The BCS Mess = Hot Garbage

Black Sunday...

It's been pretty much a terrible day for everything I'm a fan of. The Big XII's bogus tie breaker came down to humans mixed in with computers and in the end they set up a Big XII championship game comprising of two teams my Texas Longhorns beat. Oklahoma as we all know were beaten 45-35, and then waxed Missouri on national TV. I guess we'll have to call this the "We got drilled by Texas bowl." As one poster so eloquently put it on Orangebloods, Mack Brown might feel a little bit like a pimp watching his two Big 12 bitches pillow fight it out Saturday night. But I can assure you that Mack is not amused. He's been visibly and vocally upset at the system. This is a system where it is important to embarrass the other team for "Style Points" and turns and tells us to make sure we keep the rules of good sportsmanship. Right or wrong Mack Brown simply wont play that kind of game. In other news the 45-35 campaign did work because a number of human voters were swayed. Unfortunately the losses around the nation that didn't go the way for Texas strength of schedule wise destroyed any computer advantage Texas may have had.


What's next for Texas...

It looks like Texas is now headed for the Fiesta Bowl barring an Oklahoma loss in the Conference Championship Game. Sources report the most likely opponent for the Horns will be the Buckeyes from "The Ohio State University." I think this is a good matchup for the Horns because playing a mid-major BCS buster like Utah or Boise St. is a lose/lose situation. A win over a team like that is supposed to happen and no one cares and if you lose you are a laughing stock. Ohio State represents a big named team that helps with recruiting and appeal. I also think the Horns match up well with the Buckeyes. Ohio State has a few elite defensive players in James Laurinitas and Malcolm Jenkins. They have a good offensive line and strong running game on behind Chris "Beanie" Wells. Freshman sensation Terelle Pryor has had some bright spots but has shown some trouble running the Bucks offense. I think the speed of the Texas defense matches up well with the Bucks and Colt McCoy is more than capable of leading the Texas offense against any defense in the nation in The Big Cat's opinion.


In Conclusion...

If the Big Cat had an opinion and a vote for some of the major college football awards...This will be the first in the series.

Davey O'Brien Award - Colt McCoy
(Nation's top QB)




The Longhorn QB has been the most efficient this year and has done the best work with the least around him. As a Horns fan I will not discount what Chris Ogbonnaya, Jordan Shipley, Quan Cosby and the rest of the Longhorn offense has done, but McCoy hasn't had a Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, Manuel Johnson, Dez Bryant, or Percy Harvin around him. McCoy has come a long way since being the small town QB with a name suited for Texas QB.

Sorting out the BCS mess

Oklahoma held form tonight and Texas Tech squeaked out a close win against Baylor and now it's up to the voters. The first Sagarin Ratings are out and Oklahoma has overtaken Texas in the first part of the computer poll. This was to be expected, and now all hope for the 'Horns lies on the shoulders of the human voters. Tomorrow we will have the full results and a few breakdowns of what the bowl picture might look like. While you wait read up on how SI's Stuart Mandel still gives Texas his vote. We'll talk to you tomorrow.

Poooor Aggies

Order was restored to the state of Texas as big brother was ready for little brother this year...

Colt McCoy exorcised all of his Aggy demons and put on a show going 23-28 for 311 yds and 2 TDS through the air along with 49 yds rushing and 2 TD's on the ground. If that's not a great way to cap off a Heisman campaign I don't know what is. All eyes now turn to Stillwater where Bedlam will happen tomorrow.

SI.Com's story tells of the Horns win and if it will be enough to keep hold on the BCS #2 spot, while Stuart Mandel discusses the Heisman possibilities.

The Big Cat himself was at the game yesterday and here are some of my observations and stories.


45-35 Campaign

The grassroots movement for BCS awareness that started by members of Orangebloods and then generated into a seperate movement with the start of 45-35.com, was everywhere at DKR-TMS last night.

Fans boasted every type of creative sign they could to remind the whole nation we've already played Oklahoma and how it ended. Signs and fliers were handed out before the game and The Daily Texan pictured a centerfold with the score. Everywhere you looked Thursday night you saw some kind of sign posting the score.


Players of the game

Here is an effort to list a "Hot 11" of the top 11 players from this game for both teams.

1. Colt McCoy - QB - Texas

While throwing 23-28, 311 yds, and 2 TD's through the air, McCoy also mixed in nearly 50 yards rushing and 2 additional TD's on the ground including a spinning out of control jump into the end zone. McCoy has been the top player for the Longhorns all year and maybe the top player in the nation.

2. Cody Johnson - RB - Texas

Sure the big fellow got most of his yards in garbage time, but he was the first Longhorn runner to post a 100 yard rushing game this year other than Colt McCoy. Johnson scored earlier in the game on a run down the sideline, but the banner play of the night came when the Horns had the second team in and tried to run the clock out. Johnson sprinted 62 yards down the left sideline and punished the Aggie tacklers who tried to bring him down at the end. The Big Guy finished with 102 yards and 2 TD's.

3. Sergio Kindle - LB/DE - Texas

The kid from Woodrow Wilson who was ranked as a 5 star difference maker has really come on this year under the tutelage of Will Muschamp. Kindle is an athletic freak who has battled injuries throughout his career, but this year has absolutely terrorized from a pass rusher standpoint. Kindle was all over the place making plays and punctuated his night with a big sack on Aggy QB Stephen McGee. McGee got up and taunted Kindle which I submit is not a good move.

4. Brandon Collins - WR - Texas

Collins stepped up this week and emerged as a 3rd target for McCoy. Collins is not a blazer who will smoke DB's down the field, but he's cat quick and a good route runner. Collins took screens and short slants and turned them into big gains with his run after the catch ability. Collins tallied 6 catches for 103 yards and a TD and really took a step forward this week.

5. Brian Orakpo - DE - Texas

Orakpo came out to shine on Senior night. As one of the most beloved players on the team he was a guy who got one of the biggest ovations when introduced as a Senior. "Rak" lived in the Aggy backfield and made things miserable with his pass rush. Late in the game when the Aggies pulled out all of the stops and attempted a WR reverse Pass, Orakpo never gave up on the play and pursued from the backside...When Aggy WR and former QB Ryan Tannehill stopped to throw Orakpo blindsided him causing a fumble and giving the Horns the ball in scoring position.

6. Quan Cosby - WR - Texas

Quan was another guy who really did his thing in his last game at DKR-TMS. After being a steady hand all year Cosby did nothing but his usual thing. He made tough catches (Except for one on the sidelines he probably should have had) and he got in the end zone. Cosby will be sorely missed next year.

7. Jordan Shipley - WR - Texas

Needing just one touchdown to tie Limas Sweed and Roy Williams for most TD's in a season by a Longhorn WR, I was pretty sure Shipley would get it. He didn't, but what he did do is continue to work the middle for soft spots and get big gains to convert for first downs. Shipley also had a very long pass play where he took a short screen almost to the house but was pushed out on the one yard line. Cody Johnson would score from there a couple of plays later.

8. Earl Thomas - S - Texas

After being heavily criticized at the beginning of the year, Thomas has really come on as a player. Twice he saved TD's last night pushing big time Aggie gains out of bounds. On the verge of completing his freshman year, Thomas will lead a still young but talented Longhorn secondary next year.

9. Henry Melton - DE - Texas

I really wish Big Henry had another year on the 40. After failing to be a runner in college, Melton was changed to DE last year. He struggled to learn the position but this year came out firing. I have no doubt if he had another year here he would be a first day draft pick. Melton made a couple of big plays including stringing out a number of Aggy runs and bringing them down and recovering a fumble.

10. Ryan Palmer - CB - Texas

Palmer is the loud and boisterous DB of the Horns who often talked more than he produced, but last night he was virtually lock down from the corner spot and had a big sack on Aggy QB McGee in the 3rd Qtr.

11. Jerrod Johnson - QB - Texas A&M

I had to put at least one Aggy on here and Johnson threw a TD for the Ag's.


In Conclusion

We really had a great time at the game and I'll post some pictures later, but now the Horns await their destiny. The worst thing that can happen is they trip to the Fiesta Bowl...When you can say that is the worst thing, life is good.

While you wait enjoy this video from the 45-35 campaign



Hook 'Em Horns

Order has been restored

All is well again in the Lone Star Showdown rivalry as big brother took it's place back on top of the hill and punished the Aggies in a very ho-hum fashion. The baby-faced assassin proved last night after 2 bad games against the Aggies that he was in fact "The Real McCoy." The Big Cat was in attendance and had a very memorable night. Pictures and story to follow.

Previewing The Lone Star Showdown

The pride and winning tradition of the University of Texas will not be entrusted to the weak or the timid...


Since the blogger erased my long drawn out post I will just post a prediction...


My prediction: PAIN!!!

Seriously though instead of re-doing my original analysis I'll let my friends at The Barking Carnival do it for me...Read the BC breakdown

45-35

We begin today with the stories surrounding the Big XII 3 way tie between Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. As it stands right now all teams have one loss and if all 3 win out the one with the highest BCS rank will represent the Big XII South in the Big XII Championship Game against Missouri

My Thoughts: While there is a 3 way tie, Texas Tech effectively dismissed themselves from the conversation when they went to Norman last week and laid a gigantic egg against the Sooners. Mike Leach and his squad aren't near as impressive when they leave Lubbock. Tech will not factor into the high BCS ranking as the loss dropped them too far and they are playing a non bowl eligible team in Baylor this week. to me it seems at this point you should consider the head to head matchup between Texas and OU. Many people whether they are pro BCS or pro playoff want to see it settled on the field.




Many pundit's say that OU is the hottest team right now and the polls are set up to where an OU victory over Oklahoma State will vault them ahead of Texas.

My Thoughts: There is no denying that Oklahoma is playing very well right now and just waxed the #2 team in the country. Many people also point to Oklahoma's non conference schedule. They have 2 wins over top 25 teams in Cincinnati and TCU. Nobody points out the fact their other non conference wins came over Tennesse-Chattanooga and a winless Washington who is the worst team in college football. Texas certainly did not play a world beater schedule in non conference but went through a stretch where they played Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. They went 3-1 in that stretch and the only loss came with 8 seconds left on the road. Look folks it's simple, someone is getting screwed in this whole deal. Oklahoma and Texas may be the 2 best teams in the country and one of them will not play in the National Championship. That's the way it is.

Solution #1: Besides the obvious thoughts of a playoff system I have a solution for the Big XII. If you are going to use the tie-breaker in place right now causing the highest BCS ranking to break the tie then there is one simple solution. Eliminate the divisonal play and send the 2 best teams to the Big XII title game regardless of North or South. Why should Missouri benefit from playing in a shitty divison. Who wouldn't want to see a Texas-OU rematch in Kansas City this year? Tech fans will argue that they factor in since it is a 3 way tie but this is the solution only if you use the current system of highest BCS ranking.

Solution #2: Orangebloods writer Chip Brown wrote this week in "Chip's Corner" the SEC 3 way tie breaker would be perfect in this situation. The SEC's 3 way tie breaker makes alot of sense and goes as follows.

The tied team with the highest ranking in the BCS standings following the last weekend of the regular season shall be the divisional representative in the SEC Championship Game, unless the second of the tied teams is ranked within five or fewer spots of the highest ranked tied team. In this case, the head to head results of the top two ranked tied teams shall determine the representative in the SEC Championship game

The Heisman - It's a 2 man race

Let's go on to the next subject. Here is my current Heisman trophy list...

1A - Colt McCoy - QB - The University of Texas

As it says on the magazine Colt McCoy is the heart of this squad.

Numbers: 268-347, 3,134 yds, 77.2%, 30 TD's/7 INT's. 117 carries, 527 yds, 8 TD's, 4.5 yds per carry.

The Story: On a team that was supposed to not win 10 games and had no explosive playmakers on offense, McCoy has led his team to the #2 BCS Ranking (for now), and at one time they were #1 in the country. He's done it with his arms and legs, minimizing turnovers and completing 77% of his passes. As Kirk Herbstreit once said on a broadcast, "It's hard to do that against air." He's up for many honors including the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards.

Why he won't win it: He doesn't have the high yardage and TD numbers of some of the others and isn't flashy enough for some.

Why he will win it: While he may not be flashy enough for some he's been so incredibly consistent. He's not working with the weapons the other guys have and has virtually no running game. To do some of the things he's done this year with all of that considered is amazing.

1B - Sam Bradford - QB - Oklahoma

Numbers: 238/349, 3,710 yds, 68.2%, 42 TD's/6 INT, 35 carries, 42 yds. 4 TD's

The Story: Bradford followed up a tremendous freshman year with an even better sophomore year. Already being talked about as a potential first overall pick, Bradford has shown tremendous accuracy and spreads the ball well to all of his weapons (Iglesias, Johnson, Gresham). Bradford has lit it up all season and in the lone loss of the season to Texas, Bradford still shined going 28/39 for 387 yds and 5 TD's/2 INT's. Bradford once again has this Oklahoma team in position for a possible Big XII title and National Championship berth.

Why he won't win it: Bradford and McCoy have done similar things for their teams and 1 of the 2 will win it. McCoy has also done similar with less weapons.

Why he'll win it: Bradford will top the school record for TD's in a season this week as he just needs 1. Looking at his numbers there is no way to argue against him and the Sooners playing in the Big XII title game might garner him extra attention.


The others: If I was forced to pick the other 3 in the race it would be Tim Tebow, Graham Harrell, and Shonn Greene

Tim Tebow wont win it because: His numbers aren't near as impressive as they were last year (148/225 65.8%, 22 TD's/2 INT's, 121 carries, 427 yds 11 TD's) and the biggest factor is that voters will be reluctant to hand out 2 consecutive Heisman trophies.

Tim Tebow will win it because: Florida is the media darling right now and Bradford and McCoy might split regional votes

Graham Harrell wont win it because: Harrell needed an undefeated season because all Tech QB's put up gaudy numbers and Harrell is no different (365/518 yds, 70.5%, 39 TD's/6 INT's, 6 rushing TD's). Tech QB's will always be defined as system QB's and usually those QB's don't win because Tech has a mediocre season. This year Tech had a great season but got embarrassed and exposed on national TV against Oklahoma. He lost all credibility after that game.

Graham Harrell will win it because: As I mentioned above, he wont for those reasons.

Shonn Greene wont win it because: He plays for Iowa. Greene is one of my favorite players and is having a great season (278 carries, 1729 yds, 17 TD's, 6.2 avg.), but Iowa is 8-4 overall and is 4th place in the Big 10. In today's system many voters dont like a player who's team isn't on the national scene.

Shonn Greene will win it because: He wont