"If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." 1 Corinthians 3:15
Two years ago, the Longhorns went into Kansas needing a win to become Bowl eligible. Instead, they lost. That was the game that sealed Charlie Strong's fate.
Today, the Longhorns went into Kansas needing a win to qualify for the Big-12 championship. They won. That, right there, is the Tom Herman difference.
The game was ugly. Sam Ehlinger threw two picks. The offense was anemic for much of the game. There was bonheaded play on special teams.
But the defense stepped up. They held Kansas scoreless during the first half. Then they made the plays they needed in the second half. Jeffrey McCulloch's interception return saved the game.
An early, day after Thanksgiving, road game in front of a sparse crowd had all the signs of a letdown game. But quality teams find ways to win when they don't have their A game. And that's what the Longhorns did today.
Bottom Line: All we had to do was win. It doesn't matter how the win materialized. Big-12 championship game, here we come!!!
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9
Confession: It was the first time we've ever cried on Senior night.
Kris Boyd, Charles Omenihu, Davante Davis, P.J. Locke, Jerrod Heard, Patrick Vahe and, of course, Breckyn Hegar (in pigtails, no less!).
We've always had a soft spot for Charlie Strong's 2015 recruiting class. That was the year talent began to return to the forty acres after the drop-off in the late Mack Brown years. It's had to believe they've played their last home game at DKR.
As for the game itself, it was the most dominant performance the Longhorns have turned in all season. Following Oklahoma State's upset over West Virginia, Texas controlled its own fate. They responded accordingly.
Sam Ehlinger continues to play like a monster. He passed for one touchdown and ran for another. His early game rhythm with Colin Johnson was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, he sat out the second half due to injury.
But Shane Buchele didn't miss a beat. He literally didn't have an incomplete pass the entire night. Where Sam connected with Colin, Shane connected with Lil'Jordan Humphrey (including for one touchdown and several other impressive plays).
Speaking of Lil'Jordan, that guy's a superstar. He needs to come back for senior year. Right now, he's probably a mid-round draft pick, but a monster senior season would catapult him into the first or second round. He should learn from Malik's mistake, wait a year, and make real money.
Tre Watson and Keontay Ingram deserve credit. They've become a phenomenal duo. Having a pair of backs who can bust 25 yards on any given play does wonders for your passing game.
Also, Breckyn totally had a sack in the second quarter.
Beyond the game was the atmosphere at DKR. Electric doesn't cover it. Unreal might be the place to start.
During the fourth quarter, they played "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey. Beginning with the student section, everybody used the flashlights on their phones to light up DKR. Unfortunately, we were too busy enjoying the moment to capture video. To understand what it was like, check out this author's twitter feed and watch any video we retweeted with the phrase "chills."
Bottom Line: This season has had its ups and downs. But it's had a lot more ups, and a lot fewer downs, than any recent season. With one game to go, we're masters of our own fate. And it feels good.
-------
-------
Westlake High's Finest: Breckyn and Sam embrace following their final home game as teammates.
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Matthew 7:20
Well...it's over.
The Charlie Strong era can best be summed up by the fact that, in a year where they saw the second best single season rushing performance in program history, the team only managed to win five games. It seems impossible for those two facts to exist side-by-side. Nevertheless, that's where we are.
As to yesterday's game, it was the same mix of bad penalties, terrible special teams play, and bizarre play calling that have unfortunately marked the past three years. 5 trips inside the red zone only produced 9 points. That Shane Buchele threw a pick on the final play of the season encapsulates everything.
On the other hand, D'Onta Foreman did become only the second running back in program history to rush for over 2000 yards. For as much as the team struggled this season, Foreman's individual performance was a sight to behold. The play that put him over 2000:
But Foreman's performance was merely a silver lining in what was otherwise a listless and uninspired performance from a team following a coach whose body language throughout the game indicated the degree to which he had become resigned to the status quo:
Bottom Line: Tom Herman, at least on paper, appears to be walking into a pretty good situation. He simply needs to take the flashes of brilliance and have them execute more consistently. Time will tell, but sports is cyclical.
“Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.” Psalm 52:7
Charlie Strong is a good Christian man. The current situation is unfortunate, even as it's become undeniable. That being said, some of the headlines we've seen this week from media outlets that spent years schilling for Bill Powers and the business as usual crowd is a sight to behold:
Bottom Line: The situation with the football program is an unfortunate reflection of the fact that UT is run by a good ol' boy network that protects its own. Perhaps if the above media outlets had insisted upon accountability when the University was creating a 'forgivable loan' slush fund, lying on its financial statements, creating a secret admissions program for the offspring of powerful legislators (and their donors), or raising tuition, the current mess might have been avoided. At a minimum, the irony is rich.
"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." Matthew 7:20
Following back-to-back gutsy wins that had returned the discussion of his future to a close call, Charlie Strong's Longhorns blew yet another winnable game this afternoon against West Virginia at DKR.
Shane Buchele and D'Onta Foreman continued to lead the way. The defense looked better. Unfortunately, even 536 yards of total offense and four turnovers were insufficient in the face of ongoing sloppiness...which is why those four turnovers only begat seven points.
The strange playcalling and clock mismanagement continued as well, with essentially zero rhyme or reason behind going for it/kicking a field goal on fourth down.
Texas had plenty of opportunities for win this game, but the result and the struggles were all too familiar — special teams mistakes, problems on third down on both sides of the ball, and the inability to take advantage of turnovers.
Oh yeah, and the typical game management mistake or two from its embattled head coach.
Bottom Line: We're long past the point of moral victories or progress despite losses. Nobody denies that this team has flashes of brilliance, but consistent execution just isn't there and there's no reason to believe it will emerge under the status quo. To quote the old MTV show, "NEXT"....
