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HOUSTON -- It is the greatest era of Texas football. Ever.
Statistically.
Only two schools right now have won at least nine games for seven consecutive years -- Miami and Texas. There has been a school-record four seasons in a row with at least 10 wins. Five straight years in the top 12 for Mack Brown's Longhorns.
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| Mack Brown and Vince Young look to lead Texas to its first national title since 1970. (Getty Images) |
Then something crazy happened this week at the Big 12 preseason media days to bring Mack Brown back to reality. For the first time since 2000, the media picked the Longhorns to win the South Division.
Talk about unlocking a trunkful of mental baggage. Or rather, waving a red hanky in front of a bull. The team that doesn't need anymore motivation to beat its biggest rival: Oklahoma. The only other I-A program with four consecutive 10-win seasons: Oklahoma. The last time Texas was picked to win the South (2000), Oklahoma won the national championship. The five straight years in the top 12 coincides with Texas' five consecutive losses to Oklahoma.
"They probably cost us a chance at two or three national championship runs," Brown said here Thursday as the media days concluded.
"I understand it means respect, nothing beyond that. I understand it opens you up for more criticism if you don't produce. None of that is important. Us winning all the games is. Our players won't even mention today they were picked to be No. 1."
What would be cause for celebration at some schools could be a burden to Texas. You'd have to be a fool not to pick the Horns to win the South and the Big 12 along with it. They have 16 returning starters from an 11-1 team. Oklahoma lost a Heisman winner (Jason White), an Outland Trophy winner (Jamaal Brown) and the BCS title game by 36 points to USC.
Texas is peaking while Oklahoma looks vulnerable.
To keep your credibility you'd have to pick Texas. And then avert your eyes on Oct. 8. That's the date of the Red River Shootout -- a date that by now, Oklahoma knows it is going to win.
"Really, our expectations will not change," Bob Stoops said.
Until further notice, it is a game Texas can only hope it can win.
The Oklahoma coach spoke with more than false bravado. The Texas game literally has been the difference in OU playing in three of the last five BCS title games.
The Sooners have won big, small and everywhere in between the past five years in Dallas. Twice the game has been Texas' only regular-season loss. Oklahoma has hung 63 and 65 points on the Horns. Last year, Texas held Oklahoma to 12 points but was shut out, ending the longest scoring streak in the country (281 games).
Payback is a witch but Orangebloods are wondering just when the ugly broad on the broom handle is going to make her appearance. In the last four years, Texas has lost eight games, half of those to Oklahoma. Brown has lost only 19 games in seven seasons, more than a quarter of those (five) to Oklahoma.
In some ways it is a case of wrong place, wrong time. Brown has become one of the country's highest paid coaches stuck behind two powerhouses: Florida State in the ACC (when he was with North Carolina) and Oklahoma in the Big 12.
If he were to look for sympathy, he'd find some stone, cold hearts. Joe Dropback would love a chance to make $2.1 million a year at a school with unlimited resources. Boomer Sooners are beside themselves with joy during this five-year run. Longhorns are grinding their teeth.
A few years ago Brown sought out sages Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno on how to approach a big game. Their answer: Oh, you're young, it will come. Brown went to icon Darrell Royal before his second season (1999) when the expectations were outrageously high and Brown knew his team wasn't particularly good.
"Get better," Royal said.
Texas went 9-5 but beat Oklahoma. That was the last time. In a weird way things were almost better back then.
"There's a different standard at Texas than there is a lot of places across the country," Brown said. "I've learned a whole lot about myself and this place. It's a really neat place if you can handle it."
Brown came to the conclusion a couple of years ago to handle it. He doesn't let the constant questions about Oklahoma bother him. He revels in the development of quarterback Vince Young. Takes pride in his annually strong recruiting classes. Reminds people that before Oklahoma there is an Armageddon game at Ohio State on Sept. 10.
Few want to hear about that. Around the conference or around a conference table full of reporters, they tend to skip to the chase -- the second week in October.
The Oklahoma game clouds the memory, overshadows everything. The Big 12 trivia: The league is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Texas won the first Big 12 title in '96 and none since.
The school's last national championship was in 1970. The next year Texas was gunning for a third consecutive national championship (1971). Naturally, the run ended with a three touchdown loss to Oklahoma that year.
This year, USC becomes the seventh school to go for three Associated Press national championships in a row.
"USC lost their glitter for some reason," Brown said. "We're starting to get some ours back. People are talking about us possibly winning a conference. They're talking about them being a unanimous national champion again."
One step at a time in this greatest era of Texas football. First the statistics, then the State Fair.