Alabama-Texas: Why History Is Not a Factor

Most people feel comfortable believing in some way that history tends to play a role in the outcomes of certain situations.

Sports fans are no different.

With a new year underway and the BCS National Championship in our midst, there has been an influx of columns about how history might affect the future.

I am here to tell you that while to some history can play a factor in outcomes, why should it? Why should the athletes and fans buy into the past when the future hasn't even happened?

It seems as though many fans rely too immensely on the past, and this can give them some sort of comfort in looking towards the future. But the fact of the matter is that this comfort, in all forms, is false and just a blinder to what may be.

In the words of singer/songwriter Donavon Frankenreiter, "Don't look back it won't do any good, but don't look ahead, you'll just be misunderstood. Everything you need can be right in front of you; it doesn't take much to see what is true."

In all of their previous meetings, Texas has won seven and tied the other game. Alabama came into bowl games against Texas ranked higher four times; however, Texas has won three out of the four games, and the other was a spectacular 3-3 tie in the 1960 Bluebonnet Bowl. (Sounds like a great trivia question to me.)

These could be solid statistics that would make one believe that Texas will reign supreme in the 2010 BCS National Championship, but keep in mind they haven't played each other since 1981.

In more recent history, Alabama knocked off the No. 1-ranked team in the nation and defending national champion Florida Gators by 19 points in the SEC title game.

2009 Heisman winner Mark Ingram rushed for 113 yards on 28 attempts, adding three touchdowns. 

Playing in the biggest game in his short career, quarterback Greg McElroy completed 12 of 18 passes for 239 yards, including a beautiful touchdown pass to tight end Colin Peek. 

Texas was able to secure the Big 12 Title, though it took them all 60 minutes to knock off pesky Nebraska. In that game, star quarterback Colt McCoy threw for 184 yards, completing 20 on 36 attempts. He threw three interceptions, ran for a touchdown, but rushed for -20 yards total during the game.

This piece of recent history seemingly would give Alabama the edge going into its BCS matchup with Texas. The only piece of history remaining is the coaches, Nick Saban vs. Mack Brown.

In the only meeting between these two coaches, Mack Brown guided his Texas Longhorns past Nick Saban's LSU Tigers in the 2003 Cotton Bowl Classic, 35-20.

The Longhorns were able to erase a 17-7 deficit and defeat the LSU team, which is mostly remembered for the 2002 season's Bluegrass Miracle game earlier in the season.

With this being the only head-to-head matchup between the two coaches, one would have to give Brown and the Longhorns the edge going into the BCS National Championship game against Alabama based on history.

So what does all this history tell us about the game to be played Jan. 7, 2010?

Unfortunately for the Longhorns, nothing.

History has no effect once Texas and Alabama come barreling out of the tunnel, the thousands in attendance on their feet.

At that moment, will Mack Brown be comforted by the fact he is undefeated in his only game against Saban?

No.

Will Alabama be comforted by the fact they are arguably the best team in the nation, coming off a dismantling of the defending national champions.

Absolutely not.

History is a funny thing. It only matters when it is stressed. Do people honestly believe that history will play a factor in this game, or any other game for that matter? If so, I would like you to talk to the players involved.

The only history they care about is the possible legacy they are building for each of these tremendous schools.

So let history become the future, and on Jan. 7, the best team will win. And it will have nothing to do with the past, and it will have minimal effects on the future.