Lucky, lucky Longhorns:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Cedric Benson rushed for 188 yards and scored two touchdowns and No. 7 Texas took advantage of a late Arkansas fumble deep in Longhorns' territory to hold off the Razorbacks 22-20 on Saturday night.
The Longhorns turned their oldtime rivals back three times in the final 9:58 after Arkansas closed within two. Razorbacks quarterback Matt Jones gave up the crucial fumble and Texas recovered at the 8 with three minutes left.
Jones' desperation pass was intercepted on the game's final play.
Not even a game's worth of Mack Brown's unimaginative playcalling (Benson up the middle...repeat) and Vince Young's shaky passing could stop the 'Horns from backing into a W. The defense looked okay against the run, and eventually got it together to get a pass rush going, but - El Ced notwithstanding - the offense still looked shaky, and there's less than a month to go to the Red River Shootout. Six punts is simply unacceptable.
Still, I'll take it. I'll take it because I hate Arkansas and their penchant for celebrating every defensive stop (even after a 7-yard run by the opposing tailback) like they'd just sacked Osama bin Laden. And because they had three points they didn't earn after that weak call in the 4th quarter that gave the Razrobacks a pass completion on a trapped ball. And because I grew sick of all the discussion of what a laid-back Arkansas QB Matt Jones is. Here's a thought: maybe if he'd been a little more intense he wouldn't have thrown two picks and fumbled on the drive that should've given his team the lead.
And because Houston Nutt is a stupid name.
Finally, can we stop with the upside-down horns thing? I'd love to come right out and admit that the whole thing irritates me, but it doesn't. Rather, I'm perplexed that so many Texas opponents showcase their lack of creativity by simply inverting our hand sign. Not that there's any hurry, I suppose. Arkansas fans won't have to be making Top 25 banners anytime soon, and besides, those swine hats are really quite flattering.
You'd love the T-shirts we see in College Station that show the longhorn sans horns with a Bible verse that's something about smiting the horns of the wicked. In poor taste on so many different levels.
We knew that in 'Horns fans hearts, we ran behind Texas A&M and Oklahoma as far as teams they hated. But that was OK with us. We're a small school, from a small state. We understand. It does warm my heart, though, to read the phrase "I hate Arkansas"......
| --Posted to A Middle-Aged Man in Moderate Distress on Sep 13, 2004 12:00 PM:. |
beloml, with the way the Ags are playing this year, they need all of the biblical verses, prayers, shamanism, voodoo, withcraft, etc. etc. we can get. Maybe if Coach Fran had slaughtered a few chickens or goats before the Utah game they wouldn't have had their asses handed to them in such dramatic fashion. After last year's pathetic ending, if it helps the Ags beat the Horns this year, sign me up.
The shotgun QB draw is this year's wide receiver screen. I can still predict the play call at about a 75% rate. I wonder how much higher that percentage will be with an actual defensive coordinator?
Prediction: OU 31, Texas 10. 9-2, Holiday/Cotton Bowl, lose to UCLA or Auburn.