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Strategy is overrated

Posted by ChrisApplewhite on November 2nd, 2009 under Football

Here is a list of teams that had a better offensive game plan than us on our relative game days:

Wyoming
Ok State
Oklahoma
Texas Tech

Yet we’re currently undefeated and coasting towards a national championship berth.The spread gets credit for bringing offensive football into the modern times, allowing smaller teams access to the whiz-bang gadgetry that up until now only the big boys got to play with. Think of offense as a Sharper Image catalog, we’re the douchebags walking around with laser etched-money clips that transforms into a goatee comb. Baylor had a bulky wallet that gives them spine problems.

The spread, though, isn’t a panacea of development. It’s actually just reset everything. Offenses that fell out of favor for one reason or another are making a roaring comeback thanks to the discovery that it’s a good thing to keep defenders far, far apart from each other.

Florida, thanks to a complete lack of playmakers, is now just a wishbone team. We’re running an offense from 1989. The wildcat is just the wing-t, our 4 vertical play is an old run and shoot staple, and that newfangled motion-into the-backfield triple option is nothing that Georgia Southern wasn’t doing in the early 90s.

Put simply, anybody can do anything. A game that used to be about innovation suddenly isn’t. All the best teams do different things, but they have on thing in common (well, two, but more on that in a second) — they execute.

The first spread team I remember was Purdue’s Joe Tiller teams with Drew Brees. With the benefit of hindsight we now know that Purdue and Tiller weren’t anything special, they just had on of the best decision-making QB of our era. Oklahoma won an MNC on the back of another one doing many similar things. See if you can spot the pattern:

- Tiller kept his offense, and Mangino took his to Kansas. Both teams plateaued well below their previous high levels without making major changes.

- Florida State dominated the landscape until they stopped recruiting NFL WRs that could erase the mistakes of its QBs and coaches. After that they fell off a cliff.

- Cal’s fortunes rise and fall based on how good their QB is. Aaron Rodgers? Great. Nate Longshore? Not so great.

- Florida might be the best team ever . . . until they lose the one guy that can do anything with the ball in his hands.

A cookie for you if you can see what is so plainly obvious — players doing their jobs are more important that what their jobs actually are. Good players can thrive (almost) anywhere, and furthermore, we’re learning just what makes a good player good. It isn’t size or speed, it’s nothing more than the ability to be where you are supposed to, when you are supposed to. Physical traits are a tool you use to to that job, like a high powered drill.

So when Texas outscores two decent teams 59-14 in the first halves of the games, it’s not so much that Bill Walsh’s spirit got bored whining about a lack of respect to Vince Lombardi and came to inhabit our playcaller. We’re doing fairly simple things — run this way, pass the other way. But these fairly simple things allow Jordan Shipley juke the ever-loving shit out of Perrish Cox then not be met by two safeties and a linebacker after he leaves. He can do his thing, Colt can find him, and we can score.

Nobody can make a coherent argument that Greg Davis is a better designer of offenses than Mike Gundy or Les Miles, and yet he sports a legitimately impressive 12-0 record against them. Mack Brown stopped developing his offensive mind in the 80s, and it shows. Yet he’s won against Leach, against Mangino, against Stoops and against Gundy.

That should go to show that there is a fairly low threshold for schematic effectiveness when you’re dealing with talented players. Vince young played in a high school offense here yet set records that included maybe four 2nd halves that he played hard. Colt plays in an offense less complicated than the one they run at Southlake Carroll, yet he’ll probably graduate as the most accurate QB of all time, and the winningest. Why? Because Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby know where to be, and they don’t drop passes. Because Colt makes fast decisions and finishes them. Because he can hold onto the ball and make a play. There is nothing special about what we do, but there is a lot of special about the guys we have (and Mack’s still underrated eye for talent and team building).

The defense is the same lesson. We’re running NFL coverages, but so do lots of teams. When Curtis Brown jumped that slant he did something that less than ten other corners in the country could do. Earl Thomas’ pick of that slant came off a pattern read that he pattern read so well that he didn’t even catch the ball on the run. It looked like, on first viewing, that Robinson threw it right to a stationary guy, but he didn’t. Thomas had done something that NFL safeties do, not college ones.

Thomas is an eraser that makes plays nobody else does. So is Lamarr Houston and most of our LB crew. That’s why the defense is good, and why Muschamp is a great coach. It’s why I believed so strongly in Urban Meyer, who is of the same mold. They get guys to play hard and take pride in what they do every day, so their players execute and execute fast. His goofy offense is a sideshow. Meyer could run Fred Akers’ offense and still be successful.

The offense is now mostly staying out of its own way. The defense is free to dominate as its leisure. We are going undefeated because because we know, purposefully or not, the secret to winning college football: recruit the fast ones, coach ‘em up, and don’t let Greg Davis stand in your way.

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43 Responses

  1. TXinDC said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:22 am

    Great piece.

    I’m so glad I can consistently read great football analysis from all points of view: the sunshine homer, the never-happy homer, and the objective eye.

    Your points about Thomas really makes me worry he’s going to jump early for the NFL. I hope to God he stays another year. Are we going to lose a lot of players to the draft early this go-around, do you think?

  2. TXinDC said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 am

    It’s also interesting to think of your write-up in terms of our recruitment. The fans are quick to jump on Mack & co. for letting certain players slip through the cracks, or not pursuing more players of a higher rating or out-of-state. But I think we’re so very not privy to the staff’s barometers and standards… they’ve really done a great job lately of picking guys that are team players and always willing to give it their all.

    Also incredible is Mack’s penchant for finding diamonds in the rough. Look at what Muschamp has been able to do with the raw, yet unfocused, talents of our defense in two years. We’ve got several guys out there playing to a level we never expected, or who were written off long ago. It’s incredible, and really inspiring even outside the lens of football.

  3. bob said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 am

    Can you go back in time and send this to Mackovic?

    Also this works because “we’re texas”. This would be a lot harder if you didn’t have the pick of players or couldn’t afford these coaches (or at some schools afford these players)

  4. Tim said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:32 am

    Mike Leach has been teaching and preaching this since his early days at OU. That’s why he only runs about a dozen different plays and rarely uses a trick play. He has been able to win consistently with low rated recruits, walk-on’s and the occasional 4-star guy, because he coaches his players to “just do their job”.

    You’re spot on when you say that the individual players talent is just a tool to help him execute his assignment better.

  5. BatesHorn said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I’m worried about losing Thomas as well, but I don’t think there is any precedent for a red shirt sophomore safety leaving early.

  6. kevwun said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:45 am

    It depends a lot on what position NFL teams peg him as. He might be suited best for free safety. If that’s the case he won’t be drafted as high.

  7. MerHorn said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 am

    Lots of talk since August around Belmont of Earl leaving but his size is a bigger concern than most fans think. He does not project as an every down safety at this size. He will gain the necessary weight in time but we will wish him well if the NFL tells him 1st round….which I do not see as of today.

  8. CloseToJumping said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:55 am

    I enjoyed the read and agree with a lot of it.

    In regard to Thomas and those musing about his NFL prospects, I don’t see how he gets around a low 1st round grade, at best, after this year. “That’s probably not going to improve.”. Ok. This will be an emotional decision and those can go any which way. If the guy decides that he can come back and be the top safety off the board in 2011’s draft, which is not a stretch to think about, then maybe he let’s Mays and Wright and a few other guys leave ahead of him. Probably wishful thinking, but it’s how I see it.

    In regard to your point about FSU, I couldn’t help but laugh. So WRs just grow on trees and can be fashioned out of any ol’stud athlete, but FSU started sliding when they started losing talented WRs? Same thoughts, more or less, about Shipley and Cosby.

    I understand what you’re pushing out there in regard to “everything old is new again” regarding scheme and nothing having really changed, but innovation & adaptation basically drive evolution, whether in football or anything else. Even if they’re just rearrangements of scheme. I guess I’d be blown away if someone invented something new and different beyond the foward pass and the handoff.

  9. p said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:56 am

    TXinDC -

    I have to respectfully disagree with you.

    There is no one on our defense playing better than their respective recruiting rankings, other than the Acho brothers. IMO, they are merely playing up to them.

    Texas has gone exactly how their recruiting classes have gone. They were stellar in 01-02, and we won the NC. We had a couple years that were way off, and we saw them in 06, and 07. Then we saw a resurgence with the classes involving the guys we have now.

  10. ctex80 said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:56 am

    I can’t see Thomas leaving after this year. If he were in the Berry/Mays mold, then sure, but he’s too small to be a prototypical NFL safety. I think the injury problems that have plagued Bob Sanders may lower Earl’s draft status enough that he sticks around for at least another year.

  11. Bendit said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 am

    Terrific piece. I found myself nodding along and then asking, “But what about the defense?”, then you had me covered there as well. Nice work.

  12. TXinDC said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 am

    p -
    Fair enough; I was under the impression that we had a few defensive players languishing on the depth chart until Muschamp came around. I’ve only started following recruiting in the past year or so, so I’m not too familiar with how heralded or otherwise our current players were coming into UT.

  13. nordberg said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am

    “There is no one on our defense playing better than their respective recruiting rankings, other than the Acho brothers.”

    Muckelroy sure as shit is.

  14. texoz said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am

    There’s still a bit of chicken & egg element here.

    Would our running game be better if we had more misdirection, trapping, pulling and play action? Thus making our players look better? It’s frustrating knowing that the offense still has untapped potential. I don’t feel that way about the defense.

  15. The General said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 9:46 am

    I think NC State or South Carolina has had a couple of safeties leave early as third year sophomores (Ko Simpson?) and it worked out poorly. With Earl’s size, he could win the Thorpe and still not do better than the end of round 1, and I see him more as a round 2 or 3 kind of guy right now (even if he gets a round 1 grade).

    I expect he will do what Muschamp advises, and I think that means he comes back next year.

  16. batate said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:06 am

    Blake Gideon has four picks on the year. What was he, a two star?

  17. Bob in Houston said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 am

    Colt plays in an offense less complicated than the one they run at Southlake Carroll, yet he’ll probably graduate as the most accurate QB of all time, and the winningest. Why? Because Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby know where to be, and they don’t drop passes.

    Not being as well versed in the technicalities of football as others here, I ask this, since I think it’s true.

    Is the reason McCoy doesn’t throw downfield much because he doesn’t have a receiver he trusts, other than Shipley, to be where he is supposed to be on a 15-yard-plus route?

  18. Guy said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 am

    I’m an old, grizzled Texas fan. I do not like all this talk about how we are coasting to Pasadena and such. This team needs to keep its edge. To some extent a team feeds off the attitude of its fans. Fans should not give off a “we’re the shit” vibe until we at least win the Big12.

  19. travis said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Malcolm is the answer to our 15 yard plus routes, if this offense is going to succeed and actually be multiple and even think of moving the ball on bama or florida its going to happen because malcolm will be able to stretch the field against single coverage.. On a post yesterday I read that it was no accident that both big plays in the passing game went to malcolm, and thats exactly right, he is the answer to making our offense go from 5 yard patterns and slants, to actually making shit happen…

    Colt needs to let malcolm move in with him and shipley or hell take the boy fishing with him, they need to do something, because we all know that whoever we play from the SEC will do the exact game plan that OU did, blanket shipley and bring the house because they won’t respect the run, and the secondary will play everything in front of them because we don’t do anything outside of a 10 yard box.

    These next few games will go along way in building his relationship with colt and working on our play action offense. Hopefully these things will be done in the first half of these games though – because if GG isn’t throwing the ball 15 to 20 times a game from here on out I will truly be pissed off, I don’t wanna see him throw three screen passes and then hand off 7 times against UCF, BAYLOR and KU, I want to see gilbert wrecking shit with his arm if that means we score 70 points a game so be it.

  20. Nelson said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 am

    Bob Stoops has always recruited for athletic talent first and then found a role for their abilities. Now that Texas has first pick of the talent in the state, Stoops is getting the leftovers. Talent is number one as this article points out. Talent can win even if GD is managing it.

  21. TXinDC said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 am

    Guy: “I do not like all this talk about how we are coasting to Pasadena and such. This team needs to keep its edge.”

    The fact that the Goon Squad said, “We could’ve played better” on Saturday should be reassurance enough that this team will not rest on its laurels. Worry all you want about the blase fanbase, but I think this team and the coaches won’t lose the edge you’re speaking of.

  22. travis said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    TXinDC- Your right on, I think our loss in lubbock as horrible as it was, might have been the best thing that has ever happened to this team and our coaching staff (outside of vince young of course), every day this team realizes how awful it felt to be left out of the title game because of that one game, and they know how important it is to decide your own destiny and just win…. No team in the country could have wanted this season more than UT, nobody could have worked harder or had more motivation than this squad, This team really is taking it one game at a time, We as a fan base might have our bags packed for pasadena but they are focused on Florida Atlantic/ UCF

  23. hornbymarriage said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    To take the last two posts and merge them, I think we should all be most concerned with GD not realizing he’s got 3 or 4 games to really scrimmage his offense into a better unit. We know Coach Boom and the Boom Squad are going to be bringing it. If GD starts playing “we’re going vanilla/we’re not showing everything” we’ll know we’re in for a tough hall when (if?) we get to the title game. Because this offense may be starting to gel, but they’ve got a long way to go if they’re gonna beat Fla./Ala.

  24. kafka said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    “All the best teams do different things, but they have on thing in common…they execute”.

    This is not news, when I was a kid Woody Hayes and Vince Lombardi were dominating with teams that were not innovative but did execute superbly.

    When I watch the horns O, often I don’t get the impression that I am watching a well oiled machine. Quite often I see Colt scrambling around, not throwing on time but finally somehow unleashing an awesome pass to a WR who makes a great catch.

    The key to Mack’s success is how he handles people. Managing these very young super stars must be like herding cats. Mack is able to instill a sense of family so that individuals will sublimate themselves to the team. The root of Mack’s success is his character.

  25. NateHeupel said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 1:48 pm

    There’s a valid point here, but strategy can also be used to make a decent team play WAY over its head. Exhibit A: 2002 Oklahoma Sooners. This was NOT a great football team. The defense got punked by anyone who could throw over the top. Jason White was busy blowing out his other knee. So, OU went to an offense that was Quentin Griffin (he of 6 TD’s in one RRS) and 10 tackling dummies. That group won the Big 12 title and a Rose Bowl. The next year OU became a pure vertical passing team with no running game of which to speak.

    “Now that Texas has first pick of the talent in the state, Stoops is getting the leftovers.”

    No, Stoops went nationwide and is still getting great talent. If historic recruiting trends hold, Jeffcoat will head to USC and White will head to OU.

  26. ransomstoddard said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Here is a sampling of other teams who had better gameplans than Greg Davis: White Oak Fighting Gophers; Austin Junior Varsity; Waco Sonic Store Number 23 Powderpuff C League…

  27. Sugarpants said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    I think being smaller than Bob Sanders will definitely hurt his draft stock. He’s a second day dude and probably has a LOT more to gain by staying on the 40 for two more years. He would leave a legend and would likely never have to look too hard for a job again. We take care of those guys.

    I do find it a little hard to swallow when folks claim we run offenses less complicated that HSs. I can only assume you’re using hyperbole. I think we can vastly improve the offense, but let’s be realistic. Every once in a while, GD makes some pretty good playcalls – I am thinking specifically of Jordan deep over the middle that just missed in the first half. If Colt doesn’t sail that pass it looks like a brilliant call.

    I think that’s half of GD’s problem – he spends too much time setting up the big plays and not enough running a 6 yard counter play on 1st down.

  28. Sugarpants said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    Oh, and part of the reason we don’t throw vertical is Colt’s arm strength. He really seems to struggle getting the ball more than 30 yards down field.

  29. action said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    Nate, Jeffcoat has said that he wants to go to a school with a good program and with good academics. That kinda narrows the field.

  30. bigdukesix said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    No, Stoops went nationwide and is still getting great talent. If historic recruiting trends hold, Jeffcoat will head to USC and White will head to OU.

    I agree completely, but it still appears Texas has beaten OU comfortably in the past two recruiting classes at this point. And that’s true even if White ends up at OU and Texas doesn’t add anyone else to this class. OU, unlike Texas, can afford to lose some head-to-head battles in the state of Texas, because they have a larger recruiting base. They just can’t afford to lose as many battles as they’ve been losing.

  31. nordberg said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Stupid question, but would any team select Thomas and put him at corner?

  32. nordberg said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    Oh yeah, if Texas adds Jeffcoat and Hicks on top of Bible, Wilson, Jackson et al, and is able to retain Muschamp for at least the immediate future… good night.

  33. Sugarpants said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    NFL Draft Scout has Thomas listed as a FS/CB prospect. No grade but they think very highly of him. He is allegedly taller than Sanders at 5′09″-10″ but I am not sure I believe that. He is smaller tough – 197 to Sanders 207.
    They list Thomas as a 4.45, which I am guessing is a combine 4.5, and probably a second day corner.

  34. NateHeupel said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    action: It does narrow the field. You’ve got to look at schools where all the players actually stay eligible. That’s how I narrowed it down to USC.

    nordberg: If UT signs Jeffcoat, it would signal an absolute sea change in Mack Brown’s willingness and ability to close on the blue chips late in the season. That said, the only way UT loses Muschamp is if a HUGE opening comes up before Mack Brown retires.

    As for the argument about Earl Thomas, apply the Curtis Lofton equation to it, and remember that a new collective bargaining agreement goes in after this draft.
    1) Does Thomas have anything else to learn about his position?
    No. As accurately described, he is an eraser. He is in position pretty much all the time, and he makes great plays in space on runners and in coverage.
    2) Are Thomas’ weaknesses the kind that can be improved with another year in college?
    No. Another year at UT isn’t going to make him taller or bigger. If he’s a 2nd round pick this year, he’s a second round pick next year. Not having to compete with Taylor Mays and Eric Berry doesn’t mean Thomas will move up.
    3) Are there any extenuating circumstances?
    Yes. A 2nd round draft pick won’t be worth nearly as much next year. Thomas could move into the bottom half of the first round of the 2011 draft and still not have improved his financial position at all.

  35. p said:

    November 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    nordberg-

    Muck does his job. He is in the right place at the right time. Physically, he isn’t spectacular. He is no DJ, Patrick Willis, or Ray Lewis type talent. I think we were so used to bad linebacker play, that we forgot what it was supposed to look like. That being said, if you were to ask Florida to trade Spikes for him, what would the answer be?

  36. nordberg said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 am

    I think Muck is the 2nd best LB in the Mack era at Texas, for whatever that’s worth. No one is claiming he’s Ray Lewis or even Brandon Spikes, so I’m not sure where you’re going there.

    Nate:
    “That said, the only way UT loses Muschamp is if a HUGE opening comes up before Mack Brown retires.”
    Like, say, Michigan, Florida St., or Georgia?

  37. texasfan said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 am

    Nate -

    Stoops going nationwide and losing recruiting supremacy in Texas are two sides of the same coin. He’s smart enough to understand the following simple equation: top talent + keeping top talent from your most significant rival > top talent alone. Rationalize all you want, but OU’s most effective recruiting strategy is and always will be to win the balance of power within a 250-mile radius of Dallas.

  38. p said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 8:29 am

    nordberg-

    Nothing malicious. To me Muck plays like a 3star senior should, when the DC consistently calls the right play. We don’t ask him to do a lot, just tackle down hill. He has the freedom of not having to come off of too many blocks to do so.

    That being said, can you imagine what DJ would have been like with Muschamp as his DC? Or the entire 05 secondary?

  39. goosehorn said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 11:20 am

    “Nate:
    “That said, the only way UT loses Muschamp is if a HUGE opening comes up before Mack Brown retires.”
    Like, say, Michigan, Florida St., or Georgia?”

    Michigan – just got RichRod. There is no way they can afford to buy him out after only 2 years

    Florida St. – Not sure this is that great of a job anymore. After Bowden leaves, the cupboard will be totally bare

    Georgia – I think even the most die-hard Georgia fan would admit that this is and has always been considered a rebuilding year for UGA. That is what happens when you are playing a 5th year senior at QB. You are grooming another Matt Stafford or Aaron Green to come in and start for 3-4 years.

  40. nordberg said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 am

    “Michigan – just got RichRod. There is no way they can afford to buy him out after only 2 years”

    Doesn’t have to be now. Watch what happens if they go 4-8 in 2010.

  41. huge said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    and georgia is ready to sell the farm for muschamp i’d guess

  42. uthookem said:

    November 3rd, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    If we win it all this year I think it’s Muschamp’s team in 2010.

  43. Barking Carnival — Blog — Defensive Thoughts: Texas Longhorns @ Baylor Bears said:

    November 22nd, 2009 at 6:17 pm

    [...] ridiculous how well coached we are on the defensive side of the ball, and when you combine it with our athleticism you get the results [...]

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    Was pretty disappointed with OSU’s shitburger last night though. I’ve never seen Anderson so bad…almost looked hurt. 5-2 first round isn’t bad though.

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  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page   1 hour, 44 minutes ago

    AAS wrote a dumbed down version of this subject today. Barnes says he’s bringing in another guard. Good, because I feel very confident in our depth in the front court. Alexei, white stiff #1, and white stiff #2 make me ooze with confidence especially behind a true freshman and undersized 4…….

    Barnes, asked

  • Farmer Ted wrote a new blog post: Suh Meets with Lions   2 hours, 4 minutes ago

    Not too long ago we laughed at the idea that a team would consider taking anyone ahead of Ndamukong Suh in the NFL draft. Now it appears very possible — even likely — that the Rams will take QB Sam Bradford with the #1 pick, which would give the Lions the next shot at Suh

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  • Black Scholes commented on the blog post Texas Turns the Page   2 hours, 7 minutes ago

    Hamilton needs 1-2 years to seriously work on the deficiencies in his game. He goes now, and in a couple of years he’s “whatever happened to …?”. The risk is while he might get drafted now on potential, if he can’t/won’t develop as a player he won’t even have that to offer in

  • NorthDallasSooner commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour   2 hours, 33 minutes ago

    “Coincidentally I maintain a subscription to Texas Monthly magazine in an effort to keep up with my roots in some way, shape or form. The April issue showed up at my house this afternoon and features a fairly in depth article about the ongoing drama between Texas Tech and the Dread Pirate Leach. The more

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  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Recapping the East   2 hours, 36 minutes ago

    Again, no news is good news when you’re one of the top seeds in the region. That motto holds true in the East as the top four seeds advanced.

    Kentucky vs. East Tennessee State

    This was a blood bath from the tip. Anyone that thinks this young Wildcat club may have one eye on the

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  • NorthDallasSooner wrote a new blog post: Rumor Alert–TMG   2 hours, 45 minutes ago

    It’s certainly unconfirmed, but I got this email this morning from a friend who follows the hoops program very closely. Stay tuned……

    “A very reliable source close to the OU BB program told me yesterday TMG is gone. He packed his bags and unless Capel can talk him out of it our PG for the future has left

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  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour   3 hours, 3 minutes ago

    Great survey, whiskey. I miss football a lot.

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  • Kevin Berger wrote a new blog post: Recapping The South   3 hours, 9 minutes ago

    There were lots of surprises in this region and a near miss or two that could have really turned this bracket upside down. But after the dust settled, seeds 1 through 4 remain alive…for now anyway.

    Duke vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff

    Let’s start at the top where Duke methodically disposed of an Arkansas -Pinebluff cub that gave

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  • Patrick Bateman commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   3 hours, 24 minutes ago

    Funny, an OU blog talking about a Texas’ team when referencing the state of unrest and embarrassment. I mean, you have such a rich history to draw from. I’ll miss Tiny. Like Sailor, I love his nickname…..

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  • Sailor Ripley commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   3 hours, 31 minutes ago

    Why do bad things happen to bad people?

    I will always love the name Tiny Gallon. I see him being a fan favorite in Turkey and he’s going to love the souvlaki.

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  • whiskey commented on the blog post The week in news- Pariahs, Malcontents and Power Hour   3 hours, 59 minutes ago

    This all might actually work out for Tebow in the end. If nothing else he is both a winner and a fierce competitor. I will be surprised if he goes the way of Eric Crouch. I am also liking Quinn’s chances in Denver. He knows that offense and he will

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  • Ag_in_TX wrote a new blog post: Utah State Post-Mortem   4 hours, 17 minutes ago

    Have You Read the Gospel According To Mark? – Sign hanging in Spokane last night.

    At some point, you have to ask if A&M is the best coached team in the Big XII. All due respect to Mr. Self in Kansas – but to use a poker analogy – Self is trying for a flush

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  • Trips Right wrote a new blog post: Second Round Bets   4 hours, 32 minutes ago

    Since my leans are hitting at a better rate than my wagers I’m going to go back to basics and post every thing I like but down to half a unit. We’ll see if that works.

    Here goes:

    Villanova -4.5: After a scare against Bob Morris, time for the ‘Cats to wake up. Too

  • Patrick Bateman wrote a new blog post: Texas Turns the Page   5 hours, 47 minutes ago

    Well, WTF was that?  A train wreck is what.  That’s how the entire Texas basketball season can be described.  A screaming, screeching, ugly train wreck.  After ascending to #1 in the nation for the first time in school history, the wheels just fell off during conference play.  You can read all about the final and

  • Ibas water bottle commented on the blog post Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   7 hours, 50 minutes ago

    At what point do A.Ds stop hiring Duke people? At a certain point former coach K players stop being successful college players and start being coaches with shady recruiting results right?

    Oh and God bless the crime rate in Stillwater. The simple odds keep the shit from hitting the fan regularly for us.

    Who

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  • Nate Heupel commented on the blog post Oklahoma Sooners – Recruiting So Far   11 hours, 34 minutes ago

    BOC: Neither has visited, yet we hold ’ships open for both.

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  • Nate Heupel wrote a new blog post: Because We’re Dedicated To Doing Stupid Things – Tiny Gallon Reportedly Took Payout   11 hours, 42 minutes ago

    TMZ reports that Tiny Gallon took a $3000 payout from an agent.

    My God, Capel has no control over this team whatsoever. This is 2007 offseason Texas football levels of embarrassing. You can’t let a half dozen bad apples spoil a bushel of 10 apples…that analogy sucked balls, but you get my

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