor do I feel he is the MOST OUTSTANDING player in college football this year.  Tim Tebow along with Colt McCoy  had great careers at the college level, but the Heisman isn’t about your body of work.  Toby Gerhart,  Mark Ingram, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow, all great players in their own right, but the voters got it wrong this year.  This years Heisman should have gone to a defensive player!

Ndamukong Suh was the MOST OUTSTANDING player in college football this year.  There are only two reasons he didn’t win this year in my opinion.

1. He is a defensive player, and apparently the Heisman can only be given to offensive players. Yes Charles Woodson won the award in 1997 but he played defense, offense, and was a part of special teams.  He was also the ONLY primarily Defensive player to ever win the award.

2. Nebraska didn’t win the Big 12 Championship.  Nebraska didn’t finish the season undefeated, they are not playing in a BCS bowl game. And I’ll go ahead and say it, Nebraska doesn’t play in the SEC.

Just a random thought but I wonder who Tim Tebow voted for this year. I’d be willing to bet his vote was cast for someone in the SEC, and it wasn’t himself.  If the Heisman was a beauty contest, the voters voted for a 6 (  the girl that is cool to hang out with,  somewhat attractive) when they could have voted for the 10 ( smokin hot girl that is the complete package)

And while I pissing the world off blasting the Heisman voters, and Alabama’s first Heisman winner I’ll go ahead and throw this out there as well. College football needs a playoff system.  Perhaps someday the BCS and college football will remember that college football is a sport, and not a business. They claim the BCS is only designed to put the number one team and number two team together, but we all know that is a load of crap. The powers that be pick teams for the BCS bowl games based on who has the best traveling fan base. It all comes down to the all mighty dollar.  How do you determine a true number one in the country without some sort of playoff system? You leave it up to the voters, and we see how well the voters did when asked to vote on a Heisman winner.

So if your a Longhorn fan how happy are you with this win today? Has it sunk in yet that your Texas Longhorns should have lost in Dallas today? A lot of flags that went the Longhorns ways, flags that should have been thrown but weren’t, stupid penalties that kept Oklahoma drives alive. I’m gonna tell you something right now, someone in the Longhorns organization is living right. They are saying their prayers, eating their vitamins, and not messing around with underage white women because someone was looking out for the Longhorns today!

There are two types of fans in this world, the delusional ones that like to send me hate mail after a *kick in the crotch* god to honest article, and ones who say I am absolutely right. If your a delusional fan that wants to send me hate mail after this article, then you go right ahead.  Realistic fans unite, and call bullsh*t when you see it. If you came here to get a warm and fuzzy article  about how great the Longhorns are, then you need to go read a article written in an Austin paper. You will get no such article here. You will however get an honest look at what really happened in Dallas today.  Let me run down a few things that the delusional fan might have missed.

- The Longhorns offensive lines inability to pick up the blitz in the first half.  Hey if memory serves correctly this was something I pointed out in my post about the game early in the week. Every single year OU dials up all out blitz packages, and every year Mack continues to look clueless on how to stop it. Every year the OU defense gives Texas one look, then at the last second changes into their actual defensive play. Guess what, every year it works! It wasn’t a matter of Texas figured out how to stop it in the second half, it was a matter of OU quit doing it as much.  McCoy gets knocked down 14+ times in the first half, then all of the sudden the offensive line figures it out with a halftime adjustment?  Yeah ok!

- And the academy award for  best actor for the most convincing dive goes to (drum roll please) Colt McCoy.  Yes there were some calls McCoy got that he should have, but there were some that had dive written all over it. Example.. Last play of the game when McCoy slides down to keep the clock moving, and is touched on the field and just falls backwards. Bravo Bravo, if your career doesn’t take off in the NFL then maybe you can make a living on Broadway.

-The hopes and dreams of that undefeated season may still be alive, but not for long Longhorn faithful. In case you missed it,  Oklahoma gave future teams on the Longhorns schedule the blueprint on how to beat Texas. They took Shipley out of the game, and continued to blitz McCoy.  It’s hard for the Heisman hopeful to continue to put up those impressive stats (chuckles) while he is running for his life.

The only bright spot for the day was the defense, that still got torched for 400+ yards. They stepped up and made plays when the had too. Picking off Landry Jones twice late in the 4th quarter sure did help.  All those who think that had Bradford stayed in the game the outcome might have be different raise your had. *Raises Hand*.  Not to say Bradford was setting the world on fire before he got hurt, but he understands how to read defenses a lot better then Landry Jones.  He understands that when Muschamp dials up an all out blitz to dump it off in the middle of the field and let your RB rattle off a 65 yard run.

The Longhorns have started off the season 6-0, but its an extremely soft 6-0.  This was the first real test for this Longhorn team and they sh*t their pants in the first half.  You can not continue to play flat in the first half, rely on your defense to keep you in the game, and then start playing in the second half.  You can not continue to give make mental mistakes, and draw the stupid penalties.  Unless this team takes this gift of a win and wakes up, they are no closer to making a National Championship run then they were at the beginning of the season.  IF the Longhorns make it to the National Championship game and they play the likes of Florida or Alabama, then Bob Stoops won’t be the only coach from the Big 12 that gets made a fool of by Urban Myers or Nick Saban.

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!!

]]> http://www.ickscorner.com/2009/10/red-river-weekend-is-upon-us-so-many-questions/feed/ 0 http://www.ickscorner.com/2009/09/again/ http://www.ickscorner.com/2009/09/again/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:13:24 +0000 Ick http://www.ickscorner.com/?p=3780

I’m a man, I’m 40!  And my Cowboys just showed why they didn’t deserve to be ranked in the top 10! Can teams on the Longhorns schedule please win? Is that to much to ask?  The Longhorn’s don’t need any help making their schedule look any worse! *shakes head*

With the big showdown coming up on Saturday between #3 USC and #8 Ohio State ESPN put up a simple poll question, who do you think is going to win the game.  If you click on the link below you will see exactly why I say the ENTIRE state of Ohio is delusional!

USC / Ohio St Poll

Now I will say this, The Big 10 needs Ohio St to win this game but it ain’t gonna happen.

The first major upset of the college football season should have come earlier this afternoon with Navy upsetting Ol’ Sweater Vest’s Buckeyes. Instead the first major upset of the college football season comes a few hours later. #20 ranked BYU takes down #3 Oklahoma, my jaw is still on the floor.  Since the Longhorns thrashing of a high school team from Louisiana was not televised I decided to check out the the Oklahoma/BYU game,  just to see what the Longhorns had in store for them the third week of October.  I was very surprised with a 10 – 3 score at the half. I was even more surprised that Sam Bradford (Oklahoma’s quarterback and last years Heisman trophy winner) would leave the game with a sprained shoulder.  Most Longhorn fans will think this is a blessing, you know a chance Bradford will not be able to start come Red River Weekend, I say please do. I want a fully loaded Oklahoma team with Bradford to hit the field. I don’t want any excuses that weekend. BYU’s defense took advantage of a young offensive line, getting the Bradford numerous times. With 4 turnovers in the first half, and numerous STUPID penalties BYU should have been down by 35 at the half easy.

I have talked with two Sooner fans already this evening. One told me he would call me back, which he has yet to do. The other told me that she kept waiting for the Sooners to get rolling, and is still in shock that they lost.  When I told her that I didn’t want to hear about had Bradford not gotten hurt it would have been different, she replied * You won’t hear that from me, because we looked horrible before he got hurt*.  It’s always nice to talk to realistic rival fans, unlike completely delusional one such as Ohio State fans.  I wonder of the 80,000+ fans that watched the Longhorns lay the wood to Louisiana Monroe, how many of them actually were sick to their stomachs with the Longhorn’s schedule this year? Just a reminder Texas fans, what happened tonight in Austin WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.  The same can be said for the defending National Champion Gators season opener. That was also SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN!

Oh football season how I have missed you!

4 days and counting!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Four days away from a toe in the ball!  Week one notes to follow.

Game of the week may well be in Stillwater, OK.  This is a new money / old money clash.  Oklahoma State coach, Mike Gundy (now 42 and still a man) take the field against SEC power Georgia in an afternoon ABC game.  Oklahoma State seems to be the darling of all the pick ‘em experts AND Vegas.  I’m going against the grain on this one.  Take the Dawgs and the 6 points. 

Can we all just agree that Oregon needs to beat Boise St on Thursday night?  They play nobody the rest of the year.  Nobody.  The Broncos win this one and they stroll to the BCS and knock out a spot for a team from a real conference that has played someone.

Check out Penn State’s schedule.  I’m not linking it.  Look it up, lazy.  Can’t something be done?  They play nobody.  Again, nobody!

Oklahoma vs. BYU in Dallas should be a good one.  I don’t know the over/under.  If it is below 700, I say take the over in this one and count your money. 

Okay, sports fans, what’s wrong with this poll? I mean, there’s a lot to scrutinize, that’s for sure. Florida is obviously still riding the wave they caught last year by winning the BCS Championship game. Texas would have loved to have played them, but they didn’t, so don’t sweat the number 2 ranking. Pete Carroll is probably sitting in some booster paid-for recruit’s den, whining about being below the Okies, but number 4 isn’t a bad place to start. And Ole Miss at number 8? Riiiight. That’ll last a long time (Sorry, Jeavon). As you go down the list, there are plenty of places to stop and scratch your head, but the biggest surprise of all is the omission of the Cabbage Patch Kids from the plains of Lubbock, Texas. Obviously, nobody talked to the Cabbage Patch Coach about his team. You know, the one which scores huge numbers each game. The team that sends all these great players to the pros!! I mean, the QB is so good, teams figured they couldn’t afford him, so the didn’t bother to draft him!! Why go through the contract hassle? Oh, damn, that doesn’t make sense. That only happens when you drop to 10th in the draft, but want 5th place money because that’s where you felt you should have been drafted. Al Davis paid Heyward-Bey a kings ransom at number 7, you say? So what…Al Davis has been fiscally irresponsible for years. He probably pays more than $10 for a haircut, too. Lookout for the weaker teams the Tt Red Raiders play this year. The “System” will try to score in triple digits to wipe this insult from their swashbuckling faces!! There’s a bad wind blowin’ out there on the plains of west Texas. Beware of scorned CP Kids!!

*Submitted By Lajitas*