Story Time: Subplots of the Texas Bowl

[HornSports Staff]

Photo: USA Today Sports


By: Matt Cotcher

The difference between 7-6 and 6-7

It seems like yesterday, when Texas fans were enthusiastically prognosticating about the clean slate that was the season ahead of them. It was Charlie Strong's first year, and while there were plenty of unknowns lurking, optimism was high.

Then David Ash was concussed. Again. Then Dominic Espinosa was lost for the season. Then Strong started dismissing players.

All of sudden it's December, and Texas is 6-6. If we're being honest with ourselves, not many of us predicted six losses.

Charlie Strong got what he wanted: six wins and a bowl berth. The Texas Bowl is a nice way for this senior class to end their careers, and the benefit of bowl practices cannot be overstated.

Nevertheless, danger is lurking. A loss to Arkansas in the bowl game means that Strong's first year ends in a losing record at 6-7. Since John Mackovic took over in 1992, Texas has only had two losing seasons. Mackovic did it once in 1997 and Mack Brown did it once (2010).

Now, Charlie Strong faces the ugly opportunity in his first season at the helm. It may only be one game or a handful of percentage points, but it's a vast chasm between 7-6 and 6-7.

A big part of the story of Strong's tenure will be written in the Texas Bowl. The question is....what will be authored?

Longhorns versus The SEC

It was vogue to heap praise on the Southeastern Conference. Now it's trendy to criticize it.

Blame the national media; Blame simple offensive football; Blame the conference manipulating their bowl scenarios...it all results in one thing: "SEC Bias". Look no further than this site's message board and you'll find multiple discussions on the subject among the commented topics.

Enter the Texas Bowl, the Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Horns have an opportunity to help smother the conference's dominance, or promote it. The choice is theirs.

Second-chance Seniors

Senior night did not go as scripted for Jaxon Shipley, Quandre Diggs and the rest of the Texas senior class. The TCU Horned Frogs wrote an alternate ending for that storybook.

Now, in Houston, the Seniors have a second opportunity to finish their careers on a high note. The senior class helped Charlie Strong lay a new foundation for the program this season, and the Texas Bowl can be a nice finishing touch on that foundation.

Most of the Seniors will be remembered for their individual contributions throughout their careers. The bowl game represents an opportunity for them to band together one final time and make a statement as a group. 

 

[Aaron Carrara]

HUGE game for the Longhorns and Strong. He'll get these guys ready but you can't prepare for 6 turnovers by your QB.  

 

[Worster1]

The haughty SEC controlled what team went to what bowl games this season while calculating the value of a W or L for the precious SEC escutcheon. 

Lowly arky is not one of the elite teams or programs in the SEC - sorry piggy-wiggly.  Lowly aggy on the other hand may or may not be viewed as a semi - elite program, but the value of the recruiting pipeline into TEXAS for HS football players for the SEC makes them elite. That is one reason why the cigar chompers in the SEC did not want aggy to play UT and possibly lose the game.  arky lives on the edge of the SEC roof, they are expendable and not huge on the radar if they lose.  If the piggies win, the SEC gets another feather in the cap and goes on down the road.

Aaron is 100% right - this is a such a HUGE game for the CS era and this program.  The Horns REALLY need to win this game - keep the momentum going, keep positive vibes with all the recruits and have a positive ending to a very disjointed, disappointing or otherwise funky season. 

The game vs. piggy will AGAIN come down to execution by Swoopes......

Hook 'Em and....

BEAT THE HELL OUTTA ark-can-saw!!!

 

[popdaddy]

Yep, sec didn't want to risk aggy or LSU, pigs have been sec bottom feeder since they left the SWC.  I have a long history hating the pigs and look forward to the game, Coach Strong and staff can do the things it takes to win.

Hook 'Em!

 

[java]

Worster, my man, don't you mean ark-cant-saw?

 

[dillohorn]

A win here would put a stamp on how this program is on the upswing, and not to mention I wouldn't have to dwell on a season ending loss all winter. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

A win here would put a stamp on how this program is on the upswing, and not to mention I wouldn't have to dwell on a season ending loss all winter. 

I don't want to think about what a loss and 6-7 does to national perception. Fans got upset when Finebaum was talking about Strong losing the locker room earlier this season, and that would be mid in comparison.

 

[Worster1]

I don't want to think about what a loss and 6-7 does to national perception. Fans got upset when Finebaum was talking about Strong losing the locker room earlier this season, and that would be mid in comparison.

Wow, I had not heard that allegation or statement. What exactly did Finebaum say?

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Arkansas is a good program on the rise. This will be a very tough test, but Texas can win if they can stop the run, which I believe is very possible.

 

[Juan]

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