View from the Cheap Seats-Cougar High
Never never never let a dog hang around
Never never never let a dog hang around
We have taken flack for referring to the University of Houston in such a disrespectful manner. They earned it and as the embrace the hate tour continues, nice to put another team in our rear-view mirror. Though this weekend, they almost earned a major upset and signature program win. Even the announcers were making fun of the bad blood going back to the bleacher gate scandal in 2001 when Houston screwed TEXAS fans out of 4000 seats Well it was Dana and the Cougars who almost had the last laugh as for the 2nd game in a row, Sark and staff were outcoached. Amazing that 10 days ago Dana was in danger of being fired before a miracle throw it up at the end ball lead to an upset of WVU. Now he can brag . . .”hey I almost beat TEXAS”.
After going up 21-0 on their 1st 4 drives, including 2 red zone TDs, TEXAS would proceed to go 3 and out then give up a 32 yard TD to Houston after largely dominating the 1st quarter and a half. At that point, both TEXAS offense and defense would vanish as Houston would score 21 unanswered points to tie the game. What in the wide wide world of sports is going on here? Houston is not a very good team but they played like they were embracing the hate.
Jayln Ford would then make the biggest defensive play of the game till very late (more on that in a second) with a strip sack of Tech transfer Donovan Smith setting up a short field though TEXAS only managed a Field goal.
So we’re now in the 4th quarter nursing a 3 point lead and things really get wild. Quinn Ewers is out with a shoulder injury sustained diving for a 1st down, he wasn’t close. Smith leads Houston down the field only to lose Michael Taffe at Safety and overthrow his WR for an easy INT. TEXAS with a quick 3 and out (ugh). GREAT Ryan Sanborn 59 yard punt (dude is a WEAPON) which is muffed but recovered by Houston at the 9. Houston drives to our 23, kicks a field goal to tie everything up. Houston tries a short kick which Kieleen Robinson burns them for 33 yards setting up TEXAS at their 47. The tag team of Johnathan Brooks and CJ Baxter put the offense on their back and lead the team to a TD. Brooks is a beast whiile Baxter has some serious burst. Maalik Murphy at QB’s only pass on the drive was a 7 yard completion to Whittington but it helped move the ball down the field.
5:37 left in the game, Houston at the 25, 75 yards to go but only 1 timeout left. A late hit (very ticky tacky) out of bounds on Ant Hill gives them an extra 15. Houston has moved the ball to the TEXAS 10 and faces 3rd and 2. The most controversial play of the game as it appears the Cougar RB just makes the 1st down. He is marked a yard short and with time running out, Holgerson makes the oddest 4th and 1 call. From the shot gun, he rolls Smith left and tries a pass in the flat. Pretty well covered but the ball well short. 3 victory formations later and TEXAS sneaks out of Houston with the win.
It would be the 2nd quarter which almost did in the Horns. After scoring on a Red Cat (Savion Red at QB) play on the 1st drive, TEXAS would give up 2 long TDs drives as Smith found his rhythm, largely thanks to little pass rush and they would go into half time only up 21-14. Aiding Team Dana’s efforts was Sark going for it on 4th and 6 with a holder pass to Bert “I’m not Running back” Auburn. Replay showed Dana beyond ready for the play as he only rushed 9 and dropped 2 DBs back snuffing out any hope of the play working. FG would have put us up 24-7. Sometimes Sark just out cutes himself trying to look smart instead of winning games.
What is a bigger concern is watching Coach PK’s defense get carved up for 378 yards passing. Much of it over the middle of the field as most of the night, Smith had too much time to throw. Shades of the OU game. 4 Cougar pass catchers would notch 68 yards receiving or more.
While we are still firmly on the Coach Sark bandwagon, we would be remiss is he does not give us pause. On the plus side, we won a game we likely lose in year’s prior. In fact since he arrived on campus, Sark has 11 losses in 1 score games, good for #3 in all FBS. Not an impressive stat. Big coaching challenge in the coming weeks as the teams, especially Kansas State will be better than Houston and all hunting the coveted TEXAS scalp.
Offensive Player of the Game
TEXAS’ 3 head beast at RB. Johnathan Brooks held 1 yard shy of his 5th 100 yard game in a row, CJ Baxter flashed some real burst with 6 carries averaging 7 yards per and Savion Red with a sweet touchdown (aided by a great JT Sanders block) and an all effort 4th down conversion.
Defensive Player of the Game
Jaylen Ford, his strip sack was huge to go with 2 additional tackles for loss (TFLs) and finishing the day #2 in team tackles.
Special Teams POG
Gotta show Ryan Sanborn the love for his excellent punting along with Keileen Robinson logging an outstanding kick off return to help set up another score.
Stats that Matter
- 14 Houston net rushing. Outstanding by the D
- 378 Houston net passing, putrid
- 2 -0 TEXAS D recorded 2 turnovers, lost none, likely saved the day
- 3-12 TEXAS on 3rd down. Another game where we cannot sustain drives can we use putrid twice?
- 6-60 TEXAS penalties. Not OU bad but not good
- 1-15 Houston Penalties accepted.
Conclusions
TEXAS simply cannot sustain drives and convert on 3rd down on offense. Ewers generally seemed in a good rhythm but how bad is his injury? We have a great rushing attack and if Ewers is out any length of time, we are going to have to lean on it. But can Sark build an attack based on rushing. He is stubborn and wants to throw to set up the run (his words). Great coaches fit their schemes to their talent. On D, not sure what to say. Any team with even a semi competent passing attack has to be licking their chops. We have no had consistent pass rush since Joseph Ossai left for the NFL. Hey Coach PK, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. And we seem to have the same defensive struggles
Since arriving at TEXAS, Sark rankes 3rd (not a good thing) in FBS with 11 1 score losses. Yet another of those coaching challenges he has to out grow to take his next steps as a top tier HC.
On Deck
BYU coming to town after spanking Texas Tech (oh lordy it was glorious). This a team which has always given TEXAS fits. We should be double digit favorites over everyone till we go back to Dallas. . . .but we were 23 point favorites this weekend. We win out, we head back to DFW. One more loss and it depends on what everyone else does.
Fighting Mack Brown’s
No other way to spin it, choked vs one of the worst teams in the ACC. Win out they can still play for the ACC crown. Duke and @Clemson will not be easy.
Our playoff vote today
Michigan, Georgia, UDub and BigXII champ
Just a bit outside, tOSU FSU and Bama if SEC champ.
While Utah likely doesn’t win the Pac 12, they became the 1st team in conference to beat USC 4 times in a row. With no time on the clock, they would kick a FG to win after stopping USC’s late 2 point conversion.
Ranking the Big XII
We still see 3 Tiers of teams in the conference
Top tier remains TEXAS and OU, both of which struggled vs weak teams.
Mid Tier sees some changes and looks like all these teams will go bowling. Think any of these teams can beat any other.
Along with TEXAS, 3 of the below also only have 1 loss and are in the best shape to play for the conference title. KSU and ISU both play TEXAS in what will amount to elimination games for each school.
KSU and their hot shot freshman QB, still have to face TEXAS, KU and ISU
ISU getting up off the mat after a very slow start, hold tie breaker with Okie Lite. Toughest schedule left with KU, KSU, TEXAS and surging BYU
Okie State Another team coming on strong after a slow start. They hold tie breaker with KSU, still have to face OU
Kansas 2 conference loss so likely out of the title hunt, most likely going bowling
BYU moving up after spanking TT 2 losses so likely out of the title hunt. 5 wins so one more and they go bowling.
Bringing up the bottom
UCF
WVU Decent shot to go bowling
Cougar high
TT-Tough schedule down the stretch, need 3 wins to go bowling, could go 0-4. Couldn’t happen to a better bunch.
TCU This week's game with TT is likely a bowl elimination game for the loser.
Baylor
Cincy
Game Highlights
Tribute to Jimmy Buffett
We’re going to repeat a song but this time it starts with a back and forth conversation between Jimmy and his friend Jerry Jeff Walker as they discuss the real life character who inspired the song. It’s a good time to share and a great story. Did not realize Jimmy & Jerry’s history (no, not the Cowboy dudes).
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