happy new year, longhorns!

Three things can happen when you pass, and two of them are bad.
-Darrell K. Royal, University of Texas football coach, 1956-1976

The first part of this quotation is only true, I think, if you are not talking about Vince Young. So, on this, my first post of 2006 (and in a quite a while), I'd like to send a little love out to my football team, winners of the Rose Bowl and the 2005 National Champions!

A week ago today the University of Texas garnered that title, and it was a beautiful way to start the new year. My friend do tells me that after the 41-38 victory over the USC Trojans, the drag in Austin was enveloped in madness, and that the Coop sold t-shirts from 12:30 am until they were gone at 4:30 am. The diarist and I, forced to watch the game from the district, ordered ours online and were informed that, due to popular demand, we can expect to see them no sooner than summer. This is fine, because of paramount importance to me is being able to sport the garment at the annual fourth of July family reunion in Breckenridge, if for no other reason that to annoy my cousin's Californian husband, who complains that the Texan side of his new family too obnoxiously vaunts Longhorn sports prowess. (Last year the 'Horns had just swept the College World Series.)

The game was heart attack inducing, and with six minutes to go and Texas down by 12, I was ready to turn off the television. I have a hard time watching my teams lose, let alone get trounced. Dogooderlawyer claims this attitude--wanting only to win, not being satisfied with excellent play--is bad sportspersonship (my word, not his), but I know that scoutfinch and 6'1" understand me. (6'1" actually did go to sleep before the 'Horns final drive and discovered only the next morning that Texas had prevailed!) But I did see Vince Young work his magic, and on fourth and five he rushed, standing, into the end zone, capping a game of 200 rushing and 267 passing yards. As sonofjeter said, "Who deserves the Heisman now?" I add, "Reggie who?"

But alas, Vince will not get another chance at that trophy, as he declared on Sunday his intention to enter the NFL draft. Who knows? Maybe he'll go to Houston, and I'll have a reason to pay attention to the Texans!

Did anyone else catch the fans on the sidelines wearing these shirts?

Austin American-Statesman's reader photos. If you only look at one, I recommend photo 25, one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

Of little particular relevance, but Royal is also famous for another saying, one of my favorites (he was responding to a reporter's question about how to secure another national championship): "You gotta dance with them that brung you."