Texas Struggles in Win over Colorado

The thought on all Longhorn fans minds after their 38-17 win over Colorado is thank God for Jordan Shipley and the playmakers on special teams and defense. Texas played uninspired and sloppy before three straight touchdowns on special teams and defense saved them from a disastrous loss to the unranked Buffaloes. Ben Wells recovered a blocked punt, Earl Thomas intercepted a pass, and Jordan Shipley returned a punt, all for touchdowns, to bring the Longhorns from behind 17-14 to a 31-17 lead , and the Longhorns never looked back.

Jordan Shipley again showed why he is the best player that currently wears a Longhorn uniform, totaling 273 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

The Longhorns offense led by Colt McCoy had trouble all game long. They could not run the ball, finishing with only 46 yards on the ground, while turning the ball over twice and scoring only 17 points offensively. The Longhorns leading rusher, Cody Johnson, totaled just 20 yards. Coach Brown continues to go with a cluster of running backs instead of picking one back to feature, which will continue to be a problem as the season goes along and the Longhorns play tougher and tougher opponents.

Colorado played spirited and played their best game of the season, but ultimately the talent by the Longhorns overmatched the Buffaloes. Dan Hawkins benched his son; quarterback Cody Hawkins after he threw two interceptions, which brings his total to nine for the season. Coach Hawkins has decided that starting sophomore Tyler Hansen for the rest of the season is what is best for the Buffaloes.

Texas has now won their last five games over Colorado.

Texas has to play better, more consistent football, with more passion to start games starting this week against Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry if they want to play for a championship of any kind this season. Oklahoma comes into this game with two losses, but played solid football in both those losses. Colt McCoy has been shaky for periods of time all season after having a career year last year. McCoy must get back to playing at the high level he played at last season or the Longhorns will wind up on the losing end of more than one game and be out of the national title picture. As it is with this unimpressive win and uninspired play the last few weeks Texas has dropped behind both Florida and Alabama to number three in one of the two latest polls.

The next three games will show us where Texas is in the Big 12 and national title picture, Oklahoma, at Missouri and at Oklahoma State.

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By Robert Konis
Big 12 Fans Texas Longhorns Correspondent

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