Champions Removed

On a weekend where USC, LSU, Oklahoma, and Florida all routed their competition, the Texas Longhorns nearly got "App Stated". Ok so Central Florida is a Division 1a school and not 1aa like App State, but it was almost as embarrassing. Yeah it was in Orlando and maybe the concentration level for these young Longhorns wasn't where it needed to be, but only winning by three, is ridiculous.

When Vince Young was the coach of this team, yes I said coach, they would have come out and scored first, and taken the crowd out of the game from the onset. Scoring first would have meant a big time touchdown, not settling for 3. Since the Horns won the championship in 2005 they have lost focus. They only play big when they have to, and they have more trouble off the field than any team outside of Oklahoma and the Miami teams from the 80's and 90's. They have lost a high level of disciple that can possibly be blamed on VY himself. See when Mack let Vince go, let him dance, let him sing, let him act like himself, they succeeded. But the thing was, Vince was no thug. He was a leader, and that was just his way of staying loose and getting jacked for a big game. These guys are not leaders, and they are getting the rep of being thugs. It's getting so bad that Peter the Great, Peter Gardere even spent 5 hours in an Austin jail over the past week for DUI.

After the near debacle at Orlando, Mack talked to ESPN's field reporter and told her that this game was good for his team, and that he learned that they could take a shot from a good team. Mack, are you aware that you where at Central Florida, not the University of Florida. You played an upstart program, not a national contender. I want to hear you say how disappointed you were with the team after that mess.

How would I expect that though, even Mack thought just being the University of Texas was enough. Going for two late in the game to try to make it a 13 point margin when a 12 point lead would have forced two touchdowns to beat you was a mistake and he needs to admit it. Central Florida punting with less than three minutes to play and only having 1 timeout was George O'Leary waving the white flag, all you needed to do Mack was kneel on the ball. But what did you do, you put your fumble prone home run hitter Jamaal Charles in, hoping that he would bust off another long one and make the score look a little more lopsided. But of course when you try to run up the score it comes back to get you. Fumble.

George O'Leary? Yeah, wasn't that the guy that lied on his resume and got canned after one day on the job at Notre Dame? How could this guy get his players to out heart, out hustle, and outwork the Longhorns? Because Mack didn't bring his A game this week. This Texas team still has all the talent and coaching that could make a run to the national championship game in New Orleans, but after three games this year and a brutal off season, Mack needs to step up and take the blame for this mess. He needs to start over and make things right with this team. He needs to own it. Wear it Mack, don't spin it. Take the heat for not being prepared, and vow to make it up to us the rest of the year.

If this keeps up, the Longhorns won't be making it out of October undefeated. And I'm not talking about Oklahoma. They won't beat a K-State team that handled them last year. Things need to change in Austin fast. Mack has told us how tough his job is. He is constantly on the hot seat. And as a young Texas fan who has seen his fair share of great seasons under Mack I will say this, I can stand a losing team that stays out of trouble, but I cannot stand for a team that is in trouble off the field and it bleeds over to the field.

After three weeks, I see Mack at a crossroads with this team. They will walk over Rice, no matter how they play next week, and then they have K-State at home. If they play like they have, they will lose. But can things change for the University of Texas? Because we all know how important that next game is. Another bad loss to Oklahoma and Mack will once again be put on the hot seat, especially with all the baggage he is lugging around. What will you do Mack? This is your toughest coaching job so far. Can you turn them around?