Lots to be grateful. Our Longhorns should be celebrated and appreciated for their grit, character and growth! The future is looking bright.

[Kevin C]

Reading some of the posts this weekend and wow, there are some crazy extreme perspectives out there.    Anyone feeling this morning that the season has been a ‘complete waist’ after likely not making the playoffs (even though we beat OU and A&M by double digits and improved by a mile from Sept to Nov)….. We all have a right to feel what we feel but damn, imo, that doom and gloom outlook is insane.   

Thinking about the journey the past 5 months (going back to the summer), I couldn’t be more proud to be a Texas Longhorn and a TexasEx (class of 93).   Of course it’s disappointing the Horns likely won’t make the playoffs this season.   They were the only team to make it the prior two seasons back to back.  Even Georgia, Bama and Ohio State all missed the playoffs in one of the past 2 seasons.  

Here’s how I look at it.   We suffered through misery from 2010 to 2022, following a great decade of football under Mac.   In my years, Gardere was magical against OU but A&M was typically the tougher team back then.   We had up/down years through the 90s.   After getting past the Applewhite / Simms drama (and several fun years with big games but always being reminded OU and Stoops owned us), we had an incredible run of seasons from 2003 till 2009 with Vince and Colt.   McCoy really came into his own his 3rd year starting (that 2008 season) but there were growing pains for Colt along the way.

Then Mac’s 2010 season began the decline and we suffered through his last 3 seasons followed by Charlie Strong’s rotating door of coaches and Tom ‘the binder’ Herman.   A 12 year drought that completely sucked.   

Now, Sark has us recruiting at an elite level YOY, we have a solid / stable coaching staff (possibly needing a couple upgrades) and our team has the athleticism, fight and character consistently each season that has been rare around the 40 acres. 

Following 2 seasons back to back where we sent the all time 2yr record number of players into the NFL with 25 and being the only team in CFB to make the CFP semi-finals in the past 2 seasons, we have ‘fans’ who are now declaring this season a ‘complete waist’ after going 9-3 and more importantly, a team that showed incredible grit and solid improvement, especially on offense, through the season.   That second half against A&M was a thing of beauty by the offense and defense, led by a lot of young players who are likely all coming back next season.   Our young players grew up a lot this fall and showed incredible character.  

Other pre-season Top 10 favorites like Penn State, Clemson, LSU and Florida all collapsed under the pressure and lost their fight after weaknesses were exposed.   Texas weaknesses got exposed early in the season, the talking heads all went for blood like sharks in the water.   Instead of collapsing under the weight of all the scrutiny, our Horns grew closer/ stronger as a team, fighting to improve one day at a time.   Arch showed nothing but class and a fight that we didn’t know he had.   How many other 5-star QBs have flamed out over the years and never come close to reaching their hype?   Arch pushed through and looked like a completely different player since Miss St magical 4Qtr comeback.   I can’t wait to see what he brings next season. 

We all can agree there were maddening moments on the field this fall (UF and Kentucky top the list).  I think about the players and what they must have felt during those games.   But our team kept fighting.   No quit.   And that second half of the A&M game was the culmination….Friday night was a master class in character, grit and coaching adjustments by a team worth celebrating.   Lots of reasons to be fired up for our Horns and look forward to what’s ahead. 
 

Hook em!! 🐂🧡🤘🏼
 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Kevin C