Did It Take an Epic Loss to Get Texas Back on Track?

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by dukesteer, Sep 18, 2017.

  1. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    After the 2015 OU game I thought we had turned the corner. I was wrong.

    After the overtime win against Notre Dame last September, I thought that was it. I was way wrong.

    Can an emotional loss in a huge game -- a game that no one expected to even be close -- be the start of big things? I think so. In defeat, this team has to be on a high. I know that I am. Their confidence must be soaring. Yes, they lost. But it almost doesn't matter. They basically whipped a very good football team in almost every way you can last Saturday, and they know it.

    Of course, there are issues going forward. From my perspective it starts with the offensive coaching, and that is my greatest concern. Yet...

    The nucleus of the O-Line is still intact, and they are very good. Williams will be sorely missed, but I really like what we have in Vahe, Shackelford and McMillon. However, we are thin.

    The receiving corps is lights out and # 9 may be the best we have seen in Austin since, well, a very long time.

    Then there's the QB position:

    Dating back to the early 60s I cannot remember not having a strong preference...but at the moment I do not. I believe that we can and will win with either Buechele or Ehlinger. What a luxury.

    Many on this board have observed that we just don't have the talent. Hopefully that argument can now be put to rest. The talent is there. It's all about the coaching. I'm not concerned about Orlando and I expect that his unit may now have come of age. Yes, there may be setbacks but that is expected. Again though, my real concern is Beck, and Herman's stubborn, know-it-all tendencies.

    Will we look back at 9/16/17 as, finally, the turning point in this era? Only time will tell but frankly, I'm inclined to think so.
     
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  2. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    Sunshine Pumper.

    :D

    I think so, too. I said so after the game.
     
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  3. OrangeShogun

    OrangeShogun 500+ Posts

    This is where you lost credibility.
     
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  4. Dionysus

    Dionysus Idoit Admin

    I had this feeling after the ND game last year because I thought we had beat a good team. They weren't, and I'm not yet convinced that USC is either. Maybe they are.

    Beating OU and/or Ok State this year will give me more hope.
     
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  5. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    I too have deep concerns about this OL without Williams.
     
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  6. I_Dont_Exist

    I_Dont_Exist 1,000+ Posts

    As impressed and encouraged I am by the last game I'm still not completely sold. Anyone familiar with the term "dogwood winter"?
     
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  7. OZZMAN

    OZZMAN < 25 Posts

    I would certainly like to believe it, but I think I am still shell-shocked from the previous several years. The defense looked good and, if they can play that way consistently for the rest of the season, we should have a decent chance to win a good number of games. A little nervous about the O line, too.
     
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  8. beaVo

    beaVo 500+ Posts

    i may be in the minority but I'm optimistic.

    i think the team now sees what they're capable of.
    i think this loss creates motivation and determination and much focusness.
    i think sam is gonna be much better (if we still need him)
    i think warren will get more carries from here on out.
    i think we take it ALL out on iowa state in a few days.
     
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  9. El Sapo

    El Sapo Bevo's BFF

    This is pretty much where I am at the moment as well. Could this close loss to a highly ranked opponent finally light the match for Texas and get us pointed in the right direction? Sure. Iowa State, who is no longer a gimme, could also beat us this weekend. See, the problem is that for years now we just don't know what kind of team we really have here.

    "If" the USC game marks our defense turning the corner, then my opinion is that we're an offensive line and about 1 to 1.5 years of quarterback development away from being back to Texas again.
     
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  10. beijinghorn1

    beijinghorn1 500+ Posts

    I thought it was here:

    They basically whipped a very good football team in almost every way you can last Saturday, and they know it.
     
  11. Horn87

    Horn87 1,000+ Posts

    been burnt too often lately to get real giddy...
     
  12. uisge beatha

    uisge beatha 1,000+ Posts

    I'm with Dion and Sapo on this. A whipping on ISU would turn me more towards the turned corner but I can't get Maryland out of my mind yet.

    You mean more than 4 a game? What makes you think that? Everything else I've read doesn't make me inclined to think so.
     
  13. dukesteer

    dukesteer 5,000+ Posts

    Maryland was a massive disappointment, but also a wake-up call for the players "and the coaching staff." SJSU was a statement game, and USC, a critical measuring stick. We passed with flying colors. In fact, that game reminds me of the movie Rocky I. I doubt that USC would want to play us again this season. With a freshman quarterback, a beleaguered O-Line and poor play calling and player utilization, we came within an eyelash of pulling off a huge upset.

    I expect a cakewalk at ISU, and a solid win the following week against KSU. I also expect for us to physically whip OU. Yes, I said that.

    Stay tuned.
     
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  14. uisge beatha

    uisge beatha 1,000+ Posts

    As said above, OU in '15 and ND last year were perceived as being turning points. If USC ends up 4-8 ala ND last year (not that I think it'll happen), this game meant ****. If we get beat by ISU, this game meant ****.

    Don't get me wrong, I hope you're right. Just been snake-bit too much lately. If ISU is a cakewalk, I'll start thawing. If we beat KSU and whip ou, I'll be on board.
     
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  15. Driver 8

    Driver 8 Amor Fati

    I'll have to change my pants
     
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  16. ShAArk92

    ShAArk92 1,000+ Posts

    We say "Pollyanna"

    :p

    Hat tip
     
    • Like Like x 1
  17. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    You are going to have to dig into the Horn Fans vernacular on this one. Sunshine Pumper is correct!

    :beertoast:
     
  18. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    I have seen nothing to get giddy about. The win over sjsu needed to happen. Had to happen to gain any self respect. The play of the defense against usc was encouraging. The heart they showed, the physicality in terrible field position time after time was really impressive.
    giddy comes at the of this season if we can go 8-3. That is 7-1 the rest of the way. That would be really hard to do. But "giddy" doesn't come easy. It has to be earned.
     
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  19. uisge beatha

    uisge beatha 1,000+ Posts

    You said much more succinctly and clearly what I'm thinking. If Dukesteer's predictions come true, I'll be getting on the giddy side. BTW, it's a 12 game season so we need to go 7-2 to get to 8-4. One additional loss to be 9-3 is definitely giddy territory. :smile1:
     
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  20. caryhorn

    caryhorn 5,000+ Posts

    Thanks for fixing that schedule snafu for me. 8-4 would be a good recovery and I would be very encouraged with the team and coaches handling of the rough start. If the Horns wind up the regular season at 9-3 then I'm right there in giddy town with you! :hookem2:
     
  21. ShAArk92

    ShAArk92 1,000+ Posts

    Royer.

    "WE" is my personal circle, not necessarily HF ... though I'm getting there. ;)

    Pollyanna, indeed.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  22. ShAArk92

    ShAArk92 1,000+ Posts

    Giddy is winning consecutive years' national championships with 60%/better conference championships the last 5 years. I'm not nearly as concerned about the record as I am about the championships.

    "10 win seasons" was the big plus to Mack Brown's reign ... how many conference championships? When you sit in Memorial Stadium and see the ring of SWC conference championships ... then the Big XII ... kinda puny.

    There's pride in the school, the squad, etc ... but the real measure is CHAMPION.

    This AD has used the gridiron to showcase the deluge of championships won in other sports ... but we've augered-in for recent years with our football efforts.
     
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  23. horninchicago

    horninchicago 10,000+ Posts

    Royer. Reminds me of my Columbian copilot in the Lear. Used to ay that and could never understand why ATC couldn't understand. "Uh, you can barely speak English!"
     
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  24. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

     
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  25. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Win on the 14th of October, and we can discuss how many more.

    Least we forget, after 3 games in 1968 Texas was 1-1-1, but then did not lose again until 01 January 1971.
     
  26. Joe Fan

    Joe Fan 10,000+ Posts

    I was at that tie. I was a kid, but still have the stub somewhere
     
    • Like Like x 1
  27. SabreHorn

    SabreHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Joe,

    I used to marvel at how Texas fans could never forgive Rob Lane, but Third Ward fans (both of them) forgot about Simp's drop before sunrise.

    Irony was that Memorial Stadium was the scene of Mike's greatest feat and his worst sports error.
     
  28. Godz40acres

    Godz40acres Happy Feller

    Agree completely.

    I like that you stated you're "not nearly as concerned about the record" which rightfully infers that the number of wins does matter, just not as much as a championship. Well said, Sir/Mam.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  29. 2003TexasGrad

    2003TexasGrad Son of a Motherless Goat

    Losing the Kansas last year was an epic loss. Nearly pulling off the upset against the team you were expected to lose by 17 points is not an epic loss.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  30. beijinghorn1

    beijinghorn1 500+ Posts

    Giddy to me is steady improvement and holding this recruiting class together with the addition of 2 4* Olinemen and 2 4* Dlinemen. So far improvement has been way more than steady, so I have a grin, but not quite giddy.
     

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