The struggle. Every day. Every yard. Every first down. Every touchdown. Every half. Every game. Every week. Every season. The struggle. It can wear you down. The wearing away is a slow process. You find yourself confused. Did I get that done on time? Did I write that blog post about the UT football team?
How many years have the Longhorns won 10 games in a season? Can I keep it going? Why do I keep trying? Another day. Another practice leading up another game.
So it goes for you and I and the Texas Longhorns. We continue the struggle because it’s all we know. We have let it define us. Some years all goes well. Most years there are minor missteps. Some years we’re 4-4 going into a game against an opponent who should be hapless and easy prey. But we’re playing in front of their home crowd and we’re confused. Are we supposed to win this game? Can we ever win a game again? (How does my hair look?) Is Garrett Gilbert good or bad? (I’m late for work.) Is the Texas defense as porous as grandma’s ancient underwear? (I can’t do it.) Struggle. That’s all we can do. That’s all the Texas Longhorns can do at this point. Put one play in front of another. Struggle. Go forward. Why? Because that’s all there is left.
Every season has its milestone. Win 10 games. Win the Big 12 South title. Win the Big 12 championship game. Go to the national championship game. Win. Win. Win. Until you lose. Then there are new milestones — three straight losses at home against teams that should have been easy prey (Are we good enough?) A 30-22 loss to Baylor, the first time to fall to the Bears since 1997, the year of the big firing that brought Mack Brown to town (say that three times quickly and dance). Almost all of these new losses were so close to becoming victories. Waking up too late in the game to win. Wake up. Wake up. Struggle. Struggle.
Yes, Mack, you are in Kansas again and Kansas State never seems like a sure thing, does it? Not now. Maybe not ever again. It’s easy to think that way now. The struggle makes you think that way. One down. Another down. Another game. Will it be another loss? Can Texas win again?
Kansas State has Daniel Thomas, who can run ribbons around the sky. Kansas State has lost two in a row. They know how to lose. Is Texas learning as well? How do you unlearn this lesson? Let Gilbert prove that he is what they say he is this week and you will have your answer. Pass the ball to him. The ball called struggle. Gilbert is a young quarterback. He’s got an arm like a missile (which is partly why his receivers drop so many balls). Go long, Gilbert. Feel the struggle. One down at a time. Learn to win again. It’s not too late. Or is it?
This article appears in November 5 • 2010.