Good Morning Longhorn Fans!
Y’all ready for some football?
I bet Frank is smiling seeing the Doughboy in the logo.
Colorado State Rams vs. No. 4 Texas Longhorns
The No. 4 Texas Longhorns host the Colorado State Rams at Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday to kick-off the University’s 132nd year of football. 2:30 p.m. on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+. This is only our second meeting with the Rams. No. 12 Texas dominated the first one, 46-0, in 1975, in the opening game of that season. More below.
Our national ESPN broadcast crew is one I don’t recognize – Mike Monaco on the play-by-play, Kirk Morrison with analysis, and Dawn Davenport on the sidelines. The game will be broadcast around the world on the Longhorn Radio Network, anchored by the legendary Voice of the Longhorns Craig Way, Roger Wallace providing color and analysis, and lifetime Longhorn Will Matthews on the sideline. You can listen to Craig, Roger, and Will on the flagship, KVET in Austin 1300 AM and 98.1 FM. KTBB 600 (and 92.1 FM) in Tyler, KKSA 1260 AM in San Angelo, and KLUB 104.9 in Victoria. SiriusXM 82. The Spanish broadcast is led by the amazing Dr. Rubén Pizarro-Silva, joined by Raul Saenz. For those who might not immediately recall, their calls are amazing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CjqCh1QMeHr/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
The Longhorns are favored by 32, and the over/under is 60.5.
Not knowing the crew, I used Google. Jay Michael “Money” Monaco is 31 years old, Notre Dame kid, does some play-by-play on NESN for the Red Sox. 31 years old. I have two children older than “Money”. Kirk Morrison played linebacker at San Diego State (Kappa Alpha Psi), and played for the Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Buffalo Bills. He should be pretty good. Dawn Davenport is a sports journalist out of Nashville. From Plano, she played volleyball for Auburn.
This interview with Michael Taafe. So good.
https://twitter.com/Cory_Mose/status/1828166882320433417
Texas SEC Celebration
The all-day celebration which The University of Texas had for joining the Southeastern Conference was remarkable. Every sport, our coaches, leadership – all interviewed live on campus and broadcast on the SEC Network. I have never seen The University showcased so well.
The drone show over downtown was unbelievable.
Paul Finebaum said at the celebration that Texas joining the Southeastern Conference is “the singular biggest moment in the history of the SEC.”
https://x.com/TexasLonghorns/status/1807610115769417953
Colorado State Rams vs. Texas Longhorns
The last time these teams met was September 13, 1975, in Austin. Back when we started the football season when the sweltering Texas heat was, usually, starting to abate. Texas dominated the Rams 46-0 under Coach Darrell K Royal. Earl Campbell rushed for 103 yards and a score, and Marty Akins rushed for 80 and 2 touchdowns. UT rushed for 320 yards that day. Ted Constanzo was 3 of 10 for 42 yards (3 things can happen when you pass the ball, and 2 of them are bad). The great Alfred Jackson had 3 catches for 42 yards. The names on defense include a lot of guys I know today, even a former law partner (Rick Burleson, who had 6 tackles). Lionell Johnson led the Horns with 18 tackles and a pick. Brad Shearer and Bill Hamilton each had 11 tackles. Tim Campbell had 10, and Steve Collier had 8. Raymond Clayborn was in the defensive backfield.
Texas would go on to beat Washington and everyone else on the schedule including No. 20 Arkansas, other than a tough 17-24 loss in the RRS to the No. 2 Land Thieves, then a loss in College Station to No. 2 Texas Agricultural & Mechanical. That win by Texas Agricultural & Mechanical gave the Aggies a tie with Texas and Arkansas atop the Southwest Conference. Texas would go to the Bluebonnet Bowl and beat No. 10 Colorado 38-21. Texas Agricultural & Mechanical went to the Liberty Bowl and lost to 20-0 to Southern Cal. And Arkansas went to the Cotton Bowl and beat Georgia 31-10.
A comparison of the Rams and Longhorns from winsipedia:
CSU has a competent quarterback in Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, Aledo, Texas. He threw a lot of interceptions last year, 16. But the Rams passing offense was the best in the Mountain West and #9 in the nation. He has good returning receiver in Tory Horton. They can throw the ball.
A few key statistical comparisons from 2023
| Texas Offense | Colorado State Defense |
| #25 Rushing Offense – 188.4 ypg | 166.3 ypg – Rushing Defense #98 |
| #17 Passing Offense – 289.1 ypg | 249.7 ypg – Passing Defense #108 |
| #9 Total Offense – 477.5 ypg | 416.0 ypg – Total Defense #107 |
| #15 Scoring Offense – 35.8 ppg | 29.6 – Scoring Defense #98 |
| #70 3rd Down Offense – 43.5% | 44.1% – 3rd Down Defense #112 |
| Texas Defense | Colorado State Offense |
| #3 Rushing Defense – 82.4 ypg | 92.2 ypg – Rushing Offense #125 |
| #116 Passing Defense – 254.4 ypg | 306.5 ypg – Passing Offense #9 |
| #35 Total Defense – 336.7 ypg | 398.7 ypg – Total Offense #56 |
| #15 Scoring Defense – 18.9 ppg | 26.1 ppg – Scoring Offense #76 |
| #2 3rd Down Defense – 26.6% | 41.1% – 3rd Down Offense #51 |
(As I said last week, this is an important year for Coach PK. #116 in any defensive category isn’t going to cut in the Southeastern Conference.)
Even if CSU is markedly better than last year, this won’t be that close.
TCT Thoughts
Hard for me to do my kind of analysis and preview with neither team has played a game. I can look at last year’s results and statistics, but that was also about average at best, and with the portal and transfers, it is just sort of for fun.
Colorado State is getting better. They have some good football players… but they are not on par with Texas. They are a top half Mountain West school. The kind of school that will be a stepping stone for talented players to move up in leagues in the NIL years ahead.
If there is one area where I have some anxiety, it is their passing offense against our pass defense. Let’s hope this year is different. And a lot better.
What I am excited about is seeing how individual players perform, how the defense and offense executes.
Success in the SEC starts in the trenches. As noted last week, we return one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country, led by All-Everything and playing-on-Sundays next year Kelvin Banks, Jr. and anchored in the middle by Jake Majors. I will have the binoculars on the line – a lot. Next, Quinn Ewers – how is he doing on his reads and check downs, what receivers has he developed a rapport with, and, perhaps most importantly, how do his throws over 20-25 yards look. Can’t wait to see the new guys at wide receiver. And I am going to go ahead and predict 128 yards rushing and 32 receiving for Blue.
On defense, same – the line. Especially in the middle. Are the next men up up for the task? I don’t expect Sweat and Murphy, but we sure need the best each of them can be.
Anthony Hill, Jr. I will be isolating on him some, watching his reads and lines. And the other linebackers.
I think the secondary is going to turn out pretty darn good. Looking forward to seeing that unit and how that cover, attack, and play run defense. They better be ready at 2:30 on Saturday.
It should be a fun game. The Rams are a real football team. Texas needs to play well. Texas needs to stay healthy. And because of that last, really important point, I have adjusted my score prediction, as I think if Texas is in control, we will see some different faces, hopefully early in the second half.
TCT Prediction: Texas Longhorns 45, Colorado State Rams 13.
Colorado State’s preview. Always good to know what the opposition is thinking.
A Stern Test Out of the Chutes – Colorado State Athletics (csurams.com)
Official Texas Game Notes:
https://texaslonghorns.com/documents/2024/8/26/Week_1_-_Colorado_State.pdf
Parker Fleming, @statsowar on X
So, this evil genius has a new system. Lots of date and analytics. What I will do is include a screenshot of the key info, and give you the link to the full page with all the data. College Football Insiders powered by CFBGraphs.
Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy retired from playing football this summer. He is one of my favorite all-time Texas Longhorns. If you don’t click any other link in this week’s newsletter, if you don’t watch any other video, watch this piece from the great Bob Ballou. So good. Amen.
https://twitter.com/BobBallouSports/status/1825978017526722856
Edith and Darrell Royal
This interview with Miss Edith and Coach, posted on Facebook by Ant Geronimo.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/527051349935904
Morrill Land –Grant Schools
When I was working on my brief brief below on Colorado State University, I started doing my annual dive into land grant colleges and universities. We have always had these schools (as my friend Casey Dobson likes to call them “cow colleges”) on our schedule, and in the Big 12 era, I had bits about the land grant schools when we played Oklahoma State, Iowa State (the very first school to apply for and get funding under the Morrill Act), and Kansas State (the first institution created under the Act). Kansas State Agricultural College, in particular, with its on-campus farm, its own meat processing plant (and education), and its own meat products and brand (WildKat) and milk and dairy products was my favorite. I always got a little entertainment value out of K State, including calling the Call Hall Dairy Bar to find out the weekly lunch specials (in case anyone was getting to Manhattan early).
But I digress.
After all the years I have enjoyed writing these little missives, I am always amazed when I think about the impact which Justin Smith Morrill (Congressman from Vermont, a founder of the Republican Party [and former Whig]) has had on America with his land grant legislation. His first bill was passed in 1859, but President Buchanan vetoed it. Morrill reintroduced the bill in 1861 (of note for Texas Agricultural & Mechanical) adding to his legislation that the land grant schools would include military teaching in addition to agriculture and engineering (and mechanical). President Lincoln signed the bill in 1862. The 1890 Morrill Act (aka the Agricultural College Act of 1890) expanded the original act and required that the former Confederate states show they weren’t discriminating or create a separate land-grant school for African-Americans. Thus, for example, Prairie View A&M and Southern University in Louisiana.
Most of our opponents in the SEC are land-grant institutions (ten of them).
Colorado State University
Opening and closing the regular season with aggies!
Colorado Agricultural College was founded in 1870 as an 1862 Morrill Act land grant college. It was very agricultural and very small. In 1935, it was renamed Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and in 1950 simplified to Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College. With expanded academic programs, Colorado A&M grew and finally in 1957, became a university, and renamed Colorado State University.
Colorado State is a beautiful campus on the Front Range in Fort Collins.
Notable alumni include actors Keith Carradine and John Amos. It gets thin after that on recognizable names for me. Although a couple of odds one, if you want to use the google.
Academic Rankings |
||
National |
||
Texas |
Colorado State |
|
| Forbes | 31 | 227 |
| U.S. News & World Report | 32 | 153 |
| ARWU | 25 | 63-85 |
| Washington Monthly | 87 | 125 |
Global |
||
| ARWU | 45 | 201-300 |
| QS | 66 | 408 |
| THE | 52 | 401-500 |
| U.S. News & World Report | 56 | 266 |
The 2024 College Football Playoffs
I had a mistake in my summary of the new playoff format, minor, but important. So I am redoing it here. Thanks for the feedback Pat Frost!
Here is how the 12 team CFP will work:
- The 5 highest ranked conference champions get automatic bids. This rewards the regular season and is consistent with other NCAA tournaments.
- The top 4 highest ranked conference champions are seeded 1 through 4, and those teams get a first-round bye.
- The remaining 8 reams will play first round games at the home stadium of the higher ranked school (No. 12 at No. 5, No. 11 at No. 6, No. 10 and No. 7, and No. 9 at No. 8).
- The quarterfinals (the top 4 versus the winners of the first round games) will play in New Year’s Six bowl games.
If Texas wins the SEC, the Horns get a bye. If we finished ranked in the Top 11 but don’t win the SEC, then we are in. The “5 highest ranked conference champions” means someone outside of the Power 4 will get an automatic bid (for example an Appalachian State; last year was Liberty). That team will likely be ranked outside of the Top 12, and thus, we will see the top 11 teams from the Power 4 plus the highest ranked conference champion from the Group of 5. Or 6. I am still getting my arms around the Pac 2.
2024 Longhorn Football Prospectus: Thinking Texas Football
Not too late to get Paul Wadlington’s preseason book on the Longhorns. Here is the link to purchase it. I highly recommend it. Great stuff, and Paul is a very good and entertaining writer.
2024 Longhorn Football Prospectus: Thinking Texas Football (smashwords.com)
Massey
No update, but reminding the other nerds how cool this is.
Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Alabama, Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Louisiana State. Land Thieves at 12, Missouri at 13, Tennessee at 16, Texas Agricultural & Mechanical at 19.
ESPN College Football Power Index
Updated. Horns still at No. 3. Full graph in this link.
Week 1 in the SEC
I am so dang happy to be writing about football in the SEC. It just means more.
Thursday Night
No. 11 Missouri hosted Murray State, and the Tigers whacked the Racers 51 to nothing.
Arkansas is undefeated! The Pigs beat Arkansas Pine-Bluff 70 to 0. The Golden Lions were not so golden.
Friday Night
The No. 16 Land Thieves begin their new life in the SEC by hosting the Temple Owls. 6:00 p.m. on ESPN from beautiful Norman, Oklahoma. Our friend Arthur Johnson is the Vice President and Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz ’65 Director of Athletics for Temple University. Land Thieves favored by 42, and the over/under is 57.5.
Saturday
No. 14 Clemson at No. 1 Georgia, 11:00 a.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. ABC. The Tigers are quarterbacked by Austin Westlake Chaparral Cade Klubnik. One of only 5 Texans on the Clemson Roster. The Bulldogs are quarterbacked by a Heisman favorite and preseason All-American, Carson Beck. ESPN’s Matchup Predictor gives Georgia an 82.4% chance of winning. UGA favored by 13.5, and the over/under is 47.5. Go Dawgs!
College Football Insiders:
Virginia Tech at Vanderbilt, 11:00 a.m. on ESPN. The Hokies are favored by 13.5, and the over/under is 48.5. Anchor Down.
“Chattanooga” at No. 15 Tennessee, 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network. That would be the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Mocs. Vols favored by 38.5, total is 56.5.
No. 19 Miami in the Swamp to play the Florida Gators, 2:30 p.m. on ABC. Canes are favored by 2.5, and the over/under is 54.5. Go Gators. I don’t care for Miami.
Old Dominion at South Carolina, 3:15 p.m. on the SEC Network. The Monarchs are 21 point road underdogs so the Gamecocks. Total is 52.5
Eastern Kentucky at Mississippi State, 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+/SECN+. Bulldogs favored by 24.5, over/under is 60.5.
Western Kentucky at No. 5 Alabama, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN. The Hilltoppers face a steep challenge. Tide favored by 31.5, total is 59.5. Won’t be close. Although it will be different without Nicholas Lou Saban, Jr. on the sidelines.
Furman at No. 6 Ole Miss, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+/SECN+. Going to be hot and muggy in Oxford, but I bet the Grove is big fun! Rebs favored by 42.5, over/under is 60.5. Hotty Toddy!
No. 7 Notre Dame at No. 20 Texas Agricultural & Mechanical, 6:30 p.m. on ABC. Biggest game of the day, actually. Hat tip to the Ags for scheduling this. Texas Agricultural & Mechanical favored by 3, total is 46.5. Now, as you may recall, I have a good contingent of Aggies on my dad’s side of the family, most of the men were in the Corps, real Aggies. But my son-in-law Mark went to Notre Dame, as did most of his family. And my grandson Peter (who turned 7 today and who started first grade this year), has already made the decision that he will attend Notre Dame and live in Dillon, just like his dad. Go Irish.
College Football Insiders:
Happy Birthday Peter! Papa loves you!
Me, Peter, Oliver Service, and Micah. The boys’ first Texas Longhorns baseball game.
Alabama A&M at Auburn, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+/SECN+. Tigers favored by 48, total is 56.5. War Eagle.
Southern Miss at Kentucky, 6:45 p.m. on the SEC Network. The Wildcats are hoping for a big year. Favored by 27, over/under is 50.5.
Sunday
No. 23 Southern Cal vs. No. 14 Louisiana State, 6:30 p.m. on ABC. Allegiant Stadium in Fabulous Las Vegas. Libby & Art, Julie & Rick, Catherine & Robert – have fun! Should be a large weekend! Louisiana State favored by 4.5 over the Trojans. Over/under is 64.5.
College Football Insiders:
Top 25 – Week One
One nice thing about the SEC: a lot fewer Top 25 games to write about.
Last Saturday, as I am sure everyone saw or at least knows, Georgia Tech upset No. 10 Florida State 24-21 in a great game. Haynes King, the Yellow Jacket quarterback, and a Longview Lobo, was really fun to watch.
Thursday Night
The Western Carolina Catamounts gave the North Carolina State Wolfpack all they could handle, tied at half, NC State scored 21 in fourth and won 38-21.
No. 22 Kansas 48 to 3 over the Lindenwood Lions.
No. 12 Utah flexed early, shutting out the Southern Utah Thunderbirds 49-0.
Saturday
No. 8 Penn State at West Virginia, 11:00 a.m., on FOX. Probably will be a good game. West Virginia can play well at home, as we know. PSU favored by 7.5, total is 51.5.
Illinois at No. 25 Iowa, 11:00 a.m. on BTN. Hawkeyes are 22.5 point favorites, and the total is 40.5.
South Dakota State at No. 17 Oklahoma State, 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Jackrabbits are the defending FCS National Champions, a perfect 15-0 2023 season. They kicked but in the playoffs, dominating Albany 59-0, then taking down the Montana Grizzlies 23-3. This isn’t your average early FCS game. Cowboys better double check their spurs and tighten their saddles. Okie Aggies favored by 10, total is 56.5.
Akron Zips at No. 2 The Ohio State University Buckeyes. 2:30 p.m. on CBS/Paramount +, from the horseshoe. Buckeyes are 48.5 point favorites, and the total is 58.5.
Tennessee Martin at No. 18 Kansas State. 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Wildcats favored by 37, total is 56.5.
Idaho at No. 3 Oregon. 6:30 p.m. on BTN from Autzen Stadium. The Vandals. What a great mascot name. Ducks are 43.5 point favorites at home in Eugene. Total is 62.5. I might have to sneak a peek at this one to see how Dillon Gabriel is doing.
Fresno State at No. 9 Michigan, 6:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock. Big Blue favored by 21, total is 45.5.
New Mexico at No. 21 Arizona, 9:30 p.m. on ESPN. I love Pac 12 After Dark Saturday night college football. But just doesn’t feel the same. Cats favored by 31, total is 58.5.
Monday
Boston College at No. 10 Florida State, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. The loss in Ireland to Georgia Tech didn’t eliminate the Seminoles from the playoffs. A home loss to the Eagles would. FSU favored by 16.5, over/under is 49.5.
Week One’s Other Games of Interest
Thursday Night
Coach Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tarheels batted to beat Minnesota 19-17. Congrats Coach!
Colorado escaped getting beat at home by FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. 31-26 Buffs.
Jonah Williams
As longtime readers know, I don’t get into recruiting, don’t cover it except for an occasional big recruit. Last time I gave much space at all to recruiting or a prospect or recruit was probably Arch Manning.
Jonah Williams, by all reports, deserves a minute. 6-3 and 203 pounds, he is the biggest commit for the 2025 Class, and he is the No. 1 ranked safety in the nation, No. 10 overall. He plays both defense and offense (wide receiver). He is also a starter on the Galveston Ball basketball and baseball teams. Outfielder and left handed pitcher with a big time fastball. Jonah will also play baseball at Texas. Congrats to Blake Gideon who was in charge of his recruitment, and to the Texas One team. I saw that tonight (Thursday) he took the opening kick-off of the season back for a touchdown.
The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch: Administrative Notes
As a follow-up to last week’s admin notes, my thanks to several people who, at some point on Tuesday, realized they had not received my email. It took me a little while, but I figured out an entire group of distributions lists didn’t get sent. So if you received this email, and some Friday morning you don’t get that week’s edition, email me.
Second, and to reemphasize, the views expressed in The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch are mine alone, and not that of my employer, Jackson Walker LLP, any of my law partners, or of any other organization with which I am affiliated.
If you want to unsubscribe, email me, and I will do my best to find you in the distribution lists and delete you.
Juan Heisman Tailgate
Monday night, my great friend Ed sent me this photo with the comment “Almost here!” And here it is. Can’t wait to see Ed and all our families and friends on Saturday.
Going to be a beautiful day at Juan Heisman! Plenty of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, good beers from our friends at Texas Beer Company, and snacks.
Stop by and say hi on your way to Longhorn City Limits and Bevo Boulevard. LCL is headlined by Midland, a good country band from Dripping Springs, and West 22nd, a local indie rock band formed in 2022 in West Campus by UT students. Have a few songs below.
Kyle Umlang
Y’all know Kyle, or at least should follow him on one of his social media accounts. Great analytics and #AggieFactThursday is epic. This summer he did this map.
“Each FBS #CFB team is given its own land based on proximity to the center of each US county. Color Code
- Burnt Orange: Texas has a winning record over the team that occupies that land
- Gray: Texas has never played the team that occupies that land
- Any other color: Texas does NOT have a winning record over the team that occupies that land
“1958: An aerial photo of the UT Austin campus, looking east. The open, floodlit field at lower right was the men’s intramural fields, now the site of Jester Center. Just above it, a mostly empty parking lot for IM and the Brackenridge-Roberts-Prather dorms around it.”
From Jim’s post on X, July 30, 2024.
Texas One Fund
If you are a Texas Longhorn, you need to be giving money to Texas One. We will compete for and win national championships only if we are competing with our peers on the funding and NIL. This is where to make your impact on Texas Athletics and vote for your Longhorns with dollars.
Washington & Lee University
The Generals season starts September 7, when they host Salisbury.
I have to say how cool it is to see Kaylee Hartung’s (W&L 2007) success. One of Kaylee’s earliest broadcasting jobs was here in Austin with the Longhorn Network. She’s worked at CNN, ABC News, and on the sidelines for Thursday Night Football, and she is now with The Today Show. What starts here.
Music
Midland, Drinkin’ Problem
Midland, Make A Little
Midland, My Lonely Line Dance
West 22nd, Sunburns
Picture of the Week
From JType’s Instagram post on August 9, 2024.
Website: https://jtypephotography.com/
Instagram: @jtype
Photo © JType
I love bats. We have to save the bats. We have to. No bats, no tequila. Join Bat Conservation International and give a little bit.
Bat Conservation International / Ending Bat Extinctions Worldwide
Thanks for reading.
God Bless Texas
God Bless America
Tim Taylor
Member, Football Writers Association of America
Tailgating before Home Football Games
The Juan Heisman Tailgate
Lot 38, East of Sid Richardson Hall
HOOK EM HORNS!!
The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch
© Timothy C. Taylor, Sr. 2024. All Rights Reserved (as to original material).
On X: @tctayloratx
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You can contact me by mail:
Tim Taylor P.O. Box 5371 Austin, Texas 78763-5371