Ryan Mustard

:eyes emoji:

When the Texas Longhorns extended a Thursday offer to Pensacola (Fla.) Washington offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood, the nation's No. 5 prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings, it seemed like the type of shot in the dark that is worth taking in recruiting.

The consensus five-star prospect is committed to the reigning national champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide, so even getting him on campus would be a success for Texas head coach Charlie Strong and his staff.

However, according to The Football Brainiacs — there was a reason for the offer, and it may have been due to some interest on the part of Leatherwood, which was in turn influenced by a certain pair of five-star prospects:

Apparently Alex has gotten to know Baron Browning and Marvin Wilson. Wilson and Browning are the ones pushing Leatherwood to consider Texas. Let that sink in for a minute. If that doesn’t tell you just how interested Browning and Wilson are in Texas, not much else will.

Alex tells JY that while it won’t be a deciding factor, it would be nice to play with Browning and Wilson. Alex said he is undecided on whether he will take a visit to Texas but is considering it.

For those caught up in the euphoria of the win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday evening, both Wilson and Browning were in attendance, as well as fellow five-star prospect Walker Little, the offensive tackle who plays with Little at Houston Episcopal.

In the wake of that victory, numerous Crystal Ball predictions came in for the ‘Horns with those prospects and several others. Don’t add Leatherwood to the list yet, but the Brainiacs are right here.

The fact that Browning and Wilson would talk up Texas to another recruit while currently uncommitted is potentially huge.

Another interesting note from the Brainiacs — South Grand Prairie safety Jeffrey Okudah may have reached out to the staff in the wake of the victory after declining to include the Longhorns among his top six schools back in July.

Errybody, imo.

Researchers at Harvard have come up with a novel way of studying how bacteria evolve to become drug resistant. They set up a large petri dish about the same shape as a football field with no antibiotics in the end zones and increasingly higher doses of antibiotics toward the center. They placed some bacteria in both end zones and filmed the results as the bacteria worked its way toward the center of the field, evolving drug resistance as it went. Ed Yong explains:

What you’re seeing in the movie is a vivid depiction of a very real problem. Disease-causing bacteria and other microbes are increasingly evolving to resist our drugs; by 2050, these impervious infections could potentially kill ten million people a year. The problem of drug-resistant infections is terrifying but also abstract; by their nature, microbes are invisible to the naked eye, and the process by which they defy our drugs is even harder to visualise.

But now you can: just watch that video again. You’re seeing evolution in action. You’re watching living things facing down new challenges, dying, competing, thriving, invading, and adapting — all in a two-minute movie.

Watch the video…it’s wild. What’s most interesting — or scary as hell — is that once the drug resistance gets going, it builds up a pretty good momentum. There’s a pause at the first boundary as the evolutionary process blindly hammers away at the problem, but after the bacteria “learn” drug resistance, the further barriers are breached much more quickly, even before the previous zones are fully populated.

Tags: biology   Ed Yong   evolution   science   time lapse   video

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Raging Cinema pays tribute to the late Gene Wilder and his use of the comedic pause. On Twitter, Edgar Wright, who knows a thing or two about funny, called for a moment of silence for Wilder:

A moment of silence for the master of the comedic pause.
Gene Wilder: funny doing something & funny doing nothing.

Tags: Edgar Wright   Gene Wilder   movies   video

submitted by /u/unreqistered [link] [comments]

Vizio’s 2016 M-series TVs include basically every feature you could possibly want, including 4K resolution, Dolby Vision HDR (the good one ), Google Cast, local dimming, and even a tablet remote . Do I have your attention? The 55" model is on sale for just $619 right now, or nearly $200 less than usual. I know this came out of nowhere, but it’s one of the best TV deals I’ve ever seen, and I don’t expect it to last.

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Conger and Feigen earned gold medals in the pool, but now face controversy for participating in a lie.

Though Texas Longhorns senior Jack Conger and Jimmy Feigen were members of gold medal U.S. swim teams, they are unfortunately now making waves outside of the pool for the wrong reasons.

Ryan Lochte made headlines when he claimed that he, Conger, Feigen, and Gunnar Bentz were all robbed at gun point on the night of August 13th. Lochte said that several guns were drawn at the U.S. swim team members after men posing as police officers pulled over their taxi and demanded the swimmers’ wallets.

The high-profile Olympian had initially told his mother about the incident, and she then alerted reporters. From there, the account burgeoned into one of the biggest stories of Rio.

“They pulled out their guns, they told the other swimmers to get down on the ground — they got down on the ground. I refused, I was like we didn't do anything wrong, so — I'm not getting down on the ground,” Lochte recounted.

“And then the guy pulled out his gun, he cocked it, put it to my forehead and he said, 'Get down,' and I put my hands up, I was like 'whatever.'

The 12-time Olympic medalist stated that the robbers did not take the swimmers’ credentials or cell phones.

Lochte largely stuck with his narrative amidst controversy boiling that there may have been discrepancies in the athletes’ stories. However, a Brazilian judge ruled that evidence of fabrication warranted the swimmers to be detained for questioning in Rio. For example, Lochte had stated their were multiple guns drawn, while Feigen only said one man held them at gunpoint. And security footage did show the athletes joking around and laughing while entering the Olympic village merely hours after stating their lives were in serious danger.

Lochte had already returned to American by the time of the ruling, as scheduled. But Conger and Bentz were pulled from their flights home, and though Feigen wasn’t found at the airport, the former Longhorn is also still in Brazil.

"I’m just trying to give Brazil what they need or what they want and get out of here,'' Feigen told USA TODAY Sports Thursday morning. "It’s a hassle. But I’m safe, everything’s fine.''

Rio police are now claiming that the four swimmers were vandals, not victims. Fernando Veloso, chief of civil police in Rio said Thursday that Lochte was "very angry because he was intoxicated.” Veloso said that the four swimmers were confronted by a security guard with a gun after they drunkenly tried to vandalize a gas station, breaking a bathroom door.

Even if the four Olympians are guilty of lying to police, they will likely not face criminal charges. In the middle of hosting a controversial Olympians frequently deemed as unsafe, Brazil most likely wants to get the story straight as a PR move to demonstrate that perhaps the athletes weren’t in as much danger as they claimed. Brazilian police have called for an apology to the citizens of Rio from the four swimmers.

Brazilian police have reported that Conger and Bentz confirmed that Lochte’s robbery story was fabricated, according to the Associated Press and multiple other sources.

Conger has been part of three NCAA championship events for Texas and won an overall national championship with the school last season. He took gold in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay in Rio.

Feigen graduated from Texas in 2012 as a 50, 100, and 200 meter freestyle NCAA champion. The San Antonio native claimed a silver medal in the 2012 Olympics for the 4x100 meter freestyle and placed gold in the event in 2016.

Deus Ex Go follows in the step-by-step footsteps of Square Enix’s other mobile puzzle titles, Hitman Go and Lara Croft Go. Like those games, you move from node to node to complete single-level puzzles that grow steadily more challenging. Deus Ex Go, however, takes the stellar formula of these games and adds new complications.

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"I want to see the execution, technique and fundamentals every day so we can get to the next level."

Texas Longhorns offensive line coach Matt Mattox is the latest participant in the "5 questions with Michael Huff" series. Mattox, who recently spoke to the team about attitude, begins by explaining how he made the transition from playing tight end to offensive lineman.

As a tight end he was used to blocking a lot since his high school ran a wishbone offensd, and continued doing so early in his college career. Weighing 275, Mattox was asked if it was easier for him to gain weight or lose weight.

"I had about 15 of my buddies fall to the ground dying laughing because they knew how much I loved to eat," Mattox says. "So I went from being a slow tight end to a fast offensive tackle when it came to conditioning."

A first-year Texas coach who came from Tulsa with offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert, Mattox says he's loving Austin so far.

"It's been great, especially for my wife and my daughters with all of the different parks and being able to get out and go to different areas," he says. "We've enjoyed the outdoors a lot more. Obviously it's hot now, but we're used to that. I'd rather it be hot than cold."

Texas is the fourth stop Mattox has traveled to along with Gilbert, following short stints at Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, and Tulsa. Huff asks how the two were able to build a bond.

Mattox says he met Gilbert at Houston in 2005. Mattox was an assistant strength coach and Gilbert was a graduate assistant. The pair stayed in contact and when they reunited at Eastern Illinois in 2013, and they found that they matched up well both personally and professionally.

Huff's next question is about what Mattox is looking for going into fall camp.

"I want to see that, A: Their physicality. What they did this summer to get in shape. I want to see them use that on the field," he says. "Also, we've got to be better at our technique and fundamentals. I want to see the execution, technique, and fundamentals every day so we can get to the next level."

The last question is: What do you say when you're watching film and a defensive back (like Huff) beats an offensive lineman?

"That's one of those things we talk about. There are guys that don't belong in the box," Mattox says. "When they come in there, we need to take advantage of that opportunity. The number one thing we know with most DBs blitzing is they don't want to run through you. So make them have to try to run through you and see what happens."

Automatic today announced the launch of its next-generation connected car adapter, the Automatic Pro. The Automatic Pro, built on the second-generation Automatic Adapter, is the company's new flagship adapter, equipped with 3G cellular connectivity.

With an always-on 3G connection that carries no subscription fees, the Automatic Adapter is no longer reliant on an iPhone for functionality. Data is collected continuously, even when someone else is driving or when a smartphone isn't in the car.


Like the existing Automatic Adapter, the new version plugs into a car's OBD-II port to provide information like distance traveled, gas used, time spent in the car, and more. In addition to offering notifications to advise drivers on how to optimize speeds, save gas, and monitor engine alerts, the Automatic Pro can also do things like let users know when the time limit on a parking spot is up or connect with emergency services in the event of an accident with real-time vehicle location tracking.

"We're excited to be using the power of cellular connectivity to build upon the offerings of the second generation adapter and combine a beautiful, scalable UI with an extensive range of features that will help consumers the most," said Ljuba Miljkovic, Co-Founder of Automatic.

Along with the Automatic Pro, Automatic is launching a new Automatic app featuring customizable notifications, built-in IFTTT integration, the aforementioned emergency crash alert feature, and more advanced engine light diagnostics.


The Automatic Pro adapter is available beginning today for $129.95. It can be purchased from Automatic.com, Best Buy, or Amazon and it includes no ongoing service fees.


Discuss this article in our forums

“This means a lot to me!”

As the son of former Texas Longhorns great Britt Hager, it’s only fitting that sophomore Fox end Breckyn Hager does everything at full speed on and off the field, including interrupting head coach Charlie Strong’s recent interview with the Big 12 Digital Network.

QB @BGShaneBuechele dethroned, LB Breckyn Hager crowned... and @Strong_TexasFB can't stop laughing.

@TexasFBhttps://t.co/4dt1jFYuk2

— Big 12 Digital (@Big12DN) August 15, 2016

Of course, it’s hard to blame Hager, as he did have big news — he’d finally become the first player to defeat freshman quarterback Shane Buechele at ping pong.

Buechele’s competitiveness and all-around athletic aptitude have become the stuff of legend around the Texas football offices this summer, with tight end Caleb Bluiett telling Strong that "there’s nothing he can’t do."

Whether it’s billiards, golf, basketball, or throwing a football to a friend on a jet ski, Buechele excels.

Just check out the freshman quarterback's ability to end points with his forehand.

My man @LoJoe12 took the L but battled ping pong champ @BGShaneBuechele #HookEm pic.twitter.com/ToFPdTv9T2

— Will Stein (@CoachSteinUT) July 22, 2016

But now his reign as the ping-pong king is over, with Hager able to claim that title with his big victory after moving up in the rankings past junior wide receiver Jake Oliver and breaking out of a group that included senior safety Dylan Haines and sophomore punter Michael Dickson.

More important than the rankings, though, is the sense of camaraderie on this team, which has been a consistent talking point for Strong this fall.

"What you see now is that they are around each other more. Usually if you don't know someone, you can't really play with them in a playful way where you're joking with them, but guys do that now and guys don't get upset because they're around each other so much more and they respect one another," Strong said after recounting the story.

The same goes for the coach, too -- look at how much fun Strong is having laughing about Hager breaking up the interview.

So while there's some de-mystification of Buechele as he finally loses in ping pong and throws some interceptions and wobbly passes in practice, he's still having a tremendous impact on the team because the players gravitate towards him, even if it's just for the purpose of being able to beat him at something.

"Just like his overall attitude, within the whole team it's seepin', seepin', seepin'," Strong said at Big Media Days.

It's on. We hittin'.

VIDEO: The pads went on for the first time today and the Longhorns got after it during practice #5! #HookEm #Believehttps://t.co/oy2sFbZkbx

— Longhorn_FB (@Longhorn_FB) August 11, 2016

Here’s what you’re seeing in the dozen highlights, in order:

- Andrew Beck (#47) gets a strong initial punch on Malik Jefferson. Low man wins. #45 Anthony Wheeler does a nice job coming from the backside.

- Solid job by the DL across the board. Paul Boyette (#93) gives a little ground, recovers, shucks Connor Williams (#55), engages the runner, Poona Ford delivers coup de grace.

- Brandon Hodges (#58) whips Bryce Cottrell play side and stays on his block. Nickelson gets across Omenihu’s legs backside, effectively cutting him. Shackleford body slams Quincy Vasser in the middle. The walk-on RB is still running.

- Alex Anderson (#63) gets manhandled by Naashon Hughes, who is giving up 60+ pounds. Great physicality by #40. Good initial contact from Breckyn Hager (#44) on Elijah Rodriguez (#72) backside, but he gets overextended and spun around.

- That’s how you play OL. Denzel Okafor (#78) decimates his defender (Wilbon? Hard to tell). Put your video on pause and look at his pad level relative to everyone else. If you’ve read Thinking Texas Football, you know we’re Okafor fans. Imade (#67) and Major (#70) do their jobs backside. Hard to believe those 3 bodies belong to freshmen.

- 5th year senior Tim Cole (#30) vs. a walk-on TE.  Not fair.  Anthony Wheeler wins on the backside of the play disengaging from Blueitt (#42) easily.

- Demarco Boyd (#36) whips Peyton Aucoin (#88). Quicker, much more physical athlete.

- Demarco Boyd beats Peyton Aucoin again. #35 Edwin Freeman lays a good lick.

- Cameron Townsend (#43) drives Tristian Houston ten yards backwards into the RB. Antwuan Davis (#25) controls Dorian Leonard (#8) in the middle and DeShon Elliott (#4) finishes the play (his guy was Jake Oliver).

- Eric Cuffee (#26) matadors Collin Johnson for the TFL and fumble.

- The absolute blur from the backside making the play was Brandon Jones #19.  Beat Lil’Jordan Humphrey (#81) with a great first step and physicality.

- Lil’Jordan redeems himself by pancaking Chris Brown after driving him back five yards.  Walk-on strolls to TD.

Do you smell smoke? That’s the aroma of a sick burn wafting out of Cupertino. This Google Photos commercial is running during the Olympics, and it absolutely nails Apple right where they deserve to be nailed. This commercial is going to turn millions of people with 16 GB iPhones into Google Photos users. Running out of space is a real problem that real people face — and once storage gets tight, it will remain tight until you get a new phone.

Update: In addition to 16 GB iPhones, Apple’s other problem is the meager 5 GB limit for the free tier of iCloud. I think the $1/month 50 GB plan is a great deal. It ought to be a no-brainer for anyone who can afford an iPhone in the first place. But there are a lot of people who simply won’t budge from “free”, even if it means putting up with the daily annoyance of warnings about storage limits being hit. I realize Apple is building up its “services” as a profit center, but 5 GB just isn’t enough for the free tier.

What else would you expect from the ‘Horns?

The 2016 Texas football season is now less than a month away and the last few additions to the new-look Longhorns wardrobe have been unveiled. Whether it’s the wide variety of shoes, seemingly endless face mask options or just those beautiful jerseys, it’s all a sign that football is just right around the corner.

But while we wait, let’s all take a second to admire from the 2016 Longhorns are lucky enough to wear for the upcoming season.

Though the orange jerseys were displayed in June, freshman safety Brandon Jones took to Twitter to show off his Texas gear and future number.

Texas players certainly won’t be in any shortage of cleat options:

Much of the same can be said for the variety of gloves they will have to choose from:

And then of course, you can’t play the game without pads and footballs:

Sure, it may not be Oregon-level flashy, but this is Texas and the clean jersey design has become a staple in college football, bit if you ask Vance Bedford, Texas’ white uniforms are among the most impressive in the nation.

“I mean, if a uniform is going to make you a player -- I think when we wear our whites, it's as pretty as any uniform out there," Bedford said back in 2014.

"When the University of Texas walks out there, with that logo and that uniform, you know who they are. If you look at USC's uniforms, you know who they are. If you look at Notre Dame, you know who they are."

Like many of you, I have been watching Stranger Things on Netflix. My 80s movie fixations tilted towards the War Games/Explorers/Goonies end of the spectrum rather than the supernatural/horror/Steven King end so I'm not obsessed, but I am definitely enjoying it. You can watch the first 8 minutes of the show to judge for yourself.

But I love the opening credits, especially the music. (Both remind me of the opening credits for Halt and Catch Fire.) The title song was composed by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, members of Austin synth band Survive. Someone did a 10-minute extended version of the song and put it up on Soundcloud:

Currently on repeat for the last hour with no sign of stopping. You may also be interested in a pair of playlists featuring music from the show:

What else? Here's a deep dive into the font used for the opening credits (which was also used for the Choose Your Own Adventure books back in the 80s). Alissa Walker wrote about the free-range children on display in ST, something that also grabbed my attention. When I was a kid, I rode my bike everywhere. On summer weekends, I typically ate breakfast at my house and was gone until dinnertime. My parents had no clue where I was or what I was up to...and none of my classmates' parents did either.

Update: Garrett Shane Bryant made a 50-track playlist of songs that sound like the score of the show. Outstanding. (via @dozens)

Update: From the NY Times, The 'Stranger Things' School of Parenting.

Still, "Stranger Things" is a reminder of a kind of unstructured childhood wandering that -- because of all the cellphones, the fear of child molesters, a move toward more involved parenting or a combination of all three -- seems less possible than it once was.

The show's references to beloved films of the '80s have been much remarked upon, but "Stranger Things" also calls to mind all those books and TV shows -- from "The Chronicles of Narnia" to "Muppet Babies" -- where parents are either absent or pushed into the background.

These stories let children imagine breaking the rules, but they also allow them to picture themselves solving mysteries or hunting down monsters all on their own. Often it's only when the parents aren't watching that a child can become a hero.

(via @CognoscoCuro)

Update: The official soundtrack for the show is available on iTunes. It's the score though, not the classic 80s tunes.

Update: Vox spoke to a creative director at Imaginary Forces about their process for designing the opening titles.

Tags: Alissa Walker   design   Kyle Dixon   Michael Stein   music   Netflix   Stranger Things   TV   video

He’ll miss the 2016 season. Jones showed promise as a freshman and Brian Kelly wanted to feature the 6-5, 240 pound pass catcher in the 2016 Irish offense. He’s the classic too-fast-for-LBs, too-big-for-safeties flex option. But he’s won’t play this year as he couldn’t maintain the 1.85 GPA necessary to play at Notre Dame.

He’ll be replaced by Chardonnay Jenkins.

Power to mimic characteristics of the kind of people she wants to be with

Ability to turn my faults invisible

Ability to grow ten times my normal maturity

Sonic shield that prevents her from hearing me in the bathroom

Self-duplication to create a version of me who genuinely cares about her complaining about work for an hour

Ability to control erections when hugging in consolation

Ability to give up control of radio

Power to not feel awkward about using Groupons

Ability to convincingly lie about how much I enjoyed the songs she put on my mix-tape

Reading-light manipulation

Ability to prevent other men from hitting on my girlfriend

Super-sensing when I’m supposed to be dominant

Water breathing

Rapid tongue-muscle regeneration

Ability to communicate with pets that I’m about to have sex and to not jump on the bed or stare or lick themselves nearby

Echolocation of where condoms are in dark

Memory manipulation (hers and mine) about that one time I couldn’t get it up

Not-getting-dehydrated-ness

Psionic waves released upon ejaculation that make her tired too

Ability to somehow look cool in a sleeping mask and earplugs

Ability to control the weather, since I seemingly already have this power, as it’s somehow my fault that it rained when we were supposed to go on that picnic with your new guy friend since it was so-so-obvious I didn’t want to go and, congratulations, I got what I wanted

Power to instantly add “The End” playlist back on my iPhone

Rapid emotional healing

Ability to see into alternate future and relax knowing that, with this argument out of the way, we can finally move forward as we’ll never have another argument like that again

Ability to read minds, since I seemingly already have this power

Superhuman capacity to withstand her going out with her ex-boyfriend when she visits home

Power to say “I’m fine with it” and actually be fine with it

Ability to break through emotional barriers

Sonic scream + ability to explain that wasn’t sonic screaming, you’ll know when I’m sonic screaming

Superhuman hearing

Superhuman listening

Paranormal power of understanding all references, innuendo, and in-jokes she makes with her friends

Paranormal power of bestowing on her understanding of source material of all my out-of- context Simpsons, Naked Gun, Billy Madison, and Groundhog Day quotes

Power to transform groceries I got into those she actually asked me to get

Foreknowledge of when she’ll be home after I told her to stay out all night, don’t worry about me, just text whenever you’re home safe

Ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound + not leap to conclusions

Time compression so every second of her not responding to my text doesn’t feel like an eternity

Ability to fast-forward space-time to a point where I can be legitimately angry she didn’t text me back and can start sending passive-aggressive texts

Remote viewing

Ability to rapidly turn off remote viewing

Paranormal power to influence accidents to happen so I’m hurt, but not too bad, so she feels shitty that she wasn’t around

Ability to travel backwards in time and not send that text I just sent

Ability to find perfect metaphor for how she made me feel

Ability to sound convincing when I tell her I want to understand her perspective

Ability to search for specific text messages

Time manipulation

Time-stamp-on-text manipulation

Power to induce superhuman empathy, no, not even superhuman, just human empathy, as you apparently barely even have sub-human empathy

Ability to control firmness of futon

Super-sensing when I’m not supposed to initiate make-up sex

Ability to control firmness of futon

Power to just let it go

Superhuman ability to explain I don’t have some kind of superhuman ability to pretend I’m someone I’m not, you just put your best self forward when you’re starting to date, don’t act like you didn’t do the same, I wasn’t some kind of sociopath and you’re just as much a sociopath

Ability to travel backwards in arguments

Antonym-ization: the power to make it so she “can do this some more, she just can”

Flight

Power to teleport myself out of a bad relationship instead of staying in it another five years, just to be sure

This is my husband’s third wedding ring. Not my third husband’s wedding ring, but my only husband’s third ring.

We were married in 2011. Less than a year later, David lost the original band while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean during a summer trip. We immediately went to a shop a few minutes from the beach and bought a stainless steel replacement.

The following year, while visiting David’s parents in California, we threw the second ring into the Pacific Ocean as a symbolic balancing gesture and replaced it with this one, a black ceramic ring.

Over the past year, David lost a lot of weight, and this ring no longer fit him, so he had to get yet another one — his fourth. He suggested that I put the third one on a necklace, but I decided to put it on my key ring, so it would always be with me. Few people know he’s had so many rings, so it’s kind of an inside joke. When I’m by myself and missing him and our daughter, I can slip it over my finger and think of them.

It’s also a spare in case he loses his fourth one!

Last month Microsoft announced fans would be able to apply their own style to the Xbox One’s new wireless controller, creating a custom design to have shipped to their door. Mine just arrived, and it’s even prettier in person.

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As usual, Texas is just trying to create the Longhorn Conference.

Throughout the most recent version of Big 12 expansion drama, the Texas Longhorns have mostly stayed out of the fray, but one observant Twitter user was able to uncover some ulterior motivation that the ‘Horns might have for expanding by four teams.

And it isn’t money:

No wonder politicians connected to the university, UT system chancellor Bill McRaven, and UT-Austin president Greg Fenves all endorsed Houston last week — the Longhorn wouldn’t have much of a chin otherwise.

But the gig is up now as Texas tries to create what is truly a Longhorn Conference.

Guessing the record for the 'Horns this year is no easy task, but here's one possible outcome to the season.

Entering year 3 of the Charlie Strong era, it's still a challenge trying to predict what record the Texas Longhorns will have once the season is over. Many are hoping for improvement from the bowl-less 5-7 season in 2015, and the future looks brighter than it has in the past few years, but there are no guarantees big improvement will happen in terms of the win column.

Until we actually see this team in action, it's hard to get a real sense of what it's capable of this season, but here's where I stand with this team and its schedule at the moment.

- - - - - - - -

Notre Dame, September 4

Location: Austin

Prediction: Loss

Predicted Record: 0-1

Last season, Texas got rocked by Notre Dame in South Bend. The offense was dismal and the defense looked lost. This season, this Longhorns team will look much different. And Notre Dame likely won't be as strong of a team out of the gate either. But will Texas be good enough in Week 1 to cause an upset?

I've been flip-flopping back and forth on this game. Both of these teams will be different than they were last season for various reasons. Texas will obviously have a much different offense. And Notre Dame will have a handful of different faces in key positions. Trying to figure out exactly who these teams will be at the start of the season is the challenge with this one.

The positive for Notre Dame is it returns two starting caliber quarterbacks (DeShon Kizer & Malik Zaire), it gets running back Tarean Folston Jr. back form injury and return sophomore running back Josh Adams. And defensively, it brings back a good portion of its two-deep.

The drawbacks are they lose big time playmaker Will Fuller at wide receiver, need to replace three starting offensive linemen (though they have some legitimate options to plug in across the line), and they have to also find replacements for some key players on defense, especially up front.

Guys like linebacker Jaylon Smith, defensive tackle Sheldon Day and defensive end Romeo Okwara are all gone.

Both the Longhorns and Fighting Irish will likely want to establish the run early. Without a proven go-to receiver, the Fighting Irish will look to rely heavily on their ground attack to start the game. And while focusing on the running backs, the Texas defense cannot let either Notre Dame quarterbacks make too many big plays with their feet when they drop back to pass.

For me, the most important battle to watch in this game will be the Texas defensive line against the Irish offensive line. Both will have question marks, and both will be inserting inexperience into the game when starters need breathers,

I do think Texas has a solid chance in this game. But I see Notre Dame winning more of the battles in the trenches and its talent at quarterback paying off and ultimately winning a game that comes down to one score.

UTEP, September 10

Location: Austin

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 1-1

The masses will be calling for job changes if Texas loses this game. Expect a big day from Texas as they'll easily be the better team in this one.

Cal, September 11

Location: Berkeley

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 2-1

Last year, Cal came to Texas and edged out a win in the final quarter. This year, I have Texas getting revenge in California.

After losing a lot of starters, including QB Jared Goff (who was drafted first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the L.A. Rams back in May) and a large chunk of its receiving core, the pass-happy Cal team likely won't be nearly as effective and explosive out of the gate this season. And overall, you really would be hard-pressed to find another depth chart around the country that has to replace as many starters as Cal does on both sides of the ball.

Even on the road, Texas should have a good shot to win this game.

It is important to note that Cal did hire former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital as its new offensive coordinator and added former Texas Tech quarterback Davis Webb to its roster via grad transfer. At the moment, Webb is apparently in a three-way battle for the starting job.

Oklahoma State, October 1

Location: Stillwater

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 3-1

If Texas pulls the upset here, we very well could look back at this game as the most pivotal win of the regular season. I say that because if this game is a win, there's a very real chance Texas rides into the Cotton Bowl with a winning record of 3-1 or 4-0 and has a shot at a nine-plus win season. If not, they could come out of the Cotton Bowl with an overall losing record of 1-4 or 2-3 --€” and that's not a place Charlie Strong and Texas want to be in.

Last season, Oklahoma State barely escaped Austin with a win after a special teams blunder. This year, I have Texas stealing a win in Stillwater, but it won't be easy.

Returning nine starters including junior QB Mason Rudolph, leading receiver junior James Washington, all five starters across the offensive line (though this group did struggle with run-blocking last season and could struggle again this season), and running backs Chris Carson and Rennie Childs, most of the offense will still be intact.

To add to the run game, Barry J. Sanders (son of Barry Sanders) will transfer from Stanford and be ready to play in the fall for the Pokes. At Stanford last season, Sanders backed up Heisman hopeful Christian McCaffrey, averaged over six yards per carry, and scored four touchdowns. He's a quick back with a good burst that I view as a boom/bust type of performer.

Aside from how effective and consistent its rushing attack will be, the Oklahoma State offense isn't so much the question or weakness. That unit will put up points one way or another. Its defense, however, is the mystery heading into the season. And that's not me saying that it's a sure thing that this defense will struggle, because the unit could actually be solid if they bring it all together. But the Cowboys lost some key players at every level of their defense that are now question marks on their depth chart for the time being.

Up front, they may have lost their best pass-rushing tandem to play in Stillwater in recent history in defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah and Jimmy Bean. Behind the defensive line, two linebackers and veteran leaders are gone in Ryan Simmons and Seth Jacobs. And in the secondary, the Pokes will be without corner Kevin Peterson (who was all-Big 12 first team) and spot starter Michael Hunter Jr. Those shoes won't be easy to fill.

With all of that in mind, Oklahoma State will have other defensive players they can still rely on, like defensive tackle Vincent Taylor, and solid depth throughout that side of the football. And that unit could actually play well enough for OK State to make a push for the Big12 Title. But trying to gauge just how good that side of the ball will be for the Cowboys this year, especially after a year where they benefited from turnovers more than anyone would have expected, is the challenge.

To get a better sense of their good fortunes from turnovers and an overall look at why this team is a mystery right now, here's a great write up from SBNation about what caused the three-game losing streak for OK State after starting the season 10-0 in 2015, and some factors that could shape the ‘Pokes in 2016.

There's no question that playing in Stillwater never makes a game any easier for opponents. And if Texas were to play Oklahoma State ten times, I'd pick the 'Pokes to win a majority of those games. But Texas doesn't have to play them ten times; they just have to play them once. And coming off a bye week, I'll take Texas to upset Oklahoma State in Stillwater to get a much needed win before the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma, October 8

Location: Cotton Bowl

Prediction: Loss

Predicted record: 3-2

As much as I want to pick Texas here, I'm not. Last year, Texas stunned Oklahoma with an upset. The Longhorns ran all over the Sooners defense for 312 yards. And the Longhorns' defensive front had quarterback Baker Mayfield either on the ground or running for his life thanks to their pressure up front and 6 sacks on the day.

This season, I can't imagine Bob Stoops will want Texas have that type of day on the ground again. He'll likely try to do everything he can to force a Texas quarterback to win the game and make plays. And though they lose defensive end Charles Tapper up front along with most of their linebackers (including Eric Striker and Domonique Alexander), they return a solid group of defensive backs and will likely have a formidable defensive line once again.

Offensively, Oklahoma will need to replace a couple offensive linemen and receivers Streling Shepard and Durron Neal. This will be year two of offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley calling the plays and designing the scheme. And in year four of his tenure at Oklahoma, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will have a chance to start players he recruited at all five positions across the line as he works to put together a line that will need to do a good job of protecting Heisman hopeful Baker Mayfield at quarterback. And even with some questions marks at receiver and offensive line to start the season, this Sooner offense will still have a lot of punch to it with both Samaje Perin and Joe Mixon back at running back

Charlie Strong has played Oklahoma well in his first two seasons at Texas, and there's no question Texas could come in and beat the Sooners for a second year in a row. But until we have a clearer picture of what this offense will look like and how the Texas defensive line shakes out, I'm leaning Sooners for now.

Iowa State, September 4

Location: Austin

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 4-2

You better believe Coach Strong and his team will want revenge after an embarrassing showing in Ames last season where Texas couldn't muster up a single point. And frankly, Texas has to win this game.

It is important to note that Iowa State will be led by first-year head coach Matt Campbell, who was formerly the head coach at Toledo. As the head coach at Toledo, Campbell led his team to four straight seasons of winning records. And most recently, Campbell led Toledo to a 9-2 2015 season that included a bowl win over Temple. With him, he also brought offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Tom Manning, who coached with Campbell at Toledo.

Both Campbell and Manning will want to run the ball a ton. And they'll have effective options with sophomore Mike Warren returning at running back (who led all freshmen backs with 1,339 yards last season) and sophomore quarterback Joel Lanning (also a sophomore who carved up the Texas defense last season with 64 yards on the ground and 188 yards through the air as a freshman) returning at quarterback. But Iowa State's weakness will be its offensive line that returns just one starter.

I like Texas in this one even if it is another ugly game.

Kansas State, October 22

Location: Manhattan

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 5-2

Any time you play the Wizard that is head coach Bill Snyder, you could always find yourself tripping up in a game. And this Kansas State team should be much improved from last season if it can stay healthy.

The depth chart returns players across the board, including two quarterbacks that went down with knee injuries last season (Jesse Ertz and Alex Delton). And with this game being played in Manhattan, Kansas, the Longhorns won't be given any favors.

But Kansas State could struggle up front on offense as it works to replace four starting offensive linemen. I'll take the Texas defensive front in a game that could get hairy in the first half before Texas is able to get out with a win.

Baylor, October 29

Location: Austin

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 6-2

Texas beat Baylor in Waco to end the season last year, and this year in Austin they'll have a chance to make it two-in-a-row.

Offensively, the Bears lost a handful of key faces. Wide receivers Corey Coleman and Jay Lee left for the NFL, running back Devin Chafin was dismissed from the team, sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham decided to transfer, four offensive linemen are gone (only center Kyle Fuller returns) and head coach Art Briles was fired. From a football standpoint only, the effects of those losses will be felt on the field.

Fortunately for the Bears, there are a few key offensive players returning. Senior quarterback Seth Russell is back as the starter. And around him, he has a slew of running backs in Shock Linwood, Johnny Jefferson and Terrence Williams. And on the outside at receiver, KD Cannon is also back and will undoubtedly be the go-to receiver for the Bears this season.

But even without all the off-field issues in Waco, I still would lean Texas in this one. Baylor's defensive coordinator Phil Bennett (yes, he still some how has a job) has the tall task of replacing his entire starting front four including nose tackle Andrew Billings. And even though this will likely be an intense and chippy game between these two teams, I'll like Texas in this one at home.

Texas Tech, November 5

Location: Lubbock

Prediction: Loss

Predicted record: 6-3

Besides the quarterback position, Texas has the better roster at a majority of the positions up and down the depth chart between these two teams. And Texas does have a real shot at winning this game. But this game comes late in the season, six weeks removed from a bye week with no other bye week in sight.

With such a young roster, there's a good chance Texas will stub its toe in one of the games late in the season. And this game will also be the first one played in Lubbock for all of the freshmen and sophomores on roster. If Texas comes in banged up or sluggish,  it could find itself on the losing end of another shootout once again.

The biggest strength for Texas Tech is Patrick Mahomes. If you're asking me, the junior quarterback is the best quarterback in the Big12, and playing for Kliff Kinsgbury in that system only helps that argument.

In the backfield next to Mahomes, junior running back Justin Stockton returns and will be the top option to replace the departed DeAndre Washington. Being much more of a speed option compared to the physical Washington, the Tech running game will take on a bit of a different identity.

And though no one on the outside at receiver is gaining much recognition as an All-Big 12 talent, the group will be solid and will include inside receiver Ian Sadler, who performed well against the Longhorns posting 108 yards on six receptions last season.

Tech's strengths will be its quarterback and the handful of weapons he has to use. And that may be enough to win if Texas has an off night. But Tech definitely has weaknesses of its own to overcome this season as well. Working to protect Mahomes and company will be an offensive line that has to replace four of five starters and a defense that is still figuring itself out in year two under the director of defensive coordinator David Gibbs.

And this offseason may have created even more challenges before providing solutions. The Red Raiders best defensive back, Nigel Bethel, elected to transfer, and their best linebacker, Dakota Allen, was dismissed from the team. Not ideal to say the least.

Since Tech uses such big splits when lining up, the woes across the offensive line may be minimized enough to give Mahomes the time he needs to make his throws. And if the Longhorns' defense struggles to slow down the aerial attack once again, comes out sluggish on the road, or struggles to generate the points they'll need, it may be two-in-a-row for the Red Raiders.

West Virginia, November 12

Location: Austin

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 7-3

It's very possible the Longhorns could lose in Lubbock only to come back home to lose another one against West Virginia. But if the Longhorns can protect the ball much better and play defense more effectively against the Mountaineers this time around, they could come out on the winning side.This loss for the Longhorns last season came down to turnovers and a poor defensive effort. On the day, the Longhorns forfeited five turnovers that led to 24 of West Virginia's 30 points.

And the Texas defense struggled to slow down the Mountaineers offense (especially the running game) that posted 257 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and 122 yards and two touchdowns through the air. It was an ugly performance that left Texas fans everywhere more than frustrated.

This season, the Mountaineers offensive depth chart will look very similar to the unit it deployed in 2015 as it returns eight starters including senior quarterback Skyler Howard, leading receivers Daikel Shorts and Shleton Gibson, and four of its five starting offensive linemen. And let's also not forget that the Mountaineers added former Texas assistant Joe Wickline to their staff as the one and only offensive coordinator, though the poor guy likely won't get to calls plays there either.

As for their weaknesses, the tallest task on offense will be replacing do-it-all running back Wendell Smallwood, who led the Big 12 in rushing last season with 1,519 yards and was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round back in May. Senior Rushel Shell and true freshman Kennedy McCoy will have the first chance at filling the void left behind by Smallwood.

Defensively, the Mountaineers will likely struggle at times. Aside from a veteran group of defensive linemen up front, the defense as a whole looks to replace eight starters across the depth chart. And if the Texas offensive line can hold off the West Virginia pass rush, it will lead to a successful day for the ‘Horns offense.

This will be another challenge for the Texas defense in the "spread offense-conference" that is the now Big 12. But give me Texas at home in a game where they rattle Skyler Howard and exploit WVU's defense.

Kansas, November 19

Location: Lawrence

Prediction: Win

Predicted record: 8-3

Texas can't afford to lose this game. And being the better team, Texas should be heavily favored in this one as well.

Kansas went 0-12 in David Beaty's first year as the head coach of the Jayhawks. And there's no reason to think the Jayhawks will be improved enough to beat the Longhorns this year even if the game is played in Kansas. Look for the Longhorns to take an early lead and then use the lead to rest key players for the final game of the season against TCU.

TCU, November 25

Location: Austin

Prediction: Loss

Predicted record: 8-4

There's no doubt Texas wants this game badly this season. TCU absolutely embarrassed the Longhorns in Fort Worth last season in a dominant 50-7 victory and they weren't even at full strength defensively. It was a dark day for the ‘Horns in 2015.

This season, Texas should play better against TCU. Texas fans hope it doesn't get any worse... And TCU does have to replace some key players, including quarterback Trevone Boykin and wide receiver Josh Doctson.

So there's a chance the TCU offense could take a dip this season. But that dip, if it happens, could be slight thanks to the Horned Frogs having legitimate options to turn to at those two positions and others around the roster.

At quarterback, former Texas A&M starter Kenny Hill will have a chance to win the battle over sophomore Foster Sawyer. And on the outside, TCU returns three receivers who all contributed as freshmen last year, including the electric KeVontae Turpin, while getting senior Deonte Gray back from a knee injury last season after posting eight touchdowns in 2014. The loss of Doctson and Boykin will be felt, but it could be minimized if a few key players step up.

The offensive challenges don't end there for the Horned Frogs. Four of five starters must be replaced on the offensive line, and an answer (or answers) must be found at the running back position that lost work horse Aaron Green to graduation after he rushed for 1,272 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on the year.

And the challenge at running back just got a bit more difficult as sophomore Shaun Nixon (who also saw time and played well at wide receiver when needed after missing the entire 2014 season to a knee injury) will likely miss the entire 2016 season with an injury. It's a disappointing loss for TCU and the former four-star running back that was once ranked second at running back in the state of Texas for his class in high school.

But the Horned Frogs still have other options to turn to, including junior Kyle Hicks and true-freshman Sewo Olonillua (a former four-star recruit) who enrolled at TCU after graduating in December (don't sleep on Sewo --€” I may be saying that partly because I also know his older brother from college, but Sewo has skills). One way or another, a running back or multiple will be found to handle the work load.

Even if TCU's offense takes a dip of some kind, its defense has a chance to pick up the slack. Last season, that side of the ball was riddled with injuries, but the one positive was it allowed younger players to get early experience. Now, defensive-minded head coach Garry Patterson finds himself with a defense that returns 11 players with quality starting experience and solid depth behind them.

The Horned Frogs' strength will likely be their pass rush led by defensive ends Josh Carraway and James McFarland (the 2014 TCU sack leader who was sidelined all of 2015 with an injury). Both are expected to start on the outside. And behind them, a handful of athletic linebackers will be there to roam the field. The one weakness for TCU's defense could be its secondary. But with a strong defensive front, and a solid safety in Denzel Johnson roaming the back, this unit could easily be the best in the entire conference when this game rolls around.

Don't sleep on TCU this season. They'll be right at the top of the pack in the Big12 once again. And this game will definitely be a challenge for the Longhorns.

- - - - - - - -

As it stands now, I have Texas going 8-4. And if you were to ask me to rewrite this prediction piece next week, I'd probably give Texas a different record. Anyone could easily make an argument for why Texas would struggle and go 6-6 or excel and end the year at 9-3 or better.

We all know what this team is supposed to look like and what the end goal is, but how long it takes Texas to get there and what that road will look like along the way is the big unknown. For Charlie Strong's sake, hopefully Texas is on the winning side of that road more often than not..

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I’d seen this before and remember liking it, but Ben Thompson implored readers to re-watch it in his aforelinked piece on Dollar Shave Club’s $1 billion acquisition by Unilever, and I have to concur with his assessment: it’s one of the best product introduction videos of all time. 90 seconds long and not a word or moment is wasted.

Remember 2001? Neither do I. But as best I can tell, it was a raucous time for people to get on the ‘net (that’s what people called the internet in olden times). And if you were confused about where to start, there were plenty of VHS tapes available to help navigate this brave new world—like Computer For Grannies, a bizarre artifact that I recently stumbled across at my local library.

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Rise of the Tomb Raider will finally come to PS4 on October 11, Square Enix announced today. It’ll come with all the old DLC as well as a new pack, Blood Ties, that will also be sold separately for the Xbox One and PC versions of the game.

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Texas Longhorns football today is the most valuable program in the game. The foundation was built over 50 years ago.    

It’s being called "The Greatest Opening Weekend of College Football Ever."

The college football orgy starts with Kansas State at Stanford on Friday Sept. 2nd, then moves onto an amazing slate of games on Saturday. LSU & Wisconsin at historic Lambeau Field. North Carolina at Georgia. Clemson at Auburn.

That doesn’t even count the slate of games here in Texas. OU at Houston at 11:00 AM on Saturday on ABC. Next up, UCLA at Texas A&M on CBS at 2:30 PM, and then Alabama vs. USC from Jerry World at 7:00 PM also on ABC.

The next day Texas and Notre Dame will have Sunday night all to themselves.

No NFL.

No other college games.

Just a meeting between two of the winningest and most recognizable programs in college football. The game will take place before over 100,000 fans and a prime-time national TV audience. Kick off is at 6:30PM on ABC is billing it as "the network's first-ever live, Sunday, prime-time, regular season college football game."

It’s not like the Longhorns are strangers to making TV sports history. In fact, the now famous (or infamous if you prefer) "Texas Brand" owes its foundation to an era where college football on television was experiencing growing pains and to a coach who appreciated the underestimated value of the medium.

The road to prominence for Texas really took hold from 1961-70 when three major factors helped to catapult the Longhorns into the national consciousness.

Just Win Baby

Winning of course drives everything, and from 1961-70 two programs, or rather two coaches, dominated the collegiate landscape.

Texas and Alabama. Darrell and Bear.

Both programs would win 3 National Championships during the decade, including one disputed title for each. At the end of the 1970 season, Texas would hold an 89-17-2 record for the decade. Alabama was 88-17-3.

The two coaches were almost as alike as their records. Defensive-minded, detail oriented, taskmasters who demanded respect from their players (friendship would come after you played for them). One writer remarked that the only difference between the two was that "Darrell smiles a little more than Bear."

For Royal that attention to detail went beyond the football field. His vision of marketing and the oncoming growth of college football on television would mark the Longhorns expansion on the national scene.

The Logo

I picked to start the decade in 1961 for a reason. Royal had four complete recruiting cycles. Texas had five outstanding collegiate running backs, led by All-American James Saxton, who averaged an obscene 7.9 yards a carry for the season. The defense gave up more than 7 points in a game just once (14 to Texas Tech) and the joke was that the second-teamers lettered before most of the starters thanks to early playing time. Royal considered it athletically superior to his 1963 National Championship team.

It was also the first year of the Longhorn logo.

---

The previous summer Royal approached Rooster Andrews, a sporting goods executive in Austin, about creating a Longhorn sticker. The pint-size Andrews, a Longhorn legend from his days on campus as trainer, occasional drop-kicker for the football team and BFF of Bobby Layne, gave Royal a crayon drawing of a longhorn head. Royal wanted it put on the helmet.

Royal loved several aspects of the drawing. First and foremost is was minimalist. No comic details such as flaring nostrils or blazing eyes. A simple orange longhorn silhouette on a white helmet. At that time most collegiate helmets had stripes down the middle and numbers on the sides. One of the few distinctive helmets was the Michigan winged-striped helmet that has been used since 1938. Royal wanted to create a look all its own and he tinkered with it over the next few years. The middle stripe was lost the next season. Originally the number was above the longhorn, but in 1967 it was permanently moved to the back.

Clean. Uncluttered. Instantly Recognizable.

1962 also saw the return of the Burnt Orange jersey. Texas had adopted the color early in the 1900’s. However, first during the depression and then during WWII they had gone to a lighter shade of orange, as the burnt orange dye was in short supply and expensive.

Some believed that Royal went to the burnt orange jersey because it helped to hide the football when running the option. Royal wryly remarked, "We seem to have no problem winning in white on the road."

None of this was by happenstance. Royal wanted a distinctive look in order for his team to stand out from others – especially on television. One team of Longhorns. One team in Burnt Orange. He understood that the medium was about to become an important factor in college football and having a unique look, down to a shade of orange that no one else was using, was important to him.

"There are 29 peaks in Colorado taller than Pikes Peak," said Royal. "Name one."

College Football on TV: Less is More

Nov. 10, 2001. Freshman Cedric Benson rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns as Texas boat-raced Kansas 59-0 in Austin. It is the last time the Longhorns played a football game that was not telecast on some platform. That was 193 games ago.

1961-1970 saw Texas play 109 times – with only 31 games (29%), being telecast.

College football began to appear on the networks in 1952, with tight restrictions from the NCAA. There was a fear of TV games driving down attendance. A 1948 study conducted by the Crossley Corporation at the NCAA’s request found that fans thought watching televised games was equal or superior to watching from the stands.

So the NCAA allowed one national game a week for 8 weeks during the season and then regional broadcasts the other weeks. They also ruled that a team could not be seen more than three times in a season. Variations of this system were in place until the Supreme Court ruled in 1984 in the NCAA vs. the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Georgia that the NCAA plan violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

As the decade reached the mid-60’s, color TV experienced explosive growth. The 1965-66 TV season was the first where almost all the prime time programming on the networks were now being broadcast in color. Now more than 30% of TV households had color televisions. The distinctive look of the Texas Longhorns was built for the new medium.

At this time, limiting the appearances actually helped those who did get the maximum exposure of 3 games a year. There was no ESPN, no multi-cable outlets.

It was Economics 101-the Law of Supply and Demand. There were only 3 networks, and a severely restricted amount of games being televised. If you were a college football fan, you might get one or two games in your market a week. Viewing audiences for regular season games would dwarf the numbers of regular season games today. Building a national reputation was simpler then. You win 88% of your games then it stands to reason you are going to play on TV and look good when you do. From 1961-70 Texas was 24-7 on televised contests, including bowl games. The Horns went 16-5 on national telecasts.

It’s not just about winning. It’s about winning at the right time, in front of the largest viewing audiences. Four games stand out as helping to establish the Longhorn brand among college football fans.

1964 Cotton Bowl -- Changing of the Guard

In today’s college football playoff generation it is easy to forget that for a very long time post-season bowl games were seen as exhibition contests, a reward for a season well played. After the 1963 regular season there were only 8 bowl games, all played within 12 days. They traditionally carried little or no weight when it came to naming a National Champion. That notion would be discarded within the next decade, and had the visiting team won the 1964 Cotton Bowl it would have happened much sooner.

Texas was already crowned National Champion by every major service, the first unanimous choice since Michigan in 1948. But some on the east coast had their doubts.

Navy’s Heisman winning QB, Roger Staubach, was the darling of the national press. He graced the cover of Time Magazine. The same mag that called Darrell Royal "The Barry Goldwater of College Football," and said he was so conservative that "he looked both ways before crossing a one-way street," to which Royal replied that it only seemed to be common sense.

The worst offender of the ridiculing of Texas was Myron Cope, who would later gain fame as the father of the Pittsburgh Steeler "Terrible Towel." Cope wrote, "Tune in your TV to the Cotton Bowl and you'll laugh yourself silly. Texas is the biggest fraud ever perpetrated on the football public...Texas plays the kind of football that was fashionable when players wore perforated cowhide helmets...Duke Carlisle executes a handoff like a construction foreman passing a plank to a carpenter."

Myron wasn’t done.

"Take a close look at the Texas linemen. They do not look like linemen," he wrote. "They have skinny legs like centipedes or girls with high rear ends."

Actually this game was the public death knell for big time collegiate football on the east coast. Army had lost its prominence from the Doc Blanchard-Glenn Davis days of the 1940’s, and Navy was about to join them. Other eastern powers from the 1950’s and early ‘60’s such as Princeton, Maryland, Yale and Syracuse, were exiting stage right.

Texas had lost to #1 Syracuse in the 1960 Cotton Bowl. Then there was the TCU fiasco in 1961. So despite going unbeaten in 1963, some of the national media looked on the Longhorns as a "regional" power not yet ready for the bright lights of Broadway.

Uh, no.

Navy played it normal 5-4-2 base defense, relying on its corners to play the power sweep or recognize a pass and drop back. On their first possession, Texas flared HB Phil Harris out of the backfield, Navy corner Pat Donnally lost a step, and Duke Carlisle hit Harris for a 58-yard touchdown strike less than three minutes into the game.

Early in the 2nd quarter, the duo teamed up again, this time for a 63-yard score to make it 14-0. Carlisle ended the day with 7 pass completions for 213 yards, and added 54 yards rushing for a Cotton Bowl record 267 yards of total offense.

As for Staubach and the Navy offense, they were shut down until the game was decided. Staubach had thrown for almost 1,500 yards and rushed for over 400 yards (unheard of for a drop back passer then) during the regular season. But Texas kept him bottled up until the Horns had a 28-0 lead.

Staubach did complete 21-31 for 228 yards, but Scott Appleton, George Brucks and Tommy Nobis led a fierce rush that punished Staubach to the tune of -47 yards on 12 carries.

The Longhorns were tough enough on the Midshipmen without any help from Navy, but they got some. The two teams exchanged film and during the breakdown, Texas coaches noticed that after every play the Navy cameraman took a shot of the down marker, and almost every time, the defensive signals were being sent in by an assistant standing next to it. Texas quickly figured out the signals, and Carlisle was ready to switch to plays that attacked the called defense.

The 28-6 thumping was telecast on CBS. Kick off was 12:00 noon central. The Sugar Bowl (Alabama vs. Mississippi) also kicked off at noon on NBC, while the Orange Bowl (Auburn vs. Nebraska) started a half hour earlier on ABC.

Having that cluttered a schedule of bowl games was about to change.

1965 Orange Bowl – College Football Hits Prime Time

October 17th, 1964. I was in Memorial Stadium, witnessing, with my parents, a soul crushing loss to Arkansas, second only to the 1961 TCU game.

With only 1:27 to go, Ernie Koy scored to bring #1 Texas to within one (14-13) of the #8 Razorbacks. The Horns went for two. The pass from Marv Kristynik quacked harmlessly at the feet of Hix Green, killing the dream of back-to-back National Championships.

There was no system for slotting in the New Year’s Bowls (aside from the Rose Bowl) back then, so the other three played a game of Russian Roulette, taking chances by inviting teams in November, and hoping they didn’t stumble into December. That system would give Darrell Royal and the Horns the best consolation prize possible for their slip up against Arkansas.

Both teams finished the rest of the season unbeaten, sending the Hogs to play Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl. As the once-beaten defending national champs, Texas was the hottest "free agent" team available, thank in part the "exhibition" nature of bowl games.

Notre Dame, under first-year coach Ara Parseghian, was unbeaten and #1 into late November, and were keeping to their long-standing tradition of not attending bowls. The Fighting Irish played in the 1925 Rose Bowl – and hadn’t gone to one in 40 years. Since 1925 Notre Dame had won six national championships while staying home during bowl season. The semester class schedule at Notre Dame caused some conflict with December games, and why go to a bowl, perhaps lose and tarnish what you had done during the regular season?

Texas was invited after defeating TCU on November 14th, with A&M still on the Schedule. The Orange Bowl turned its attention to #2 Alabama. On Nov. 26th the Crimson Tide edged Auburn 21-14 and accepted a bid to play Texas in Miami. Two days later, the Orange Bowl hit the jackpot. USC upset Notre Dame 20-17, giving Alabama the National Championship from AP and UPI.

As the decade reached the mid-60’s, color TV experienced explosive growth. NBC, owned by RCA, was the first network to go all in on presenting a full schedule of color programming. Hoping to sell more color TV sets, NBC went about creating synergy before synergy was cool.

The Peacock Network decided that owning January 1st, with colorful New Year’s Day parades and college football bowl games would generate more TV sales, so they had persuaded the Orange Bowl to jump from ABC to NBC, and more importantly, to play the game in prime time.

Suddenly the Orange Bowl (and NBC) had a match up that rivaled any in recent memory.

• The first primetime College Bowl Game.
• The 1964 National Champion vs. the 1963 National Champion
• Two of the most recognizable coaches in the game.
• The best offensive (Joe Namath) and defensive (Tommy Nobis) players going head-to-head

NBC paid the Orange Bowl $600,000 to make the move ($4.5 million in 2016 dollars). They had gambled on collecting three of the four New Year’s Day bowl games and the payoff helped to change how we watch college and pro football.

For the first time one network would produce 10 straight hours of college football for couch potatoes to enjoy on New Years Day.

Jan. 1st 1965 on NBC looked like this. 1:00 PM central, the Sugar Bowl (LSU-Syracuse) kicked off. The Rose Bowl followed at 4:00 PM (Michigan-Oregon State) with the Orange Bowl as the nightcap at 7:00 PM. The Cotton Bowl kicked off on CBS at 12:00 noon central.

Before this game, only the sport of boxing had proven to be a substantial hit on prime time. NBC pulled out all the stops for the game assigning their #1 pro football announcing team - play-by-play legend Curt Gowdy, along with commentator Paul Christman. The network also used the night game for heavy cross promotion of its upcoming programming schedule, which needed a boost after falling well behind CBS in the Nielsen ratings.

The City of Miami threw one helluva party that week. Fireworks before and at halftime, which was extended to include not just the two teams bands, but local bands as well. Taking no chances, the bowl committee scotch-taped real oranges onto the fake trees in the east end zone, where bathing beauties were lounging on coral rocks. Jackie Gleason, the adopted "Mayor" of Miami was in attendance, as was former Vice President Richard Nixon.

Adding to the buildup was that the NFL draft had already been held and Alabama QB Joe Namath was the #1 choice of both the NFL (St. Louis) and the AFL (N.Y. Jets). Texas linebacker Tommy Nobis would be the top choice a year later, choosing between the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the AFL Houston Oilers.

The game was everything anyone could have hoped for. Namath didn’t start, he had injured his knee during practice the week before the game. Steve Sloan started in his place, and since ‘Bama hadn’t given up more than 14 points in any one game, the Crimson Tide fans were confident they could win without Joe Willie.

During the regular season, Texas longest touchdown run from scrimmage was 21 yards. But late in the first quarter, when Alabama had a stunt on, Texas had a power sweep called with Koy. The 'Bama end crashed inside, Texas sealed the corner, and Koy romped 79 yards for an Orange Bowl record touchdown.

Early in the 2nd quarter Texas took advantage of an Alabama mistake -- as the Tide was trying to take advantage of the new substitution rule. In 1964 there still wasn't unlimited substitution, but teams could substitute as many players as they wanted when the clock was stopped for any reason. During a timeout right before a Texas punt Alabama put in its entire offense. One of the offensive linemen lined up offside, and given new life, the Horns struck quickly.

On the very next play, Royal had Jim Hudson in at QB for Marvin Kristynik. Hudson was the early season starter, but had been injured. He had the much stronger arm and on the first play, George Sauer ran a fly pattern, split the corner and safety and caught a 69-yard touchdown pass to give Texas a 14-0 lead.

That was enough for Bryant. Joe Namath went into the game.

Royal and the coaches had admired Namath from afar – and on film. This up close and personal look was scarier than they had imagined. Texas liked to play a base front and "rush and contain" and if the pass was completed, then punish the receiver.

Namath made that obsolete. Royal admitted afterward that Namath had the quickest release he had ever seen. That meant putting pressure on a QB with a gimpy knee and hope like hell you could man up with the receivers.

Late in the game, trailing 21-17, Alabama had a 1st and goal at the 6. Fullback Steve Bowman hit the middle for a quick 4 yards.

Two more Bowman tries got the ball inside the 1-yard line. On 4th down, Namath thought he saw a crease off right guard. Tackle Fred Bedrick penetrated low from the side and Nobis came in high to wrap him up. Nobis said they heard the whistle blow the play dead, let up and that's when Namath fell into the end zone.

To this day Namath insists he crossed the goal line with the ball. "I can’t tell from the films," he said, referring to one blurry version in which his right shoulder dips forward before contact. But at the time, Namath said, he looked down and saw the ball past the goal line.

Here is a new (slightly Alabama leaning) video on the game.

Namath completed 18-of-37 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns and was named the game's Most Outstanding Player. His other reward was a contract with the Jets for the then unheard of amount of $400,000.

Just a few years later Namath would return to Miami Stadium and stun the NFL with a win in Super Bowl III. Four members of that 1964 Texas squad would be his teammates. Tight End Pete Lammons, Wide Receiver George Sauer, defensive back Jim Hudson, and defensive lineman John Elliot.

While teammates with the Jets, Namath said Lammons told him that the Texas players did their best not to hurt Namath, playing with that bad knee.

"Maybe Pete didn’t," Namath said. "But I don’t know if old Tommy Nobis and Diron Talbert and Tom Currie got that message."

Earlier in the day, #2 Arkansas edged #6 Nebraska 10-7 in the Cotton Bowl to earn the Football Writers Association of America and the Helm’s foundation National Championship trophy. It wouldn’t be until 1974 that everyone decided to wait until after all the bowl games before declaring a National Champion.

Arkansas came away with a piece of the National Championship. Texas became a major player in the single most important college football game of the 1964 season.

The year before, the 1964 Orange Bowl (Auburn vs. Nebraska) drew 8.5 million viewers, having to go against the Cotton Bowl (Texas vs. Navy) early and then the Rose Bowl (Illinois vs. Washington) in the 2nd half.

This game drew almost 5 times the audience (40 million viewers), making it the most watched college football game up to that time. The two best programs of the ‘60’s putting on a show in prime time, helping to kick-start a surge of popularity in the college game.

That game took place over 51 years ago, and both teams are instantly recognizable in the game film. When you are among the elite, there is no reason to "candy up" the uniforms.

You are What Your Record Says You Are.

1969 Texas-Arkansas: "Smarter Than a Tree Full of Owls"

The lead-up to the 1969 college football season wasn’t about who might win the National Championship – it was about debating if 1969 Ohio State Buckeyes might be the GOAT. Ohio State returned just about "errbody" off their 1968 National Championship squad. The Buckeyes had six All-Americans led by QB Rex Kern, running back Jim Otis, as well as middle guard Jim Stillwagon and defensive back Jack Tatum.

Their pathway to the 1969 championship was simple. Go unbeaten in the regular season, sit at home for holidays and watch some bowl games. The Buckeyes had a 9-game regular season schedule, (Ohio State didn’t start to play 10 games until the mid-70’s) and the Big 10 still had the quirky (and stupid) rules that said no team could go to the Rose Bowl in back-to-back years, and that was the only bowl game any Big 10 team was allowed to play in.

ABC had recently paid the NCAA $10 million for the TV rights to college football. Network Publicist Beano Cook went to ABC Sports President Roone Arledge with an idea to "time-shift" one of the few marquee games on their schedule.. Ohio State was the prohibitive favorite to win the national championship, the Arkansas-Texas game in mid October was one of the most attractive match ups of the year. However,  it was scheduled to go against the World Series (yes they actually played day games back then). Arkansas’ stadium had no lights, so why not persuade the NCAA and the two teams to move the game to December, and give the network a quality game after Ohio State finished their season?

Both Royal and Frank Broyles made it clear that they would agree to the shift only if the game did not count against their limited number of TV appearances for the season. The NCAA signed off and the game was moved.

As expected Ohio State ripped through their first 8 opponents by an average score of 42-8. Last up was a Nov. 22nd date at Michigan. The Wolverines would go to the Rose Bowl with a win over the Buckeyes, while Ohio State could wrap up their second consecutive National Championship with a victory.

Trust me when I tell you that Ohio State-Michigan is every bit as malicious and intense as Texas-OU. I am speaking from family experience on this one.

Woody Hayes had a lot to do with this. Michigan thinks of him as a Barry Switzer—without the guns and drugs. Ohio State wrapped up the 1968 regular season with a 50-14 thrashing of Michigan in Columbus. When the Buckeyes scored in the final moments of the game, Ohio State went for two -- and made it. When asked by the press why he went for two, Hayes replied simply, "Because I couldn't go for three."

After the 1968 season, Michigan hired Bo Schembechler, and his first team got off to a rocky start, but by the time Ohio State week rolled around, the Wolverines, led by tailback Glenn Doughty, offensive lineman Dan Dierdorf and tight end Jim Mandich, they were 7-2.

Schembechler knew Hayes and his hatred for everything Maize and Blue as well as anyone. He had played for Hayes at Miami of Ohio, and was an assistant at Ohio State. In 1969, during practice the week leading up to the Ohio State game, Schembechler had every Wolverine scout team player wear a practice jersey with the #50 on it.

Ohio State jumped out to a 12-7 lead in the first quarter, but Michigan drove the length of the field to take a 14-12 advantage. A 68-yard punt return quickly set up the 3rd Wolverine score. Michigan led 24-12 at the half and that was the final score.

Saturday November 22nd was an off day for Texas. Darrell Royal didn't feel like sitting home, so he called Baylor and asked if he could come up and sit in the press box for the Bears game against SMU. As Royal watched SMU defeat Baylor 12-6, members of the press kept him up to date with what was happening in Ann Arbor.

That was the final piece to setting up "The Game of the Century,"

And if I have to explain all of the twists and turns of that game – where have you been the last 40 years?

This was an historic contest for television as well. 52% of all households watching TV that afternoon were tuned into the game – almost 55 million viewers. That translates into more than 80 million in 2016 ratings. It was the first time a game had been "time-shifted" for television and it opened the floodgates for such deals. Television was ready to move college football out of the "regional" category to a viable national attraction.

1970 Cotton Bowl – Emotional, Historic

As the 1969 season unfolded, the usually wild bowl selection process seemed almost tame. an independent Penn State seemed to be in the driver’s seat, and if they stayed unbeaten they could have their pick of the Sugar, Orange or Cotton Bowls.

Except there was about to be a seismic shift in college football, and it was starting in South Bend. Since 1966, Ara Parseghian had been working to get Notre Dame to accept bowl bids. Michigan State and Notre Dame met in that years "Game of the Century," and it ended in a 10-10 tie – with the #1 Irish running out the clock instead of trying to score. Dan Jenkins started his game story in SI by writing that Ara had decided to "Tie one for the Gipper."

Notre Dame won the national championship but caught holy hell from just about everyone (especially Alabama) for sitting on the ball.

This time there were several other factors working for Notre Dame to consider breaking their no-bowl tradition. The class schedule was changed in 1969 so the fall semester ended in early December and didn’t start up until January 5th. The paycheck of $300,000 looked good. Most importantly, the wire services decided to wait until after the 1969 bowl games to crown a national champion.

Notre Dame kept this change to themselves. They wanted to see how the landscape shook out as the season went along, so almost no one knew what they were thinking.

"Hoss" Brock knew.

Jim "Hoss" Brock was the chief recruiter for the Cotton Bowl, and Hoss never met an AD, Coach or adult beverage that he didn’t absolutely love. A former SID at TCU, Brock understood that the Cotton Bowl was fighting with a short stick when competing with New Orleans or Miami for elite teams. Dallas can be as cold and unforgiving as New York City on New Years, but Brock treated bowl selection as a year round sport and he loved every minute of it.

Jim was "Hoss" because every male he knew was called that, just as every female was "Darlin’ or "Sweet Pea." He may not remember your name, but that didn’t keep him from treating you like you were his best friend. Brock heard rumors of Notre Dame’s change of heart early in the season, and while he worked on Penn State, he always kept Notre Dame in play.

As for the Irish, they were looking to get the best match up possible. Brock convinced them that either Texas or Arkansas would be unbeaten, and at worst, #2 to Ohio State by the end of the season. So on Nov. 17th, Notre Dame stunned the college football world by agreeing to come to the Cotton Bowl.

After December 6th, the Cotton Bowl had the most attractive match up in any bowl for decades.

With all the ballyhoo about the game, Texas had to deal with a horrific situation. Two days after the Arkansas contest Freddie Steinmark finally told the doctors about his injured leg. X-rays revealed a bone tumor just above his left knee. A biopsy confirmed the tumor was malignant; it was an osteogenic sarcoma, and he was treated at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. On December 12, his leg was amputated at the hip. Freddie was determined to join his teammates on the Cotton Bowl sideline and 20 days later he made it. Freddie lost his battle with cancer on June 6th, 1971.

The contest was another classic, mixing outstanding football, raw emotion, and a storybook ending.

Texas would win 10 more games in 1970 to stretch the winning streak to 30 before Notre Dame exacted its revenge in a Cotton Bowl rematch. The Horns finished in the Top 5 seven out of the last 10 years.

The decade (1961-70) began with a heartbreaking loss to TCU and a missed opportunity to a national championship. It ended with yet another bitter defeat costing the Horns a title. Still, that time established Texas as a nationally elite program, one that could attract the casual college football fan along with the rabid Horn fans.

The Longhorns were fortunate enough to be a part of several historical moments for college football in the 1960’s. Getting Navy in the 1964 Cotton Bowl allowed Texas to establish their national credentials while signaling a major shift in the power base of the sport.

Losing to Arkansas in 1964 cost Texas a national championship, but the Horns rebounded, playing in, and winning the most important game of the first half of the decade.

One of the biggest upsets of the 1960’s put Texas in position to participate in an historic season-ending contest, winning a national championship in front of the President and the largest viewing audience of the decade for a college football game.

That set up one of the best and most emotional bowl games ever played, In case you need any more proof that Texas was now firmly among the elite of college football there is this: Notre Dame was ranked #9 going into the game with Texas. After the loss, the Fighting Irish finished #5 in the final poll.

Texas indeed fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time during much of the 1960’s.

But then again, as a wise man once said, "Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity."

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An American woman was arrested this week for flooding Stephen Hawking’s email with death threats, then stalking him at an astronomy festival in the Canary Islands.

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Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren today gave a speech where she accused Amazon, Apple, and Google of attempting to "snuff out competition" by locking out smaller companies, reports Recode.

"Google, Apple and Amazon have created disruptive technologies that changed the world, and ... they deserve to be highly profitable and successful," Warren said. "But the opportunity to compete must remain open for new entrants and smaller competitors that want their chance to change the world again."

In regard to Apple specifically, Warren said the company has made it difficult for its rivals to offer competitive streaming services able to compete with Apple Music, presumably through the cut that it takes from streaming services like Spotify when people sign up through the iOS app.


To account for Apple's cut, Spotify charges $12.99 to customers who purchase a subscription through an Apple device, which is $3 higher than the $9.99 price tag of Apple Music.

While Apple declined to comment on Warren's statements, Spotify's head of communications and public policy Jonathan Prince took the opportunity to lambaste Apple in a statement given to Recode.

"Apple has long used its control of iOS to squash competition in music, driving up the prices of its competitors, inappropriately forbidding us from telling our customers about lower prices, and giving itself unfair advantages across its platform through everything from the lock screen to Siri. You know there's something wrong when Apple makes more off a Spotify subscription than it does off an Apple Music subscription and doesn't share any of that with the music industry. They want to have their cake and eat everyone else's too."

Spotify has long been unhappy with Apple's pricing policy. In the past, Spotify fought against Apple's cut by sending emails to its customers who had signed up for a $12.99 per month subscription on an iPhone or iPad, encouraging them to cancel their subscriptions and re-subscribe via the web.

Recently, Spotify criticized some upcoming App Store changes like a new revenue split for subscriptions and ads in search results, saying Apple's efforts don't "get to the core of the problem" and criticizing Apple's insistence on "inserting itself between developers and their customers."

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