GQ03

Not just the defense with a pass rush that should be much better (although '24 was really good) but also special teams with us having a future NFL punter in Bouwmeester instead of true freshman Michael Kern.

I'm still trying to figure out how much of that was Sark and how much of that was Quinn. I watched the Vandy game the other night and after we took a two score lead Sark was still dialing it up but that's when the false starts, holding calls and another Quinn pick made the game closer than it needed to be. Same thing with A&M, Sark called a game that should've resulted in 31-0 or 38-0 type game yet key mistakes made it 17-7 instead. Year 1 of Sark saw all of the blown leads but that was Casey Thompson and a Texas team that severely lacked depth so once again, I'm curious to see how much Arch(and this team) changes those dynamics.

Matt Leinart also never had the opportunity to play 16 games. They played 13 at most.

Might be just me but I'll consider it after he signs and is on campus.

I know about the handshakes and money sandwiches but those are still very different than full out bags that were famously being dropped by SEC teams well before it became somewhat legal.

It's college football and the only big games are the ones you lose and for them they remember us not being able to get a yard against OU (Brooks missed a gaping hole on 1st down), not coming through in the red zone vs Washington in the Sugar Bowl, getting punked in Austin by Georgia, losing to Georgia again with their backup QB, and then not being able to gain a yard vs Ohio St. Us dominating Michigan, A&M, Clemson or even Alabama two years ago doesn't matter to these fools. They're going to question you until you're holding the national championship trophy and confetti is dropping on you.

This kid is blowing up!!

Doesn't matter if he's worthy of $5.1M or not, all that matters to Tech is that got one over on Texas.

I could be wrong but I don't think Arch is taking a huge payout from Texas especially with the knowledge of how much he can make outside of the Texas collectives in legit NIL deals like Red Bull, Panini, Canes, EA Sports, etc.

I had heard so many stories about his attitude going all the way back to his 7th grade year. Part of me always wondered if he'd ever even make it to UT and if he ever did, how long would he last with Barnes. I'm extremely surprised he lasted the 3 years that he did.

I usually agree with takes like this but it was completely unnecessary. All he had to do was pick up the ND hat and commit while leaving the Texas hat alone on the table (like he did the aggy hat) but he went out of his way to be disrespectful for no reason. He showed more respect to aggy than he did Texas in that moment. I guess it's fine now that he sent out the PR statement but as Sark says "who you are some of the time is who you are all of the time".

While this is great to hear, it also feels like we may have brought him in a little late as now NIL/pay-for-play seems to be the only factor in recruiting and Texas won't pay what the Kansas, Dukes or Kentuckys pay. Hell, we won't even get close to the likes of BYU, Oregon or Texas Tech.

For me at least there are 3 slots that are indisputable: Ford, Durant and Augustin. The last spot has a lot of guys that I struggle to decide between for various reasons: BJ Tyler - 1st Texas basketball player that I vividly remember. PJ Tucker - To me was the heart & soul of the '06 Elite Eight team even moreso than LA because LA left a little to be desired while I felt Tucker got everything out of his talent. Andrew Jones - For everything he went through off the court and everything he did to get back on the court for Texas plus the kid bleeds burnt orange. Sir'Jabari Rice - Heart & soul of the last elite 8(should've been final four) team. Tremendous leader. Honorable Mention: Brock Cunningham - Played at Texas for what seermed like 10 years under 3 head coaches and bled burnt orange. Represented Texas tough even if it sometimes drifted into the gray areas.

I'm sure Tech will shell out several million for Battie.

I get that you guys could've asked about a million prospects but I was hoping to also hear their thoughts on Beckham Black, Marri Wesley, Chase Richardson and Avery Huston.

Some people think the Aguilar kid they basically traded Nico for may be a better player, just not with the potential upside of Nico.

Men's basketball too.

If Florida gets Henderson to go along with McCoy, does that effect their standing with Kreul? Could that potentially benefit Texas?

Man, I don't know if I want to exist in a world where we'd have to worry about Duke Football stealing our starting LT.

Which doesn't sound like something she'd be capable of doing playing 3rd base and having to make those quick reaction plays she made throughout the WCWS.

Which is what this should've been this whole time.

Actually, in that game after Bamba and Sims fouled out it was Shaka's "brilliance" that decided to guard the 6'9 and #2 pick Marvin Bagley with 6'2 Eric Davis instead of 6'10 future ACC Defensive player of the Year James Banks on the bench.

No, I don't think it was right but the other side of it is that if they want to be paid like professionals then getting cut and replaced will be a part of it too. And again, Nico will have some tough questions to answer when he's sitting in front of NFL personnel trying to explain why he up & left his team. It hits much differently when a QB does it as opposed to any other position. For example, all of the guys like Bear Alexander that shut it down after 4 games didn't get nearly as much attention as the UNLV QB that did the exact same thing.

With a game-manager at QB they're probably in the same spot. That team lived and died with their running game and defense. I don't recall one game that swung their way because of Nico put the team on his back. Regardless, I don't have an issue with these guys making money but there is a right and wrong way to go about it and leaving your team high and dry when you are one of the leaders ain't it.

The thing is he's already been making $2M per year and his production doesn't quite scream that he's underpaid. The bigger thing here is the position that he plays. A QB is supposed to be the leader of the franchise and the last thing they should be doing is walking out on their team. You don't think NFL GMs aren't going to have a huge issue with this and have questions?