Book 'Em Horns

Ok, so I stole the headline from an editorial in the Austin American-Statesman. But kudos to Cedric Golden for having the stones to write that Texas Coach Mack Brown needs to act after a tumultuous summer for the Longhorn Roster.

For far too long the Statesman has served up softballs in its coverage of the defacto local pro team. That's not bad business in any way. It could be construed as bad journalism, though. But today Golden speaks the unflattering truth.

For the most part, Mack Brown is a good man, and no, he can't be every where at all times with all of his roster---I believe Bob Stoops implied as much last summer with the whole Bomar/Quinn incident (ironically, that incident didn't have much of a legal ramification, but issues with the NCAA. The UT incidents will not bother the NCAA, but could impact the players far greater). Something still needs to be said about the fact that UT's football program is starting to be listed amongst the usual suspects in the Austin PD's files.

Yes, the Longhorn program is facing somewhat of a crisis. 5 'incidents' in the summer. 4 Longhorns with mug shots. Talk of better evaluation of recruits will help for the future, but the problem is that the current roster evidently didn't have the same filtering process--or else this wouldn't be popping up. Yes, Mack Brown did the right thing in not offering Texarkana LB Chris Collins a scholarship after being charged with sexual assault (that did not stop Oklahoma State from taking him on, though). Yes, he has taken action with some of the players involved in past brush ups with the law--notice Ramonce Taylor's exit from the squad, Robert Joseph's departure.

The future steps to be taken? That remains to be seen. The lucky thing is that UT's past, facilities and location within a talent deep area means that Brown CAN sit back and choose based upon a combination of talent AND character in the future. That's not always the case for other schools.

Growing up, Texans used to chide OU fans by implying that the Sooners' success was due to the large amounts of Texas talent on Barry Switzer's teams---calling them the "University of Texas at Norman". They also loved to insinuate that the Sooners' won by hiring out thugs and cheating, while the future doctors and lawyers playing on the Longhorn roster represented everything good of the scholar-athlete. Now, it appears that Texas is following the example set in the 80s by the Sooners--weapons, drugs, assault charges---at least they come with the success of a national title and an annual contender, much like OU's 80's.

Unfortunately, Longhorn fans will now hear the taunts of others for the actions of a limited few. The shoe is on the other foot now.