What is realistic for Texas to average going forward?
- Thread starter Jer
- Start date
No, Texas is not back… yet.
Clearly Texas has been a sleeping giant – or a hibernating one for that matter. I’ve always felt that they needed a complete reset to change the attitude and culture inside-out before they could do anything relevant. A huge task, but certainly possible.
While I didn’t see Sark as capable of that when hired, he has certainly cleaned house (step 1). There are hints (game-day and not) that they may being slowly changing things both in recruiting and culturally. Having a few tough-nosed guys like Bijan and Ewers goes a long way in making that easier.
We’ve seen flashes of promise in the past – usually in a big pre-season game or against OU, but they were always superficial and didn’t mask the systemic issues. But I think it feels different this time. Not that they are back, but that they’re moving in the right direction for the first time in over a decade. I’m guessing it will be bumpy this year, especially without Ewers, but I do think they’re evolving.
I could see a scenario where they fit in that Top 1-3 annually in the SEC – primarily being in competition with Alabama, Georgia, and an eventually rebuilt LSU.
Clearly Texas has been a sleeping giant – or a hibernating one for that matter. I’ve always felt that they needed a complete reset to change the attitude and culture inside-out before they could do anything relevant. A huge task, but certainly possible.
While I didn’t see Sark as capable of that when hired, he has certainly cleaned house (step 1). There are hints (game-day and not) that they may being slowly changing things both in recruiting and culturally. Having a few tough-nosed guys like Bijan and Ewers goes a long way in making that easier.
We’ve seen flashes of promise in the past – usually in a big pre-season game or against OU, but they were always superficial and didn’t mask the systemic issues. But I think it feels different this time. Not that they are back, but that they’re moving in the right direction for the first time in over a decade. I’m guessing it will be bumpy this year, especially without Ewers, but I do think they’re evolving.
I could see a scenario where they fit in that Top 1-3 annually in the SEC – primarily being in competition with Alabama, Georgia, and an eventually rebuilt LSU.
I think the biggest question is what happens when they hit adversity... do they fold like they have? or do they continue to build. The Alabama game was a moral victory for Texas (which is hilarious to type).
I think this Saturday's game is a good indicator. They're gonna have to trot out their third string QB (spoiler alert, he was originally committed to Iowa State but went to Texas instead... he was a visitor to the Iowa State vs. Texas game at Trice where Assalley hit the gamewinning FG) against a very good UTSA opponent who almost beat ranked Houston in 3OT....
Sure Texas can get hyped over Bama coming into town... But when a very solid, but no-name program comes into town, how do they look?
Sure Texas can get hyped over Bama coming into town... But when a very solid, but no-name program comes into town, how do they look?
I need to see a little more. They looked GREAT against LSU during their title year and Herman eventually got canned. It seems like they play OU hard most years. So it's tough for me to judge them mostly off Bama game. I was shocked how dumb Bama played.
I didn't see the game. Wasn't that the most penalties they have had in decades? Were they mostly self inflicted injuries (false start, procedure, formation, substitution, delay, UC) or did the play of Texas put them in bad positions (holding, PI, etc.)?
Be interesting to see what happens with Ewers. Initially, they said he would be out 4-6 weeks, and ISU is five weeks out. I think his prognosis has improved since then.
But ISU @ UT is a true trap game for them. One week after the RRR vs OU and one week before a strong road test at OSU. There is a stretch in their schedule that they could lose 3-4 games quickly. Not an easy schedule.
But ISU @ UT is a true trap game for them. One week after the RRR vs OU and one week before a strong road test at OSU. There is a stretch in their schedule that they could lose 3-4 games quickly. Not an easy schedule.
I think we're overreacting to a one game sample. Texas scored 1 TD in that game. Yes Ewers looked good, but I feel like that Alabama team wasn't giving them their best game either.
Give me UTSA +360
Give me UTSA +360
I thought Bama's secondary played so so dumb. There were some "chucked" passes by UT that just baffled them. Some really dumb penalties.
They've averaged 8 wins/year over the past 20 seasons and haven't had consecutive double digit win seasons since 08-09. I don't see that changing significantly, especially now that a large chunk of their schedule will be against similar talent levels.
Texas is interesting because they really have everything you need. Their fans are entitled, but they really could become what Bama is. It is totally different from where Nebraska is where the environmental around them guarantee that they can't meet the expectations of the fanbase.
That said, UT has some work to do to fix their culture. 7-9 is probably realistic near term. But with their talent and resources they should eventually get to a point where 10 win seasons are the norm and they are in the playoff picture annually. Of course they likely screwed that up by moving to the SEC.
That said, UT has some work to do to fix their culture. 7-9 is probably realistic near term. But with their talent and resources they should eventually get to a point where 10 win seasons are the norm and they are in the playoff picture annually. Of course they likely screwed that up by moving to the SEC.
