Picking up the pieces: Perspective on Texas/Texas Tech

It's been almost two full days and the reality has set in completely: The undefeated dream is over. Sure there is a lot to play for and there is plenty of reason for optimism for Longhorn fans, but one thing nearly 48 hours rings true.

This one hurt.

It still hurts, but you know what? It happens. That's life. When you boil it down sometimes you just have to shake your head and say, damn it just wasn't our night.

First and foremost, make no mistakes about it took a total team effort to lose that game Saturday night. Plenty of people want to place the blame on Blake Gideon for the dropped INT or Earl Thomas and Curtis Brown for being burned on the final touchdown, however it starts at the top and works its way down. First and foremost, Mack Brown and the coaching staff did not do an adequate job of getting this ready to play from the get go. The offensive line was atrocious, the wide receivers developed a case of the dropsies for the first time all season including critical drops by the normally sure handed Jordan Shipley, the defensive line got pushed around and the team was all kinds of out of sorts in the first half.

But a funny thing happened on the way to a blow out. The Longhorns didn't quit. This team doesn't know the meaning of the word quit. The defense persevered and played a good second half until the final 90 seconds. The offense fought through mistakes, more bad blocking and a pick six, to finally find momentum on offense and the Longhorns fought back. They took the lead with a minute and a half to go. Then it happened. Tech made the charge. They made the plays. They scored the touchdown. We were left with national title dreams slowly going down the drain (or so we thought).

There's plenty of blame to go around. Maybe the clock management on Texas' last touchdown drive wasn't great. Maybe Blake Gideon made a Buckner-esque drop, maybe Texas should have called a time out to settle down the defense, maybe Earl Thomas should have had his head in the game more on the final play. Or maybe we can accept the reality: all those things are strong possibilities, but at the end of the day this was the perfect storm for Tech.

Think about it. Texas was vastly outplayed most of the game, Texas played without it's co-best wide receiver for most of the game, they lost their best defensive player for most of the second half, their second best defensive player was playing hurt through the fourth quarter, the heart and soul of the offense was a glorified tackling dummy and played like a damn warrior fighting through it and leading the team to what could have been a victory. It just didn't happen. With one second left, Tech took the lead. How many times has it been Texas who snapped victory from the jaws of defeat? shall we list them?

What about last year when Texas trailed Oklahoma State by 21 in the fourth quarter and trailed Nebraska in the fourth quarter before Jamaal Charles became Superman and led furious comebacks? what about 2006 when Nebraska just had to run out the clock, but Texas forced the turnover and Ryan Bailey became a campus legend? The drive in the horseshoe at night? The final drive and Mangum kick against Michigan? The Chance Mock miracle at home against Tech? And who can ever forget that fateful night in January 2006 when Vince Young led the comeback in the greatest game in college football history?

A football is an oblong object, it bounces funny some times, on Saturday it just so happened to be one of those times when the ball bounced the wrong way for Texas.

So why am I positive? Why am I (no longer) in full shut down mode? There are a few reasons. First and foremost, unlike losses in past years, this wasn't coming from a mile a way as an indictment of things this team had done wrong all year. This was the perfect storm for Tech. This wasn't the long time coming, can see it coming from a mile away loss that plagued past Texas teams. This was just one of those things where you shake your head and say, "damn, we let an opportunity get away with us, let's keep our heads up our goals are still within reach."

Secondly, this thing is far from over. This was the end of the murderer's row stretch of games for Texas. This was just the beginning for Tech. If they lose to OU or Oklahoma State and that team runs the table, you'd end up with a three way tie scenario that would likely send Texas to a Big 12 title game. If Tech loses twice, Texas controls its own destiny. If Texas wins out and wins a Big 12 title there is a very realistic possibility they'd play for a national title. They're number four in the current BCS, the only team they have to worry about coming from behind to jump them is Florida. If any combination of Tech, Alabama or Penn State run the table then you just have to pat them on the back and say good job, lets go to the Fiesta, Sugar or Rose Bowl and take care of business.

Finally, I believe in this team. I believe this is going to hurt for a long time. I believe this is going to make them better. I think they have the make up of a championship team with great coaches and one hell of a leader. Colt McCoy is a Warrior. I know war cliches are taboo, but he was beaten, battered and destroyed Saturday night but he picked himself up and led this team admirably. This is a team through and through and even if they don't make it to Miami we should all be proud of how they performed this season. Look, losing isn't easy, but Texas was trying to beat four straight top 12 teams, a feat that had been accomplished just once in the sport's history, and they did as well as anyone could have reasonably expected. Tip your cap to this team, they've been outstanding, and greatness is still a very real possibility for the 2008 Texas Longhorns.