2005 Texas Longhorns Game Preview

[MililaniBuckeye]

...I'll let Milli or someone else tear into "At the Lake." It should be fun to watch!

Let me get a username and hook that clown up...

 

[Jaxbuck]

As was pointed out over on their board, I made 1 small error. Texas did indeed beat KSU, on the road no less, in 2002. KSU finished the season #7 in the AP.

So Macks 3-13 vs AP end of year top 10 while at UT. :!

 

[OilerBuck]

EDIT: First things first...AWESOME analysis!

I can contain this no longer.

That really was a decent analysis....right up until the end. Seriously, if you left out the Coaching in Big Games Section, it would look like Texas in a walk.

Looks like they give the edge to Texas whenever they actually know something about our players. Where they're more in the dark, they give themselves the advantage.

Their stadium will not make that much of a difference

VY doesn't throw like a normal QB so everyone assumes he can't throw. Yes he throws his interceptions, but he also makes his best passes when the chips are down.

I think Tressell is a good coach, but the OSU fans seem to have collective amnesia regarding the 4 losses to teams with losing records since he arrived in Columbus. If he is the best gameday coach in the universe, like the Buckeyes seem to think, then how do they explain those losses? We would have run Mack out of town if he lost 4 games to teams with losing records in the last 4 seasons.

So they fire coaches for losing games to unranked teams...we fire coaches for not being able to win big games. I guess that's why Tressel is here and Mack is there. Tressel occasionally gets upset by a bad team...Brown consistently loses to good ones.

The repeated dry-humping of Tressell by the Buckeye fans speaks volumes about what winning the big prize will do for a coach. They will ignore/accept major coaching blunders in exchange for a national championship.

...spoken like a fan who's never seen one of his own.

Also, the upgrades at LB (although unproven) surely close the gap some on that OSU advantage.

...I really like how these "unproven" linebackers are upgrades over their first-round pick, concensus all-american. Somehow having two brand new starters at LB raises them to the level of a group of all-conference caliber seniors.

I swear those are the most arrogant, delusional fans you will ever run into. If you were stranded on a desert island and only had access to hornfans.com, you would think that Texas had won several straight national titles and that the Buckeyes were a middle of the road Big Ten team.

I see constant references to them dominating the game and having drastically more talent. They talk about how the only chance we have of winning is by them beating themselves and how the Shoe won't make any difference. They give themselves advantages based on uproven players that have been "practice studs" or went nuts on La Lafay-freakin-ette. Every team in the country have these players that are supposed to be the next great <FILL blank the in>, but that never translate into anything.

I swear...it is the #2 team in the country playing AT the #4 team in the country, there is no line and you'd swear it was like they were playing Baylor. I think these are two very even teams, with very different areas of specialties and talents. We are as much behind them in their strengths as they are behind us in our strengths...no more, no less.

I'm sick of being objective and bothering trying to put some legitimate thought into posts, when all they do is disrespect us and spout their homerist propoganda. When they can beat an elite team with an elite defense...I'll drink the kool-aid. Until then GO BUCKS, BOOMER SOONER!

 

[scarletngrey11]

Nice post Oiler, fans on this site are alot more better than other sites, it'll be interesting to see how they react when ohio state wins by over 10.

 

[OilerBuck]

Nice post Oiler, fans on this site are alot more better than other sites, it'll be interesting to see how they react when ohio state wins by over 10.

I don't want to jump the track the other way either...I think it'll be REALLY close. An instant classic.

My problem is that 3yards and the rest of the crew put together a great article with very little (if any) Buckeye skew, and these Texas fans refuse to put any legitimate research into it themselves...instead, just insisting that the world revolves around them. I guess it's a microcosm of the entire state's mentality.

They just want to look at their program and refuse to believe any other exists...until they are beaten.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I don't want to jump the track the other way either...I think it'll be REALLY close. An instant classic.

My problem is that 3yards and the rest of the crew put together a great article with very little (if any) Buckeye skew, and these Texas fans refuse to put any legitimate research into it themselves...instead, just insisting that the world revolves around them. I guess it's a microcosm of the entire state's mentality.

They just want to look at their program and refuse to believe any other exists...until they are beaten.

Then it will just be the coaches fault. They will never admit they were beaten by a better team.

 

[scarletngrey11]

the best though is how seemingly they all think that just about anyone in their secondary is fast enough to cover ginn. or how they think that their linebackers and running backs will be better than last year even with the loss of two 1st rounders.

 

[Jaxbuck]

the best though is how seemingly they all think that just about anyone in their secondary is fast enough to cover ginn. or how they think that their linebackers and running backs will be better than last year even with the loss of two 1st rounders.

for me personally the best is them not even attempting to refute the stats on what a bad coach Mack Brown is. It seems theres a moment of silence follwed by " yeah but VY is really fast.."

 

[scarletngrey11]

or the comparing of the shoe to arkansas' stadium.

"yeah but theres alot of tradition, blah blah blah"

yeah im sorry, but thats bullshit.

 

['98 Horn]

Great write-up!

Charles was UT's best back last week (vision and speed): 1 TD, 14 carries for 135 yards, No fumbles, 1 rec for 18 yards.

Selvin took a helmet on his injury from last year and panicked. He has great talent but has been hurt throughout HS and at UT.

Melton is a freak at 6'3 270lbs with quick feet and great balance. 6 carries and 65 yards with 2 TD and one fumble that went out of bounds.

Ramonce is a utility guy w/ incredible speed but not an everydown RB.

 

[scarletngrey11]

sorry everyone, but i wasnt particulary impressed with melton, after all the talk i was expecting more, he was slow through the line of scrimmage and stood upright like he was begging for a huge hit. keep in mind that he probably weighed more than any player on la laf's defense. before i watched the game i was afraid of him getting the ball against us, but now that ive watched it honestly i hope he does.

 

['98 Horn]

Melton is not an every down back, but an excellent change of pace.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

I truly belive that those guys are underestimating the Shoe. I read their posts, and saw that several said that we are placing too much stock in our home field advantage. The numbers don't lie.... We have never lost a home night game..and rarely lose against top 10 teams at home.

I think they'll begin to understand what we say when ABC goes to a live feed on Saturday.

That place will be absolutely jammin. I saw a segment on the news how they may shuttle people from the State fair for parking...........

 

[Clarity]

I truly belive that those guys are underestimating the Shoe. I read their posts, and saw that several said that we are placing too much stock in our home field advantage. The numbers don't lie.... We have never lost a home night game..and rarely lose against top 10 teams at home.

I think they'll begin to understand what we say when ABC goes to a live feed on Saturday.

That place will be absolutely jammin. I saw a segment on the news how they may shuttle people from the State fair for parking...........

It's definitely a "have to be in it, to understand it" thing, I think.

I remember WSU, NCSU, UW and TTech fans saying the exact same things. The most relevant here being TTech, as they run in the same circles as the Longhorns. As we all know, every single one of those groups came back after the game saying that "now I/we understand what you guys meant".

Win or lose, the Longhorns will too. Some schools show up in "best game day atmosphere"/"best stadium"/"best home field advantage" lists because they have great traditions, or special 'events' that go on at different points in the game. We're always on these lists, and always towards the top, because the size and shape of the Shoe, the sheer volume of it all -- well, hey, let's read quotes from their team once they've been down on the field near the Block O trying to get a play off. Plus it's a night game, and we all know that something happens with those. Not some intangible magic, but some very real, very perceptible change in the fans. I think it has something to do with the lights making our jerseys sort of explode scarlet, and the helmets gleam almost like they're chromed instead of just silver. Or maybe it's because by 8pm, everyone's had a few extra beers in them. Whatever it is, these are *always* the highest energy, biggest crowd response and volume games.

I don't care where else Texas has played. There are some stadiums that are completely unique and awe-inspiring experiences, and the Shoe is one of them. I don't say that as a fan, I'm merely paraphrasing countless players and coaches who came in not understanding, but left with a firm grasp of that fact.

Without regard to the outcome of the game, I also predict we will hear the following;

"We just couldn't get our game plan going."
"Our guys just didn't perform in T, U and V phase of the game."
"Player W and/or X are just *way* better than we expected."
"Couldn't believe the ground was literally shaking."
"So glad next year's game is at home in Texas."
"Hours later, I still hear the crowd in my head."
"Seemed like we were outcoached in Y and/or Z phase of the game."

Make no mistake, I think our guys will have things to say too. But I expect to hear all of that in my post-game reading.

Many Texas fans simply don't understand Ohio State, the way Ohio State fans don't really understand Texas. I had to laugh when some of them said things on Hornsfans like "they almost have a history like ours", "they're almost as respected a program as ours", "they're almost as relevant as we are." That's just a byproduct of what they're familiar with being the Big XII, and what we're familiar with being the Big Ten. We've never faced, so most Texas fans only know us through Sportscenter and Gameday.

Which probably explains why one of them asserts that we're under investigation for "major NCAA violations." I sort of wanted to drop him a line to let him know that it's good to watch ESPN at least once a season to keep up with the current events -- but I didn't see the point. For any confused Longhorns reading, we were investigated by the NCAA after Clarett and Tom Friend from ESPN made several scathing accusations. We were cleared, in total. Then in an unprecedented move, the investigation was reopened and run from scratch. There was a single violation found, one that we had already discovered and addressed with. Troy Smith got some cash after the Michigan game, so he missed the bowl game, and our season opener. Our basketball took some lumps for decisions made by the former coach who decided his humanitarian views outweighed NCAA restrictions -- but the football team is *the most closely watched and investigated program on this decade* and they found one (1) minor infraction, and cleared us not once, but twice.

Stick the NCAA investigative team in the other 24 teams in the top 25, and I think it would be very easy for fans to agree that it would be *highly* unlikely that everyone else would come out similarly unscathed and redeemed. But that's neither here nor there, the bottom line is we're *not* being investigated for major or minor violations. You don't have to believe me, watch a tape of Sportscenter or Gameday that's more recent than, say, 2003-mid 2004.

This is going to be a great game. Texas may well be, or at least someone could make an argument that they might be the most talented team in the country. But we could make that claim about them the last few years, and while they have an awesome overall record to show for it, they don't have any trophies to speak of. Big games have been a problem. Something we Buckeyes can *totally* understand and commiserate with.

Does that mean they'll crumble in the Shoe? Nah. They'll be up for this game, so will we. We have definite match up advantages, they have definite match up advantages, but top to bottom, these are both incredibly deep and capable teams. Both well coached. Both well recruited. Both well prepared.

That's at least partially why it's the biggest game of the year.

Texas fans expect to win, and have valid reasons for feeling that way. We expect to win (collectively), and have valid reasons for feeling that way. Someone is going to come away disappointed.

Me? I think it comes down to the two lines facing one another, and I allow that Texas has a relatively clear advantage here on paper. But that's not something we're unfamiliar with, and there are a number of games in recent memory where despite "better" lines, it's their QB spending key moments on their back. Ours making key plays despite moments in the pocket (or out) with a razor thin margin of error.

Anyway, I cannot wait for this game. Can only compare how much I'm looking forward to it to how I felt before the Fiesta Bowl against Miami.

I'll close by saying that I feel comfortable and confident as it approaches. I'll also say that both teams are going to come out of this game *more* prepared to make a run through the rest of their schedules and towards the title game than any other two teams in the country. I'd have drawn a parallel there to Miami and Florida State before, but their game was so ugly, I don't think they'll have taken as much away from the experience as I expect both the Buckeyes and Longhorns to. This is almost like a mini title game to start the season, where the media darlings (USC, deservedly) are simply not invited so that their eventual opposition might be tested and tentatively named.

Epic game.

Preview writers, you're getting largely glowing reviews from other teams fan sites all over. Offsite praise from some largely hostile audiences sends a pretty loud message, you did a hell of a job. If a group of Buckeye fans can turn something like that out, why can't a 'non-biased' commercial media firm do better? Lol, not a rhetorical question -- the answer is simple, because we fans care more.

 

[AirForceBuck]

GREAT job guys. Excellent write up.