Going into this season, most alumni probably looked at the Longhorns’ schedule and let out a long whistle like someone who got stuck with the check at a Brazilian steakhouse. Five games against ranked teams, three of them currently ranked in the Top 10! The only way the Horns schedule could have been any tougher was if it included a road game against the Cowboys in Dallas. So it was understandable why, after last season’s less than stellar performance, this was being called a “rebuilding” season; however, if the first four games of this season have taught us anything, it’s that with an average victory margin of 38 points, this team is ready to win now.
After last season’s disappointing finish, most of the blame was put on a suspect pass defense and the growing pains of sophomore quarterback Colt McCoy. This year, however, instead of being the scapegoats, both the defense and McCoy are the main reason the Horns are 4-0 going into Saturday’s game against Colorado. The defense, which has put last year’s failures behind them, has not allowed a 100-yard rusher and only one 100-yard receiver this year in games that were never close. The fact that only Jarett Dillard of Rice University has been able to top the 100-yard mark just goes to show the lengths that Texas has gone to turn around the defense. The improvement hasn’t just been limited to the pass defense either, as none of the teams that they have faced has scored more than 13 points against the Longhorns. Of course, the defense will be tested by a strong Colorado team that is looking to avenge a two-game losing streak in Boulder, but if UT plays anything like they did in the first four games, the Buffaloes are going to have their work cut out for them.
If the Longhorns are going to survive their brutal schedule and play in a BCS bowl game, then junior Colt McCoy is going to have to continue to play as well as he has to date – 14 touchdown passes and only one interception is an impressive stat, but what’s more impressive is that McCoy is also the Longhorns’ leading rusher. Averaging 8.2 yards every time he runs with the ball, McCoy is doing everything on offense except kicking extra points. Granted, we all know McCoy wouldn’t be putting up any of these numbers if he wasn’t surrounded by a strong offensive line and supported by senior receivers Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby, but I think even they would agree that opposing teams will be facing a more seasoned and confident quarterback this year.
As the Horns prepare for their first big test of the season against the Colorado Buffaloes, don’t be surprised if the Longhorns jump out to an early lead and let the defense rip apart the Buffalo’s offense. For 10 years Mack Brown is one of the best recruiters in the country, bringing in talented athletes from all over the nation, so it should be no surprise that this year’s team is once again strong. Brown may have a shaky record against Oklahoma and Texas A&M, but versus the rest of the league his teams have been practically automatic. Sure, this season’s schedule is harder than getting into the UT Law program, but when it comes to Mack Brown and the Texas Longhorns, history has proven that there is no such thing as a rebuilding year.
This article appears in October 3 • 2008.