The Longhorns may have needed a few lucky breaks to overcome the Cornhuskers and the incomparable Ndamukong Suh and any proper analysis of the game will reveal a litany of complaints regarding every facet of the offense. But with more than a month until Texas faces off against Alabama in Pasadena, there will be plenty of time for to analyze, further analyze, and overanalyze the Nebraska game and everything related to the match up between the SEC champion and the Big 12 champion.
Today, however, is a day for celebration, for reflection. For celebrating a team that accomplished a feat that only the 2005 team accomplished under Mack Brown -- beating both Oklahoma and A&M in the same season while finishing undefeated and winning the Big 12 championship. For celebrating a team that replaced three starters along the defensive line, lost a starting linebacker to injury in the first game, and absolutely counted upon improvement from the entire secondary and role players like Sam Acho, Eddie Jones, Kheeston Randall, and Ben Alexander. For celebrating a team that replaced two starting receivers after the departure of ultra-reliable Quan Cosby and the academic ineligibility of Brandon Collins, who broke out in the final games of 2008.
For celebrating a team that discovered leaders in Sergio Kindle, Lamarr Houston, and Roddrick Muckelroy. For celebrating the effort of Marquise Goodwin against Oklahoma, Colt McCoy's year-saving tackle after his late-game interception, interceptions by Earl Thomas, Curtis Brown, and Blake Gideon against Oklahoma State, exorcising the demons of a certain Halloween past. For celebrating Hunter Lawrence, one of the greatest kickers in Texas history. For celebrating a team the lived up to the highest of standards -- perfection. Losing was not an option and this team did not lose.
Today is a day for reflection. Reflection on the how the seasons ended in 2006 and 2007, with the Longhorns dropping games to Kansas State and Texas A&M late in the season, causing both teams to lose opportunities to play for the Big 12 championship and make it to big-money BCS games. Reflection on why those teams fell apart -- mostly the complete and utter inability of those defenses to stop the passing game and imperfect defensive coordinators. Reflection on the best decision that Mack Brown has made as head coach at Texas in his hire of Will Muscahmp as defensive coordinator and the subsequent decsion to name him the next head coach of the Longhorns. Reflection on the other hard decisions that Brown made to forge this team into a champion -- bringing Major Applewhite back to Austin, moving Ken Rucker into an administrative position, instituting a higher level of accountability, looking hard at himself as a coach.
Most of all, it's a day for reflection on just how far the Longhorns have come since last season. Reflection on the feeling of complete and utter lack of control, having relinquished all power to determine the ultimate destination of the team with the last-second loss in Lubbock. Reflection on the 45-35 campaign, all the politicking and arguments about the meaning of head-to-head victories and resume ranking, planes with banners flying over stadiums, accusations of whininess directed towards a heartbroken fanbase. Reflection on the hatred of Bob Stoops after risking the health of his starters to string together 60-point scoring games. Reflection on how karma can be a bitch, can't it Big Game Bob? Reflection on how 0.128 is now in the past, just a small wound now healing, a footnote to history. Reflection on just how hard this team worked to avoid a repeat of last season, how hard they worked to keep their BCS destiny in their own hands.
Yes, today Burnt Orange Nation must celebrate and reflect, look back upon the road now traveled, full of victories and nary a defeat. The cycle is now complete -- Texas returns to the Rose Bowl four years after Vince Young stood there in confetti, having won one of the greatest college football games ever played. After the loss by Florida, the Longhorns have the nation's longest winning streak, now standing at 17 games. Not only that, but Tim Tebow's college career is all but finished, with the lasting memories an impotent speech to his defense and him crying on national television like a six-year-old Sooner fan. After a long season, Texas is undefeated and headed to Pasadena. There is time in the coming month for all the worry a Longhorn fan desires, so what is there to do today but celebrate and reflect, with a strong emphasis on the former?
0 recs | 44 comments
Just one thing to say right now:
Ndamukong Suh just put on the most heroic performance I’ve seen since Vince in the 2006 Rose Bowl. It is by the grace of whatever’s out there that Texas escaped with its national title hopes, although perhaps not its national respect, intact.
burntorangehorn - December 6, 2009
Ndamukong Suh WAS the nebraska team. He single handedly almost won the game for them
MJY6087 - December 6, 2009
I think in at least two plays
He threw down the entire offensive line with one arm
Wells - December 6, 2009
for the life of me...
I couldn’t figure out why Nebraska didn’t just rush SUH and drop 10 into coverage
7Swords of Salat - December 6, 2009
Great teams find a way to win
Yall are one. Good win, it seems you have a flare for the dramatic, much like the Tide this season.
Stu from Tuscaloosa - December 6, 2009
Appreciate the compliment
Look forward to an interesting and exciting matchup in January
utbiograd06 - December 6, 2009 via mobile
Here here
I plan on celebrating for an entire month. 4 weeks. 7 days a week. 24/7.
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Damn, this feels good. Great day to be a Longhorn fan.
Thank you Longhorn Football team for a most enjoyable season. Win or lose the MNC, you guys are the greatest! Hearts to all.
TXStampede - December 6, 2009
Thank you, GOBR
and thank you Longhorns!
My favorite thing about last year’s team was their resiliency. And it’s become clear that this year’s team shares that trait. Definitely something to celebrate.
Pflash - December 6, 2009
Last 9 games vs. Nebraska
9 meetings as Big 12 Opponent, 1st game 1996 Big 12 Championship, Texas’ record against NU is 8-1, the one loss coming in the 1999 Big 12 Championship Game. 5 Wins in a row against Nebraska.
Dec. 7, 1996 vs. #3 Nebraska W 37-27 Big12 CG
Oct. 31, 1998 @ #7 Nebraska W 20-16
Oct. 23, 1999 (#18) #3 Nebraska W 24-20
Dec. 4, 1999 (#12) vs. #3 Nebraska L 6-22 Big12 CG
Nov. 2, 2002 (#7) @ Nebraska W 27-24
Nov. 1, 2003(#16) #12 Nebraska W 31-7
Oct. 21, 2006 (#5) @ #17 Nebraska W 22-20
Oct. 27, 2007 (#19) Nebraska W 28-25
Dec. 5. 2009 (#3) vs. Nebraska * W 13-12 Big 12 CG
From http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/all-time-results.html
Ryan2907 - December 6, 2009
They are very unhappy right now :)
Apparently the Pellini brothers were rather unsportsmanlike after the game…
http://www.omaha.com/article/20091205/BIGRED/712069849
SpiritOfTheFedora - December 6, 2009
Wow.
Beebe: “I didn’t see the last play of the game.”
WTF? how does this idiot still have a job? What the he’ll was he doing at the end of the game? Watching the ACC championship on TV?
adt2 - December 6, 2009 via mobile
Unbelievable
Also the way the coaches acted…
Nice. Thanks Carl for the bulletin board material for next year in Lincoln.
SpiritOfTheFedora - December 6, 2009
The vast majority of the Nebraska commenters...
…hammered their coaches for their lack of class. Ya gotta love Husker fans…
JoeT63 - December 6, 2009
I saw that
Pelinis won’t last long up there behaving like that.
SpiritOfTheFedora - December 6, 2009
And how many Pelini's are there up there?!
What…do you hafta be a made-guy to be on the Nebraska coaching staff?!
JoeT63 - December 6, 2009
Yeah, with a man named Suh
on the FBI most wanted list.
SpiritOfTheFedora - December 6, 2009
As a Husker fan, I’m not proud of the way Carl acted after the game. I understand he was upset, so was Tom O. but it’s in the books now. Osborne is a class act and rest assured he’ll set them (Bo and Carl) straight. Texas played a hell of a game and 99% of the Texas fans I encountered at the game were great. A win over Texas would have been nice for a change. Maybe next year. Good luck against Bama.
Singe - December 7, 2009
No worries
In the heat of battle and controversy, I think those initial reactions can be excused. Personally I felt somewhat apologetic winning the way we did, but at the same time I don’t want to take anything away from the efforts of every kid that played in that great game. I surely hope Nebraska keeps the momentum going for their program and we are able to see more great games in the future. Good luck against
USCArizona!Rashad1914 - December 7, 2009
If we played the game 10 times...
I imagine the Horns would win at least 9 of them. It’s not like they were a better team, or that we knocked them out of the MNC game. The Pelini clan didn’t seem to have any trouble with the official’s call on that chop block that totally “misssed” the opposing player, the UT kick returner who was called down at the 1 or 2 before he even had control of the ball, or the re-play official who re-spotted the ball, giving them a first down early in the game. I am really surprised because Nebraska and its fans always has had so much class.
OBdoc - December 7, 2009
Thought I remembered Nebraska always plays us close
Thanks for pulling this. It makes me feel a little bit better about our performance. A little bit.
kwuss - December 7, 2009
Every week has a new hero
You couldn’t script it any better in a movie. Thanks to Hunter Lawrence for one of the biggest clutch kicks in Longhorn history. Ice, baby, ice. And to a Texas defense that outplayed Ndamukong Suh and the NU defense in the end. And to our once again near-Heisman and currently very bruised and battered quarterback who hung in there to set up the game winning FG.
This was a game that both built and revealed character and makes me proud to be a Longhorn. On to Pasadena baby.
SpiritOfTheFedora - December 6, 2009
Burntorangehorn will ridicule me BUT
Kirkendoll pizzed me off so much yesterday that I would burn burn Collins’ shirt and let him play in the MNC. I know the math is fuzzy – giving up a season for a game – but this is for all the marbles. If he has been practicing, and Colt and him have the timing – burn the damn shirt.
realmccoy - December 6, 2009
BTW - any update on C. Scott?
realmccoy - December 6, 2009
Why ridicule?
Two dropped passes… One of them an easy TD. He played abysmal last night. However, he’s been too much of a benefit in other games for me to agree with you completely about the burning of the shirt
SuperBentley - December 6, 2009
plus, as much as i'd like every advantage
it’s not as if collins/scott helped us get here.
longhornscardinals - December 6, 2009
We had a bet on whether Collins or Kirkendoll would have the bigger impact.
I took Collins, but of course Kirkendoll won by default. However, it looked in the KU and atm games that Kirk had turned the corner and made himself into a real threat. He dropped the easy TD and some other critical passes, and he needs to correct that.
Had Collins had the bigger impact, realmccoy would’ve been forced to write a limerick, if I recall correctly.
burntorangehorn - December 6, 2009
Kirk
He dropped at least 4 passes. He downed the ball at the 11 that was heading to inside the 1. False starts as a WR. Terrible game. I hope he rebounds.
run Bevo run - December 7, 2009
Nice Read Roy
realmccoy - December 6, 2009
Poetic, Big Roy.
A great way to start my Sunday.
_JB_ - December 6, 2009
Here is the record of Texas against Alabama
University of Texas vs. University of Alabama
Horns Roll The Tide Back. From their first meeting in 1902 to their last in 1982, Texas leads 7-0-1.
I remember watching the Orange Bowl, January 1, 1965 as the Horns beat Alabama. I was in coast Guard Bootcamp and had a weekend with my cousin in California. Watched the game on tv on New Years day evening.
gy2020 - December 6, 2009
I had to come back to BON
and get away from the unbelievable HATRED on the mainstream boards! Jeez…these people hate Texas worse than they hate Bin Laden.
JoeT63 - December 6, 2009
Welcome home
You are among friendly confines here at BON. They can all suck it.
WE’RE TEXAS!
TXStampede - December 6, 2009
Well done GOBR...
“Tim Tebow’s college career is all but finished, with the lasting memories an impotent speech to his defense and him crying on national television like a six-year-old Sooner fan.”
Just fantastic.
40AS - December 6, 2009
To PB, GoBR, dimecoverage, and the rest of the authors...
As we look back on the season I especially want to thank you and the rest of BON for the wonderful community that has been created here. Y’all have done a fantastic job of being intelligent, educational, entertaining, and giving us all a place to come and talk about our beloved Longhorns in a respectful and mostly rational environment. As I’ve been perusing the other SBN team boards I’ve realized just how spoiled we are here at BON with daily team updates, constant, well thought out conversation, and everything else that is provided here on such a regular basis.
So as we prepare for another trip to Pasedena I just want to take the time to say thank you. To PB, GoBR, dime, and the rest of BON. It’s been a fun ride. One more game to go.
…and then we get into hoops.
Thanks.
mattyj - December 6, 2009
I second the comments!!
gy2020 - December 6, 2009
Well said!
Goes double for me.
NYCHorn - December 6, 2009
+1
I don’t know what I’d do without their insightful commentary on the team and their opponents. I’d be a little lost without you guys. THANK YOU
Darklust - December 6, 2009
Cryin' Tebow
Liked your Tebow comment — found the analogy to a six-year-old Sooner kid crying was funny. At least it’s our children acting like children, instead of a our quarterback acting like a child. Speaking of quarterbacks — what was Colt thinking on that last play? Man…he even had a diehard Sooner screaming at him to throw the ball away. (I will never admit to pulling for the ’horns, but Colt is a class act and good guy and it would have been terrible if time had run out). Good luck in Pasadena. Boomer !
Soonerguys - December 7, 2009
I'm on the lookout for a website that's having a "best Tearbow picture" contest
burntorangehorn - December 7, 2009
Thanks
Good luck against Stanford – someone needs to humble that douchebag Harbaugh.
LonghornEm - December 7, 2009
What makes Harbaugh a douchebag?
burntorangehorn - December 7, 2009
My first impression of him was formed at this game and in the aftermath
with stuff like this: http://www.uhnd.com/blog/notre-dame-football/harbaugh-snubbed-clausen-game/
http://www.uhnd.com/blog/notre-dame-football/harbaugh-complaining-fumble/
http://www.uhnd.com/blog/opponent-news/harbaugh-reprimanded-stanford-beat-writers-blind/
And several things he has done since have reinforced my impression of him as a loudmouthed poor sportsman.
LonghornEm - December 7, 2009
The handshake thing
I’m not sure that a site that makes a big deal about a non-handshake, when it’s not apparent that a snub actually took place, should be one that causes a person to conclude that Harbaugh is a douchebag. I’m not saying he isn’t, I admit that I’m biased (I’m a big Harbaugh fan), but the unhd site doesn’t make a convincing case.
burntorangehorn - December 7, 2009
And I wouldn't normally report something from uhnd as hard evidence,
it was just the first hit that came up, and had links to the other stuff about that game. But it was reported on the local media here in South Bend IIRC. I was thinking more about what a big deal he made during the game and after about being called for interfering with a fair catch, and the handshake thing just adds to it. Plus things like going for 2 while blowing out USC and this.
LonghornEm - December 7, 2009
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