The thread wherein the national media sucks off Texas for the first time in over a decade

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

Enjoy the fuck out of this.

First one up:

 

With masterful closing moments at Alabama, Texas finds a fresh peak

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/09/09/texas-beats-alabama/

"TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Texas, first down at the its 30-yard line, 7:14 left, Texas ahead 34-24, C.J. Baxter runs left, three yards . . .

Texas couldn’t really run out all this clock here on Alabama’s home field, could it?"

[Goredho 17341]

Paywall.

[Deej 76524]

Listening to one of the XM sports stations this morning and they were amazed we ran 9 straight times in the 4th to seal it. 

"Has anyone ever done that to Alabama?"

 

[Thatguy 8492]

We will take our fellating happily.

[Pato del Muerto 52336]

3 minutes ago, Thatguy said:

We will take our fellating happily.

It’s impolite not to

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

TEXAS LITERALLY ROLLS OVER ALABAMA TO SHOW HOGS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT THE SEC IS NO SURPRISE TO THEM

https://www.si.com/college/arkansas/hogs-football/razorbacks-alabama-crimson-tide-texas-longhorns-sec-sam-pittman

"Texas showed it's well aware what coming to SEC means"

[89Horn 1492]

7 minutes ago, Deej said:

Listening to one of the XM sports stations this morning and they were amazed we ran 9 straight times in the 4th to seal it. 

"Has anyone ever done that to Alabama?"

 

Add to that, it was a 7 minute plus possession.  They had to be thinking “WTF?!”

[Surly Bevo 24692]

To quote the guy we vanquished last night....."rat poison"

[Deej 76524]

3 minutes ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

"Texas showed it's well aware what coming to SEC means"

Cousin fucking?

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

TEXAS IS READY FOR THE SEC, BUT THE SEC DOESN'T SO TOUGH RIGHT NOW
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/texas-is-ready-for-the-sec-but-the-sec-doesnt-look-so-tough-right-now/3334184/

"Instead of asking whether Texas is ready for the SEC, maybe we should be asking if the SEC is ready for Texas."

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

Finebaum may be looking under his sink for some Drano. 

[texas08 1599]

Fentanyl potency headlines. Give me moar.

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

3 minutes ago, Doc Daneeka said:

Finebaum may be looking under his sink for some Drano. 

Finebaum sucked us off on Sport Center this morning. Can't find clips online though, but he literally said "Texas is back."

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

What Texas beating Alabama says about Longhorns’ prospects in SEC — and CFP

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-longhorns/2023/09/09/what-texas-beating-alabama-says-about-longhorns-prospects-in-sec-and-cfp/

"The stunning 34-24 upset was Texas’ biggest regular-season win since beating No. 4 Ohio State in 2005, a season that ended in a national title."

[Pancho 44437]

Bro, chill…

[Thatguy 8492]

2 minutes ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

Finebaum sucked us off on Sport Center this morning. Can't find clips online though, but he literally said "Texas is back."

 

Finny looks like he wants to cry. Makes reference to "Saban doesn't have it anymore".

[wood 11121]

These guys liking us makes me a little nervous. Feels like a trap.

[ousux 5586]

Great game last night, still a looot of football left to play. Let them suck all they want but we might want to avoid fellating ourselves after game 2. The team needs to stay focused and remember the Rig12 refs won't do us any favors.

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

The Eyes of Texas are twinkling

https://www.si.com/college/tmg/mark-blaudschun/college-football-plus-texas-week-2

"There was nothing fluky about this victory folks. From the start to the finish, UT was the better team and arguably, the better coached, prepared team, which is a vote of confidence Texas coach Steve Sarkasian has not heard very often the past few years."

[Radical Larry 28528]

Finebaum may be looking under his sink for some Drano. 

If he’s out of Drano, I’ll have some delivered.

[gofuckyourself 8121]

Oh good, the media loves Texas and says "they're back" ... that's been proven to win some championships.

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

8 minutes ago, wood said:

These guys liking us makes me a little nervous. Feels like a trap.

None of these fuckwits like Texas. They're chewing glass writing these pieces. They just can't deny the reality of what they witnessed.

[89Horn 1492]

9 minutes ago, Thatguy said:

 

Finny looks like he wants to cry. Makes reference to "Saban doesn't have it anymore".

Paraphrasing interesting take from Finebaum:  the atmosphere was amazing including every big time recruit in the country in attendance and if your are the number 1 recruit, you’re going to be in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night.  And if you are number 1 and watching that game, which side do you want to play for?

[Smax 3800]

19 minutes ago, Thatguy said:

 

Finny looks like he wants to cry. Makes reference to "Saban doesn't have it anymore".

lots of bama excuses, minimal props to Texas, fuck that penishead 

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

45 minutes ago, Goredho said:

Paywall.

Spoiler

https://www.textise.net/showText.aspx?strURL=https%3A//www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/09/09/texas-beats-alabama/#main-content

With masterful closing moments at Alabama, Texas finds a fresh peak
No. 11 Texas 34, No. 3 Alabama 24
By Chuck Culpepper
Updated September 10, 2023 at 2:27 a.m. EDT|Published September 9, 2023 at 10:57 p.m. EDT
Quinn Ewers led Texas to a win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
8 min

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Texas, first down at the its 30-yard line, 7:14 left, Texas ahead 34-24, C.J. Baxter runs left, three yards . . .

Texas couldn’t really run out all this clock here on Alabama’s home field, could it?
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Second and seven at the 33, Jonathon Brooks runs right, five yards . . .

College football winners and losers: Utah always seems to find a way

Could Texas really take the superiority over Alabama it had carried all through a whiplash Saturday evening of highbrow college football and cement it with a pulverizing finish that left Alabama looking sort of meek? Could it use this last drive to loose all manner of national chatter about the end of the Alabama dynasty and the beginning of something fresh at Texas after 13 seasons of dreary lukewarmth with that 91-72 record since 2009-10?

“You have to be able to run the football when they know you’re going to run the football,” third-season Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian said after his uppermost win in his 27th Texas game since relocating in January 2021 from his offensive coordinator post at Alabama.

Third and two at the 38, Brooks runs left, three yards, first down, timeout Alabama, 5:19 left.

What an unusual thud for Alabama, with the 10 penalties for 90 yards, the two false starts for illegal snaps, the Texas receivers running in open prairie in the fourth quarter after Alabama led 16-13 and looked to put the clamp down, the struggles of quarterback Jalen Milroe and his fourth-quarter interception to Jerrin Thompson that helped Texas to a 27-16 lead, and now this closing scene. It’s this drive you never thought you’d see in all the Nick Saban years, in the seventh home loss in his 17 seasons here, the worst of the seven, and only the second since 2015.

The stands of 100,077 start to empty.

The Texas fans remain and shout, “SEC! SEC!”

“We’ve worked long and hard on the cultural aspect of it,” Sarkisian said. The Arkansas loss two years ago, to name one debacle, receiver Xavier Worthy said, felt like a bunch of separate entities. Now, it feels like something else.

First down at the 41, Brooks runs middle for two yards, timeout Alabama, 5:14 left.

What an unusual peak for Texas, entering the national conversation for something other than towering underachievement, constructing two 75-yard drives in the fourth quarter, responding when Alabama led 16-13, and also when Alabama pulled within 27-24 with 11 minutes still left and the crowd started roaring like nuts and Texas linebacker Jaylan Ford would say, “I’ll even say myself my heart started racing a little bit. We were up by three but it felt like we were losing the way the crowd (was roaring).”

Buckner: On a somber football weekend, U-Va. finds a way forward

“We focused on the opportunity all week,” quarterback Quinn Ewers said. “We were all fired up for the opportunity.”

The opportunity.

“We were confident in our abilities, and it showed.”

Second and eight at the 43, Brooks runs middle, one yard, timeout Alabama, 5:09 left.

It wound down with Ewers just handing off the ball, time and again, a perfect display of football mastery. He had played well in Texas’s 20-19 loss to Alabama in Austin a year ago, but a Dallas Turner hit had thrown his shoulder to the ground and ended his day at one quarter. He had returned after three missed games and had done well enough, but even the keenest football viewers couldn’t gauge his actual prowess, and people yakked about his insufficient deep throws.

Now the second-year quarterback still toting around the No. 1 recruit millstone had himself a milestone night. He didn’t overwhelm — 24-for-38 for 266 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions — but he did do something maybe stouter: He stayed in.

Sarkisian: “I don’t think the moment was too big for him.” And: “To be in this environment and not have one false start.” And: “And it’s not like we lined up in static formations.” Also: “He never got stuck in his first read.” And: “He has a really good understanding of what we were calling passing-wise, and that ball was getting out.” And so: "I think it can serve as a springboard for Quinn, if he can re-create the (practice) habits.”

“Maybe so,” Ewers said of the breakthrough idea. “I guess that’s up to you guys (media).” Caution: “I mean, it’s still early.” Brooks: Ewers was “just being a vocal leader; when things didn’t go our way, he made sure we were still up.” Defensive end T’Vondre Sweat: “He’s a dog.”

Now, though, he was handing off.

Terrapins shake off nightmarish start at home and rally past Charlotte

Third and seven at the 44, Brooks middle and then left, 14 yards, first down.

“In the end,” Sarkisian said, “as the game wore on, you could kind of feel some of the coverage going to Xavier, and that kind of created some plays” for other guys. Worthy did not mind. "He was recognizing the double-coverage,” Sarkisian said, “and he said, ‘That’s a good thing.’”

On the 75-yard drive in just three plays that pushed Texas ahead 20-16, Ewers floated one on the left to tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, who had enough open prairie to charge up the left and then over to the right for 50 yards all told, to the Alabama 7-yard line. The next play brought Ewers’s touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell.

On the 75-yard drive in seven plays that pushed Texas ahead 34-24 with 8:23 left, Ewers found Jordan Whittington short to the right for a 31-yard rumble, and then Mitchell gapingly and achingly behind the defense for a 39-yard touchdown after which Mitchell blew kisses to the audience.

“Nice kisses,” he winked. “I love everybody.”

First down, Alabama 42-yard line, Keilan Robinson, middle, three yards, inside four minutes.

Mitchell transferred over from twice-defending national champion Georgia, where his 40-yard touchdown catch from Stetson Bennett in the 2021-22 national championship game in Indianapolis nudged Georgia ahead of Alabama 19-18. On Saturday night, he caught three for 78 yards, the two touchdowns.

“He makes plays,” Ewers said. “That’s what he does. So happy he’s on our team.”

“The work never stops,” Mitchell said.

Second and seven, Alabama 39-yard line, Brooks runs middle, no gain.

In the end, Sarkisian would hug his former boss and tell something in Saban’s ear. Saban would look positively crestfallen walking off, as if from just the manner of how it happened.

Third and seven, Alabama 39-yard line, Brooks up the middle for four yards, inside three minutes left.

“I would not be standing in front of you guys if not for Nick Saban,” Sarkisian said afterward, soon adding, “University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, changed my life.” His life famously had gone messy when Saban extended “an olive branch.” And so: “To come here and to play them and to play the way we played, it’s humbling.”

Fourth and three, Alabama 35-yard line, Texas lines up, Alabama jumps offside, first down.

Here was Alabama as you’ve seldom, if ever, seen Alabama: in beaten disarray.

“It’s great to have emotion and play with emotion,” Saban said, his hopes for one last large hurrah dealt a dent. “Everybody should have that. But that emotion has to be channeled into tangible, functional execution. So you’ve got to focus on the task at hand, one play at a time. It’s got to be very intentional. If you get emotional” — and he carried out the “al” syllable on that — “then you make bad choices and decisions. Your brain doesn’t work like it needs to and bad things happen, whether you make a mistake on defense, whether you snap the ball poorly, whether you jump offsides.”

First down, Alabama 30-yard line, Ewers takes a knee, loss of two.

The Texas locker room would boom with joy, audible through the walls. “It was amazing,” Brooks said.

Second down, Ewers takes a knee, loss of two.

“I think Sark did a good job of instilling confidence in us,” Ford said, of the coach who prevented the fear he certainly noticed in many a team in that visiting locker room in this hallowed place.

Third down, Ewers takes a knee, loss of two, end of game.

“Seven minutes to go,” Sarkisian said, “and finishing the game with the ball in our hands and never giving it back to them. It’s kind of indicative of how far we’ve come.”

 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Hagbard Celine

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

41 minutes ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

TEXAS LITERALLY ROLLS OVER ALABAMA TO SHOW HOGS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT THE SEC IS NO SURPRISE TO THEM

https://www.si.com/college/arkansas/hogs-football/razorbacks-alabama-crimson-tide-texas-longhorns-sec-sam-pittman

"Texas showed it's well aware what coming to SEC means"

copypasta <"paste without formatting" for windroid> to embargo enemy impressions - only post the headline in the clear - post the url and the PLAINTEXT spoiled

that's the way you do it

money for nothing, and your chicks for free

Spoiler

https://www.si.com/college/arkansas/hogs-football/razorbacks-alabama-crimson-tide-texas-longhorns-sec-sam-pittman

For months, we've had to endure the talking heads rattle on that Texas and Oklahoma will find life won't be the same when they join the SEC for next football season. The hope was they would wilt at the pressure and struggle with the line play.

I heard the same things about Texas A&M and Missouri in 2012. It's been the assumption from this corner all along about the same thing was very possible with this expansion. The Longhorns strolled into Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala, on Saturday night and gave a pretty good indication they weren't overwhelmed.

Handing Alabama the first home double-digit loss of Nick Saban's college coaching career led to The Eyes of Texas playing at the end of the game instead of whatever it is the Crimson Tide have become accustomed to hearing at that time. The Longhorns walked out with a 34-24 win.

Arkansas fans were in a confusion position even before the game. They didn't know who to hate more, Alabama or Texas. A lot of folks hate both of them, but probably the majority has a stronger dislike of burnt orange than crimson red, even though they have beating the Horns twice since they last beat the Tide in 2006.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman knows things are going to get tougher on the field ... and in the all-important recruiting area. Now Texas and Oklahoma, two programs always ranked above the Hogs in those rankings, now offer the same incentive of playing against the best. Throw SMU into that mix now and things in Texas have gotten a little tighter.

The Sooners won't play any SEC teams this year, but it's probably a good bet they are preparing their teams for the league. Don't base a 2024 projection on what these teams are doing now. That even goes for the Hogs.

You can bet Pittman knows what's coming on the field, too. It will just be another couple of obstacles in the SEC. More than that, it's a sign of changing times in college football and it won't get easier or cheaper. You might want to hold off making any projections about Texas and Oklahoma in the league for a year.

And, just in case you forgot, Texas A&M was 11-2 while Missouri was winning SEC East titles two years in a row. I listened to one talking head after another say it would be a decade before either of them built up the lines enough to compete. That was also before the transfer portal.

 

[texas08 1599]

 
Finny looks like he wants to cry. Makes reference to "Saban doesn't have it anymore".

These guys talking about saban retirement “hypotheticals”…

They want Deion, LMFAO.

I don’t blame them, but they’re practically over Saban.

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

41 minutes ago, Surly Bevo said:

To quote the guy we vanquished last night....."rat poison"

yup

time to start sobering up

we have a crusade to weaponize

i want to pave over yormarkco with a 10-foot diameter steamroller

we have the instrument in the right place at the right time to exact retribution for 50 years of bitchassedness on the way out the door

they want big evil texas?

let's give it to them

UP THE ASS

NO LUBE AT ALL

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

2 minutes ago, Hagbard Celine said:

yup

time to start sobering up

we have a crusade to weaponize

i want to pave over yormarkco with a 10-foot diameter steamroller

we have the instrument in the right place at the right time to exact retribution for 50 years of bitchassedness on the way out the door

they want big evil texas?

let's give it to them

UP THE ASS

NO LUBE AT ALL

I’d bet a lot of money that Sarkisian has already started this process.

[Tex Long 4342]

40 minutes ago, ousux said:

... we might want to avoid fellating ourselves ...

Why on Earth would you want to do that? I mean, assuming you could do it in the first place.

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

1 hour ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

TEXAS IS READY FOR THE SEC, BUT THE SEC DOESN'T SO TOUGH RIGHT NOW
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/texas-is-ready-for-the-sec-but-the-sec-doesnt-look-so-tough-right-now/3334184/

"Instead of asking whether Texas is ready for the SEC, maybe we should be asking if the SEC is ready for Texas."

Spoiler

https://www.textise.net/showText.aspx?strURL=https%3A//www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/texas-is-ready-for-the-sec-but-the-sec-doesnt-look-so-tough-right-now/3334184/#content

 Texas is ready for the SEC, but the SEC doesn't look so tough right now
By Ralph D. Russo • Published 4 hours ago • Updated 4 hours ago
AP Photo/Vasha Hunt

Texas is ready for the Southeastern Conference. Then again, the SEC doesn't look so tough right now.

In their final season as a member of the Big 12, the No. 11 Longhorns made a statement against Alabama and came away with the biggest victory of Steve Sarkisian's three seasons as Texas coach.

Is Texas back? Who cares? Here's what's important: Texas was better than No. 3 Alabama in almost every way in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night.

The biggest difference between the two? Texas has difference-makers at quarterback and wide receiver.

“The players understood that we're good enough to come in here and win. But the moment doubt starts to creep in, that's when you start making the mistakes that get you beat,” Sarkisian said.

A year after losing by one to the Crimson Tide in Austin, the Longhorns never had a reason to doubt they belonged.

Quinn Ewers was every bit the five-star QB he was touted to be for the Longhorns, throwing for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Sarkisian has always been one of college football's best play callers. He won a national championship with Alabama in 2020 and helped turn DeVonta Smith into a Heisman Trophy winner.
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Now with Texas, Sarkisian has a wealth of weapons in receivers Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders, and he used them to carve up his old bosses' defense.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban's team had not lost a regular-season nonconference game since 2007, a 57-game winning streak that was the longest of its kind since the AP poll started in 1936. Alabama also saw its 21-game home winning streak end.

Be careful in pronouncing the dynasty dead, but coming off a two-loss season, Alabama still doesn't look like its old scary self.

“This was a test for everybody. For me, for the staff, for the players. We didn’t do very well, but it’s the midterm, not the final,” Saban told reporters.

For most of Saban's historic run with Alabama, he has dominated his former assistant coaches. Sarkisian is just the third to beat Saban in 31 tries, but all three have come in the last three seasons.

“It all starts with me, and I obviously let our team down with the way we executed," Saban said.

It's not just Alabama. The SEC as a whole has had a rough start to the season, going 3-6 against Power Five teams, including 1-4 against the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Mississippi State's overtime victory over Arizona helped salvage the weekend for the SEC and finally handed the Pac-12 its first loss after 18 straight victories to start the season.

Instead of asking whether Texas is ready for the SEC, maybe we should be asking if the SEC is ready for Texas.
HURRICANE WARNING

Last September's Texas A&M-Miami game was a slog that portended disappointing seasons for both programs.

A little more than a year later, the Aggies and Hurricanes played a game that barely resembled the same sport, one that should bring hope for both — and maybe a real breakthrough for Miami coach Mario Cristobal.

The Hurricanes broke a five-game losing streak against SEC teams — notice a theme — running away from No. 23 Texas A&M 48-33 in one of the most encouraging performances by The U of the last decade.

“We work hard, we practice hard, we train hard," Cristobal told reporters. "We felt if we’d eventually eliminate mistakes we’d take control of the game.”

The celebration of Miami's biggest nonconference victory since the 'Canes pounced on Notre Dame in a deafening Hard Rock Stadium in 2017 was tempered by a scary late-game injury to All-America safety Kamren Kinchens, who was carted off on a stretcher.

Cristobal said the initial report he received on Kinchens was positive.

There is no way to overstate how bad Cristobal's first season was at Miami last year. The Hurricanes didn't just finish 5-7; they also had a series of embarrassing performances and team chemistry bad enough to be visible.

Everything about the Hurricanes looked different against the Aggies, starting with Tyler Van Dyke, who passed 374 yards and five touchdowns. Miami has discovered weapons in Jacolby George (three touchdown catches) and Brashard Smith (98-yard kickoff return).

They helped erase an early 14-3 deficit.

“I think last year, I think we would have quit, honestly,” Van Dyke told reporters.

The Hurricanes' victory capped a huge opening two weeks for the ACC against the SEC. The last time the ACC had four wins in an entire season against the SEC was 2017.

As for the Aggies, it will be tough to sell moral victories to the folks in College Station after going 5-7 last season.

Coach Jimbo Fisher seems to have an offense now, coordinated by Bobby Petrino and led by Conner Weigman (336 yards, two TDs and two picks).

That's the good news.

The bad? A&M is 3-9 in its last 12 games against Power Five teams. Oh, and Texas just beat 'Bama.
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

In front of a full house at Folsom Field, Deion Sanders and Colorado showed that last week's rousing upset at TCU was no fluke.

Shedeur Sanders and Co. turned it on in the second half to rout of old Big Eight rival Nebraska and set up a huge rest of September for the No. 22 Buffaloes that includes hosting ESPN's “College GameDay” next week before playing Colorado State.

The more notable story in Boulder on Saturday was the other team with a famous first-year coach.

Matt Rhule is taking a different approach to rebuilding Nebraska and there are already signs that, much like at his other college stops, the Huskers might take a step back before moving forward.

Rhule has talked a lot about how Nebraska is in much better shape than the previous programs he took over at Temple and Baylor. That might be true, but his rebuilds tend to take a minute. Temple was 2-10 in Rhule's first season. Baylor was 1-11. Both took big leaps in Year 2 and won double-digit games in Year 3.

“I think we’re better than we’re showing. But what does that mean? It’s just words,” Rhule said. “I told the team, ‘We’re going to get this right.’”

Nebraska fans' impatience can be forgiven after six straight losing seasons.

The Huskers have home games against Northern Illinois and Louisiana Tech the next two weeks, but a quick fix doesn't seem to be in the cards.
AROUND THE COUNTRY

The Pac-12's season-opening heater ended after dark Saturday night with Cal letting one get away to Auburn and Arizona State falling to Oklahoma State. The Pac-12 is 19-3 against nonconference opponents, including 6-3 vs. Power Five. … Virginia returned to Scott Stadium for its first home game since the shooting death of three teammates last November. The Cavaliers looked as if they might have a storybook return, grabbing a 35-24 lead against James Madison in the third quarter when Mike Hollins, a survivor of the shooting, scored a touchdown. The Dukes pulled out the win with a late touchdown, but Virginia might have found something to build on in freshman quarterback Anthony Colandrea. … Thunderstorms in ACC country wreaked havoc with the early part of the day’s schedule. No. 10 Notre Dame’s 45-24 victory against North Carolina State was delayed for 1 hour, 45 minutes in the first half. Sam Hartman, in his fourth career start against N.C. State after three while at Wake Forest, helped the Fighting Irish snap the Wolfpack’s streak of 16 straight games holding opponents under 31 points, which was the longest in the country. … No. 12 Utah improved to 2-0 without starting quarterback Cam Rising by rallying from behind to win at Baylor. Utah nearly gave away the victory in the final 20 seconds amid brain freeze, and it may have caught a break on a non-called pass interference on the last play. … Iowa beat rival Iowa State in a typical CyHawk affair. The Hawkeyes had a pick six and a blocked field goal. After two games, the Hawkeyes are averaging 22 points per game. The magic number for offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz to ensure he keeps his job is 25.

 

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

1 hour ago, wood said:

These guys liking us makes me a little nervous. Feels like a trap.

i concur

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

1 hour ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

What Texas beating Alabama says about Longhorns’ prospects in SEC — and CFP

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-longhorns/2023/09/09/what-texas-beating-alabama-says-about-longhorns-prospects-in-sec-and-cfp/

"The stunning 34-24 upset was Texas’ biggest regular-season win since beating No. 4 Ohio State in 2005, a season that ended in a national title."

Spoiler

https://www.textise.net/showText.aspx?strURL=https%3A//www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-longhorns/2023/09/09/what-texas-beating-alabama-says-about-longhorns-prospects-in-sec-and-cfp/#main-content

What Texas beating Alabama says about Longhorns’ prospects in SEC — and CFPThe stunning 34-24 upset was Texas’ biggest regular-season win since beating No. 4 Ohio State in 2005, a season that ended in a national title.

[Image: Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrates the team's win over Alabama in an NCAA college...]
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) celebrates the team's win over Alabama in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)(Vasha Hunt / ASSOCIATED PRESS)

By Kevin Sherrington

11:54 PM on Sep 9, 2023 CDT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Quinn Ewers picked up Saturday where he left off last year against Alabama, this time hanging around to celebrate not only a signature win but also a portent of what might be, at last.

Texas may not be back, but it’s in the neighborhood.
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And a pretty tough neighborhood, at that.
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The 11th-ranked Longhorns’ stunning 34-24 upset of third-ranked Alabama before 100,077 at Bryant-Denny Stadium was their biggest regular-season win since beating fourth-ranked Ohio State at the Horseshoe in 2005, a season that ended in a national championship at the Rose Bowl.
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Could Texas’ win Saturday lead to the same result in Steve Sarkisian’s third season?

Consider first what the Longhorns achieved in Nick Saban’s house, where he’s lost just nine times. Two of those were against teams from Texas. The Aggies’ rousing upset in 2012 sewed up Johnny Manziel’s Heisman argument. Before he can make a similar case, Ewers still has a long way to go, as does Texas, but these are the kinds of performances and wins on which foundations are built.
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Related:Texas-Alabama reactions: Longhorns show they are ‘SEC ready’ in Tuscaloosa victory

Suddenly the prospects of diving headfirst into the Southeastern Conference next season don’t seem quite so daunting for Texas.

As for the Longhorns’ last lap of the Big 12?
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Looks promising, to say the least.
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Related:SEC commissioner Greg Sankey says Texas, Oklahoma expect ‘respect’ amid Big 12 departure

Before going any further down this road, let’s offer a couple of caveats. Alabama is apparently at the end of its run of Heisman-caliber quarterbacks. Jalen Milroe had his moments Saturday, but he’s no Bryce Young, Mac Jones or Tua Tagovailoa. He most closely resembles a pre-2019 Jalen Hurts, and it’s not a reasonable facsimile. Milroe completed 14 of 27 passes for 255 yards and a couple of touchdowns against Texas, but he also threw two ugly interceptions and took five sacks.

Another thing: Alabama committed an uncharacteristic 90 yards worth of penalties on 10 flags, two of which cost the Tide touchdowns.
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Can’t imagine how that will go over in the film room Sunday.

But the facts are that Texas outplayed Alabama on both sides of the ball. After a slow start in the first half, Ewers hit 24 of 38 passes for three touchdowns. His numbers would have been better if not for more than a half-dozen drops, including two in the end zone early that cost Texas a touchdown.
Related:Watch: Texas QB Quinn Ewers connects with Xavier Worthy for deep TD vs. Alabama

Ewers’ poise was noticeable, as was his footwork, which can get of whack. Helped that Alabama barely touched him. A week after Rice registered eight quarterback hits, the Tide managed just three, and not a single sack.
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On the other hand, Pete Kwiatkowski’s bunch kept Milroe bottled up most of the night, forcing him to try to beat them with his arm instead of his feet. He ended up with just 44 yards rushing after running over Middle Tennessee last week. Freshman linebacker Anthony Hill, the latest jewel of Sark’s recruiting hauls, had six tackles, two sacks and a quarterback hit.

It all added up to a night when Alabama led just once, and then only briefly. When Jermaine Burton got loose in the third quarter, Milroe dropped a dime on him for a 49-yard touchdown to give Alabama a 16-13 lead that lasted 69 seconds.

First Ewers hit Ja’Tavion Sanders, who caught five passes for 114 yards, for 50, then he found Adonai Mitchell, the Georgia transfer, in the back of the end zone.
Related:5 takeaways from Texas’ win at Alabama: Longhorns’ defense steps up in key situations
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And, just like that, Texas was back.

In the lead, that is.

On Alabama’s next possession, Jerrin Thompson stepped in front of a pass to set up another Texas touchdown. Alabama came back with another score and two-point conversion to cut it to three.

Ewers, who by now had found his rhythm, then orchestrated the drive that put the game away. From Alabama’s 39, he lofted a high, lovely spiral as Mitchell ran unencumbered in pursuit.
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The only question: Would he connect after going 0-for-7 on passes for more than 20 yards against Rice?

And would Mitchell hold on?

Check and check, though there was a bit of a bobble before he secured it with 8:23 left in the game.

Alabama had no answers after that, which was a long time coming for a Texas team that lost to the Crimson Tide by one in Austin last year and in the national title game in 2010. Time will tell if the days are finally over when Texas is overmatched or outcoached. An ESPN survey of scouts and college coaches last week found that the NFL might pick as many as 10 players next spring, which would be the most Longhorns in the first seven rounds in school history.
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Talent like that plays pretty well in the SEC. Certainly did Saturday, anyway. Long after it was over, Texas fans lining the perimeter of the field chanted, “S-E-C ... S-E-C. ... “ For the first time in a long time, it didn’t sound so imposing.

 

[J.R. Juniors Junior Jr. 1084]

Great thread. Y’all are on fire today.

[Cajun 11675]

1 hour ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

TEXAS LITERALLY ROLLS OVER ALABAMA TO SHOW HOGS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT THE SEC IS NO SURPRISE TO THEM

https://www.si.com/college/arkansas/hogs-football/razorbacks-alabama-crimson-tide-texas-longhorns-sec-sam-pittman

"Texas showed it's well aware what coming to SEC means"

All of those mental midgets have it completely backwards.  It’s not about whether Texas is aware of what coming to the SEC means, it’s about whether or not the SEC is aware of what Texas coming means.  Bama just got their hint last night.  It’ll be fun to watch the others getting their knock on the door, one by one.

[wood 11121]

41 minutes ago, Tex Long said:

Why on Earth would you want to do that? I mean, assuming you could do it in the first place.

Yeah it's like that old saying: You know why a dog licks its balls? Because it can.

[Huckleberry 32694]

1 hour ago, wood said:

These guys liking us makes me a little nervous. Feels like a trap.

Don't worry, Georgia would trample Genghis Khan and his hordes. We are a hot story right now because of the win just like when we left Columbus. The media will be right back to fluffing Georgia soon enough, just like USC in 2005.

It's actually kind of eerily similar as USC had back-to-back AP titles heading into that season. We are not 2005 good but there are a lot of parallels between the seasons. 

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

1 hour ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

TEXAS IS READY FOR THE SEC, BUT THE SEC DOESN'T SO TOUGH RIGHT NOW
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/texas-is-ready-for-the-sec-but-the-sec-doesnt-look-so-tough-right-now/3334184/

"Instead of asking whether Texas is ready for the SEC, maybe we should be asking if the SEC is ready for Texas."

The SEC has had 16 years to beat Saban at home by double digits and hasn’t. Texas has had one game and did. Advantage a&m.

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

Just now, Huckleberry said:

Don't worry, Georgia would trample Genghis Khan and his hordes. We are a hot story right now because of the win just like when we left Columbus. The media will be right back to fluffing Georgia soon enough, just like USC in 2005.

It's actually kind of eerily similar as USC had back-to-back AP titles heading into that season. We are not 2005 good but there are a lot of parallels between the seasons. 

Maybe The SEER will reappear.

[Cajun 11675]

1 hour ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

Finebaum sucked us off on Sport Center this morning. Can't find clips online though, but he literally said "Texas is back."

Yep, saw that too.  First thing out of his mouth.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

3 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Don't worry, Georgia would trample Genghis Khan and his hordes. We are a hot story right now because of the win just like when we left Columbus. The media will be right back to fluffing Georgia soon enough, just like USC in 2005.

It's actually kind of eerily similar as USC had back-to-back AP titles heading into that season. We are not 2005 good but there are a lot of parallels between the seasons. 

eh, i don't agree. that 2005 team had skins on the wall from the previous year. 

that said, I like what VY said post-game last night when comparing this win to going into the shoe in 2005 and how they found out what they were made of early in the season.

i wonder if this team has the player leadership to stay focused the rest of the year? that 2005 team knew one slip up would cost them and they weren't going to let it happen again.

[The Ace of Aces 5106]

Careful here gentlemen - after the ND win where Charlie String was put on shoulders we had this phenomenon and we all know how that tuned out. 

[texastroubadour 1203]

1 hour ago, Doc Daneeka said:

Finebaum may be looking under his sink for some Drano. 

Sign me up for the Vigil

[Pato del Muerto 52336]

3 minutes ago, The Ace of Aces said:

Careful here gentlemen - after the ND win where Charlie String was put on shoulders we had this phenomenon and we all know how that tuned out. 

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

1 hour ago, Thatguy said:

Finny looks like he wants to cry. Makes reference to "Saban doesn't have it anymore".

 

1 hour ago, Thatguy said:

 

Finny looks like he wants to cry. Makes reference to "Saban doesn't have it anymore".

this video......  don't watch if you are trying to sober up

[Doc Daneeka 6769]

9 minutes ago, The Ace of Aces said:

Careful here gentlemen - after the ND win where Charlie String was put on shoulders we had this phenomenon and we all know how that tuned out. 

Are you implying Alabama is really a 4-8 team?

[Hagbard Celine 10749]

1 hour ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

The Eyes of Texas are twinkling

https://www.si.com/college/tmg/mark-blaudschun/college-football-plus-texas-week-2

"There was nothing fluky about this victory folks. From the start to the finish, UT was the better team and arguably, the better coached, prepared team, which is a vote of confidence Texas coach Steve Sarkasian has not heard very often the past few years."

Spoiler

https://www.si.com/college/tmg/mark-blaudschun/college-football-plus-texas-week-2

Are they back?

And will they remain there?

Those are just two of the questions which popped up late on Saturday night as he University of Texas completed a 34-24 victory over Alabama.

There was nothing fluky about this victory folks. From the start to the finish, UT was the better team and arguably, the better coached, prepared team, which is a vote of confidence Texas coach Steve Sarkasian has not heard very often the past few years.

Here's the good news for Texas.

The Longhorns should be favored in every game they play the remainder of what will be their final season in the Big 12.

Oh, there will be challenges---Oklahoma is gathering strength for its annual Red River rivalry next month against the Longhorns and there could be few pot holes in Big 12 road games.

But if Texas plays the way it did against Alabama, the Long Horns should be penciled in to a Final Four semifinal CFP bowl slot in either the Rose or Sugar Bowl on January 1.

The key reason for the Texas victory was the precise passes of quarterback Quinn Ewers (349 yards, 3TDS, 24 of 38) who has spent the past 9 months looking over his shoulder at the presence of super recruit,  Arch Manning, who came to Texas in January.

That's a non-story right now, since Manning is more likely headed for a redshirt season and Ewers has established himself as the leader of a team tat has legitimate national championship aspirations.

 The irony of all of this is that  if Texas had LOST to Alabama, the Longhorns would be in the discard pile of contenders right now, and Sarkasian's job security would be an issue.

Remarkably, the loss was not even a serious setback to Alabama's quest to step back in the national championship picture.

Such is the power and mystique of the Southeastern Conference, that if Alabama wins the rest of its games--which would presumably be a victory over two-time defending national champion Georgia, the 'tide would be a lock for a Final Four bid.

 

[Thatguy 8492]

19 minutes ago, The Ace of Aces said:

Careful here gentlemen - after the ND win where Charlie String was put on shoulders we had this phenomenon and we all know how that tuned out. 

   ND was and has been a paper tiger for decades. Saban will kindly go and drag his balls over the rest of their schedule to the tune of 10 wins. Are they a flawed team? Sure, but don't think they aren't good.

[WelfareBuysMyWeed 5391]

22 minutes ago, The Ace of Aces said:

Careful here gentlemen - after the ND win where Charlie String was put on shoulders we had this phenomenon and we all know how that tuned out. 

No. Even if this is somehow a bad Alabama team, the win is still entirely different. We needed two overtimes to barely beat a bad Notre Dame team at home by a margin of inches that year. That is not at all how this victory went. Texas needed only 3 quarters and 15 seconds to beat the shit out of Alabama on the road.

No matter the opponents record, entirely different quality of wins.

[wood 11121]

2 minutes ago, WelfareBuysMyWeed said:

No. Even if this is somehow a bad Alabama team, the win is still entirely different. We needed two overtimes to barely beat a bad Notre Dame team at home by a margin of inches that year. That is not at all how this victory went. Texas needed only 3 quarters and 15 seconds to beat the shit out of Alabama on the road.

No matter the opponents record, entirely different quality of wins.

... and we didn't even play our best game. That's huge imho.