If the University of Texas athletic department were instead a woman in the 16th century, assuredly UT would be forced to wear a scarlet letter in public. For no administration has done as much damage to college football for its own selfish interests than Texas in the 21st century.
The former Big 12 conference was terrific before the Texas got too big for its britches and established the Longhorn Network in cahoots with ESPN. When the Longhorn Network announced its plans to air high school games, Texas A&M (and others) cried foul. Missouri followed A&M out the door to the SEC. Colorado escaped to the Pac12. Nebraska found a lucrative financial haven in the Big 10.
The revamped Big 12 was still a strong, viable conference with the additions of TCU and West Virginia. For the second time, the Longhorns pulled the rug under the Big 12 by bolting for the SEC in July (with help from accomplice Oklahoma). Again, remaining members of the Big 12 were imperiled. The second time around, the Big 12 again did its best to mitigate damage by adding BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston. Still, the Odyssey remains pissed that Texas again did not give a damn about the general good of the region and its Big 12 brethren.
Therefore, the Odyssey attended Texas’ finale against K-State on Friday with a grim satisfaction. The Longhorns were riding a 6-game losing streak (its longest since 1956 which was the catalyst in hiring the legendary Darrell Royal for the 1957 season) and were greeted by indifference of a half-full stadium in their home finale. All of the Stadium’s references to the Longhorns’ many conference championships further mocked the current state of the program: 25 in the Southwest Conference (yet another conference Texas was instrumental in breaking up) but none since their last Big 12 championship in 2009.
That the Longhorns could hold K-State scoreless in the second half and hold off the Wildcats 22-17 did not seem just to the Odyssey. K-State likely would have been victorious if started QB Skylar Thompson had not been sidelined. The Wildcats’ reincarnation of Darren Sproles in Deuce Vaughn could not overcome their total lack of a passing game.
The sad thing about having disdain of the Longhorns for their many traitorous actions is that there is lots to like in the Texas program. Its band is absolutely terrific as its pre-game show is worth the price of admission. Its legacy songs of “The Eyes of Texas”, “Deep In The Heart of Texas” and “Fight Texas” would warm the heart of the coldest souls.
So, please excuse the Odyssey if we do not root for Texas in the SEC. Our hope is that Vandy will enjoy the company in the bowels of the augmented superpower.