Aggies Get Pranked, Not Like That's Hard or Something...

Someone put up the below billboard in Gainsville, FL, the home of the Texas A&M's opponent on the gridiron this weekend the Florida Gators:

Of course the Aggies are saying they didn't buy the billboard.  This reminds me of the time that a UT student stole A&M's mascot Reveille in the 1990's as prank.  Maybe a Longhorn bought the above billboard just to mess with the Aggies...

Rick Barnes Is Brilliant, But Why?

I made a snarky comment on facebook, something like, "Rick Barnes is brilliant because he's the basketball coach at a football school?  Do you think he's a facebook friend of the Duke football coach?"

Seriously, since 2002 UT has made the sweet sixteen or better 6 times.  Three elite 8's and one final four.  Not bad.  But, this year they went from being ranked number 1 in the nation to getting bounced out of the tourney in the first round.  And I would guess that Rick Barnes' job is secure.  For now. 

The last and only final 4 UT has reached since Barnes has been at the helm was in 2003.  And this year was a major step backwards.  UT is regressing as a program.  Albeit regressing from a final 4 appearance in 2003 but nevertheless still regressing.  If they continue to on their current track next season (make the tourney and get bounced in the first or second round, or worse don't make the tourney) then Barnes should maybe worry.  Maybe.  Remember, he's a basketball coach at a football school.

Why the UT Mens' Basketball Team Lost

I feel my bad fandom regarding the mens' Texas Longhorns basketball team contributed to their early exit from the Big 12 tournament. Plus, they didn't score as many points as their opponent. Come to think of it, the points thing probably had more to do with them losing then my fan apathy. They're just not playing as well as they were early in the year and Baylor actually has a pretty darn good team.

To compare and contrast, I even made a point to wear my lucky UT "Hawaiian-style" shirt to the football Big 12 Championship this year. I/we/they needed every thread of that shirt to pull out the win. Although, I did wear the same shirt while watching  the National Championship on TV and they didn't win. But, I've determined that the shirt is fine, it's just that I wasn't watching the National Championship game in person.

B.(C.)S.

Or alternate title, didn't we beat that team?

So the BCS rankings are official and UT is 3rd. OU is number 2. What is frustrating and confusing by these rankings is that UT beat OU, head to head, on a neutral field. Furthermore, it's not just the computer-created BCS poll that's out of whack. The BCS takes into account, I believe, the coaches and AP polls. But look at both of those and UT is behind a team it beat. Especially frustrating is the AP poll where OU is #1 even though in that same poll staring up is UT at #3. Again, UT BEAT OU, ON A NEUTRAL FIELD, ON NATIONAL TV! What's so hard in ranking UT ahead of OU?

Don't give me the Texas Tech argument either. OU fans will point out that UT lost to Tech and OU beat them badly. First, UT lost at Tech. OU was at home when they beat Tech. Second, and most importantly, you only use and consider such rankings arguments when the two teams you're trying to rank never played. But, wait UT and OU played, so you know who's better by looking at their play against each other on the field. There is no need to extrapolate how they would compare because they had never faced each other. Again, UT beat OU, heads up.

Another frustrating component to this whole thing is that UT and UT fans had to watch two teams play in the Big 12 championship that UT had beaten on the field in the regular season.

Every other division of college football has a playoff, so should the highest? Coaches say the extra games will hurt their student-athletes in the classroom. Besides that being funny, college student-athletes that play football in lower divisions handle it fine. Also, basketball players handle it fine and they play a boatload more games than football players.

More on basketball compared to football in relation to the argument that a playoff would make the regular football season meaningless. College football "purists" say that the bowl system is great if only because that's they way it's always been. Each regular season game is a playoff and a post season playoff will make the college football regular season meaningless. That is the stupidest argument I've ever heard. No one is advocating a college football 64 team playoff so, not every big program will make the playoff. What people are advocating is usually an 8 team playoff. So, guess what, it would be a race to land in the top 8 by the end of the season. Then, the argument would be between those teams ranked 8-11, for example. This season, it would be between Penn State, Tech, Ohio State, Boise State, and TCU. There would still be an argument but at least it would be farther on down the rankings.

Anyone else ready for a playoff? And what if OU beats Florida? UT will have beaten the "National Champion"? Does that make a sense to anyone? Of course OU will likely lose to Florida and OU will have choked away another chance at National Championship handed to them on a silver platter. Hook 'em.