Category Archives: Texana

Jordan Shipley

Posted on October 10, 2010 | Comments Off on Jordan Shipley

shipleysig

If there’s one thing the Longhorns miss more than any other this season, it’s a reliable receiver (who doesn’t drop balls) like Jordan Shipley. But he plays for the Cincinnati Bengals, now. Where I’m sure he’s happier. As well as paid.

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Posted in Texana, Texas Football

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Go (st)Rangers

Posted on October 6, 2010 | Comments Off on Go (st)Rangers

old-rangers-logoAssuming they haven’t already been knocked out of the playoffs, this old logo via TFG is still the best.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Texana

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The 40 best speed traps (in Texas)

Posted on October 5, 2010 | Comments Off on The 40 best speed traps (in Texas)

Right there, at No. 19 on the list, is my, uh, unfavorite: Mustang Ridge in south Travis/ north Caldwell Counties on Hwy 183. The others I have (so far) managed to avoid.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Scribbles, Texana

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Those golden Longhorns

Posted on October 4, 2010 | Comments Off on Those golden Longhorns

Well, as some sportswriter has said, this is the first time since 2000 that the Horns haven’t been ranked. And Nebraska is waiting to make their record 3-3.

Nevertheless, it was  a good ten years. Lots of fun watching the good Horns play solid football, even winning the Champeenship in ’05. That was when Mr. B. was five years old, his having been born back at the start of that fateful 2000.

Which was also the third year of Major Applewhite, and watching him, whatever the team’s ranking or lack thereof, was worth it all. His long, accurate passes were so timely and so beautiful, you could forgive his undersized and delicate physique that found him purposely collapsing on the turf long before a sack-minded defender could reach him.

Among Major’s still-standing school records (via Wikipedia): “the longest pass play (97 yards), consecutive passes without an interception (156) and most yards passing in a game (473).”

Not even Vince or Colt could better those. Certainly not Major’s replacement Chris Simms. So if we’re due for a losing season this year, and a mediocre, Simms-like QB (and it seems we are), at least there’s the golden past to recall fondly. Thanks, guys.

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Posted in Texana, Texas Football

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Okies vs Horns

Posted on October 2, 2010 | Comments Off on Okies vs Horns

At the half it’s Oklahoma 21 to 7. Hard to say what will happen. The Texas defense has had some good stops, but the Texas offense looks too ragged for optimism.

UPDATE:  With less than 2 minutes to play, it’s obvious the Horns will lose this one. Okies 28 to 20, so far.

You held your breath every time the Texas offense had the ball. Whenever they did something good, which wasn’t often, they either couldn’t capitalize on it or they drew penalties that called it back. This is the worst Texas football team in many years. If they don’t wind up with a losing season, it will be a miracle.

Nebraska will definitely get its revenge. Heck, Baylor probably has a shot, too.

MORE:  Alamo Bowl on line 1 for you, Mack. Assuming you’re bowl-eligible, by then, which is not to be comfortably assumed at this point.

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The houlihan cowboys

Posted on September 27, 2010 | Comments Off on The houlihan cowboys

“I ride an old Paint/Lead an old Dan/I’m goin’ to Montana/For to throw the hoolahan.” —lyrics of the traditional song Leaving Cheyenne.

The houlihan is a lasso throw used in various ways, on horses and calves, though it seems to have been designed to capture a fleeing wild horse by roping both its forelegs at the same time. Ideally, not to make it stumble and fall, but to slow it down and gradually turn it toward the roper.

“The houlihan is swung counter clock wise, opposite a traditional loop, and opened at the throw with the flick of an agile wrist. It was not an easy throw and required years of practice to perfect.”

Hollywood’s preferred neck-shot was considered too iffy by real cowboys. The horse could lower its head to escape the loop, or, in continuing to run without escaping, be injured by a loop around its neck. Although it would seem that catching its forelegs might cause it to fall and break its neck.

Leaving Cheyenne, of course, is also a novel, one of my favorite Larry McMurtry pre-Lonesome Dove stories.

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Posted in Library, Scribbles, Texana

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Texas vs UCLA

Posted on September 25, 2010 | Comments Off on Texas vs UCLA

UCLA has Texas 13 to 3 at the half, in one of the worst Texas games I’ve seen in many years. Four Texas turnovers were bad enough, but QB Garrett Gilbert seems stuck on short-yardage passes or incomplete long ones. Plus the offensive line isn’t protecting him and the defense can’t seem to throttle the UCLA running game. I’ll be surprised if Texas pulls out a win on this one.

UPDATE. They didn’t. UCLA creamed ’em 34 to 12. The second half boos from the Texas fans reported by AP were well-deserved. It’s heretical, but I really think they ought to replace Gilbert with his backup. (Chris Simms, that’s who GG reminds me of. Arrgh.) Course they first have to find some receivers who won’t drop the ball. And an offensive line to protect the new quarterback.

Alamo Bowl, here they come. If they’re lucky.

MORE: From the daily’s sportswriter Kirk Bohls’ conclusions on the game:

“They are a young team that can’t run, can’t block, can’t catch, doesn’t have anyone remotely resembling a big-time, playmaking quarterback yet, makes horrible decisions on special teams and decides not to tackle when momentum heads to the exits.”

And their next two games are against Oklahoma and Nebraska. Lordy.

AND:  Inevitably, Texas fell from its No. 7 perch in the AP media poll to No. 21. Also from No. 4 to No. 16 in the USA Today coaches’ poll.

Beating Oklahoma (No. 8 in the media poll) and Nebraska (No. 6 in the media) would elevate Texas in the rankings again, but neither seems likely now.

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