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(Truth in advertising: I am a UT graduate with a bachelor's degree in journalism. I was once a sportswriter who covered UT for a daily newspaper. I count two former Texas football coaches as friends. If you slit my wrist, the blood will probably come out burnt orange.)
It's been a week now since Texas eeked out a one-point victory over Nebraska and I was wondering if my opinion on the outcome might change. It hasn't. Texas was lucky. Real lucky. But then I also remember the Texas-Texas A&M game in 1963, the season Texas won its first national championship. Back then there was no conference championship game, but Texas needed to win the game to finish the season undefeated and have a chance at the national championship. As in last week's Nebraska game, Texas was a heavy favorite over a 2-6-1 Aggie team coached by Hank Folberg. (How many folks remember the name "Hank Folberg"?) Anyway, A&M actually led 13-3 going into the fourth quarter. Texas cut the lead to 13-9, but with four minutes left in the game and Texas driving, A&M's John Brotherton intercepted Texas QB Tommy Wade's pass. It looked like the game was over, but, for some reason Brotherton tried to do too much and lateraled the ball to a teammate. The lateral was fumbled and Texas recovered on the A&M 45-yard-line. With 2:24 left, Wade overthrew his receiver in the end zone and A&M's Jim Willenborg intercepted in the end zone and slid to his knees across the end line. Had there been instant replay in 1963, Texas may not have won that national championship. But, of course, there wasn't and the refs ruled that Willenborg was out of the end zone when he caught the ball. After Wade almost threw another interception, Texas got the ball down to the 1-yard line where Texas' other QB, Duke Carlisle, scored. Texas escaped that game with a 15-13 victory. Texas was lucky that game as well.
Texas went on to dominate No. 2 Navy (quarterbacked by Heisman trophy winner Roger Staubach) in the Cotton Bowl to win the national title that year. I mention that because many believe Texas will be facing an Alabama team this year featuring its only Heisman Trophy winner, halfback Mark Ingram. That shouldn't happen, however.
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (right) deserves the Heisman. Sure he had a subpar game against Nebraska and almost lost it because of poor clock management at the end of the contest. But Ingram had an even worse game the week before against Auburn. The Heisman should be awarded for a full season's work, not one performance in a playoff game. In addition, Ingram and Alabama never had to face a presence like Nebraska tackle Ndamukong Suh, the most dominating defensive player I remember seeing since Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis more than 45 years ago. In fact, I want someone to check Suh's DNA to determine if he really is a mortal human.
There are those who argue the Heisman should not be a career achievement award and, to an extent, I agree. But it should not be overlooked that McCoy is the NCAA's all-time leader in career victories for a QB and that his abilities and capabilities have improved dramatically each season, unlike, say, Florida's Tim Tebow who seems to have regressed since he won the Heisman as a sophomore two years ago (although I will admit the concussion he suffered against Kentucky and the conservative offensive game plans devised by coach Urban Meyer and his staff at Florida may have something to do with Tebow's lackluster performances).
It should also be taken into account that McCoy is a senior and Ingram a sophomore. Those are just a few of the reasons McCoy should be awarded college football's most prestigious individual award tonight.
Finally, Texas this season came across to me as overwhelmingly the best team in a weak conference, but not even the best college team in the state of Texas. I'll be rooting for my Horns against 'Bama, but I don't think they stand much of a chance of winning that game. But, then, I didn't think Texas had much of a chance against USC four years ago. That's why, as the clowns on ESPN say, they play the game.
It's been a week now since Texas eeked out a one-point victory over Nebraska and I was wondering if my opinion on the outcome might change. It hasn't. Texas was lucky. Real lucky. But then I also remember the Texas-Texas A&M game in 1963, the season Texas won its first national championship. Back then there was no conference championship game, but Texas needed to win the game to finish the season undefeated and have a chance at the national championship. As in last week's Nebraska game, Texas was a heavy favorite over a 2-6-1 Aggie team coached by Hank Folberg. (How many folks remember the name "Hank Folberg"?) Anyway, A&M actually led 13-3 going into the fourth quarter. Texas cut the lead to 13-9, but with four minutes left in the game and Texas driving, A&M's John Brotherton intercepted Texas QB Tommy Wade's pass. It looked like the game was over, but, for some reason Brotherton tried to do too much and lateraled the ball to a teammate. The lateral was fumbled and Texas recovered on the A&M 45-yard-line. With 2:24 left, Wade overthrew his receiver in the end zone and A&M's Jim Willenborg intercepted in the end zone and slid to his knees across the end line. Had there been instant replay in 1963, Texas may not have won that national championship. But, of course, there wasn't and the refs ruled that Willenborg was out of the end zone when he caught the ball. After Wade almost threw another interception, Texas got the ball down to the 1-yard line where Texas' other QB, Duke Carlisle, scored. Texas escaped that game with a 15-13 victory. Texas was lucky that game as well.
Texas went on to dominate No. 2 Navy (quarterbacked by Heisman trophy winner Roger Staubach) in the Cotton Bowl to win the national title that year. I mention that because many believe Texas will be facing an Alabama team this year featuring its only Heisman Trophy winner, halfback Mark Ingram. That shouldn't happen, however.
Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (right) deserves the Heisman. Sure he had a subpar game against Nebraska and almost lost it because of poor clock management at the end of the contest. But Ingram had an even worse game the week before against Auburn. The Heisman should be awarded for a full season's work, not one performance in a playoff game. In addition, Ingram and Alabama never had to face a presence like Nebraska tackle Ndamukong Suh, the most dominating defensive player I remember seeing since Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis more than 45 years ago. In fact, I want someone to check Suh's DNA to determine if he really is a mortal human.
There are those who argue the Heisman should not be a career achievement award and, to an extent, I agree. But it should not be overlooked that McCoy is the NCAA's all-time leader in career victories for a QB and that his abilities and capabilities have improved dramatically each season, unlike, say, Florida's Tim Tebow who seems to have regressed since he won the Heisman as a sophomore two years ago (although I will admit the concussion he suffered against Kentucky and the conservative offensive game plans devised by coach Urban Meyer and his staff at Florida may have something to do with Tebow's lackluster performances).
It should also be taken into account that McCoy is a senior and Ingram a sophomore. Those are just a few of the reasons McCoy should be awarded college football's most prestigious individual award tonight.
Finally, Texas this season came across to me as overwhelmingly the best team in a weak conference, but not even the best college team in the state of Texas. I'll be rooting for my Horns against 'Bama, but I don't think they stand much of a chance of winning that game. But, then, I didn't think Texas had much of a chance against USC four years ago. That's why, as the clowns on ESPN say, they play the game.
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