View from the Cheap Seats-Book end BigXII titles
How Sweet it is
How Sweet it is
One of best lines from the late great Jackie Gleason, How Sweet it is. Book end BigXII titles. And have to share a personal story about the 1st BigXII title vs the Bugeaters (yes, that really was their nickname way back when). Had several Nebraska buddies all too happy to give me the points but Thursday night before the game, ran into John Telschik. John was a GREAT guy, former TEXAS Philly & Minnesota punter and a big dude too. This shortly after the James Brown guarantee. John thought Brown had over stepped, but I thought Brown was spot on. Nebraska was cocky and did not handle dual threat QBs well. Jonny Markovic’s shining moment at TEXAS. Fitting that TEXAS/Sark scores the bookend BigXII titles, the 1st in the new conference back in 1996 and the last with us leaving the BigXII in our rear-view mirror.
Leave No Doubt
TEXAS started scoring early and often on their way to their biggest win of the season. While Bama was huge, winning the BigXII was bigger and TEXAS did it in impressive fashion. They opened the 1st quarter taking a 21-7 lead, finished the 1st half up 35-14. 7 1st half drives which lead to 5 Touchdowns (4 on the 1st 4 drives), an INT and a missed FG attempt. Close to perfect.
Quinn Ewers also recorded the best game of his young career, setting a BigXII title game record for passing yards and tying the BigXII title game record for scoring TDs with 4.
Sark’s play calling kept Gundy’s team off balance all day and was highlighted by a TE touchdown pass to team Co-MVP (IMHO) T’Vondre Seat. It was sweet. Quinn’s pass catchers did an excellent job forcing missed tackles and adding yards after catch.
2nd half was not as dominate as the 1st and it was clear Sark was trying to run out the clock from the 1st drive. Which would have worked well save two issues. Our running game never really got untracked and penalties reared their ugly head and put a fork in a couple promising drives.
On defense it starts up front and facing the #1 rusher in the nation, held Ollie to 34 yards, less than 1/3rd of his season average. OSU came out passing and did well against TEXAS’ largely bend but don’t break approach. Ryan Watts being out hurt but true freshman Malik Muhammad is a future star. To cap the game, Sark had team Co-MVP (IMHO) Jonathan Brooks put on his pads and Arch handed him the ball after taking the final knee to run out the clock, pure CLASS, well done Sark
Offensive Player of the Game
Quinn Ewers with a career & record setting afternoon. BigXII title game record 452 yards passing. BigXII title game tying record 4 Touchdown passes.
Honorable mention: The pass catchers, Adonia Mitchell, 6 for 109 TD, JT Sanders 9 for 106 TD, Xaiver Worthy 6 for 48 and Jordan Whittington 4 for 48 and 3 1st downs.
Defensive Player of the Game
Anthony Hill, true freshman, team leading tackler.
Coaching matters
A recurring theme over the past 3 years from the Cheap Seats has been tracking and discussing the growth of Sark from his role as offensive coordinator to growing into a top flight CFB head coach. The two things he did well coming out of the gate was assembling a great staff and showing he was a top flight recruiter. He also genuinely connected with his players which has gone a long way to building/changing the culture (or lack thereof) from the previous 2 guys. Meanwhile he struggled in his 1st two years with game day management and getting the team up week over week. 1st two years were rugged, finishing 13-12 after a disastrous 1st year which saw a 6 game losing streak on the way to being the only 1st year HC at TEXAS with a losing record..
2023 brings new challenges. Every year, TEXAS always gets opponents “best shot”, it is the game opponents circle but this year was different, this would be all the BigXII opponent’s last shot. Add to that the expectation of BigXII title or bust and can Sark get his players up week in and week out? It only took till week 2 in 2023 to see the dividends and Sark’s growth pay off with a 10 point win, on the road against Bama busting up a 21 game home win streak Statement game and signature win for Sark. Outside of the late game meltdown at the Red River War, Sark had an answer for each challenge this year Those challenges included often playing down to the quality of opponents, losing the team MVP for the season vs TCU and needing to win 2 games with an untested back up QB. Sark/TEXAS not only met those challenges, more importantly he had the team peaking at year end. Three weeks in a row saw TEXAS taking control of the games early and never let “dogs hang around”. 3 weeks in a row Sark and TEXAS would win the 2nd half of games.
On the road at ISU, at home before one of the best crowd’s in TEXAS history then traveling to Jerry’s Death Star in Arlington to close out BigXII play, Sark’s guys came to play and to re-state last week’s line, left no doubt.
Thanks to the BigXII coaches for a little extra motivation. Sark was snubbed for the BigXII coach of the year. Certainly, he’ll say the trophy means more but hey, we appreciated the extra motivation. Wonder where Joey “conference runs through Lubbock” McGuire finished in the voting?
One final comment on the snub, Tech and several other BigXII teams really want to keep playing TEXAS out of conference going forward. Suspect it will be a LONG time before we see that happen. In our Pre-season edition, the Cheap Seats predicted a 10-2 regular season AND a BigXII title. One extra win (12-1) and the title so we’re living in tall cotton.
Not to jinx his future but Sark seems to have really figured out how to be a head coach and it doing it with a Mack-like style. He hasn’t caught Mack but we’re liking him more and more with each game. And full disclosure, this is a guy I REALLY want to see succeed here. 15-20 year head coaching career at TEXAS, CFB playoffs every other year or so, couple of Natties before he heads to the booth.
2023 Honors
T’ravion Sweat-BigXII Defensive Player of the year
Byron Murphy-BigXII Defensive Lineman of the year-what is even more impressive for our “best pair of interior Dlinemen in the country”, through 13 games only X holding calls against them. How is that even possible?
Anthony Hill: Defensive Freshman of the Year BigXII. Can’t wait to see him over the next two years.
Offensive Newcomer of the Year: Adonai Mitchell. He is TEXAS’ 1st BigXII Offensive Newcomer of the year.
1st team All BigXII:
WR Xaiver Worthy
TE J’Tavion Snaders
OT Kelvin Banks
DL Sweat & Murphy
LB Jaylan Ford
PK Bert “Big Bird” Auburn
PR/KR Xaiver Worthy (gets 2 letter jacket patches)
2nd team All Big XII
RB Johnathan Brooks, Cheap Seats’ pick for TEXAS Co-MVP with Sweat
WR Adonai Mitchell
DB Jahdea Barron
BigXII Honorable Mention:
Kelvin Banks Jr. (OLoY),
CJ Baxter (OFoY, RB),
Jonathon Brooks (OPoY),
Trill Carter (DNoY),
Kitan Crawford (STPoY),
Alfred Collins (DL), Quinn Ewers (QB), Gunnar Helm (TE), Anthony Hill (LB), Christian Jones (OL), Jake Majors (OL), Ryan Sanborn (P), Barryn Sorrell (DL), Michael Taaffe (DB), Jerrin Thompson (DB), Jordan Whittington (WR) Terrance Brooks (DB), Ethan Burke (DL),
National Honors
T’Vondre Sweat Outland Award Finalist
J’Tavion Sanders John Mackey Award Semi Finalist
Jaylon Ford Butkus Award Semi Finalist
Quinn Ewers Davey O’Brian Award Semi Finalist
Jonathan Brooks Doak Walker Award Semi Finalist
Stats that matter-Season
- Red Zone Defense #1 in the nation (all regular season stats)
- 3rd dow Conversion defense #1 in the nation
- Scoring D, #12 in the nation
- Scoring O, #21 in the nation, 34.9, up half a point from last year
- Jonathan Brooks, despite ending the season vs TCU, finished #20 in the nation in rushing yards, regular season.
- Quinn Ewers, #16 in pass efficiency.
- Most penalized team in conference play vs opponents recorded the least amount of penalties in the conference.
- Since the Red River War, TEXAS has tailed in games less than X minutes.
- Zero Number of 100 yard rushers allowed in 2023 by the D (including BigXII title)
- 19-19, Big Bird’s consecutive FG streak, both TEXAS and BigXII records
- < 8 TEXAS has trailed it’s opponents by less than 8 minutes since the Red River War.
On Deck
No clue. Today we are basking in the glory of book end BigXII titles. We’d love a playoff trip but that is out of our hands at this point. Go Louisville, they win, we’re in, they don’t. . .looks like Cotton Bowl. If not the playoffs, likely to be one of Pedophile State, tOSU Ole Miss or Tulane in an NY6 game, most likely at the Cotton bowl but seen some projections to the Fiesta. Good with any of that. TEXAS/Sark produced big time, everything from here is gravy. The season meet it’s VERY lofty expectations which was BigXII title or Bust. Since we called it 10-2 pre-season we’re calling it an overachieved. Along the way Sark lost his MVP, he lost his starting QB for 2 ½ games yet simply kept winning. The team faced every challenge thrown at them then showed real growth over the last 3 games. We suspect it will be many years before we schedule another BigXII team. . .BYE BYE How Sweet it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Portal
We likely lose a few in the portal and at least one that surprises everyone. Mark of a deep team. Expect Sark & company to target WR, TE, interior DL, LB and a S. Sadly, we suspect Maalik is looking for a new home and we wish him well, by all accounts he is a class act.
Seniors
These are the guys Sark did not recruit but who hung with him when he arrived. What a great group of players but if we’re picking a favorite out of some players who added so much to the Horns, it’s Jordan Whittington. Him talking to Bevo before each game was CLASSIC.
Thanks for the Memories to all of them and good luck in their future endeavors.
Oh yeah, say goodbye to Power 5 as the Pac 2/8/10/12 is no more. Now it’s the Power 4.
Knee Jerk/Too early take on 2024
Pretty good chance TEXAS takes a step backwards record wise in 2024 In addition to a full SEC schedule featuring Georgia Florida, Miss St and Kentucky TEXAS also faces old rivals OU, Pigs and Aggies while traveling to the Big House to face Michigan.
Going to be a fun 1st year in the SEC and we don’t think making the CFB playoffs is far fetched. To get there, no more than 2 losses which is possible. Today, we’re projecting 9-3. Biggest opportunities for improvement, Offensive 3rd down conversions and Red Zone TD scoring. Improvements there should push TEXAS nearer the Top 10 scoring offenses.
Strengths of the team will be talented offensive line, experienced QB and running backs to go with young but talented WRs. On defense, expect Ant Hill to take over the Jaylan Ford role. Similar story as there are some talented youngsters who will play bigger roles and some returning vets to fill the gaps. Young DEs growing into their roles is a must. Alfred Collins coming back to shore up the interior would be a big recruiting win for Sark & PK. Secondary will be inexperienced but talented. Big question mark at punter as we have hit portal home runs the last 2 years but the place kicker is excellent with Big Bird Auburn.
Ranking the BigXII
Tier 1, sitting alone BigXII champions
#7 TEXAS
Tier 2, close but no cigar, Ranked teams
#18 (pre game) Okie Lite
#12 OU, dirt burglars
#25 KSU
Tier 3, going bowling.
Kansas
WVU (surprise team of the BigXII)
ISU
TT Sand Aggies
UCF Good job Guz
Tier 4, the dregs
BYU
TCU Cock Roaches as DKR labeled them
Cincinnati
Baylor Rape U
Cougar High
Honestly have to say, will not miss playing any of them nor will we miss ranking them after every game.
Game highlights
Tribute to Jimmy Buffett-This season we have honored the recently departed Jimmy for his contributions to our culture and for all the smiles he brought by featuring a song of his every game week.
Come Monday. . . .we’ll be BigXII champs
Come Monday we’ll leave the BigXII in our rear view mirror.
Come Monday we’ll be looking forward to signing day and making SEC plans.
Fitting as Jimmy is a Mississippi native and Auburn Alum.
Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday (Audio) - YouTube
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