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Vince Young the Natural

Posted by Trips Right on October 2nd, 2009 under Football

“History died cruelly, unusually, extinguished by a killer who didn’t even lose his breath. Shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday, Vince Young sprinted across the wet Rose Bowl grass as if skating. There was no apparent sound. There was no visible sweat. He did not howl. He did not holler. He crossed the faded white line, ran through the soggy red paint, and disappeared into a crowd in front of the stands as the referee threw up his arms. In the distance, there was a roaring crowd and a blaring band. But at the precise spot and exact moment it all ended for the USC Trojans, there was nothing. The loudest college football era in Los Angeles’ history had died in silence.” — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times

And that was it in a nut shell. Doing the equivalent of striking out the Whammer on three straight pitches as what remained of the carnival patrons looked on. When Vince Young crossed the goal line on 4th and 5 from the 8 to single-handedly resurrect a once proud college football program and knock off perhaps its greatest, you would have been an abject fool to even think that would be the pinnacle of the young man’s career.

Surely he’d go on to be a pro football great and redefine the stodgy drop back passing professional league with his electrifying athleticism and street tough leadership. After all, he just stared down the Whammer and blew 3 fastballs right by him.


The Mountain Top?

Not So Humble Beginnings.
Unlike Redford’s character in the Natural, Vince didn’t come out of nowhere from some podunk farm lost in a flyover state. He came from inner city Houston, notorious for drugs, gang violence, and lack of hope in general. And Vince didn’t happen into our sports lives via some half drunk washed up scout ala Roy Hobbs. Instead, the instant he grabbed a football as a sophomore at Madison High School, Young proceeded to steal our collective breath, electrify the local community, while captivating the college football world years before he even stepped foot on a college campus. He did things on a football field from the quarterback position no one had ever seen before. Running through good high school defenses like North Shore and Westlake. Counting coup with dizzying moves on the lesser lights in the area, using his stiff arm hand as a coup stick. And generally embarrassing as good a brand of high school football as you’ll find anywhere in the world.

My fondest memory of VY wasn’t Westlake or North Shore or any game in between. It was a ho hum game against lowly Sharpstown. It was a game that turned out to be foreshadowing of points in his college and pro career because evidently Vince was instructed not run. Why do I type he was instructed not to run? Well, because he didn’t. Vince always runs. Unless he’s told not to. Instead he dropped back to pass time after time, completing something like 15 for 16 in the first half with perhaps 180 yards passing. There was a buzz in the crowd. Wow. This kid can pass too?! Sure he can. Like Joe f’n Montana.

On one particular pass, which had to be a 15 yard out to the field side, Vince throws an absolute pea to some poor kid who’s probably driving a truck for UPS as we speak. The kid goes to one knee, catches the pass, and after he gets up and tosses the ball to the ref, he motions to Vince Young to get the ball in the air a bit more. “You know, so I can make a play, Vince. Instead of throwing it in a 3 ft window, I’m gonna need it in a six inch window. Like you always do, bro.” The hilarity of the situation stemmed from the lack of perspective this kid had for typical high school QB play. It sealed the deal, for me, and a bunch of folks in terms of Vince Young being an otherworldly player. This was a different cat. This wasn’t Shea Morenz, Odell James, or even Chris Simms. This dude was different. He was an alien. And whatever your school affiliation, your team simply had to have him because he was special. He was Michael Jordan in cleats.


Young impressions.

The College Years.
Let’s fast forward through Vince’s time at Texas. If you don’t understand a term or reference, then ask someone. Brewster works his magic, Young foreshadows his own greatness with “I’m on another level dog”, Vince Young punches Eric Jackson, gets shut out by OU, converts 4th and 18 to beat Kansas, wins a Rose Bowl and wins its MVP, says we’ll be back, tells the steroid triplets y’all hittin’ out there baby, gets crunk in the Cotton Bowl, tells the media they don’t know we’re gangsta, caps off 3000 and 1000 season like Ted Williams hitting over .400, big 4th and 8 run, tells Colt this is his last play at Texas and that he’s handing the keys of the car over to McCoy just before converting the two point conversion, wins the Rose Bowl, a national championship, another MVP, says the crystal is beautiful, asks us if we think it’s beautiful, tells us where the crystal is going and then goes pro. Now, press play…

In the movie The Natural, Roy Hobbs, our hero, is derailed twice during his career by forces seemingly beyond his control. Remember how Barbara Hershey notices Roy Hobbs greatness after he strikes out the Whammer on 3 pitches, mainly because she’s been stalking the Whammer? In a perfect world and to perfect the analogy, Kim Kardasian would have left Reggie Bush for VY just after the Rose Bowl and then proceeded to give Vince the clap. A severe enough case of the drip to really fuck up his career. But that didn’t happen. So we’ll skip Barbara Hershey altogether unless you really want to go after Greg Davis. But I’m guessing the true culprits of VY’s sudden demise are hanger’s on, Jeff Fisher, and VY’s own melon. Entourages, overly conservative coaches, and self doubt have a way of making otherwise heroic m’fers look ordinary.


Entourages Can Be a Bitch

And this astounding triumvirate of misfortune has threatened to force VY to fall off the face of the pro football world after a rookie pro bowl year and a surprising second year playoff run. In that context, watching him try to ward off a third string quarterback from a directional school, and struggle in preseason vs. second and third string JAGS is among the most painful things I’ve had to endure as a fan.

My question is who’s responsible for the Kim Bassinger-esque poison pill the night before the big game? Is it Young’s entourage? Is it VY himself? Perhaps Jeff Fisher is just a horrible fit as a head coach for the would be star. Maybe it’s the combination of the three that has landed VY’s career in a hospital bed when he should be knocking the cover off the ball in game seven of a world series game with the New York Knights. Whatever the case may be, something is going on and it’s significantly detrimental to this Wonderboy’s professional career. If I’m Mack Brown I call up Young and tell him, “You’re the best I ever had. And you’re the best goddamn quarterback I ever saw.”


Whole notha level dog

Vince Young has obviously broke his famous bat. Get your shit together partner and pick me out a winner, Bobby. Rumble YOUNG man. Rumble.

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32 Responses

  1. CloseToJumping said:

    October 2nd, 2009 at 11:39 pm

    I certainly enjoyed the post. It brought back a lot of memories and I always try to incorporate some fun movie or book quote or thought into my posts, so I enjoy others that do as well.

    I heard from BraggOnUT about VY during his junior year in hoops. Bobby had been watching him since his sophomore year and he knew I loved the sport. He comes up to my desk at the company we worked for and said: “Dude, this cat at Madison, you’ve got to come see him. He’s going to be a badass.”

    I went and watched him against Sharpstown as well, about a quarter after he stopped trying. A few of my buddies were there, Trips, I think you had left. He went in to stop a touchdown drive as a safety. I watched him a few more times and then typed on the Hornfans recruiting board that he was playing the game on an iceskating rink and the only dude wearing skates. It looked like that and I prayed that we’d seriously pursue him. Brewster made sure we did, as he helped bring in one of the greatest college football recruiting classes of all time under the limits. VY right now would not be recruited by this staff. Some folks that don’t get it or are new don’t understand it, but anyone with a brain that has been around awhile understands that we lack “the closer”, like Brewster. It would be nice to have one again.

    I remember following VY through the playoffs and going to games. He started almost selling out the Astrodome, something UH couldn’t pull off. It was awesome. He WAS the team. I will always value watching him in person in HS as a fan. It was something to behold.

    I argued vehemently in college with folks that thought he’d be converted to a WR or something. It paid off very well. I offer the same thought now. Roy Hobbes was a fun comparison. VY is down, but not out. I think he has room to become his own man in the NFL, and he will. I will laugh at Houston and Jeff Fisher when he does.

  2. huskerwes1 said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 am

    Good stuff. Vince was one of my all-time fave guys to watch, but the post has such a sad feel.

    Favorite Game: The comback against Okie State in Stillwater.

  3. Helmet Boy said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 4:37 am

    Great memories. CTJ, I actually remember your “iceskating rink” remark from Hornfans and then Vince Young mania in Houston during the play-offs. Once I had those epic highlight videos in my grubby hands, I immediately converted to a VY evangelist, sending those out to everybody I knew (few who cared) and attempting to spread the gospel of this Madison kids’ trans-generational badassedness everywhere I went.

    Following VY’s college career from his early recruitment to his first snaps vs. New Mexico State to his lifting the crystal football in Pasadena was the most deeply satisfying experience I’ve ever had as both a fan of Texas athletics and as a HS football/college recruiting junkie. The story has turned somewhat tragic since then to be sure, but whether or not Vince ever plays another down for Tennessee or anywhere else in the league, he’ll always be the same champion and savior of Texas football he was back in 2005 every time he crosses back over state lines. I can feel good about that.

  4. hopefulhorn said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 6:57 am

    Very nice post, Trips. The parallel with the Hobbs character is appealing to VY fans, not least because the hero rediscovers his mojo in the end.

    Like Hobbs, I have sensed that VY has become ungrounded in the NFL. You mention three likely factors (entourage, coaching and Vince himself). I feared that Vince got on the celebrity merry-go-round after the Rose Bowl MNC and never got off until his injury and benching. There has been a parade of QB coaches/OC’s through Vince’s tenure in Tennessee that cannot have helped. Like many gifted young men, Vince seems to need a mentor to show him how to transform himself to meet a challenge. I remain hopeful that time out of the spotlight, the right coach and a rededication by Vince can still help him deliver on the promise of his gifts.

    Besides his eye-popping skills, the lasting impression for me from his career at Texas will always be the difference in his bearing as a QB in his last year compared to the two previous years. In his last year, he was in complete command of the offense. Word out of Austin was that he had acted on GD’s pleas for film study.

    Though his rushing total was about the same on the season (1000 yards), half of it came in the two games in which it was urgently needed–Oklahoma State and USC. Outside of those two games, Vince spread the ball around and used his running ability mainly as a threat to open up the passing game. His biggest statistical jump that year was as a passer.

    I wonder what he could accomplish in the NFL if he really mastered an offense built to take advantage of his unique skills. I would also like to see him work on fundamentals like footwork which seem inconsistent now. It is an intriguing puzzle and one we all hope he is able to solve.

  5. whoopspat said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 am

    Trips, this was a great write up. Gave me chills all the way through.

  6. Bob in Houston said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 am

    I thought there was a chance that Vince would transform the QB position in the NFL, but it appears that athleticism can only take you so far at that level. It doesn’t tarnish anything he did previously.

    Additionally, one of the reasons I don’t care for NFL football is that all the coaches pretty much coach out of the same mold. The coach who would “let Vince be Vince” would be putting his own neck on the block. Jeff Fisher is the longest-tenured coach in the NFL right now… no way he breaks his own pattern for Vince. (It was widely spread that Vince was Bud’s pick — Fisher didn’t want him. We see how that worked out.)

  7. The Sadness said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 am

    VY cant make it in the pros because he lacks the anticipation necessary when throwing against NFL corners and safeties. Dudes just aint open like they were in college. Also, he doesn’t seem to be an accurate thrower. His arm motion? A lack of development during his formative years of pro style passing? Maybe he was just a victim of being a spread QB. Whatever the case, it hurts inside. He’s not the first, nor will he be the last, of big time QBs who couldn’t make it. Lienart, Quinn, Harrington, Carr…these guys also lacked the indefinable thing.

  8. Frank said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 am

    Just wanted to point out that while VY may have worked his magic against Westlake in highschool, it was Westlake that took home the victory. In Houston.

  9. t1climb1 said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 am

    “it was Westlake that took home the victory. In Houston.”

    …And then lost to Reggie McNeal. That must have sucked. How do you beat Vince and lose to Reggie?

  10. parlinhall said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 am

    “In a perfect world and to perfect the analogy, Kim Kardasian would have left Reggie Bush for VY just after the Rose Bowl and then proceeded to give Vince the clap.”

    Nothing says “perfection” like excruciatingly painful urination followed by an antibiotic regime.

    On this, the Greek philosophers speak as one.

  11. HorniusEmeritus said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 11:08 am

    Awesome read, trips left.

    Man, I had read that initial Bill Plaschke quote when it was first written but had forgotten it.

  12. Scipio Tex said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 11:24 am

    Awesome piece, man. You took me down an enjoyable path of memory.

    Vince is a guy that requires total belief – from coaches, from fans, from teammates – or you reduce him to a shell. It was like that at Texas, it’s like that in the NFL. He was pretty damned impressive as a rookie and in response the Titans chose to give him less freedom and more conventionality rather than trust him more.

    He’s also completely without any support structure. His family comprises users and manipulators (except a sister or two), his entourage should be rolling dice somewhere near the barber shop, his agent is a buffoon, and his pastor a stereotype of the inner-city con artist. There isn’t a single human on the planet that he can talk to and receive a frank assessment, not a single person who isn’t trying to play an angle on him.

    I don’t know how the guy turns it around without firing everyone in his life, moving to a cabin in the mountains with Carl Weathers’ trainer from Rocky and remaking himself.

  13. henley said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    As long as we’re not talking about the ending in the book.

  14. Homesick Alien said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm

    Vince Young. Forever. Unconditionally.

  15. Homesick Alien said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    “I don’t know how the guy turns it around without firing everyone in his life, moving to a cabin in the mountains with Carl Weathers’ trainer from Rocky and remaking himself.”

    While that would be ideal, I’d take a new team with wide receivers and a head coach who encourages Vince to run as an acceptable start.

  16. CurrentLonghornStudent said:

    October 3rd, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    Amen and amen.

  17. Bustahorn said:

    October 4th, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Scipio said:

    “He’s also completely without any support structure. His family comprises users and manipulators (except a sister or two), his entourage should be rolling dice somewhere near the barber shop, his agent is a buffoon, and his pastor a stereotype of the inner-city con artist.”

    This is probably all too true, and as well said as ever.

    “There isn’t a single human on the planet that he can talk to and receive a frank assessment, not a single person who isn’t trying to play an angle on him.”

    This statement is not true. But a man has to be able to take advantage of the hand that is stretched in true friendship.

  18. Vasherized said:

    October 4th, 2009 at 7:00 pm

    Great piece, Trips. Sitting at 0-4, how many more losses do the Titans have to shoulder under Collins before VY gets another shot?

    Personally, I’d rather see him get a fresh start with a new team that values scoring more than 13 points a game to win instead of playing Fisherball. He is both physically and mentally handcuffed in Tennessee.

  19. Scipio Tex said:

    October 4th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    Busta -

    True enough. But it’s hard for Vince to trust. He can’t tell the friends from the scammers because he has so much experience with the latter and so few of the former.

    Vasherized -

    Fisher is so married to the idea of Vince Young as a failure foisted on him by a manipulative owner that even giving him a shot is tough for him to do. He’s psychologically committed to the guy failing. That doesn’t mean he’s responsible for it, but he does have a lot of his own baggage wrapped up in this.

  20. Hank Dudek said:

    October 4th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    Amen brutha!

    May the good lord be with you
    Down every road you roam
    And may sunshine and happiness
    Surround you when youre far from home
    And may you grow to be proud
    Dignified and true
    And do unto others
    As youd have done to you
    Be courageous and be brave
    And in my heart youll always stay
    Forever young, forever young
    Forever young, forever young

    May good fortune be with you
    May your guiding light be strong
    Build a stairway to heaven
    With a prince or a vagabond

    And may you never love in vain
    And in my heart you will remain
    Forever young, forever young
    Forever young, forever young
    Forever young

  21. Trips Right said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 4:28 am

    Vash, Fisher better come to the realization that his defense is average at best or they’ll lose a ton of games 21 to 13. He’ll soon find out that he’ll need all the playmakers he can get on offense because the defense ain’t getting better unless they can kidnap Haynesworth.

    Scipio, I agree with the Fisher statement 100%. This team needed a spark when it was 17 to 3 but Fisher ain’t having any of it.

  22. nordberg said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 6:39 am

    I think Fisher was done with Vince the moment Vince refused to go back into the game, during the first game of ‘08. I wish he could have been cut or traded right then and there.

    And I never understood the people who were happy when Tennessee drafted him. I thought it was the worst possible spot for him; the equivalent of Vince going to Ohio St and playing Tressel-ball.

    I just hope Vince isn’t almost 30 by the time he gets out of Tennessee. Once his wheels are gone, he’s not going to be much of a threat to do anything in the NFL.

  23. TaylorTRoom said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 6:47 am

    What do you do when an employee that you really don’t like comes through and saves the day for you, performing in a way you never thought he was capable of? That has happened to me, and I responded by re-evaluating my opinion. When the facts don’t align with my opinion, it makes sense to me that my opinion is more likely to be wrong.

    That happened to Fisher in 2006. The Titans were 0 – 3, 4 – 15 over the last couple of seasons, and his contract was winding down. He was looking at starting over as a DC, and looking for a new head coach job as a retread- very similar to Wannstedt. VY saved his job that year, and Fisher had fun while he did it. Remember the “That just happened?” press conference?

    Armed with a new contract and lots of draft picks and cap room, Fisher re-committed to his philosophy of football, with absolutely no adjustments, and discarded VY when he failed to fit it. There will be no replay this time. Vince may play this year, but this is a new dance, and that old magic can’t be called back on demand.

  24. Trips Right said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 7:22 am

    Wow, Taylor. That’s quality stuff right there. It’s amazing how short Fisher’s memory is.

  25. TaylorTRoom said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 7:52 am

    Yeah, Vince isn’t blameless in this, but Fisher gets too big of a pass. When a system requires Joe Montana at QB to work, and you don’t have Joe on your team, you have to ask yourself if you have the right system.

    As much of a rep as Jimmy Johnson had as a demanding a**hole, he always looked at his roster and tried to understand what his players could do, as well as what they couldn’t. Then he insisted his assistants develop schemes and plans that would work given what his players were able to do. That’s how he won three superbowls with a non-blocking TE, an immobile QB, no decent second WR, and mediocre LBs.

    Fisher goes out in the first round of the playoffs with one of his strongest teams, and doesn’t understand that is his system’s potential. No team in the NFL is worse suited to come back from a two score deficit early in the 2nd half- just the kind of situaton Vince excelled at in ‘06, when he didn’t know the playbook and they were trying to figure him out.

  26. Homesick Alien said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am

    Agree completely that Fisher’s “No Vince” button switched to on the moment whatever happened in that first game last year happened.

    Unquestionably the low point for Vince. I don’t pretend to know what was going on in his head, but I think it’s safe to say he was confused by the yokels in Tennessee booing him. I’m still at least a little confused by it. But I confuse easily.

    I think the Titans losing can be good for those of us who wish failure on them for wrecking our Ferrari, but I’m not certain it expedites Vince’s comeback. I side with those who think he needs a new team.

    Terrelle Pryor at Ohio State looks a lot like Vince in Fisherball. What especially sucks is that, minus a bigtime receiver, the Titans actually have the exact personnel Vince could thrive with. Put Vince on the field with Chris Johnson, LenDale White, Javon Ringer, Bo Scaife, etc. and an above average offensive line, and he can damn sure make some things happen.

    Fisher, though, is too deeply entrenched. F him.

  27. Trips Right said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 9:38 am

    Kenny Britt and Nate Washington can ball. Justin Gage and whatever JAG they had opposite him when Vince was playing sucked out loud.

    I’d love to VY paired up with Johnson. Young’s presence got Travis Henry a final fat contract. Just think what Vince could do for CJ.

  28. yojimbox said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    Vince needs to get the hell out of that hillbilly city and find a city more to his vibe. If Al Davis ever decides to dump that fat lard he has at QB at the moment, Vince would be a great fit. Of course, Vince would need a coach that understands the team wins when Vince is allowed to be Vince. Otherwise, I’m afraid Vince is just not cut out for the NFL. It’s the same reason why all the NFL scouts sniff at the jock straps of the SEC and USC. All they want is vanilla cause they’re afraid of Rocky Road.

  29. yojimbox said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 11:35 am

    BTW Jeff how’s your “screw Vince” policy working out for ya this year, ya mustached POS of a coach.

  30. CT said:

    October 5th, 2009 at 11:40 am

    Yeah, Vince isn’t blameless in this, but Fisher gets too big of a pass. When a system requires Joe Montana at QB to work, and you don’t have Joe on your team, you have to ask yourself if you have the right system.

    As much of a rep as Jimmy Johnson had as a demanding a**hole, he always looked at his roster and tried to understand what his players could do, as well as what they couldn’t. Then he insisted his assistants develop schemes and plans that would work given what his players were able to do. That’s how he won three superbowls with a non-blocking TE, an immobile QB, no decent second WR, and mediocre LBs.

    Fisher goes out in the first round of the playoffs with one of his strongest teams, and doesn’t understand that is his system’s potential. No team in the NFL is worse suited to come back from a two score deficit early in the 2nd half- just the kind of situaton Vince excelled at in ‘06, when he didn’t know the playbook and they were trying to figure him out.

  31. Trips Right said:

    November 29th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    He’s baaaaackkk!!

  32. Barton West said:

    November 29th, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    Trips Right said:

    November 29th, 2009 at 5:37 pm

    He’s baaaaackkk!!
    ———————

    Gawd damn right, trips

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    This was definitely the worst, by far.

  • Trips Right commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem   6 hours, 9 minutes ago

    Don’t have time to address each and every comment now, but I wanted to say thanks to everyone for contributing to the site this season. It’s made it a lot of fun to follow a team that’s tough to watch at times.

    Also, I wanted to thank you for the kind words as

  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post Big Dance: Day Two   6 hours, 10 minutes ago

    And that’s all she wrote…relatively boring day so far. A&M out to a nice early lead.

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  • Art Vandelay commented on the blog post Texas Hoops vs. Wake Forest: Post Mortem   6 hours, 13 minutes ago

    Trips,

    Great work all year long. Love the passion. The fact that you kept writing these (even around the birth of a child), is fantastic, shows your commitment, and is a little freaky. :-)

    I think you showed great restraint in this post. It would have been easier to “go off” on Barnes.

  • ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   6 hours, 14 minutes ago

    Second awesomest thing — Magnus gets his woman to go to Hooters with him.

  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post Big Dance: Day Two   6 hours, 21 minutes ago

    Missouri going to hang on…

    Sconsin clinging to a 2 point cushion

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  • BrickHorn commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   6 hours, 34 minutes ago

    Are there any women who are not skanks at any place on 1960?

  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post Big Dance: Day Two   6 hours, 35 minutes ago

    Make that a 1 point Wofford lead with 4+ to play…

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  • Hiphopopotamus commented on the blog post Big Dance: Day Two   6 hours, 41 minutes ago

    Pitt rolling Oakland.

    Purdue holds on against Siena…I missed it in my bracket, but I’m actually happy for them.

    Missouri pulling away from Clemson (68-60) with 7 to play…knew I should have never bet on Oliver Purnell, even if it was against this Missouri team.

    Amazingly, game of the day so far might be Wisco/Wofford – 2

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  • ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   6 hours, 45 minutes ago

    I ain’t talking about the girls Brick.

  • BrickHorn commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   6 hours, 47 minutes ago

    The girls don’t wear jorts at Hooters. They dress like Richard Simmons.

  • ghostofagroundgame commented on the blog post Barnes worst team   6 hours, 50 minutes ago

    That, by the way, was the best thing that’s come out of this basketball season. Knowledge of Magnus’ intimate familiarity with the service and cut-off threshold at Hooter’s as compared to BWW3. Hooter’s — worse food at a higher price than a titty bar, served with jean shorts, cheaper beer, and more stretch

  • Blake Stansbery commented on the blog post Arkansas Razorback Football Spring Practice Preview: Running Backs   7 hours, 15 minutes ago

    Who thinks that one back could step up and be the go to this year?

    I still think it is going to be a by committee approach, but someone could separate themselves this spring. You just never know.

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  • Nickel Rover wrote a new blog post: Barnes worst team   8 hours, 10 minutes ago

    Basketball:

    Texas lost to Wake Forest in the first round last night. Trips Right somehow found the inner strength to do a final post-mortem where he also prescribes a month of defensive drills for baby 2010-11 Texas basketball in order to foster its development into a team that can at least dribble towards the basket.

    PeterBean was