Coming into the season, the question, “Will Baylor Embarrass Us?” was not fathomable. Then BYU happened and, like a gut punch, our world and our expectations changed. The coach, known for his “lock down defenses” and armed with a veteran, talented and healthy roster on that side of the ball was now suspect. I want to be wrong but it is hard to imagine Texas hanging within 21 points of our opponent next Saturday. Something like 41-14 or worse seems more realistic. Aren’t most of us thinking about moral victories? A moral victory would be like losing by less than two touchdowns? In six days it could get really ugly. I believe that Strong is a very good man and I desperately want for him to succeed at Texas. But the positive vibe we had coming into the season needs to return immediately or a downward spiral could ensue, potentially ensuring the doom of his tenure here. Am I being unrealistically pessimistic? Candidly, I don’t think so. This is a different time than, say, 1998 when Mack came in. We all know and understand that the landscape has changed. Not only is Texas no longer perceived as the “Go to destination and the premier program,” but now, we are arguably seen as the third most desirable program in the state. Is mine a “The Sky Is Falling” perspective? Well yes, it may be. If we cannot generate some excitement or buzz on the field – something I believe we did accomplish early on in the Mackovic and the Mack regimes – then it will be difficult to divert talent from TAM and Baylor to the 40 Acres. We are indeed in a precarious position. If Strong can somehow right the ship -- prepare the defense to play up to or beyond their potential, get more than a pedestrian effort from the running backs (an area of underperformance that I highlighted in another string), and continue the development of Swoopes and the O-Line, there may be hope. I have my fingers crossed. Without an inspired effort in the game planning this week and on the field Saturday, I am very concerned about that potential downward spiral. But, miracles do happen every day in sports and in life. Individuals overachieve and transcendent talents emerge. (For example, take a look at Jason Hall. He made more of a difference last night than many of us may have noticed.) We need for something very good to happen, and quickly.
Maybe I'm just used to my expectations being lowered over the last couple of years. I never expected Strong to come in here and do any better than last year. And after all the suspensions, transfers, dismissals, injuries and Ash quitting, I don't really know what to expect anymore. After solidly backing Mack for 14.5 of his 16 years I was ready for a change. And whatever it brought with it. I think this is a year of foundation laying for Strong. Wins are great, of course, but he is willing to sacrifice for the culture and foundation he is trying to implement for the future. I am onboard for now. As long as he fields a team that fights until the final gun I can live with the results. The UT fanbase is not known for patience so we will see if it works out. The defense is coming along pretty well. Can we hold Baylor under, say, 30 points and give our offense a shot? Maybe. With some turnovers and better special teams play. Swoopes is going to have to start hitting those deep throws to open the run game. They will continue to stack the box and dare us to throw. I would like to see the old counter trey. Pull some guards and get a blocking advantage. But what do I know? I am hoping for a well played game against Baylor that at least gives us a shot. If they play hard and we get beat by a better team, I can live with that.
Not hardly a pivotal game for Strong. How can you think that after 4 games and dealing with the MESS that he inherited?
Remember, I didn't say "lose," I said "embarrass us." Again, did any of us really think that we would be dominated on the defensive side of the ball? Now be honest. Really? BYU was a defensive debacle. A chainsaw through butter. Four straight possessions after the half and 28 points, not 17 or 20. No stops. Four touchdowns. And that was BYU, not Baylor. Not OU. Let's be real. We have played four games, lost two. The two teams we beat probably won't win more than 8 games between them, if that. The UCLA team we played didn't have their best player, their Heisman candidate, after the first quarter. I am basing my observations on what I have observed and, on the reputation of the coach, as a defensive stalwart. Show me a solid D against real competition -- like Baylor and OU -- and I will have a different take. But for now, I have seen very little on the field to have me encouraged.
Baylor embarrasses teams on a weekly basis and has been for a while. Their coach gives zero shits about hanging 70 on teams. I hope it doesn't happen but it wouldn't be a shocker.
Great thread, I agree on all. If you can't see the direction both of these programs are going, you just don't want to.
Unless Baylor literally gives us the game, we will lose by at least three touchdowns. Our offense can't match Baylor's scoring ability, and you can't expect our defense to hold Baylor to less than three touchdowns. (My God, we only scored 23 points against KANSAS! That should convince anyone how poor our offense is.) The Baylor game is not a pivotal game for us, because it is just another loss in a string of losses for this team. This is a rebuilding year for Texas, period.
I didn't expect us to beat Baylor this year. If and when we lose to Baylor, you all can cut bait. But to say this is pivotal is laughable. Most of us were counting on ≥ 4 losses this year, Baylor being one of them. And that was before losing having Ash, Dom, Daje, Estelle, Harrison, Jackson, etc, etc Don't be such such a Drama-mama. This wasn't going to be the year, anyway.
How could anyone not expect a loss to Baylor before the season started? They are a damn good football team.
This game is not pivotal for the program. The program has been in a nose dive for years and I see it as a lump on the noggin to recovery. I did expect the offense to struggle, however I didn't expect this offensive hot mess nor a defense as soft in the second half as it is. I'm tentatively ok with where we are, but if the team isn't playing better by the end of the year then all bets may be off with me.
Let me take another shot at this because apparently my initial comments were not clear. I do not necessarily expect us to beat Baylor, OU, OSU, KSU, TCU or the rest. However, I "do" expect for Texas to be "in" every contest, and competitive. I did not and I do not expect a meltdown like the one we saw against BYU. Is it not true that most, if not all of us, believed that those days were over with the hiring of this coach? Progress and competitiveness would be fine. Let's hope that we see it this weekend, and next. If we don't, then this "Drama-mama" believes that it could be a problem.
Well Vegas has it at 13 points opening up, that will go up some before kick off. How can you expect much out of this offense with this O-line and a quarterback that the coaches keep the playbook not totally open, especially throwing deep. He just can't execute on them. The backs have not lived up to the hype, but it reminds me of the game Ricky Williams had against KSU. Even he had only 48 yards that game because there was nowhere to run. It is very much a rebuilding year. It could be that with the current atmosphere changing toward more discipline for football players that parents may like what Strong is doing in that regard. That said the spread offense is the only way to go right now in Texas because that is what high schools are running. Baylor and Aggy went to it, while we went to a power running game at exactly the wrong time and it has cost us in recruiting.
Texas had one of the greatest squads of all time... backfield of QB, Mike Cotton Halfback, James Saxton Halfback, Jack Collins Fullback, Ray Poage End, Bob Moses Center, David McWilliams others.... TCU came in and won 6-0. First and only loss of the season for Texas. TCU had, in the first game of the season, beat Kansas 17-16. Jayhawks had an enigma of a player at halfback, Bert Coan, who was from Timpson, Texas... Coan was 6'4" 215 and could run a 9.4 100. Also tied #3 Ohio State 7-7. That TCU team is credited with the three of the greatest season wins ever, knocking out three Heisman contenders: Ferguson at Ohio State, Hadl at Kansas, and Saxton at Texas. Point is, TCU won against a formidable Texas team. So Baylor is not a shoe-in.
So... the point... Texas can beat #8 Baylor and then beat #4 Oklahoma and later on beat ranked Ok-State and K-State.
Dukesteer, I think your OP is full of mistaken assumptions. Before the season I thought it was very possible BU could embarrass this team. They are a legit top ten team and we are maybe in the top 50. We are struggling mightily offensively and BU has a very talented defense. Our defense is above average. BU has one of the best offenses in the country. Our front four is very strong. We have one LB (HIcks) who is above average. Our DBs are above average. BU could go undefeated in the regular season. Only ou stands in the way. KSU will give them a game, but cannot beat them. Its very possible, and would surprise few if BU put up over 40. We will be lucky to score 20+. I don't blame the coach. He is hamstrung by the lack of developed and experienced talent on the O side of the ball. Our RB's are average power conference backs. Not great on any count. Our o-line needs a year or two. Our QB needs a year. We do not have one game breaker on offense.
So, let's see who Baylor has played..... SMU Northwestern State Buffalo Iowa State Wow, they're really battle tested. How'd they do the last time their program played a quality team? Think it was in Tempe. And they got beat. They haven't been hit in the mouth yet. They haven't been roughed up all afternoon. Some years after that TCU 6-0 famous "cockroach" game, I roomed in a house near campus with a marine biology grad student who had lived in Moore-Hill Hall when that 1961 team was there. That was the athletic dorm at the time. He told me after the game the players told him... "All day they just beat the hell out of us." So how is little Artsey Briles boys gonna do when a bunch of real mean knock the crap out of them for 3 hours. They may look pretty flying up and down the field against their other opponents, but they have not had their clocks cleaned. Over and over and over. It's like Doc said in "Back to the Future" when the car hit's 88 miles per hour... "you're about to see some serious ****..."
