My thoughts on this past weekend

[LonghornFan68]

First, big ups to PonySoprano and BUS for being supremely hospitable to this wayward Longhorn fan. I appreciate the gumbo, beer and chuckles aplenty.

Now, here's a random smattering of thoughts from my trip to the 'Vard this weekend:

- The turnout was quite impressive on the Boulevard this weekend. That, by far, was the most people I've seen come out to the pre-game festivities.

- The stadium was impressively full and lively before kickoff and I was pleased to see that many people stayed after halftime.

- The team obviously looked great in the first half. Too bad they had to spot Houston 14 points before rattling of 24 unanswered. My main comment after the game has been echoed by several others around here. What this team is missing is not talent, is not coaching, it's killer instinct. This teams lacks the belief that they can win big games and put teams away when they have to. What I saw on Saturday was a team that didn't know what to do with a lead. You can't point the finger at any one person, but I think the blame needs to start with Phil Bennett. I still think he is an excellent coach, but he didn't get this team mentally ready for the second half. Having said that, I expect a good showing against Tulsa.

- Thadfilms, dejected as he was, and I went to Milo's after the game to watch one the most horrible displays of ineptitude performed by my beloved Longhorns. As hard a pill as that SMU game was to swallow, this was worse. At least SMU showed signs of life throughout most of the game. It looked as though as soon as Colt went out, the team's balloon got completely deflated. Oh well, moving on.

- The talent at Milo's was impressive to say the least. It's a shanty, but all-in-all a pretty cool place to watch a game. $7 pitchers. I didn't think that still existed. I'm pretty sure some random coed fondled my package while working my way through a crowd, but then again, I could have imagined that. Oh and, to the girl who was hustling drunk guys into pitchers of beer for a game a fooseball, my hat's off. You owned everyone who would challenge, including the two of us.

Anyway, great weekend. At least my Cowboys bailed me out on Sunday. I/we should be back for the festivities next weekend, so hit me up and I'll try to find you out on the grassy knoll next weekend.

Oh, and for the record, this season is far from over.

[LonghornFan68]

am I talking to myself around here?

[ponyte]

We were beat by a better team last Saturday. We needed to play flawless and that didn't happen. UH had more speed than we have seen. That caused our D players to take some incredibly bad angles with big plays for UH the result. UH's Defense was prepared and well coached to contain Willis. Willis will learn not to take huge loses trying to make things happen. That is experience that takes time to develop. We held tough despite big injury loses to our D. Imagine, a season or two ago... one major D player going down would be the end of our season. We have survived every front line D player having injury and we are still in the hunt for a winning season and a bowl game.

Mistakes killed us. We had our chance to put UH in a huge hole in the first half and didn't put the needed scores on the board. Had we made more than a field goal with a fumble recovery and then a blocked punt, we change the dynamics and possibly the outcome of the game around. This team needs to learn what a killer instinct is and how to apply it.

Saturday is another big game for us. And a winnable game. We are at home; we have played probably the second best team on our schedule and had a chance to beat that team. We have experience in a game that actually meant something. We have something to play for and we have a good team. Our pass defense was excellent as compared to previous games. We can beat Tulsa and we need to focus that same intensity and desire to win that we displayed last Saturday.

[BUS]

My thoughts go like this.

Good crowd
Good team
Over Excited to start the game but settled down and got 24 straight points.
Came out in second half and called O plays NOT TO LOSE.

THE SAME PLAY EVERY 1st DOWN. Run up the middle.
Where was the tight end? Why was he not thrown to? Why no crossing patterns ? Why no QB sneek?

I thought the D played well. I hope that we get some DT's healed up for Tulsa but the backups played well. That makes me feel better about next year.

Killer instinct to me means ALWAYS going for another score. I put this on O-play calling.

Yes, IF we got the sack in the end zone we win.

[PonyPride]

LF68 - wish I'd known you were at Milo's. I was there Saturday night for the first time in ages, and I completely agree with your "talent" assessment.

[ponyfan84]

Haha, Milos is a solid place. As a student, its not popular among us, but I frequent the bar every now and then, plus they have great cheese fries.

[MustangIcon]

The crowd on the Blvd was great and the game crowd was decent. To be truthfull, I came away really impressed with the amount of fans UH brought. I would guess they had 3k or even a little more considering they probably weren't all sitting on the southwest side of the stadium.

Killer instinct, yes I agree we might lack some, but to me that wasn't the problem in the game. Here are my game observations:

* We cannot win games with our 3 RBs combining for 30 yards on 18 carries. Also know that UH has a poor run defense that was ranked 80th in the country before facing our awful run attack. Of all the complaining from the game I cannot believe there has not been more on this subject.

* Sweep with a scatback on 4th and 1??????

* I am sure our coaching staff has figured out we cannot run the ball. Its not a secret to them, the players, the fans or the opposing teams. So why do we insist on running so often on first down, throwing a quick hitter into the flat on second down and leaving us with a game full of 3rd and 8's? Sure we don't do this every sereis and I am exagerrating some but it is painfull how predictable we are sometimes.

* 3rd and 19. Forget the safety- I am not even concerned with that, I would have been fine with an incomplete. The bottom line is that was a big play in the game and if you can't come up with a defensive stop on 3rd and 19 you don't deserve to win. UH lost its game to Miami largely in part to not stopping the Canes on a 3rd and 21 allowing a 27 yard pass, which eventually led to a TD. SO they know what a stomach punch that was for us.

* Does anyone else watching the game ever scream out "get down!" every time a player of ours is in the open field trying to gain extra yards with the ball? I feel pathetic wanting our guys to just go down for fear they will fumble away a possesion.

PS congrats on the poackage fondleage. That must have made up for both losses, or it least made them a little easier to deal with.

[MrMustang1965]

LHF68: Sorry I didn't know you were in attendance at Homecoming. Would enjoy meeting you before the Tulsa game.

[BUS]

Then come to the BUS STOP and wait around with a drink in your hand.

[MrMustang1965]

Then come to the BUS STOP and wait around with a drink in your hand.

Will do!

[LonghornFan68]

LHF68: Sorry I didn't know you were in attendance at Homecoming. Would enjoy meeting you before the Tulsa game.

Who say the feeling is mutual?

Just kidding. I'll be around this weekend. Look for the long-haired guy moseying around with the shaved head guy. That's us.

[PonySoprano]

LHF-

You and Thaddeus stop by my tent again this week. It was good to meet you and talking with you.

[ThadFilms]

LHF-

You and Thaddeus stop by my tent again this week. It was good to meet you and talking with you.

Will do... and you need to make sure that Jergen sends me that Michael Ballack jersey. I am looking forward to it.

For those of you who don't know.... which is basically all of you - in true Euro Football style I pulled off my DeMyron Martin jersey and gave it to a fan from Germany who came in for the game.

Of course he wasn't wearing a jersey at the time, so he's shipping one to me. I think DeMyron for Michael Ballack is a good trade. Esp. if you are a fan of soccer... which I am.... and quite honestly I am getting the better end of the deal, in the end... but of course how many times can you fly into the states for a game and walk away with a jersey?

PonySoprano you can rest assured we will be at your tent this weekend. Sure wish ol' Jergen would be there too. Okay - he doesn't have to be there, but I sure wish ol' Jergen's bourbon would be at the game on Saturday.

[ALEX LIFESON]

The Special Delivery camp will be up and rockin' early!

[PonySoprano]

Thaddeus-
Juergen will definitely come through for you. He is in the States for another couple of weeks, but when he gets back to Germany, I'm sure you'll receive your jersey shortly.

I'll see what we might be able to do about bourbon this Saturday.