The B12 (XII) Forum, home of the 'Front Porch, y'all' at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

Having watched 2 games each from both OU and USC this season, I think OU is significantly better than USC.  Oklahoma State might be too, although they haven't played much competition yet.

Anyway, that doesn't mean Texas is DOOOOOMED (although of course we are), because OU was significantly better than Texas in each of the last 3 seasons, and Texas won one of those games, and was very competitive in the other two.  It's a rivalry game, and plays out that way most years.

Having watched 2 games each from both OU and USC this season, I think OU is significantly better than USC.  Oklahoma State might be too, although they haven't played much competition yet.

Anyway, that doesn't mean Texas is DOOOOOMED (although of course we are), because OU was significantly better than Texas in each of the last 3 seasons, and Texas won one of those games, and was very competitive in the other two.  It's a rivalry game, and plays out that way most years.

if i may, i view these things differently. not that our two vantages don't converge on the field, but that the approach is significant enough to mention.

these guys don't play consistently.  the consistency is what i believe separates good teams from great teams.  for instance, there are no less than five teams that can beat Bama right now if they play at the top of their game and bama plays below.  Bama is consistent.  they have been the measure of that for the last few years.  OU could be said to be consistent- they have the longest active streak right now.  oSu is on fire- and they've decimated opponent's D, but they've come against nobody that is a good measure of how they'd react to true opposition.

now take my boys, UT-k... they've been pushed around for various reasons be it poor play calling, or bad match-ups (talent/skill).  they've still hung tough and though ultimately losing hella more than the law of averages would suggest logical, they always give top teams a go... or seem to... however, they also let lessor teams hang around.  they shouldn't.  they should play with the same tempo-and-intent no matter who is on the field across from them.

what i'm getting at is this:  90+% of the time, it doesn't matter how the other team is playing.  it matters how your team plays. It is rare that two teams bang on all eight cylinders- either they are out of sync (doing damage to themselves) or the other team takes them out of sync.    

if we were to take the body of work and personality of a team both when they're mad and when they're playing for 'fun' and look at it over several games (or a season) you can start to see trends in how they react in certain situations.  it is usually a reflection of the coaching and preparation.  We can say that tOSU is really good until they get slapped really good- and then they start to fold and pack it up... We can say that OU can sustain a slap and come right back at you.  We can say that UT-a doesn't have the talent to bounce back in a game, but has the ability to forget and bonce back the following week.  There isn't a lot we know about oSu except that they can exact their will on offense on teams that simply don't have the ponies- but are one dimensional in-that they don't really stack on defense. (point towards stats here if you will, but i will offer oSu's O removes any semblance of game plan from opposing defenders and OC's alike- they are forced to 'sprint' to try to 'get back in the game', which is a 'game' they are fully unequipped to play; hence, they're easier to stop and oSu's defensive stats look better than they are).....  

so we gauge a team's projected performance based on past performance in a lot of these match-ups, and that is only fair... especially if all things were consistent... OU will beat oSu this year.  UT-a will beat one of them, most likely, (most likely OU) and it's because of how UT-a will approach the game and how they play it, which has nothing to do with OU at all (or, less to do with OU than would casually be expected). 

teams as mentioned are easier for me to see with clarity.  team's like my own (UTk) aren't.  the coaches play 'scared' with at least as much fear as aggression- case in point, and the only thing consistent about my Vols under Jones:  When they're behind, and let it all hang out, they play hellacious ball and can play (inconsistently) with anyone... when they play safe, anyone can beat them.  Texas approached Maryland not to lose, where they approached USCw friggin' hungry.  the difference is astounding on the field and gives people cause to level 'inconsistency' charges.  it's that one minor coaching alteration that will keep you guys alive this season, imHo, and demonstrated by your coach.  

.... and that is likely a good assessment... except for that first game, and it's the one that matters.  it's why i say Clemson beat Bama last year when it wouldn't have happened again in four more games... preparation and 'getting your mind right' is what it's all about, and knowing there is one shot and one only is both a blessing and a curse... 'chopping wood' mindset is detrimental when you approach a team that is capable and hungry (ala Bama and Clemson- dyswidt?) playing like there is no tomorrow is hella beneficial for the underdog.... ask USCw about that righ tabout now... they played the skin off their teeth and relied on help from zebras to pull that one out. 

and to ^that :

it's hard for folks to acknowledge their opponents play for some reason... they'll scream about how bad they suck leading into a game, and then act like they accomplished something when they win, or make excuses (most often the zebras) when they lose.  here's the thing: if one team is SO much better than the other, the ref's CAN'T decide the game even if they wanted to without losing their license.  if a team plays another in OT or even to the wire, neither team is significantly better than the other... as a game was played Saturday between yer' boys and USCw, the zebras made bad calls- not with intent to cause a different outcome, but because they simply made a bad call... if UTa was that much better than USCw that they deserved a win there would have been no overtime nor a single possession between them except at one point during the game. 

imHo, what y'all should take away from that loss is "you're good enough to play with the big boys"- and the team should look for that consistency i spoke of.  when they do, and as Keith Jackson used to say "katy, bar the door"  

PS Drew, I'd hate to be the fan of an SEC team and have to put in qualifiers like USCw and UTk.

I'm glad I'm over here in the Big 12 where USC means Southern Cal and the Gamecocks never cross my radar, and where there's hardly ever any UT confusion because Texas is more fun to write or say than UT and if Tennessee ever even came up I'm sure the context would reveal which UT is under discussion.

I've also noticed a lot of SEC boards like to initialize Coach Whatever the Hell His Name Is.  Like it's so important to add the C for coach but so laborious to write out the dude's name.

It's not like that on Texas boards.  We generally mean what we say and say what we mean even if we have to spent five seconds tapping five additional keys.

You SEC people are kind of amusing.  Like a possum in a bathtub kind of amusing.

as Keith Jackson used to say "katy, bar the door"  

I preferred "woah Nellie!"

He should be castrated and teabagged with his own jewels if he is indeed an SEC fan.

That's a very crude punishment and it sounds messy and like a lot of trouble to go to.
Can't we just bust a chair across his teeth instead.   (A penny for your thoughts if you recognized the song I was channeling with that line).