Longhorns Update: 273 and 470

It’s been three long weeks since the last time I posted anything about the beloved Longhorns. They had a rather challenging road trip – first to Missouri, and then off to Oklahoma State for what was supposed to be the biggest remaining hurdle in the Longhorns’ schedule. So what happened? It was pretty simple - great defense, consistently inconsistent offensive play calling (Greg Davis at his “finest”), a non-existent running game, and a jump back up to number 2 in the BCS. Two solid victories, though it can be debated how convincing they really were. But at the end of it all they now own the state of Oklahoma for 2009, having beaten both Oh-Who? and OhEss-Who?. Today saw the Horns take on Central Florida. It is a strange oddity to have a non-conference game in November. Although it was a 35 – 3 Longhorns victory, always a good thing in the Longhorn Nation, it left a very bitter taste in my mouth.

First of all, the good news from today’s Longhorn victory. The defense was stout and looked like a national championship caliber defense. The offense? Well, the running game is still AWOL – a grand total of 67 yards. The coaching staff persist with the zone-read and similar nonsense – running plays that are only a threat when you have Vince Young in the backfield. None of this stuff has worked since 2005 – sadly, the learning curve is rather flat on this one.

Fortunately, there is a passing game. Jordan Shipley played Superman today with 273 receiving yards. This set a new single game Longhorns record. Shipley is without question the best receiver in college football. It could even be argued that he is the best college football player in the country.

But with about 10 minutes left in the game, Colt McCoy was within 22 yards of passing current running backs coach Major Applewhite's single game record of 473 passing yards. McCoy has not even approached it before, but given their lack-of-a-running-game, breaking it today would seem almost a given. Could it be a day in which two single game records were broken?

There they were – fourth quarter, UT with a first down at the UCF 29 yard line. Colt needed 22 yards to break the record.

Pass play went for 18 yards. Colt needed 4 yards. Team lined up at the 11. Four lousy yards.

And now – two running plays accounting for 11 of their 67 total rushing yards today. I guess at that point, the coaches decided it was now time to establish a running game. Yes, the Horns scored, making it 35 – 3. But with the almost non-existent running game throughout the first 50 minutes, why did Davis suddenly feel the need to a) run the ball and, worse yet, b) deny McCoy the option of throwing for 4 lousy yards?

But wait, there’s more. There were just over 9 minutes left in the game. Surely the defense would get the ball back, right? Colt would complete a short pass for 5 yards, he would get his well-deserved standing ovation, and then Garret Gilbert would mop up afterwards.

The defense did it’s part of the deal – a goal-line stand that gave the ball back to the offense with 41 seconds left in the game. With 3 time outs remaining, the Horns would have at least three plays for Colt to at least make a valiant effort at getting ONE 5 yard completion. McCoy had his helmet on and was strolling up and down the sidelines, headed into the game, and then got called back to the sideline.

No go.

Coach Mack Brown stated after the game that "I just decided no, we've got some goals out here and neither of them are passing yards". If they were concerned about McCoy getting injured, he shouldn’t have been in for the fourth quarter at all. The game was for all intents and purposes, over after 45 minutes.

It’s fair to say that I am not getting paid $2 million per season to coach the University of Texas football team. But in my humble opinion, there is a fine line between “team goals” and “personal opportunity”. Here is a scholar-athlete that has shown his leadership time and time again. During his time as a Longhorn, he has given Texas great publicity and national recognition. He was a Heisman Award candidate last year, and should be again this year. Though he continues to set new standards for Texas quarterbacks, he has not even approached Applewhite’s record for number of passing yards in a single game. Until today.

Based on his contributions to the success of the team, the least the coaching staff could have done was to give him the chance to attain an individual accomplishment. It would have made national news, added another little statistic to his Heisman credentials – and the coaches took that opportunity away from him.

It would take one play.

This was a lost opportunity. Will he ever get another chance? Doubtful. Will you ever hear him complain about it? Absolutely not. McCoy is the consummate team player.

But as a person that aims for excellence and to be all that he can be as an athlete, I can only imagine what will cross his mind when he realizes what was really there for the taking. And when he gets a little older, he may just wonder why his coaches didn’t give him the opportunity.

Photo credit: abesselink