BCS National Championship aftermath and thoughts?

Question

Being a Texas Longhorns fan, I am heartbroken, to put it mildly. I am heartsick. I am distraught. I am shocked. I am depressed. But most of all...I am proud.

I could not be prouder of a football player than I am of Garrett Gilbert right now. A freshman who has only been involved in no more than 20 plays in his entire collegiate career, comes out on the biggest stage in the game...and struggles at first...badly...but gains his composure and performs at a level in the 2nd half that even Colt McCoy would be impressed with. Don't get me wrong...that first half was atrocious. I nearly went to bed after that pick six shovel pass. But Gilbert shook it off and nearly led the Horns to victory. Let's play "what if" real quick, OK? What if Garrett Gilbert pulled off that miracle comeback? Mayhem in college football. What if McCoy hadn't been hurt, despite Gilbert's impressive performance in the 2nd half? What if....McCoy got another shot to play Alabama in the national championship...healthy?

You know, if not for the benefit of Texas' chances in the title game, but at least for the sake of a good college football game and for the closure of one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time...I wanted Colt to play. I could see the heartache in his eyes on the sidelines as he watched his teammates play in the game he had been waiting to play in his entire career. I kept thinking "this can't be happening...after all he's done to get here...is it possible he won't play?" and trying to wake myself up from this nightmare.

Please don't take this as whining or not being able to accept defeat. But right now, I cannot honestly say that Alabama deserves the national title right now. They have not played the Texas Longhorn football team that has played all year. They played a different team...a team with a frightened teenager for a quarterback. So until Alabama plays that team that I have watched and loved all year....I cannot say that they are the best team in the nation. Not now. Alabama fans: you have a fantastic team...one of the best I have ever seen. You guys probably deserved this championship more than any other TEAM in the nation. But I think Colt McCoy deserved that title more than any PLAYER in the nation.

My mind is really going in two directions right now. One part of me is heartbroken and frustrated. Another part of me is optimistic and proud. Just think how beneficial this is for Garrett Gilbert. He has nothing to be ashamed about. I can see it now. In three years...Gilbert's senior year. Texas Longhorns=national champions alongside its Heisman winning quarterback: Garrett Gilbert. That guys has balls, give him that. He has incredible talent and perseverance as well.

In 2012-2013, Garrett Gilbert will finish what Colt McCoy started at the University of Texas.

Answer 1

Was sorry to see McCoy not be able to play, but I thought Gilbert played fine. My biggest disappointment was the way that the Texas offense just seemed to give up there for a while. Gilbert made some good throws that could have been caught...and SHOULD have been caught, if you're hustling. Texas had the ball with three minutes plus and a chance to win the game with a TD...so it was NOT a blowout.

And I was impressed with Mack Brown's refusal to send McCoy back in the game...the papers here in Birmingham reported that McCoy was begging to go back in. Was a classy move of Coach Brown refusing to take any chances.

Answer 2

Not a UT fan by any means but they showed a ton of HEART!



They had no business being in that game in the second half. Gilbert lead them to within 3 and got blindsided on a blitz that a more experienced QB might have seen.



I'm thinking the nation got robbed of a great game when McCoy got injured.

Answer 3

Yeah I know what team you're talking about. I watched them play against Nebraska........



I wasn't too impressed........

Answer 4

i applaud you. these are my thoughts exactly, but im more in the heartbreak direction because colt's gone. it was his senior year and he won't ever get this chance back. i love him and hopes he does great things later on. im still pretty depressed.



hook 'em!

forever

Answer 5

since you acknowledged that Alabama won it fair and square, I will give you a fair answer.



I understand entirely how you feel, if you look at the big 12 championship you know the Huskers outplayed Texas all night. while Nebraska and texas will never agree on the end, what really upset me more was the phantom pass interference calls and the no calls on the holding of Suh all night. they could/should have called it on almost every offensive play Texas had. the Anger I have had towards Texas is they would not admit that. (except for mental, he showed real class)



after hearing a lot of people beating up Oklahoma saying that losing Bradford would not have changed the outcome of the Texas/OU game. but they are saying the same thing about McCoy. hypocrites to say the least



you have every right to look towards the future, Gilbert will be very good in a few years, but remember that Bamas game plan was for McCoy, and they did play very vanilla. If Colt was in the game, I think they would have kept tiring to pile it on.



I look forward to replaying the Big 12 title game in a few years.

Answer 6

I'm just wondering where that guy named, I bleed orange is at.

Answer 7

Well said. My only concern like many was if the O-line to rebound after ahorrible game vs Neb and it did minus the plays Colt got hurt where lineman whiffed on cut block. To answer your question McCoy would have lead UT to the NC if he was not hurt. My question ( and my answer is in the affimative) is What if... Gilbert got another shot to play Alabama in NC game and had #1 QB reps?

Answer 8

Gilbert did very good for the position he was put in, first game being for the National Championship against Alabama. He can start next year knowing he's played the best, the rest will appear as nothing before his eyes.

Answer 9

I love that Texas came back in the 4th quarter they showed a lot of heart. However I don't see Gilbert being as good as McCoy.

Answer 10

I am bit like you, very disappointed that the Horns lost this one. I'm not angry because McCoy was hurt to the point of no return. My hubby (that really doesn't watch the college game), came in after walking the dog and told me he was really sorry that Colt went down. He knew I was sad, after being so fired up all season about my Horns. I guess I am one of those that bleed Burnt Orange during football season. I'm proud to count my self among the Longhorns in this country. At least I know I have a leg up on all those Texas haters out there :)



I could really care less if Bama won the title, whatever, they don't act like they have ever won anything. The fans that I once thought were nice wholesome people have turned into crass, rude *******. I don't know how any player or fan can celebrate that Colt McCoy was hurt, that is really low and I think those same people were celebrating when Sam Bradford went down earlier this season. I think that made me the most sad.



I like you felt that Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley deserved this title more than any other duo I can remember in college football. I am so sad that this ride is over. I'm not sure we will see anything this special for quite some time at Texas.



I am looking forward to next season and what the young guns will bring. I'm a huge Tre Newton and Dan Buckner fan, I was hoping for a coming out party. I think they will have a great 2010 season, they are special. I love, love, love Earl Thomas, I hope he stays, he is one special guy that really didn't get to show it in this game because of Bama's lack of passing.



Last thought, I tip my horns to Garrett Gilbert. He showed courage that not many players could so in an adverse situation. I love how he made lemonade out of lemons and Colt and Vince were right there encouraging him the whole second half. That's what make Texas a special place that produces special young men.



Hook 'em! It time to rally our pride for hoops! Our Horns are destined for a much deserved title for Rick Barnes. That should tide us over for a bit, but this is a hard pill to shallow and August seems so damn far away. Horns Up!

Answer 11

albama alabama alabama champion

Answer 12

3 years, dude he's gone after 2. Case mcCoy and Jaxon shipley will be the stars in 3 years, I know. Damn it greg davis that shovel pass was so stupid, I think texas will go 10-2, 11-1 next year, depending on how good OU is , the guy gained a lot of experience, texas gets nebraska the game after OU and mack brown is undefeated in the games after out in austin, the diffcult thing will be @ tech, which I think is week 3 ( On the website), but since gilber played " The Best Defense ever" it will be a cake walk, with a new coach.... Lets just hope earl thomas comes back

Answer 13

Alabama beats Texas 37-21, advances to play Boise State for national championship

Answer 14

Texas just reloaded. OU better watch out.