I’ve not posted anything on Red October thus far because, well, I think the worst is yet to come - and with that in mind, why write two separate agonizing reports on losses to both OU and Nebraska? There is the possibility, strange as it may sound right now, that the Longhorns will pull the upset in Lincoln this weekend against the over-rated Children of the Corn. Over-rated, you say? They’ve beaten Western Kentucky, Idaho, Washington, KSU, and, oh yeah South Dakota State (by a stunning 17 – 3 margin) – so I wouldn’t exactly say they have been that impressive thus far. What this weekend may amount to is the Longhorns simply being worse than the degree to which Nebraska is over-rated!
But amongst all of the drama that surrounds this weekend’s game and the departure of Nebraska from the Big 12, perhaps there is even more drama behind the scenes. The question is this: where is DJ Monroe?
The answer to this question is beginning to look like it could be the basis for an Oliver Stone docu-drama. One has to wonder about it, given that he’s one of the most dynamic players that the Longhorns have, on a team that is in need of something dynamic. Maybe it’s a conspiracy? We all love a good conspiracy, especially Oliver Stone.
The party line right now – according to DJ and offensive coordinator Greg Davis – is that “he doesn’t know the playbook”. But I would suggest that perhaps there is more to this than we have been lead to believe.
People, places, events – they are the fabric, the storyline, the timeline - of our being. When music is an important part of your world, as it has been mine over the years, it has an especially important role in how I view the timeline of my existence. Music has a way of weaving itself into the fabric of our lives. I can reflect on a piece of music - my own or another musician’s work – and have a vivid association with an event, a memory, a feeling, a moment in time. I recently unearthed some archives of music I’d recorded over the years. I made many rudimentary recordings of most of my early gigs (coffeehouses and the like), along with songs and chord progressions that I have written over the years. It’s a veritable timeline of my own personal history. Music – and the associated Milestones and Memories of my world.
As I immersed myself in these archives, I stumbled across a tape of a gig I played at a club called “Shadows” on Volente Road at 2222, a stone’s throw from Lake Travis. The date was April 27, 1991. Listening to this performance brought back that timeline of milestones and memories.
Saturday, September 25 – a day that will live in Longhorn infamy as “Rout 66: The Sequel”.
If you’re a Horn’s fan, you will probably remember the fateful day in 1997 when the UCLA Bruins came to Austin and pounded the Horns 66 – 3. It’s one of those days you just don’t forget.
Fortunately, I was out of town that weekend, so I missed all the live game angst. But I do remember watching the score scroll across the bottom of the screen on ESPN thinking that surely it must have been a typo. The previous season they had surprised Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship, and 1997 was to build upon that success. But after we were “Bruined” that year, everything fell apart and the Longhorns went 4 – 7. John Mackovic, the Texas coach, was gone by season’s end. Of course, that was also the beginning of the Mack Brown era at Texas. So good things did come of it.
Fast forward 13 years. And with a 34 – 12 beat-down yesterday, we’ve just witnessed another epic Longhorn meltdown for the ages. Sure, there were a lot of plays missed by players. Poor execution. Dropped passes. The receiving corps still has yet to find a “step up and take charge on third and long” receiver – especially since we seem to find ourselves in that situation a lot lately.
But, in the end, the coaching staff has to be accountable. Much like 1997, perhaps this will (or should, at least) lead to more shake-ups within the coaching staff. And I don’t mean Mack Brown.
Strange things always happen to the University of Texas Longhorns whenever they venture out to Lubbock to play the Texas Tech Red Raiders. It’s almost like taking a trip through the Bermuda Triangle. Strange things just happen. Defense disappears. Offense disappears. Strange penalties are called. And lots of them. Even coaches disappear in the Lubbock Triangle these days. In honor of “Talk Like A Pirate Day”, it is only fitting to mention my favorite pirate coach, Mike Leach. Leach, one of the most innovative offensive coaches in college football, was dismissed by Texas Tech in December. This was following the rather bizarre story (and subsequent media fiasco) involving player Adam James – who just happens to be the son of ESPN commentator and former SMU Mustang running back Craig James. Then there was the disappearance (aka firing) of interim head coach Ruffin McNeill, who led the Red Raiders to victory in the 2010 Alamo Bowl – only to be replaced by not-so-terribly-exciting coach Tommy Tuberville.
But before we even discuss the road trip to Lubbock, we need to make mention of the previous Horns game against Wyoming – just to keep you up-to-date.
One word can be used to describe it: boring. Pretty simple.
Now on to the main discussion – would the Leach-less Red Raiders pull another upset over the Longhorns? Would the ghost of Christmas past (aka Michael Crabtree’s last second touchdown against Texas in 2008) make an appearance? Or would some semblance of sanity and order reign supreme in the Big 12 (errrr 10) this week?
Week one of the 2010 Longhorns football schedule has come and gone. And as Yogi Berra once said, it’s deja vu all over again. Consider this series of events and let me know if you’ve heard it any of it before …
The Longhorns go into an early season game as 30 point favorites. They essentially don’t show up (read: miss the bus to the game) for the first quarter, leaving themselves only three quarters to get their heads in the game. They subsequently give up a few quick points in the process. They manage to right themselves, doing as little as possible to accomplish this, and escape with a win. And leave as many question marks as they had before the game.
How many times did this occur last year? It was a regularity. And I will guarantee this – too many of these first quarter slumbers, especially against quality opposition, and we are doomed.
The Longhorns went into the off-season with a number of problems to resolve. And, imagine this, nothing has changed. Funny how players change, but the scenario (and the coaching staff) doesn’t. Coincidence? I suspect not. The starting rotation is typically full of “the best players of August” (i.e. Cody Johnson, James Kirkendoll), but as we all know, national championships are not won in August.
The deja vu was rampant. Where do I start?
Joke of the day: What do Gordie Howe and Glenn Beck have in common? Answer: they are both right wingers. Go ahead and laugh. I know you want to laugh.
But on a more serious note, I am really starting to take issue with the growing fanaticism that is the American socio-political scene. And worse yet, I am really starting to get concerned about how intolerant personal agendas are being promoted as “for the good of the country” when in fact they throw the meaning and intent of the constitution under the bus because of those same aforementioned agendas.
Look no further than the First Amendment. Look no further than Glenn Beck. And look no further than the political rhetoric being espoused in order to accrue some votes (and leverage some fear and hatred) in the upcoming midterm elections.
We’re being told incessantly that our freedoms are being limited by the current presidency. But are the right wingers of the country (and no, I am not talking about Gordie Howe wannabes) creating exactly the scenario in which they profess to be against?
How about we start with the roots – the First Amendment itself.
Note: This post appeared in the 8/22/2010 issue of the Austin American-Statesman in the “Tales Of The City” column. I have added some additional musings (italics) and video clips to the original article.
Some might call it a journey. Some might call it a life-changing adventure. Whatever name you use, the inspiration for it began many years ago, in a place far removed from the Lone Star State – the Great White North.
The date was August 16, 1984. The place –the National Arts Center in Ottawa, Canada, perhaps the perfect acoustic environment for live music. The performers? None other than Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. I was 18 years old – sitting there stunned, mesmerized, awestruck by the legendary power of Vaughan’s expression with a guitar. This was live blues music as I’d only imagined. If Austin, Texas was producing guitar players (and the blues) like this, then that was something that I had to experience firsthand.
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