LARAMIE — If you haven’t noticed, the road to Pasadena has allegedly gone from a three-lane country road to an eight-lane interstate. Sam Bradford’s shoulder injury and his Oklahoma Sooners’ stumble out of the gate against BYU has supposedly left the BCS championship wide open, so everyone says.
I’m not buying it. Let’s make a deal. If USC doesn’t leapfrog Texas in this week’s poll, I’ll take Florida and Texas, and you take the field. And unless the Big 12’s power rating drops in the vicinity of the ACC’s — and after this past weekend, it might — I like my chances.
I don’t care if top-ranked Florida has only toasted two marshmallows. The Gators could compete in the NFC South and will prove it next Saturday against Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the No. 2 Longhorns gave cynics a few pimples to ponder in its attack Saturday in beating a plucky and desperately rebuilding Wyoming team, 41-10. Heisman runner-up Colt McCoy was off, the tailbacks won’t make Ricky Williams nervous about his rushing records, the kicking game was awful and they made plenty of boneheaded penalties.
But as Texas coach Mack Brown said: “It’s way too early for style points. I don’t care about that. Forty-one to 10 is enough style points.”
If you pass off Texas’ lethargic first half as a brief case of altitude sickness, you have to think it will run the table. I do. The Big 12 has fallen back into mediocrity. The Longhorns’ next three games are all at home: unranked Texas Tech (think they’ll let Tech spoil their season a second time?), UTEP (please) and Colorado (you’ve got to be kidding).
If Bradford isn’t back by the Oct. 17 showdown in Dallas — and he’s expected out two to four weeks — the Red River Shootout will be painted burnt orange. Texas’ biggest tests will follow immediately at No. 25 Missouri and at an Oklahoma State team that apparently still thinks defense is for the military.
This isn’t a great Texas team, but it can be. The Longhorns just aren’t good enough to march through a first half like they’re thumbing through brochures for Universal Studios. With a minute left in the half, Texas trailed Wyoming 10-6. Texas was 3-for-11 on third down, McCoy was overthrowing receivers and threw an interception. A blocked punt resulted in Wyoming true freshman Ghaali Muhammad’s 6-yard return for a TD.
“Offensively, we’ve got a chance to be real good,” offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. “But we have to be more consistent.”
Wyoming couldn’t move the ball against a stellar, veteran defense, but the Cowboys didn’t make mistakes and for 30 minutes the packed War Memorial Stadium crowd was ready to elect first-year coach Dave Christensen governor.
“We all expect to score every play,” Brown said. “That’s just unrealistic. I keep telling these guys, this other team is on full scholarships too, so let’s give them credit. This team beat Tennessee last year and nobody acts like they’re any good.”
McCoy and Texas came out late in the second quarter as if they acclimatized. In the second half, McCoy was 13-of-18 for 171 yards and two touchdowns to finish with 337 and three for the day.
But the rap on Texas coming into the year was it hasn’t had a star tailback since Jamaal Charles left two years ago. It still doesn’t. McCoy was its leading rusher a year ago, and this year, it’s rushing by committee. Sophomore Foshwitt Whittaker, its most talented back, can’t stay healthy and remains out with a sprained knee.
Tre’ Newton’s 62 yards on 7.8 yards a carry led a brigade that rushed for 185 yards. But Wyoming’s defense isn’t Florida’s, and it would behoove Texas to take some weight off McCoy.
“We’ll continue to take pressure off by committee until somebody definitely steps up,” Davis said. “They all bring something a little different to the table.”
Texas is also awaiting word from the NCAA on the eligibility of receiver Brandon Collins, safety Christian Scott and cornerback Deon Beasley, all starters or major contributors. So don’t read too much into a sleepy first half for Texas. Its coach sure didn’t.
Said Brown: “If you think we’re going to play as well here than we are next week at home against Tech, no.”
