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Brooks Peterson
Monday, October 15, 2001
How long till 'Horns faithful turn on Mack?
Look: I'm not what you'd call a world-class prognosticator. But this one . . . this one I could see coming from a mile away. And I hate it.
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I refer to the aftermath of what we who bleed burnt orange and white call The OU Game - the annual brawl in Dallas to determine who rules in the long-running rivalry between 'Horns and Sooners.
Understand, it wasn't the game itself that I had doped out. In fact, I dared to hope that my 'Horns would humble the reigning national champions. Shoot, I would have settled for a one-point squeaker. But, as we all know, it wasn't the 'Horns day: The 14-3 margin by which UT lost was an improvement on last year's blowout, but it still wasn't a W.
The outcome was of course determined by the football gods (with, ahem, the help of a sizable contingent of Texas high schoolers who inexplicably cast their lot with OU on signing day). It was what came afterward that was deeply depressing . . . and predictable.
Scarcely had the clock run out than the talking heads were laying into UT coach Mack Brown. Where was the running game? Why did he leave Chris Simms in there all day as quarterback? And, of course, the old stand-by: Will the 'Horns ever manage to win the big one?
And that was just the network dweebs. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to conjure up what's going on up in Austin: The sports talk radio shows lit up with the Longhorn semi-faithful calling in to explore - at great and infinitely tedious (and rancorous) length - the abovementioned questions, as well as other, slightly less cosmic concerns.
The No. 1 topic, of course, is bound to be the Quarterback Controversy. No question, Simms had a tough day against the Sooners - but isn't it just barely possible that the Okies' defense had something to do with that? Me, I'm fine with either Simms or Applewhite; if Applewhite's number comes up, so be it. That's the coach's call.
And speaking of the coach, depend on this : If - the fates forfend - the 'Horns should by some cosmic mischance lose to Oklahoma State Saturday (I am writing this in advance of the event), or even if the game should turn out to be anything less than a rout for the 'Horns, the faithless faithful will be screaming for Mack Brown's head on a pike.
If you are not conversant with the governing imperatives of UT football, you should know that Rule 1 is: Win, win, win - all the time, and, preferably, by huge margins. For the other Rules, see Rule 1.
Think I'm exaggerating? Just ask the coaches who followed in the footsteps of the legendary Darrell Royal: Fred Akers (who, if I recall correctly, was one of the winningest UT coaches - for all the good it did him), David McWilliams, John Mackovic . . . They know.
Me, I'm still a little sick about the deep-sixing of Mackovic: For me, that incredible game against Nebraska, with James Brown & Co. flummoxing the mighty 'Huskers, should have guaranteed him tenure. But of course, with him as with the others, the fatal question was: What have you done for us lately?
I'm not saying anyone is or should be above criticism - not coaches, not players. But what I am saying (and I'm gritting my teeth as I write this) is that maybe, just maybe, we could learn something from our friends in College Station.
Say what you will about the Aggies - and I have on occasion - they stand by their guy. Ol' R.C. Slocum has been up there for at least three geologic eras. He's won more than he's lost, and even though there are rumblings (some, including Texas Monthly, say this is the make-or-break season for R.C), the multitudes remain more or less faithful.
Seems to me that if the Aggies' boosters can stay on R.C.'s bandwagon through lean times as well as flush, the UT legions could at least remain on the Mack truck for a decent interval.
Brooks Peterson can be reached by phone at 886-3772 or by e-mail at petersonb@caller.com.
Brooks Peterson can be reached by phone at 886-3772, or by e-mail at petersonb@caller.com
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© 2001 Corpus Christi Caller Times, a
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