Texas Football: 10 Reasonable Goals for 2012 Season

As spring practice starts, so do the expectations for Longhorn football. Here are 10 reasonable goals that Mack Brown should have hanging up in his office as the season starts.

This could be the year that Texas can claim it is the best team in Texas again, after being in the championship in 2009.

After an 8-5 season and a bowl win in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl against an average team, it's time for a change in Longhorn nation.

BCS Bowl

After making the 2009 BCS championship game against Alabama, the Longhorns have not been able to reach another BCS bowl game.

This should be a yearly goal for Mack Brown and his team every year. Last year, the Longhorns ended up in a bowl game versus a California team that was outmatched in the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.

College football fans would love to see Texas against one of the many elite teams in the SEC, or even the Oregon Ducks.

Win the Big 12

One of the power conferences in college football is the Big 12, with teams like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor, just to name a few. Last year, four teams from the Big 12 finished the season ranked in the top 10.

Last year, Oklahoma State was able to outlast all the teams to become the Big 12 champs lead behind Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon. With those two entering the NFL draft, the Big 12 is up for grabs again and Texas is right in the mix to be on top of the conference.

If the Longhorns could end up on top of the conference after a long season, a BCS bowl will be the reward for the orange and white.

Best Team in Texas

Everything in Texas is big and it doesn't stop with in state rivalries in Texas either. To be the best, you have to beat the best in your state. This was not the fact for the Longhorns last year.

Robert Griffin III and the Baylor Bears were definitely the best team in Texas for the 2011 season. This was quite evident after the Bears dismantled the Longhorns in the last game of the season, 48-24.

Going into the 2012 season, that loss has to be still on their minds. This season, they are going to have to beat Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Baylor to reclaim the state of Texas—never an easy task.

Development of the Offense and Defense

The first year is always the toughest year and this was the case for the Longhorns. Last year was the first year for Bryan Harsin as offensive coordinator and Manny Diaz as defensive coordinator and it showed.

The first year is all about installing new schemes, getting the team accustomed to it and working out all the kinks. Now that they are entering their second year, a lot of things change and expectations are higher.

In the second year, the offense and defense should run more smoothly and look more polished.

Solid Quarterback

Last season, Mack Brown had his hands full at the quarterback position with three different starting quarterbacks throughout the season. The first few games, Garrett Gilbert was the starter, until he was benched and eventually transferred.

After that, it was a QB duel between David Ash and Case McCoy, who shared the starter position for most of the season.

As spring practice starts to heat up, all fingers point to David Ash as the starter for the Longhorns. Hopefully the QB position is definite, so the offense can actually get comfortable under one QB.

Mack Brown Winning Season

Since Mack Brown began coaching at Texas, it has been nothing but phenomenal.

Brown led his Longhorns to another winning season—something that he has accomplished every year as head coach, except for the 2010 season.

Just having a winning record is not what Brown is used to, as he is more of a 10-win type of guy. This season, the Longhorns need to win 10 games to get Brown his first 10-win season since 2009.

Johnathan Gray 1,000 Yards

Malcolm Brown was only a freshman last year and had a solid season when he was healthy, rushing for 742 yards. The Longhorns now add another young running back to their backfield with the signing of Johnathan Gray.

Gray is the top-rated running back recruit in the country and brings his talents to his hometown state. He won't carry the full load—while sharing carries with Brown, this could become an incredible one-two punch for Texas.

Gray can also blossom into a great running back—one Texas hasn't seen since Ricky Williams left the program.

Top Defense

Last season, with the offensive side of the ball being a weak point, the Longhorns defense was the silver lining. After being ranked in the top 30 in defense, they hope to become one of the top defenses in the country this year.

After losing some key players to the NFL draft, Mack Brown has brought in the pieces to fill those holes.

The strongest point of attack for the Texas defense will be their defensive line.

Brother's Keeper

Following in your sibling's footsteps might not be that hard, but when your brother went to Texas and was one of the best at his position, it's pretty difficult. This is the case for Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley's little brothers, who now attend Texas.

Case McCoy and Jackson Shipley both had their high moments in their first season with the Longhorns. Now that the expectations for the two have risen, can they be as good as their brothers, who brought many wins to Longhorn nation?

This year could be the year that the two take Texas to the first BCS championship game since their brothers did it in 2010.

Finish in the Top 10

It's been a hard few seasons for the Texas Longhorns, who have struggled to crack the top 10 in two years. This might be the season that Texas can crack the top 10 or even the top five.

The pieces are all in place for the Longhorns: a coaching staff that has a year under their belts, a solid starting QB and a stingy defense.

All the Longhorns have to do is come out with a chip on their shoulder from the past seasons and it could be a year to remember in Texas.