Texas-Kansas State: Will Cat Scratch Fever Strike Mack Brown, Longhorns?

An MRI reveals that the Texas Longhorns have been suffering from cleat-in-behind disease.

That last sentence I wrote could be the headline if they lose this game.

On a more consistent basis than at any other time in the Mack Brown era, their tails are getting kicked.

Piling on by me won’t help the situation, but it won’t stop others from doing it.

In the Little Apple of Manhattan, Kansas, the Longhorns can start turning their season around and halt the pile, but the Kansas State Wildcats are a challenging opponent for Texas.

The crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium may not have enough juice to cheer—KSU underwhelmed their fans last week in the loss to Oklahoma State.

Losing back-to-back home games spells big trouble in the Big 12. It’s magnified when the losses happen at Darrell K. Royal Stadium in Austin.

After falling to Iowa State on Oct. 23, and to Baylor last week, Texas has indeed lost back-to-back home games.

In fact, football life hasn’t been beautiful for the Longhorns (4-4, 2-3).  Austin and its surrounding areas are beautiful, though.

The scenic homes along highway 290 rival those in Dallas’ Highland Park and San Antonio’s Alamo Heights neighborhoods.

It makes one think the recession was a myth, but when I observe Mack Brown’s support over the last two weeks, I see the recession is for real.

Downtown Austin is a wonderful place and more supporters there have left his camp than the number of banks and bailouts combined.

The governor’s mansion, former President George W. Bush’s old home, is coming back from the hit it took during the 2008 fire. 

Will Mack Brown’s team bounce back from the hits they’ve taken?   I hope they will, but I’m not so sure it can happen this year.

Sometimes humans take hits in life, but in Big 12 schedules, good guidance and time tend to even things out.

The Longhorns and the Wildcats are even, just about, in the total offense classification. 

KSU has a better rushing offense, but UT sports the number one Big 12 defense.

Daniel Thomas in the Wildcat offense is a scary proposition to a team coming off a Robert Griffin III game.

I wonder how in the heck the number-one-ranked defense can be near the bottom of the Big 12 standings, but it turns out offensive woes are to blame. 

A program flaunting former stars Vince Young, Roy Williams, Colt McCoy and Jamaal Charles is now No. 9 in total offense.

Some Longhorns fans were offended by my previous article that addressed Mack Brown being on the hot seat. I published it before the Nebraska game.

In the piece, I asked if a victory over Nebraska would get Mack Brown off the hook. 

Some readers were outraged at my assertion that Will Muschamp is being prepped for the Texas head-coaching position—full speed ahead.

The number of questions regarding Brown’s job may have increased, but the situation isn’t uproarious.

Not yet.

KSU (5-3) will be roaring for a victory after laying an egg in the Little Apple last week.

Sounding overconfident in the interview shown before the Baylor game, Mack Brown said he needed to start earning his pay.

“My job is easy when we’re winning,” he alleged.  “It’s time that I earn my pay when we’re struggling a little bit, and help us get back on track.”

Robert Griffin III was busy showing him that his team was on the right track but on the wrong train.

Maybe The Mack feels like he shouldn’t be getting paid this week.  I’ll ask if when I see him.

Before the Baylor game, Texas ranked 107th in the nation in turnover ratio—horrific.

Retiring Colt McCoy’s jersey didn’t inspire a victory over Baylor.  I wondered how the Cleveland Browns quarterback got off from practice.

I also wonder if Texas’ team talent is too depleted to win a bowl game against a quality opponent.  Note: Texas has yet to become bowl-eligible this season.

If they beat KSU, then they can gain some confidence, but that is a big if.

Prediction: Cat scratch fever will take hold of the Longhorns in Manhattan: 24-21.