Texas Moves to 2-0: Why Are the Fans So Mad?

It must be hard to be a coach for the University of Texas.

The Longhorns only had two wins with a margin of victory near 30 points last year.  This team has already matched that total, so obviously the fan base must be gushing over this year’s youth-riddled squad, right?

Not a chance.

After being outrushed and outgained by a UTEP team that has already lost to Buffalo, the message boards on UT sites are littered with more concern than praise.  Two games into the season, and the questions going into the season appear to remain unanswered.

Who is the deep threat?  Who will make big plays in the running game?  Do they have a secondary?

All of these questions remain on the always unsatisfied tongues of the Longhorn nation.  I’m glad I’m not Mack Brown.

“We’re 2-0,” said Mack Brown after the game.  “Have we played our best?  No, but who has in week two?”

Texas’ defense has allowed 10 points and 13 points in two games.  The punt return team has already blocked three punts.  Colt McCoy looks better than he ever has.  Even Greg Davis seems to have opened up his playbook.  Did anybody else jump out of their seat when that fake wide receiver screen scored to Jordan Shipley?

The early season has already seen West Virginia lose and Ohio State get tested by Ohio University.  Rivals Texas A&M have already lost to Arkansas State, and the Sooners got tested by Cincinnati.

The days of blowing out all other opponents but a few on the schedule are over.  Every program has good football players, and each of them wants to prove they belong with the big boys.

This has yet to sink in to the fans on the 40 acres.  Only a few programs in the country have the expectations UT does, but where do the expectations come from?  The Longhorns have won one National Championship in almost 40 years and have only scored victories in two Big 12 Championship games since the conference began.

This team is young, inexperienced, and learning on the fly.  These facts blow by most onlookers like the crotch rockets on I-35.  Over 15 redshirt and true freshmen are being counted on to contribute to this year’s team.

The growing pains are sure to be there, but listening to talk radio and surfing the web, it is clear most feel this team needs to accomplish what the 2004 team did in winning a BCS game to fulfill expectations.  Not many think it will happen after the first two games.

Texas is ranked eighth nationally.  I’ll say it again: eighth nationally.  A decade ago we’d all be jumping through hoops and calling our Aggie friends to see if they’d seen the updated AP poll.  In 2008 we mumble under our breath and worry about not winning well enough.

The fact is, this team is good—and they will continue to get better with each week.  Even some co-eds on the mountain in El Paso were so aroused at the thought of the young talent on this team playing up to their potential that they played pocket pool in front of a national TV audience.

Mack Brown has spoiled Austin.  Rick Barnes has spoiled Austin.  Auggie Garrido has spoiled Austin.

Anybody remember where these programs were in the early to mid '90s?  I do, and every time I watch a Texas game in any sport, I’m thankful I get to root for a contender every single year. 

I think we all need to calm down, put on a foam finger, and remember—10 more games and we’ll all be wishing we could watch the Longhorns play football again.