Texas won a playoff game!

Written by Coach Venable, a long-time successful Texas high school defensive coordinator.

Life is full of ups and downs and college football illustrates that fact at least once a minute. Talk about emotional highs and lows. Just when you thought the home faithful could settle down and enjoy a hard-earned victory that other bunch of orange found a way to weasel their way back into a competitive score and force our own to buckle up and attack once more. Did I mention it was a fun game to watch but we could do with a little less nail biting and mild adult swearing. 

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One thing that stood out to me was the play of both QB’s. Both had about two bad plays (decisions) but they made defenses fight the good fight. One needs to acknowledge well played performances at such a difficult position to stay above average with bullets flying from every direction. My hat is off to both QB’s on this day—Quinn and Cade did yourselves proud. 

Why would any offense run the ball against our GL? We stacked furniture once again with our backs to the wall and turned their best effort into a failed attack when it counted most. Gbenda and Norton had superior efforts on third and fourth downs respectively to stymie Dabo’s men short of the alumni stripe. 

Our OL had their finest hour yesterday. Not only did they shine with our starting group intact but after losing two starters and changing two positions including the very difficult center responsibility, they made outstanding adjustments and smooth transition efforts. I hope everyone reading this stops to enjoy just how well our pulling guards kicked their edges into staggering reactions with helmet leading strikes. We owned their front until we decided to go fancy for some reason. Can’t stand prosperity—think again next week/time. 

Did it look like one team was running in molasses while the good guys were flying around on all eight cylinders? Our team speed and obvious depth were on full display yesterday. We have big time potential at every position and it shows. Yesterday we watched Holmes (9) and McDonald (25) in the secondary, Gbenda (33) at LB and Norton (15) at DT come up with huge plays. Burke (91) and Simmons (11) had a sack and an interception between them just on the defensive side of the ball. Our entire defense is visibly faster than the Clemson offense. 

Manning (16) needs a longer leash but made a nice first down on a busted play. Blue (23) showed Clemson a clean butt as he raced to two long scores. Gibson (9) hammered out a GL first down and a couple of nice runs in crunch time. All our WR/TE blocked much better than usual without 007 wearing shoulder pads. Davis (81) played a ton of downs and made several outstanding blocks. Goosby (74) once again stood out for his three quarters this time at RT. Hutson (54) played a long stretch at LG instead of his usual RG. Connor (76) performed brilliantly at center but it was obvious that we need shotgun alignments when he’s at OC (probably zero snaps under center this week for Connor—Majors yes Connor no—Sark’s blame). 

Most of our starters: 

Ewers (3) terrific decisions—big scramble in red zone—three big passes that drew interference calls—just wish he would carry out fakes to hold backside pursuit.

Guilbeau (3) made three big plays—needs to come under control on all out blitzes (drive-by’s not acceptable) 

Mukuba (4) had three good plays and steady coverages. 

Wingo (5) had a good run for a first down—drew interference calls—blocked well—two nice receptions.

Muhammad (5) wore himself out tracking his NIL status before this game. 

Barron (7) is the stud hoss of this team—terrific player and huge leader.

Moore (8) is the true definition of hustle. 

Gibson (9) made the most of his opportunities. 

Holmes (9) was our second-best corner yesterday—two terrific break-ups.

Bolden (11) is a team first leader—love his efforts.

Simmons (11) will be a big-time future star—nice interception—great hustle—winner.

Norton (15) great fourth down GL stop—good pass rush for sack (fumble) 

Taaffe (16) had another tough outing missing tackles and one blown coverage—two good plays on last series.

Lefau (18) had another good game at reading and average tackling but needs a little more lead in his butt.

Wisner (26) is the definition of big-time player every time he steps on the field. Winner.

Broughton (45) was steady with a deflection and a pressure—-good GL play. 

Campbell (52) had several great pull blocks and better pass pro.

Williams (56) was having a monster game until he went down with a knee. 

Majors (65) was having a monster game until he went down to a blind side block—two great blocks on touchdown runs. 

Conner (76) LG until needed at center—strong game with several big blocks—killed edges with kick out blocks.

Banks (78) welcome back Kotter—shows why he is the award winner time after time after time.

Helm (85) is one fine TE and dangerous receiver not to mention his ability to run thru tackles after the catch. 

Sorrell (88) is the glue on the defense—big sack early—terrific hustle every week.

Collins (95) had another great GL tackle—huge factor in the LOS battle.

Lole (99) once again made plays and held the LOS. 

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Arizona State next year so let’s get prepared and do our part—-kinda like the Blues Brothers, we’re on a mission and that ain’t all bad.