I had a lot of fun at the game on Saturday. I know it was just an opener, and against an ostensible creampuff (although they had a decent season last year), but I was really excited about what I saw--especially in the second half--from our team.
Most striking for me was our ability to force turnovers. Our inability to do this last year was a glaring thorn in our side all season long. Simply put, causing turnovers wins games. In fact, the major reason we were so damn successful in the 2006 season (pre-Colt injury) was because we forced turnovers like gumballs from a candy dispenser. Couple this with our offense's ability to put points on the board with consistency, and we're in great shape to play (and beat) just about anyone.
We'll know a lot more after the Arkansas game about how representative our first game was of the team's actual ability. I just hope that the promise I saw on Saturday wasn't a fluke, but rather a preview of what's to come.
That said, have you seen our October schedule? We are playing some serious matchups every week! We start with a test at Colorado on Oct 4, followed immediately by what should be something like a #3 vs #5 matchup in Dallas on Oct 11 against OU (there really is no reason that we shouldn't both be undefeated, given our schedules and talent).
The next week we're home against Missouri on Oct 18, a game which I think will bring ESPN Game Day to Austin, virtually assured if we beat OU. I don't really see Mizzou losing a game before they roll into Austin, so we're potentially looking at a #2 vs #3 matchup against them.
We then play Okla St at home on Oct 25, a team that has given us some of our most thrilling games over the past 5 years. Finally, we end our October Run on Nov 1 in Lubbock, against a Tech team that could theoretically be ranked in the top 5 by the time we play them (Tech plays OU after us, so they have a strong chance of being undefeated. Their challenge will be the KU game). If we, too, are undefeated when we roll into Lubbock that'll be our third top 5 vs top 5 matchup in 4 weeks!
Needless to say, if we can get through November 1st unscathed, the Eyes of the Nation will be on Texas.
Most striking for me was our ability to force turnovers. Our inability to do this last year was a glaring thorn in our side all season long. Simply put, causing turnovers wins games. In fact, the major reason we were so damn successful in the 2006 season (pre-Colt injury) was because we forced turnovers like gumballs from a candy dispenser. Couple this with our offense's ability to put points on the board with consistency, and we're in great shape to play (and beat) just about anyone.
We'll know a lot more after the Arkansas game about how representative our first game was of the team's actual ability. I just hope that the promise I saw on Saturday wasn't a fluke, but rather a preview of what's to come.
That said, have you seen our October schedule? We are playing some serious matchups every week! We start with a test at Colorado on Oct 4, followed immediately by what should be something like a #3 vs #5 matchup in Dallas on Oct 11 against OU (there really is no reason that we shouldn't both be undefeated, given our schedules and talent).
The next week we're home against Missouri on Oct 18, a game which I think will bring ESPN Game Day to Austin, virtually assured if we beat OU. I don't really see Mizzou losing a game before they roll into Austin, so we're potentially looking at a #2 vs #3 matchup against them.
We then play Okla St at home on Oct 25, a team that has given us some of our most thrilling games over the past 5 years. Finally, we end our October Run on Nov 1 in Lubbock, against a Tech team that could theoretically be ranked in the top 5 by the time we play them (Tech plays OU after us, so they have a strong chance of being undefeated. Their challenge will be the KU game). If we, too, are undefeated when we roll into Lubbock that'll be our third top 5 vs top 5 matchup in 4 weeks!
Needless to say, if we can get through November 1st unscathed, the Eyes of the Nation will be on Texas.
